Have you ever been asked: "Are health coaches legit?"

On face value this may seem like a forward and uninformed question, but it is a valid question to ask.

Are health coaches legit?

When almost 90% of all business cards end up in the trash, it’s essential that your business card stands out.

In this post we’ll share our top 8 tips on how to create your own winning health coach business cards, to help you hook new clients. 

Health Coach Business Cards: What to Include

The goal of your business card is to attract a potential client into your inbound marketing funnel. To achieve this, your business card should contain the following 8 key elements:

1. Full Name, Title and Credentials

Don’t be shy about including your qualifications on your business card. Your business card should include any coaching certifications as well as any degrees or diplomas you hold in the areas of health, wellness, medicine or fitness.

Here’s an example for you: Joanne Smith is a NBC-HWC certified health and wellness coach, who also holds a PhD is biochemistry. Therefore Joanne would write her name (and credentials) as follows:

Joanne Smith, PhD, NBC-HWC

By including PhD on her business card, Joanne will attract clients that are looking for a coach that can help them understand the research and the scientific studies associated with healthy living. And the addition of NBC-HWC will allow prospective clients and/or future employers to immediately recognize that Joanne has sat her National Board Certification as a Health and Wellness Coach.

2. Coaching Specialization

Niche marketing 101 is about specializing your services to the needs of your avatar client. If you haven’t quite pinned down your health coaching niche, it’s worth taking the time to do this. You can start by reflecting on your own health journey, and asking yourself the following questions:

• Have you overcome any challenges?
• What are you most passionate about?
• What is it about coaching that excites you?

The answers to these questions will help shape your client avatar and help you hone your coaching specialization.

Here’s a list of 13 health coaching niches you may like to consider:

1. Weight Loss Specialist Coach
2. Insulin Specialist Coach
3. Women’s Nutrition Coach
4. Senior’s Wellness Coach
5. Hormonal Balance Coach
6. Habit Change Specialist Coach
7. Fitness Coach
8. Metabolic Health Coach
9. Mood Balance Coach
10. Stress Management Coach
11. Veterans Health Coach
12. Mental Health Coach
13. Lifestyle Coach

3. Business Name

A catchy business name is key to attracting your target audience, and should feature prominently on your business card.

Not sure of what to name your health coaching business? Here’s a comprehensive list of real health, wellness and fitness business names to inspire you.

Once you’ve come up with your business name, it’s a good idea to protect it legally. But first you should look into whether the domain you’re after is available. Next, check your state’s Department of Revenue directory to see if it hasn’t already been taken by another business. You may also want to consider trademarking your business name. The United States Patent and Trademark Office allows you to check if your business name has been used by another company in the United States. If your business name is available you can trademark it for a small fee and this will legally protect your business name from being used by others.

4. Logo

Including a captivating logo on your business card will help draw attention to your business card. Your logo is a symbol that brings recognition to your business, your brand and your products and services. Your logo should be simple and eye-catching to your niche market.

If you don’t have a logo, and you’re unsure where to start, Canva offer a Free Logo Maker that is simple and straightforward to use. Alternatively, hiring a graphic designer to help design a logo to fit your business brand would be a reasonable investment. You can find freelance graphic designers at 48 Hours Logo or Fiverr.

5. Website URL

Your health and wellness business website is the first point of contact a potential client will visit, and should be included on your business card.

Whether your goal is to book your first client, attract subscribers to your YouTube Vlog, or promote an online health summit, having a business website is essential.

Don’t have a website yet?  Launching your own professional website is easier than you might think. Your first step will be to check the availability of your domain name. You can do this using Instant Domain Search. Once you’ve selected your unique domain name you can purchase it through a domain name registrar. Two popular domain providers are GoDaddy and NameCheap. The final step will be to develop your website. Ready-made themes on WordPress, Squarespace  or Wix, make developing a stunning website accessible to web-developing newbies.

6. Email Address/Phone Number/Social Media Tags

You will find that each generational age group will have a preferred form of communication, so it’s good practice to include your email address, your phone number and your social media tags on your business card. Zoomers and Millennials will prefer digital communication in the form of social media (Facebook, Instagram or Tiktok) and email, whilst Boomers and Gen Xers will prefer to pick up the phone to contact you.

