How to Build a Sustainable Coaching Business

Here’s how I finally grew my business beyond referrals (Referrals are great, but they’re not a strategy. Here’s what is. 👇) Let’s start with the facts: Referrals are incredible. • They convert 30% higher than leads from other channels. • They retain 37% better. • And their lifetime value is 16% higher.    But here’s the hard truth: Referrals are also unreliable. You can’t project them, and you certainly can’t plan sustainable growth around “waiting.” By the end of this post, you’ll know the exact system I implemented to grow beyond referrals—and how it’s helped me scale to consistent $500k+ annual revenue while working less than 30 hours a week. Two years ago, I shifted from done-for-you services to scalable coaching programs. Referrals were still trickling in, but I needed a system that could deliver warm and cold leads consistently. Here’s what happened when I put that system in place: • I’ve never missed a monthly revenue goal. • My revenue projections vs. actuals are spot on. • My profit margins are the highest they’ve ever been. • My workweek? It rarely exceeds 30 hours.    Sure, I still love referrals—but they’re no longer my business's lifeline. Here’s How I Made the Migration: 1. I Refined My Offerings     At one point, I offered nine different packages. Guess what? That many choices overwhelmed my prospects. Now, I only offer three core programs. Conversion rates have gone up b/c of streamlining 2. I Identified My “Selling Seasons”     Instead of selling everything all the time, I align product pushes with buyer seasonality. January? Perfect for LinkedIn and brand-building resolutions. Later in the year? Ideal for programs focused on scaling a brand. This focus keeps my marketing messages clear and relevant. 3. I Built a Marketing Calendar On a 12-month rolling basis, I know exactly: • The vehicles I’ll use to sell (webinars, discovery calls). • The sales windows for each program. • The major pain points that trigger sign-ups. • This clarity powers my LinkedIn content and email campaigns. Referrals are great, but they’ll only get you so far. If you’re stuck below $250k, it’s time to implement a system that drives consistent leads and sales. Start by narrowing your offerings, identifying seasonal opportunities, and aligning your marketing strategy well in advance. Small shifts like these build big momentum. What’s one change you’ve made that’s helped you grow beyond referrals? 📣Want more personal branding tips, VIP freebies, and early access to my courses? Join my newsletter to get weekly playbooks on building your personal brand on LinkedIn. As a thank you, you will receive my 5-Point Checklist for creating a powerful and profitable personal brand on LinkedIn. Join here! https://lnkd.in/gpMqPNX9   

Businesses don't fail because they lack a great idea. They fail because they can't get enough forward airspeed to soar. 𝗜 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻: - Founders have a great idea for changing the world. - They bootstrap to work with innovators. - Everyone is a potential customer. - Early success is mistaken for market demand. - The end of the runway comes before sustained flight. -------------------------------------------------------- How to transform a struggling business toward sustainable growth and lasting impact. --------------------------------------------------------  1. 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺𝘀 - I will guide you in identifying problems that customers will pay you to address.  2. 𝗕𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 - We will work together to create messaging and stories that drive buyers to contact you.  3. 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗜𝗖𝗣 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗴𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 - I'll help you bring clarity to your ideal customer profile and we'll identify your total relevant market.  4. 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗶𝗻 -  We'll develop a playbook to engage your ICP and provide them with valuable experiences at each touchpoint with your company.  5. 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗹𝘆 - I default to being action-oriented. We will build consensus using the best available insights and move quickly.  Observe, Orient, Decide, and Act.  6. 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 - We won't do everything, just the right things. You have precious few resources. We will use them wisely.  7. 𝗣𝗶𝘃𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘀 - When headwinds and crosswinds threaten your safety, we'll pivot the course while maintaining your long-term destination in sight.  8. 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺 𝗳𝗹𝘆𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗹 - Sustainable growth comes from building effective and efficient processes. We'll build cross-functional workflows that create value and profits.  9. 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹—As we gain traction, it is crucial to expand our thinking about leveraging our success to benefit others. This is the path to sustainable growth and lasting impact. 10. 𝗡𝘂𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 - Running a business can be exhausting. When it's time to delegate, we'll build processes to sustain your vision and effectiveness through others. I'd like to talk with you if you're looking to add a growth advisor to your startup or scaleup. Let's talk about your vision and what's keeping you from growing.  Send me a DM to arrange a call. #fractionalcmo #gtm #businessgrowth  

Breaking the Mold: Why 90% of Coaches, Consultants, and Advisors don't make it past the five-year mark– And How You Can Defy the Odds. This statistic frustrates me. It’s heartbreaking to hear about so many killing themselves or suffering in silence instead of seeking help. Owning multiple businesses in these industries, I've met many people who have shared their challenges. The main reason for failure? Lack of clear direction. Many advisors and coaches struggle to figure out: -> Where to begin. -> Where to concentrate their efforts. -> What to prioritize. Today, I want to share the strategies that have driven my businesses to over 300% year-over-year growth since 2014, expanding our wealth coaching services to all 50 states and our consulting firm globally. These insights are applicable to anyone in the service industry. 1. Define Your Ideal Client with Laser Precision Every business decision I make is guided by a crystal-clear picture of my ideal client. I've detailed: -> A fictional name -> Family background -> Career and income level -> Biggest fears and challenges -> Aspirations and dreams 2. Frame Your Service as Exciting & Continuous Planning A one-off plan isn’t enough. It’s just a momentary snapshot. Each year, we craft a new plan for every client. Clients especially value spontaneous, unstructured calls during major life or business decisions. Having our team on retainer, ready to assist whenever needed, is what clients appreciate the most. 3. Know & Measure Your Value Relentlessly We quantify every aspect of our value, even the intangible ones. Get Creative. We offer free strategy sessions, free workshops, and scholarships. We even done plenty pay on performance at the beginning. To this day, we offer scholarship -based plans supporting single moms, veterans, and Team USA athletes. We meet clients where they are, helping them grow their businesses and protect their wealth in ways that are safe, grow tax-free, and are shielded from market losses. Clients love it and refer us to others. We’ve collected thousands of video and written reviews over the last decade. 4. Focus on Clients and Prospects Delegate everything else as soon as you can. Acquiring new business and meeting with existing clients are the most valuable activities. When you’re not worried about where your next client is coming from, you can be fully present with your current clients. 5. Build Your Personal Brand Your online presence might not bring in direct clients immediately, but it keeps you top of mind with your existing ones. Want to grow faster? 🗣 Start speaking on stages and around your community more often. In conclusion, I didn’t come up with all of this on my own. I’ve been mentored and coached by incredible people and listened to thousands of clients over the years. This is all a culmination of those experiences. ♻️ Repost this. You never know who we may save. ♻️ Click my name + follow + 🔔 #success #linkedin #leadership #resilience