Are you interested in starting a remote business? Perhaps a coaching or consulting business? Now is the perfect time to do that.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, people are now relying on the internet to access the services they require. Entrepreneurs are making money at this time while running their business at the comfort of their homes.
The first step to creating a remote coaching or consulting business is to brainstorm on your areas of expertise. This is because to start a coaching or consulting business, you must be skilled in certain areas. It could be in writing, designs, coding, IT, marketing, and sales, among others. Knowing your area of expertise or skill will help you determine what type of business you would be venturing into.
Earning a Certification
It is a known fact that as a professional coach or consultant, you don’t necessarily need a certificate as you can draw on your experiences to help others. Some may say you don’t need to learn too much to become a professional coach or consultant however getting a certificate will come in handy. It won’t be as difficult as other courses like medicine and psychology, where you have to study day and night but you should still take it seriously as you will be touching lives.
As much as a certificate isn’t compulsory, it is quite necessary to acquire one because it gives you an edge over other coaches and consultants and also makes you feel like your profession is really legitimate. There are special schools that offer training to professional coaches and consultants, getting a course from any of them is an added advantage and also makes you conscious of your work ethics. Upon completion of your program, a certificate will be given to you which you can display proudly in your office and proves you to be a professional online coach or consultant.
Moving Your Business Online
The barriers to entering the coaching or consulting markets are relatively low. Anybody can develop a website, take, edit and upload photos to any number of social media platforms, and share their expertise on social media.
You can customize your coaching or consulting career by moving it online. Yes, of course, you can still work with clients in-person if you like. You can do both. It’s up to you. The benefits of offering remote/online coaching and consulting are extensive!
If you’ve been thinking about going online, or if you tried before and just lacked the needed skills, this is the time to get everything you need to become highly successful.
Consider Specializing
Pay attention, over time you will realize your entire list of “best clients” share a lot of similarities. Sometimes what you find will surprise you! These will be the type of clients you begin to focus on. Start aiming your marketing efforts, products, and services towards this specific group of people. On the surface it can be hard to understand how limiting yourself to a certain demographic, can actually open the business up for better results.
It’s harder to get clients when you don’t focus on what you do best. Become the foremost expert in one area and you will have clients for life. If you can’t be selective right away because you need to make a certain amount of money, do what you gotta do. We have all been there. Work with everyone, in the beginning, the experience will be good. Just aim to nitch down as your career progresses.
Try to make the Online Experience as Personal as Possible
Offer Skype consultations, phone calls, Facebook support groups, and any other type of communication that will benefit your clients. Do you give everyone a custom program? Do you make sure the plan fits each client’s specific goals? If you want to be successful, you can’t just offer the same service as everyone else. This goes for any business, not just online coaching. You need to have something that makes you different.
As a coach or consultant, you are in the business of “results.” Your clients are not going to care how amazing your programming is if it doesn’t provide the results they are looking for. Remember, the best program on paper is not always the best program in practice. Build a relationship and connect with clients on a deeper level. Get to know them, really dig into each client and try to find out what they really want and deliver that.
Still Provide In-Personal Interactions
You likely already have some gym equipment in your home. If you do yoga or Pilates, you probably have a room set aside for your practice. Maybe you have a gym in your garage with lots of equipment. In-home coaching and consulting services are becoming more popular, as they provide a convenient way to get one-on-one help.
Be your Clients’ “One Stop Shop”
A great way to set yourself apart in the crowded field is to not only offer two or three different specialties that can work well together. There are many different types of coaching you can offer. Figuring out what niches you want to focus on can be a challenge, but if you mind-map your passions, interests, experience, and knowledge you can narrow it down relatively easy.
Be a “Professional” Coach
People who are unfamiliar with what it takes to actually run a successful remote business will often say things like, it must be nice to be your own boss and work whenever you want.” To an extent that is true. With a remote business, you don’t have a boss telling you when you have to start work. However, in order to be successful, you must hold yourself to a higher “World-Class” standard. If you want to be successful as a remote coach you need to treat it with respect. This business is not for everyone. If you are not self-motivated, you won’t make it. If you need someone telling you what to do and when to do it, you won’t make it. If you have an amateur mindset, you won’t make it.
Never Stop Learning
With the barrier of entry to online coaching so low, a great way to set yourself apart is through education. As an online coach or consultant, you need to wear many hats. You need to be proficient in psychology, sales, marketing, and personal development.
There are tons of resources for continuing your education. You don’t have to go to college to learn anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, biomechanics, or programming. You can attend online courses, seminars, and earn new certifications. These will not only open you up to new ideas, but they will also serve as excellent marketing tools.
How to Stay Productive While Working Remotly
One of the many blessings of the internet is that coaching and training entrepreneurs can easily work with their clients without meeting physically or having an office space.
More people are working from home. If you’re new to working remotely, these tips can help you stay productive and maintain balance.
Set a Regular Schedule
Having clear guidelines for when to work and when to call it a day helps many remote coaches and trainers maintain a work-life balance. That said, one of the benefits of remote work is flexibility, and sometimes you need to extend your day or start early to accommodate someone else’s time zone. When you do, be sure to wrap up earlier than usual or sleep in a bit the next morning to make up for it.
Create a Starting Routine
Deciding you’ll sit down at your desk and start work at a certain time is one thing. Creating a routine that guides you into the chair is another. What in your morning routine indicates you’re about to start work? A routine can be more powerful than a clock at helping you get started each day.
Establish Working Rules With the Other People Who Live in Your Space
Set ground rules with other people in your home or who share your space for when you work. If you have children at home with you, they will likely need clear rules about what they can and cannot do during your work time.
Take Your Breaks
Don’t short-change yourself during breaks, especially your lunch hour. You can use an app to lock yourself out of your computer for 60 minutes. Or you can just launch a simple clock or timer on the screen when you take a break. If you return to your desk after only 40 minutes, walk away for another 20.
Set-up Dedicated Office/Desk Space
Some homes do not have a dedicated library or a room that can be set aside specifically for use as an office. This does not mean that you cannot have a home office. It only means that some creativity is needed.
A kitchen table might not be the best place because the kitchen surfaces are also used for food preparation. Having to move your desk so that meals can be prepared is an expensive and potentially expensive interruption.
Identify a space that is not part of commonly used living areas. One with minimum distraction. It needs to be a space that you can set aside exclusively for use as an office. It needs to be a space that has enough room for you to work. If you have to walk in and out of your office several times a day, then it might not be the best place for it.
Set-up a Separate Phone Number
Set up a phone number that you only use for calls with clients. It doesn’t have to be a landline, second mobile phone, or even a SIM card. It can be a free VoIP service, such as Google Voice or a Skype number. Similar to some of the other tips, having a separate phone number helps you manage your work-life balance.
Thanks for reading!
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