7. Business Address/Business Location

It’s not critical to include your physical postal address on your business card, especially if you work from home. However, including the city, state or country your business is based in, will give prospective clients a geographic picture of your business location, even if your services are provided online.

8. Tagline or Slogan

A memorable slogan or tagline that embodies your coaching business brand is a fantastic inclusion on your business card.

A great slogan or tagline will differentiate your brand and impart positive feelings about your brand with your target audience. It must be memorable and should include a key benefit to your niche market.

Here’s 3 famous slogans and taglines to inspire you:

1. Nike: “Just do it.”
2. Apple: “Think different.”
3. Walmart: “Save money. Live better.”

6 Design Tips for Eye-Catching Health Coach Business Cards

Whether you choose to outsource your business card design to a graphic designer, or DIY your design, it’s smart to do your research regarding color themes, layouts and font styles that will fit your health coach brand. Here’s 6 handy tips to get you started:

1. Color Scheme

Your business card color scheme should align with your other marketing content, including your website.

If you’re designing your own business cards, a handy tip that many designers suggest is the 60-30-10 rule for color combinations:

• Your main color should be 60% of the surface of your card.
• 30% of your card should be your secondary color.
• Your accent color should cover 10% of your card.

Another clever tip is to use a color scheme that evokes the emotions you want your potential clients to feel when they read your card. For example:

• Red: Excitement, warmth.
• Green: Relaxation, nature.
• Blue: Friendly, creativity.
• Purple: Soothing, royal.
• Orange: Urgency, passion.
• Yellow: Cheerfulness, confidence.

2. Basic Design Principles

A business card is like any other printed design material, and this means that the basic principles of paper-based design apply. Ensure you maintain a minimum size for your typography to maintain legibility and keep your key copy at least 5 mm from the trim edge. It’s best to design in CMYK and work at 300 DPI for quality reproduction.

3. Choose a Simple Design

Less is more when it comes to business card design. Keeping your design simple will help your potential client find your business details quickly and easily. Make sure to include white space (the areas on your card that are left open), as this will allow the elements on your card to pop.

4. Use Legible Font

Use readable font on your business cards, as this will give them a clean look and will help people with poor eyesight extract the necessary information from your card.

5. Size Matters

When it comes to the size of your business cards, size really does matter. Ideally, your cards should be small enough to fit into a pocket or a wallet. The average size of a traditional horizontal rectangular card is 85 x 55 mm.

Whilst it’s perfectly okay to stick with the traditional business card shape, it’s totally reasonable to experiment with the geometry of your cards. Just remember to keep it small! If you’re wanting to stand out, but you’re not sure about venturing away from the rectangular card shape, maybe you could consider a vertical rectangular card instead?

6. Proofread

Errors on your business cards is an absolute no no! Thoroughly proofread your cards before hitting print. Look out for typos, spelling mistakes, formatting issues and incorrect contact details. A useful tip is to get a friend or colleague to look over your cards as well. A fresh set of eyes may see something you have overlooked.

DIY Health Coach Business Card Design

If you choose to design your own health coach business cards, there are plenty of freely accessible online tools to help you achieve a professional finish. Two popular online design tools are:

1. Canva

Canva is an amazing resource that offers a comprehensive directory of freely available business card templates, fonts and graphics. You can also upload your own business logo and other brand graphics to include on your cards.

As a PHCI student, you will have access to the PHCI business card template in Canva. All you need to do is add your own details.

2. Vistaprint

Vistaprint is best known as a printing service, but they also provide an extensive directory of freely available business card templates. You can also upload your own graphics and logos and add these to an existing template.

How to Print Your Health Coach Business Cards

You’ve designed your business card, now it’s time to get them printed. Vistaprint and Canva both offer a variety of card materials and finishes for you to choose from depending on your budget and personal preference, including:

• Coated card – low quality, typically coated only on one side.
• Quality art board – thick, coated on both sides. Good business cards are usually printed on 80-pound cover stock.
• Textured – narrow ridges are indented into the textured card. Textured cards have a traditional appearance.
• Laminated – printed and sealed on both sides with a thin laminate substance. Laminate can have a matte finish (easy to write on), or a glossy finish (ultra shiny).

