The Best Way to Build a Coaching Business is Referrals

This is 12 in a series of 24 blog posts on Business and Marketing.

Chances are you have heard that the best way to build your coaching business, just like for any business, is through referrals.  Sometimes referrals come as a result of your networking and marketing efforts, and other times referrals come from existing clients.  As a coach, how do you earn referrals?

Networking, as discussed in the previous blog post, is a natural starting place.  Additionally, speaking or training as described in upcoming blog posts are excellent opportunities.  Ultimately, referrals are from people who know and trust you and recognize the value of your services.

When you are a new coaching business owner, letting your contacts know you are in business and what you do is essential.  Perhaps some of the people you know now want a coach.  Alternatively, the people you know now can help spread the word about what you do so that you build your network and generate referrals.

Perhaps the obvious point on referrals is earning referrals from your current clients.  Once you have coaching clients, they will talk about your coaching services.  This will lead to interest and inquiries.  Ultimately, your clients will give your name to people they know that are looking for a coach or that will benefit from coaching services.  Earning referrals is based on providing professional and effective coaching.

Cathy Liska

For content specific to coach training and coaching, guest blog posts are welcome.

Most blog posts here are written or curated by Cathy Liska, Guide from the Side®, CDP, MCC.

Cathy is CEO/Founder of the Center for Coaching Certification, CCC. As Guide from the Side®, she is a sought-after trainer and coach with over 30 years of experience in business management and ownership. Cathy built her diverse team at CCC that includes trainers, customer service, and coaches. She was Co-Leader for ICF’s Ethics Community of Practice, on the Leadership Team for the review and updating of the Code of Ethics in 2024, and active in the Ethics Water Cooler. To ensure she stays current in related areas of expertise, Cathy has earned the following: ICF’s Master Certified Coach (MCC), Certified Coach Trainer, Certified Consumer Credit Counselor, Certificate of Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership and Management, Grief Support Group Facilitator, Certified in the Drucker Self-Assessment Tool, Certified Apartment Manager, Certified Civil and Family Mediator, and Certified in DISC.

Cathy’s clients range from attorneys to corporate executives, government to nonprofit, entrepreneurs to children, under or unemployed to newly retired. She specializes in communication, management, conflict, and leadership. Her personal mission statement is “People.” Cathy is known for her passion to serve others so they achieve the results they want.

Podcast: https://www.coachcert.com/podcast.html

Publications: Coaching Perspectives (a series of books with chapters by coach training graduates) https://www.coachcert.com/resources/recommended-reading/coaching-perspectives-series-by-the-center-for-coaching-certification-and-more.html

You may also like...