by Rakel Chafir
With everything that’s going on in the world, starting a new business may sound counter intuitive. However, if we give ourselves permission to place our anxiety on hold just long enough to take a deep breath, we might be able to recognize this moment as an excellent opportunity to both reflect and take action.
With millions of people confined to their homes in the effort to contain the spread of the virus, the Internet today offers the only option to continue working, learning, and connecting with the outside world. Figures show an increase in global Internet traffic up to 50% in the last three months alone. More people than ever before are spending more time on a variety of websites and social media apps that share your potential target market.
And if that wasn’t enough of a reason to start thinking that maybe this might be a great time to give your dream of being a successful online coach some serious thoughts, think about the other undeniable phenomenon that is happening at this moment. People are struggling to cope with fear and confinement, and whether you want to be a life coach, an online fitness trainer, or a wellness guru, they can really use your help.
While economic uncertainty is never a desirable situation, the inherent agility of an online coaching business will allow you to get started and come out on top.
Here are the first 5 steps to get you on your way:
Step 1: Define your ideal customer avatar:
Your Ideal customer avatar represents either an existing or potential customer who wants and needs your content, your product, or your services. This person may be one of your current clients, a friend you have been helping pro bono, or even yourself. Get clear on your ICA’s likes, aspirations, fears, and daily challenges. For example, Is your ideal client a single millennial or a new mom over 40? An Introvert or an extrovert? An overwhelmed business owner or a full-time employee? The more you know about your ICAs, the more you’ll be able to create solutions to their wants and needs.
Step 2: Define your message:
Rather than compare yourself to other online entrepreneurs, and feel like you need to have the same offers and qualifications they do, think about what makes you unique. You might have a personal success story that got you started on your wellness journey, and now you may feel called to share it with others. Or perhaps, you are an executive who has found balance and joy in life after years of burn out, so now you can other corporate leaders get there as well. Whatever it may be, your unique story will fuel your desire to make a difference in another person’s life and enable you to establish an authentic connection with prospective clients.
STEP 3: Initiate authentic connections:
The great thing about the Internet is that your audience is already there, congregating in existing websites, reading blogs, meeting in Facebook groups. Once you know who your ICA is (Step 1), you can research the online platforms where she/he interacts and join them yourself. You want to spend time studying these platforms, getting familiar with the conversations that are taking place there, and initiating authentic communication aimed at building trust and connection with your ideal customers.
STEP 4: Change your inner dialogue:
Go from “who am I to do this?” to “who am I to doubt my heart-felt desires?”. If you have been raised to find value in hard work, you might resist the idea that you can take ownership of what you want without first having to prove you have enough credentials and accomplishments. However, the simple fact that you wholeheartedly desire to start your online coaching business and have an impact in the world is enough of a reason to give yourself permission to go for it.
STEP 5: Make wise investments:
One of the biggest mistakes I see coaches make is investing in expensive programs at the beginning of their careers. I am not knocking down any particular one here, but unless you are looking into a specific coaching field that requires certification, you don’t need that piece of paper to get started. Instead, begin by hiring a coach or a mentor who can help you set up weekly and monthly objectives, and offer you a first-hand experience of the very support you wish to offer others.
The five steps above will help you get the clarity you need to identify your path and initiate interactions with your prospective clients. There are many other things you’ll need to do next, but none of them will work unless you first get clear and give yourself permission to honor your desire fully.
Rakel Chafir is a body confidence expert and success coach who teaches women how to heal their relationship with their body so they can reach their full potential in life. Her signature approach combines physical movement, resilience training and spiritual principles to help clients let go of unwanted weight, eliminate addictive behaviors, and more. Rakel has worked in some of New York City’s most elite studios as a certified personal trainer and also has an extensive background in health and wellness that includes being a Precision Nutrition Certified Coach, a Master Expert in Hypopressive Abdominal Method and more. Her expertise has been featured on Thrive Global, Addicted2Success and CEOWorld Magazine. Rakel is the author of the forthcoming Free Your Body: 7 Steps To Get The Freedom You Deserve and the Body You Desire (November 2020).
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