Stunning Health Coach Business Card Examples

Looking for design inspo? We’ve hand-picked the following 5 eye-catching Canva business card templates to inspire you. Each design elicits its own unique mood and feel. Which is your favorite?

1. Rainbow Reiki Business Card

2. Colorful Floral Spa Business Card

3. Minimal Boho Yoga Studio Business Card

4. Colorful Shapes Reiki Business Card

5. Olive Green Feminine Modern Beauty Clinic Business Card

5 Common Business Card Mistakes to Avoid

Here’s a list of 5 common mistakes you should avoid when designing your health coach business cards:

1. Card is too big. Make sure your business cards are small enough to fit in a pocket or a wallet.
2. Dull and boring. You want your design to standout amongst your competitors.
3. Poor quality printing or paper. You could have the best-designed card in the business, but if the finish is poor, then it’s going to have a negative impact on your potential client.
4. Cluttered design. Make sure you leave enough white space and only include the essential elements on your cards.
5. Unclear contact information. Make it easy for your prospective client to find your contact details, or you may find your card in the bin.

Recap

Whether you choose to design you own health coach business cards, or outsource to a graphic designer, here’s a summary of the 8 key elements you should include to make your health coach business cards irresistible:

1. Full Name, Title and Credentials
2. Coaching Specialization
3. Business Name
4. Logo
5. Website URL
6. Email Address/Phone Number/Social Media Tags
7. Business Address/Business Location
8. Tagline or Slogan

Now it’s time to for you to get creative with your own health coach business card design!

As of July 2021, the social media platform TikTok has 732 million monthly active global users, and counting. If you haven’t jumped on the bandwagon yet, you might be assuming that TikTok users are primarily teenagers; however, in actuality, teens only make up about 25% of users. It’s men and women over the age of 30 who comprise 53% of TikTok users—which happens to be the perfect demographic for health coaching services.

182 million women over 30 are using TikTok to connect, be entertained, look for new information, and learn new things. With these kinds of numbers—and the continued early growth opportunities for new creator accounts—it’s no wonder today’s guest, Danielle Meitiv, was able to grow her TikTok following, and her health coaching business, so astonishingly fast.

It was this Facebook post, which Danielle Meitiv shared in our PHCI Graduates group, that inspired our interview with the new coach:

What made Danielle pursue a health coaching career in her late 40s?

What business experience did she have, and how important was that in her success?

How did she use TikTok to reach more people and grow her business so rapidly?

From Environmental Scientist to Primal Health Coach and TikTok Success

Danielle Meitiv, M.S, is a certified Primal Health Coach, a Hashimoto’s “thriver,” and a self-proclaimed “total science geek!” who helps people with Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism so they can get their lives back.

For over 20 years, Danielle worked as a marine biologist and environmental scientist. She loved it, but yearned for something that could help her make a difference in a more tangible, connected way.

Through a series of culminating experiences, Danielle found her way to the Primal Health Coach Institute (PHCI). “I’ve always been fascinated with health, with biology and human evolution. That’s why ancestral health is such a natural fit for me.

There was no question, when I decided to become a health coach, that I was gonna do it with PHCI. I didn’t want to go somewhere where I’d have to filter what they’re teaching through a more scientific lens. I went to PHCI where we actually start with science. I met the Co-Founder Mark Sisson this past weekend, and I was like, ‘You’re the reason I woke up to ancestral health.'”

In February 2020, as a PHCI grad, Danielle joined our affiliate program called Healthy Profit University, by Michelle Leotta, and by February 2021 she put some of these new business strategies to work, and the results have been pretty incredible!

Q: Before you changed careers to become a health coach, would you say you considered yourself a businesswoman?

Danielle: “Oh, no at all. I knew nothing about business. In fact, a few years ago, if you told me that this requires actually starting a business, I’m not sure I would’ve done it (laughing). That idea would’ve just been too scary. And, I don’t think it occurred to me that I was gonna have to start a business until I was like, ‘Oh…well, now that I learned how to be a health coach, now I’m going to learn to be a business person.’ This makes sense, it’s the next set of skills I need to learn.

