Marketing Coaching for Solo Business Owners
As a solo professional you're your own boss, so staying productive and checking off your to-do list is all your own responsibility. We can offer you the accountability to keep you on track and inspired as you build your business and maneuver the challenging, ever-shifting (albeit rewarding) world of entrepreneurship.
Like an athletic coach, a business coach is someone who trains intensively through instruction, demonstration and practice. Disregard the stereotypical sports movie coaches that yell and fume while holding their stopwatch -- that's not our approach. The goal, however, is the same: to promote the best performance from the player.
One of our tools is to help you define manageable, clear steps to reach your short-, mid-, and long-term goals. When you complete a small step, we cheer like crazy. But we don’t fret when you make a misstep.
Coming from a strengths-based approach, we offer an array of internal and external resources to overcome resistance. Internal resources might include activating mindfulness and deactivating denigrating self-talk. External resources might include time-management tools or motivational TED talks. Understanding procrastination and overwhelm, we'll share strategies to improve work habits, delegate effectively and stay focused and on track.
Contact Kristin to schedule an appointment or schedule a free 20-minute call
Kristin Schuchman, MSW received her Master's in Social Work at Portland State University and trained as a counselor at the National College of Natural Medicine (NCNM).
Our customized approach to marketing has been particularly successful with two groups: Creatives (graphic designers, writers, photographers, dancers, and others) and Therapists and Healers (massage therapists, coaches, mental health coordinators, nutritionists personal trainers, and others).
Attract New Clients
We specialize in helping solo professionals like you to attract new clients in a way that is consistent with your personal style and budget.
We’ll increase your business by:
- Energizing and focusing your vision of success
- Articulating the heartfelt core strengths you offer clients
- Deciding on a right-sized niche for you
- Creating a basic message or pitch that feels engaging and sincere
- Writing a flexible marketing plan, consistent with your personal style
- Drafting copy for your web presence
Network with Past Successful Clients
BWe’ve had the great joy of watching many people move beyond the early stages of defining a niche, establishing a web presence with smart navigation and SEO, and building referral sources. We can connect you with a vast network of past clients and colleagues willing to share a wealth of experience and encouragement.
We can connect new clients to past clients in one or more of these ways:
- Making contact for networking or informational interviews. We’ll contact those with whom you might have synergy and request that they get together with you.
- Connecting via LinkedIn. We have a robust LinkedIn community with over 600 contacts comprised of clients and others who share my professional interests. As our client, you would be welcome to peruse these LinkedIn Profiles to see who might be a helpful connection.
- Meeting at community or virtual events. We're aware of some of the energized professional associations and networking events in town. Many of us find it hard to venture into new territory solo, so we frequently offer suggestions such as “Would you like me to email Deana to see if you can join her at an upcoming XPLANE event?” or “Would you like to get together with some other therapists to watch the video Web Sites for Therapists”
Marketing Activities that You’ll Enjoy
One reason many people avoid marketing is the fear of being considered pushy or conceited or having to do attend boring, pointless events. We specialize in helping every person, whether an introvert or an extrovert, create a set of marketing actions uniquely suited to each professional’s personality.
For some people, traditional activities work well. These might include:
- Chatting with people at networking events (and following up effectively).
- Speaking publicly when asked to establish your street cred and expertise.
- Writing a blog that establishes you as a leader in your field and connects you with like-minded professionals.
- Creating a social media presence that authentically reflects your values.
- Refining your SEO so your website delivers a steady stream of ideal clients through search engines like Google and Bing
Our Coaching Sessions
We prefer to start coaching with a face-to-face session followed by in-person or phone coaching. If you would like to find out more about our coaching packages, visit our Solopreneur / Solo Business Coaching page.
We coach clients during individual sessions, weekly or on alternate weeks. After an individual session, many clients join one of our dynamic groups, Marketing for Creatives or Marketing for Therapists & Healers.