Having a business just means that you have something to sell. And you come up with structures by which to sell them, to get paid, and to deliver services. It’s a very simple concept, but it was still foreign to me until I saw Michelle walking through it, like, ‘Here are some marketing basics. This is what a mailing list is for.'”

Q: Tell us, how did you get 760 people enrolled in your challenge so early in your health coaching business?

Danielle: “I promoted my first challenge with no mailing list and just 60 TikTok followers, resulting in 35 people enrolled. The next challenge I ran in March ended up with 760 people. And then I ran the challenge again in May with 3,250 people. I literally went from 35 to basically 100 times more participants in three months. It was amazing.

I remember in January, just two months prior, I thought TikTok was for 13-year-olds making dance videos. But yeah, there’s definitely no question that TikTok soon became the foundation of my business. And now, my mailing list has almost 10,000 people on it and I have almost 120,000 followers on TikTok. It’s insane.

What I loved about the free challenge business strategy is that it’s literally five days of someone sampling your coaching. People experience the way I teach, the way I speak, my personality…By the time somebody got on a consultation call with me, I knew that they already met me.”

Q: Does the 5-day challenge serve as a filter to get people on your email list and into private coaching?

Danielle: “I see the challenge as my main marketing tool. Everybody has to be on my email list to be in the challenge because it’s delivered entirely via email.

At the end of every TikTok, I send viewers to my freebie so that I’m able to funnel them from TikTok onto my email list. In my freebie, a thyroid healing guide, I provide five days of recipes and a shopping list, as well as an explanation of what Hashimoto’s is, why it affects us, and how a paleo diet can address it.

When I’m on TikTok and people tell me, ‘Oh my God, I don’t know where to get started!’ I’ll reply, ‘I have a free guide. Just go check it out here…‘ So, these people get my entire philosophy downloaded into their inboxes where I eventually invite them to my Facebook group or to a consultation call.

Q: What would you say to coaches who are hesitant to give away so much helpful information for free?

Danielle: “Always give away your best stuff for free. Honestly, because, well, first of all, you’re not selling information.

What people are buying from you is the guidance, the interpretation, somebody to hold their hand and explain to them how to apply it in their life.

I have a waiting list for my clients right now. Trust me, they want somebody to talk to and walk them through it. They want your help.

My goal is to change people’s lives. I want to be part of the healthcare revolution, helping people take back their power, especially women.

But what’s the likelihood that it’s only going to be free challenges, and I’m never gonna make a dime? It’s not likely at all because I’m already making a living, you see? So yeah, give away your best stuff for free because people go, ‘Wow, that’s what she does for free, I wonder what a coaching call is, or what we can do in six months of coaching.’

There are 9,200 people on my email list. Who can build a loyal list that quickly and for free? I mean, it’s shocking to me when I say these numbers.“

Q: So what would you say to coaches who are hesitant to try TikTok because they don’t think they have time or the patience to learn how?

Danielle: “Well, I’m totally sympathetic, right? I get that there’s a learning curve. The good news is, in the beginning, nobody knows who we are. If I look stupid in front of my 60 followers, who cares. If you post a video and hate it—don’t delete it because the TikTok algorithm does not like that—you can change the settings to private, and nobody else will see it.

You can’t get good until you’re first bad at something, right? Just this week at The Ancestral Health Symposium, we discussed desirable difficulties and the things that actually stretch your brain; you make mistakes, and those are the things that actually keep your brain young…so it’s good to make mistakes.”

It just so happens that TikTok is my medium. I’m very good at video, and I’m comfortable with it. You just gotta pick one platform that you can be authentic on, and keep showing up. But it’s quite an easy app to learn, and there are a million tutorials out there.”

Q: What is the top mistake you see creators making on TikTok?

Danielle: “I think the biggest one that I’ve seen people make and then correct—which is like night and day—is that they’re just showing their food or their hands, and they’re hiding behind the camera.

That’s a huge one because TikTok is all about interacting with people…Don’t worry about things like the airbrush of Instagram, because the whole point is to be real. That’s when people will respond to you. Especially as a coach, they want to know who you are because you’re literally gonna hold their hand through some pretty emotional stuff, right? So that’s probably one of the biggest mistakes I see.”

Learn more about the strategies Danielle Meitiv used to grow her brand new health coaching business using TikTok and a free 5-day challenge, here, in her interview on Michelle Leotta’s Health Coach Power Community podcast. 

]]> https://www.primalhealthcoach.com/blog/5-stunning-mental-health-coaching-websites-that-inspire/ Mon, 12 Jul 2021 21:31:53 +0000 https://www.primalhealthcoach.com/?p=8901

When it comes to stunning health coaching websites, we’ve covered categories like fitness, primal, nutrition, and wellness so far in this series. And now, with the trend of mental health coaching on the rise, it’s time to feature sites from some of the coaches who’ve caught our attention.

Notice what feeling the images and brand choices portray, and how clear their messaging is. If you only have a few seconds to hook a new visitor, you’d better make it count. Get ready to be inspired, coaches!

1. DeeplyLiving.com

At a Glance:

• Laurissa’s primary image instantly portrays “deeply living.” The images throughout her website are so emotive.
• She calls herself a Mindset & Fulfillment Coach, which is a creative enough to set her apart and is easily understood at first glance.
• Notice how her pop-ups and freebies are all geared towards anxiety and relaxing from overwhelm, which is what her ICA needs.
• I like how she added testimonials to the sidebar that can be seen on any page of her site.

What Makes it Special:

• Her mental health blog consists of vlogs, AKA video blog posts. Click on her blog sub-menu and notice the categories: mental health, meditation, online mental health resources, and books she recommends.
• Her FAQ page answers common questions like “What’s the difference between a therapist and a life coach?” and “What does the free 30-minute consult consist of?”
• Laurissa daringly shares her story about battling anxiety and depression, and how, from there, she climbed out of hopelessness with a passion for her new life purpose: to coach others through the same experience.
• Leveraging her love of travel to meet the needs of her ICA, Laurissa offers services as a Travel Coach, helping people who feel overwhelmed about where to start plan a trip, so that she does the planning and “they can just get excited about it!!”

2. AnyaPerry.com

At a Glance:

• Anya’s opening image and headline are spot-on, portraying her in a peaceful, connected state—while the headline asks, “Chronically stressed and exhausted?” Be sure to check out all of her images, they’re envy-inducing!
• Her Freebie is “50 simple and effective ways to relieve stress and anxiety with ease,” which visitors are directed to throughout the site.
• Right below the fold, you get to know Anya in two sentences, as well as her mission: “to help ambitious women like you overcome stress, exhaustion, and overwhelm so you can experience balance, joy, and peace in your life without giving up on your ultimate goals.”
• Anya features 3 coaching services on her home page: 1:1 Coaching, Group Programs, and Intensives—which she describes as “One of my most popular offers for ambitious and independent leaders.”

What Makes it Special:

• I felt so inspired by Anya’s Group Programs page because she does a great job telling people what to expect, and it comes to life with video testimonials and Facebook screenshots.
• Her 1:1 coaching package includes a “post-completion” coaching call (within 6 months). That’s a great way to follow-up with clients, give them added accountability, and possibly re-enroll a former client.
• Brilliant! Anya offers a fast-acting bonus for 1:1 coaching—Sign up within 48 hours of applying and get an additional session with an extra month of coaching support. This creates a sense of urgency and prevents clients from dropping off after consultations.
• Anya came up with a clever name for consultation calls: Clarity Calls. On her About page, she invites people to a Clarity Call and embeds a booking calendar (with Acuity), which means less obstacles for an eager visitor.

3. KellyKristinTraining.com

At a Glance:

• It’s very clear right away what Kelly specializes in, who she helps, and with what problem. “I help women who have been in toxic relationships break the cycle, heal, love themselves and experience the love and life they deserve…”
• Right below the fold she demonstrates industry proof, “Kelly has been named one of the ‘Top 10 Female Life Coaches in 2021’ by Yahoo! Finance.”
• Her 3 coaching offers are right on the home page. 1:1 Coaching, DIY and Workshops, and Single Sessions with her signature “Rapid Transformation” process.

What Makes it Special:

• Kelly is clearly a veteran…if you keep scrolling you’ll see she has a podcast with over 100 episodes, a YouTube channel, and she published a book, The Call to Rise: A Guide to Healing and Becoming the Powerful Woman You Are Meant to Be.
• Kelly wisely repurposed her YouTube videos on her blog, embedding each YouTube video as its own blog post.
• On her 1:1 coaching page, she shares a bulleted list titled “This is for the woman who”—followed by bulleted descriptions like—“Is tired of pretending everything is ‘fine’…Wants to end the cycle of toxic relationships…”
• I love how Kelly explains, under the FAQs, that you have to be ready to sign up for coaching, as well as why she charges for the first session, and what to do if you’re not ready.

4. ManUpLifeCoaching.com

At a Glance:

• His branding is on point. Between the language he uses, the simple dark color scheme, and the brand name itself, I’m digging the clarity.
• It’s clear where Dennis wants visitors to navigate >> “Schedule your free strategy session now.”
• Smart move putting a video below the fold where Dennis answers the question: What is Man-UP! Life Coaching?
• The scrolling home page has distinct sections with simple lines and black/white aesthetics. This helps keep visitors’ attention longer.

What Makes it Special:

• Man-UP! Life Coaching has its own system (image above) “based on science-backed methodologies for restructuring the brain’s cognitive functions.” This is a great way to legitimize your brand and instill trust in your visitors.
• How cool is it that Dennis has a co-coach working under his brand now, and who is also a Man-UP! Life Coaching success story? That’s the ultimate testimonial, a client with a transformational story who converts to a coach working as Dennis’ protégé.
• His client stories and testimonials are provided in video format with a distinct graphic design aesthetic that works great with his branding.
• Dennis embedded his Strategy Session intake form on the home page, which helps visitors take action even quicker.

5. RawBeauty.Co

At a Glance:

• You can tell this is much more than a coaching business; it’s a complete brand that makes visitors want to explore.
• Right below the fold are some of her featured podcast episodes, and all of the topics relate to self-love and anxiety.
• The About page starts with a clear message: “Raw Beauty Co. is dedicated to helping women live from a place of self love,” followed by the company vision and manifesto phrases like “We imagine a world full of women living their most authentic lives.”
• There’s a lot to see on this website, but it’s organized in such a way that feels calm, organized, and enjoyable to navigate.

What Makes it Special:

• Throughout the site, you get to know Erin, the founder, and her many teammates. Everyone is introduced or featured, which gives this big brand a personable quality.
• Under the Coaching tab you’ll find a Free Webinar, which leads curious visitors through a series of questions to consider if the free webinar is right for them. This is a great way to build trust with new followers.
• Raw Beauty Co. gives back: Raw Beauty Talks Society was founded “to raise funds and provide mentorship for organizations and initiatives that give girls and boys the super powers of self-esteem, confidence, personal growth and media literacy.”
• The brand comes to life even more when you check out their Shop page for all sorts of brand-cohesive items that speak to the interests of their ideal client.
• Visit the 1:1 Coaching page and you’ll see Erin embedded the booking calendar (using Calendly) and intake form right onto the page—which means it’s easier for visitors to act on an instinct.

Feeling inspired by these 5 stellar websites? Get ready to step up your website game with the help of our pro tips website guide here. And if you’re in love with your current site, perhaps it’s time to boost your SEO so that your own stunning health coaching website gets noticed. 

]]> https://www.primalhealthcoach.com/blog/15-strategies-i-used-to-succeed-as-an-intermittent-fasting-health-coach/ Tue, 15 Jun 2021 18:29:45 +0000 https://www.primalhealthcoach.com/?p=8830

Is intermittent fasting a fad or the future? I remember when I was asked that question in 2019 by podcast host Joey Thurman on Fad or Future. I replied, “It’s the past and the future.”

If you’re interested in joining the movement as a health coach specializing in the intermittent fasting (IF) niche, I’ve put together a list of my top strategies that have helped me succeed. Although I was hesitant to label myself as an IF coach at first, everything got easier once I did. It’s been almost four years now, and along the way I’ve coached thousands of people in webinars, fasting summits, group programs, one-on-one coaching, and in my course Intermittent Fasting Freedom.

I came into this with just a handful of clients each year, and over the next two years, I attracted more clients than I can take on! Perhaps these 15 tips will take your intermittent fasting coaching business to new heights, too…

1. Identify Your Unique Point of View

In a formerly spacious niche that’s currently exploding, it’s important to identify your unique perspective and message about Intermittent Fasting. What’s one thing you wish everyone tried or simplified? Zero-in on that point of difference and think of it like your new tagline.

2. Create a Method or Step-by-Step System

If you want to establish yourself as the go-to person, it’s time to come up with your own method, framework, or step-by-step system to share with your audience. This will serve as the backbone of your free and paid content, as well as a topic to pitch to podcast hosts and other speaking opportunities.

3. Design a Freebie for Sharing Your Framework

As marketers today, we need to build trust and social proof by blasting our audience with lots of value from our unique point of view. What kind of freebie will you create? A mini e-book, a 3-part video series, a webinar, or IF roadmap? Don’t hesitate to put your good stuff in there. No matter how simple IF is to implement, or how much you gave away, plenty of people will still want more support (that they’re willing to pay for).

4. Title Yourself Everywhere as an IF Coach

You’re claiming your niche and this needs to be obvious everywhere your name is listed. Google helps people find me because my website and bios all say I’m an Intermittent Fasting Coach. Add it to your…

• Website: Header, Business Logo, About Page, Services page, and the main tagline message on your Home Page
• Social Media Bios and Headers
• Email Signature (personal and business)
• Bio Used for Interviews
• Business Cards (if using)

5. Share Your Freebie Everywhere

Your primary marketing focus, now, is getting your freebie out to anyone who’s interested (thus, building your email list). When I say everywhere, I mean everywhere…

Provide a link to your freebie on your website home page, your email signature, your business card, your social media bios. Provide a link in your CTA (call-to-action) on social media post captions at least once a week, too.

6. Know Your Teaching Points and Your Wheelhouse

What are your top three teaching points, and how can you solidify the language so that it rolls off your tongue and your marketing message resonates with your ideal client?

This is a good time, also, to get clear on what’s out of your wheelhouse. Choose one or two IF goals to specialize in, and decide which ones you’re better off sidestepping. Staying in your lane helps to strengthen your position in the field while sending a clear message to your followers, attracting the right clients for you.

7. Don’t Be Afraid to Share Free Advice

The free value you provide does not end with your freebie. You are going to give and give and give—within reason and respecting your personal boundaries—because it undoubtedly comes back to you tenfold. This is the fastest way to establish yourself as an authority in the field.

As one of my business coaches, Joey Ragona, told me, “Remember that ‘You get everything you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want,’ (which is a quote from Zig Ziglar)… So, join groups where your audience hangs out, and begin helping, adding value…and don’t ask for anything in return.”

When I embraced this method, my email list and business soon exploded within 6 months of applying this strategy along with Tips #9, 10, 11, and 15.

8. Engage Your Email Subscribers

Nurture the new email subscribers who’ve downloaded your freebie with recurring weekly or bi-weekly emails related to intermittent fasting. They’ve already told you they’re interested and want your help. Now all you have to do is stay top of mind and continue to build rapport and trust so that when the time is right they’re ready to take the next step with you.

9. Choose One Platform and Go All In

Save yourself the stress and overwhelm by choosing your favorite social media platform—where, ideally, your ideal clients hang out, too—and go all in. Be consistent for 3 months, and by then you’ll know whether to continue or shift elsewhere. Find a social media expert or mentor who specializes on that platform so you can learn how to optimize it from the get-go.

10. Post Videos with Your IF Tips

People need to get to know you, your personality, and your point of view. Aim to post weekly videos ranging anywhere from 1 minute to 15 minutes so you can share your top tips, solutions, and related news. Don’t overthink it. This will serve as great practice for you to find your voice, articulate your ideas, and prepare for tip #11 ahead.

11. Get Booked for Speaking Engagements

Tell anyone you know in the industry that you’re looking to be a guest speaker on podcasts, wellness events, online summits. Solidify one or two IF topics you feel most comfortable speaking on—be sure it works well with your freebie—and start emailing podcast hosts with your topic ideas.

After being on dozens of summits and podcasts, I learned that this has a major cumulative effect. Stick with it for a year and you’ll see, midway through the following year, that people are flocking to you. I remember the day it all seemed to culminate for me, and I nearly cried to my family and coach that my dedication finally paid off!

12. Meet Clients Exactly Where They’re at

It’s likely that half of your potential clients have already tried intermittent fasting before they found you, and the other half are intimidated by the idea. No matter where they come from, meet them where they’re at. Your clients will thank you for being so patient with them (through the stages of change), and they’ll have breakthroughs like never before.

13. Coach as Many People as You Can (more data and experience)

This didn’t become as obvious to me until I began group coaching. I started with groups of 3-6 people, but about 6 months later I started co-coaching groups of 20-30 people. Not until I coached hundreds of people in under a year did I notice incredible trends and insights that weren’t apparent with individual clients. Groups really took my professionalism, confidence, and expertise to a new level.

14. Start a Community

Unless you have dozens of paying clients eager to join your community already, start a public community that anyone can join and invite their friends. There’s plenty of supporting evidence to suggest that a person is far more likely to succeed at and stick to their goal behaviors when they receive adequate social support. Your community might be just what they need to make a lasting change.

15. Collaborate with Other Coaches and Businesses

This one is loaded with potential, yet it takes some patience and persistence. After dozens of seemingly fruitless collaborations, I eventually hit the jackpot; I found well-established companies and coaches to collaborate with, which means I practically inherited their followers, subscribers, clients, and traffic. I was able to put less effort into my marketing strategy, and more effort into doing what I do best: coaching.

]]> https://www.primalhealthcoach.com/blog/5-stunning-wellness-driven-health-coaching-websites-that-inspire/ Mon, 05 Apr 2021 18:48:13 +0000 https://www.primalhealthcoach.com/?p=8622

What are some simple design choices you can make on your health coaching website so that visitors have a positive impression in under 1 second? And, once they begin to scroll, what messaging, aesthetics, and content will keep those curious visitors engaged?

Today we’re highlighting 5 health coaching websites that inspire through thoughtful design and holistic wellness coaching. As you may know, it requires more than a nutritious diet or fitness to cultivate wellness of the whole body, mind, and spirit, and these coaches accentuate this important dynamic.

Anyone who lands on these wellness websites—whether by inbound marketing or search engine optimization (SEO)—will have quite a memorable experience. Let’s take a look at what makes them so special…

1. The Mama Nation

At a Glance:

• She has a knack for catchy phrases and brand integration—#maverickmama, mama nation, and BRules—mentioned repeatedly and defined throughout her website.
• Her freebie is right below the scroll, with an eye-catching, alluring image, headline, and call-to-action (CTA): “Bust Your Stress Levels So You Can Create a Life of Amazing Moments With Your Kids”.
• It’s clear from the start that she wants you in her community called Mama Nation. She really makes you want to be a part of something!

What Makes it Special:

• This is the first health coaching website I’ve seen that features poetry! It’s clear that Claire is passionate about writing poems, and it works so well for her community of stressed-out moms striving for more balance and mindfulness.
• Most websites’ About pages display long, text-heavy stories that risk losing visitors’ attention too soon, but Claire did things differently. She simplified the About page by opening with an easy-to-digest summary right at the top.
• Keep scrolling on her About page, and you’ll see she defines the word “Maverick” which is an important part of her brand message and community hashtag #MaverickMama.
• Start reading Claire’s bio and you get the feeling that she knows exactly where you’re coming from as a stressed mom who struggles to find herself and balance it all. She’s authentic, willing to be vulnerable, and challenges the norm.
• On her Podcast page, she entices visitors with a CTA, “Join the waitlist,” where you’ll be the first to know when new episodes are published. What a great strategy to build anticipation for her upcoming show: The Mama Nation Podcast.

2. That Wonderful Feeling

At a Glance:

• With this beautiful image on the intro page, AKA splash page, coach Muskan Taurani truly captures the feeling behind her business name. How wonderful it must feel to lie there in the grass and sunshine without a care in the world!
• Her home page greets visitors with thumbnail images that entice and help navigate directly to her top pages: About, Recipes, Coaching, and Blog. This is a neat idea for new coaches who have yet to create a free offer or email subscriber list.
• Scroll a bit further and you see all 4 of her offers on the home page: a free downloadable resource, an invite to a coaching consultation, and her program options—including her prices…you don’t see that often, but visitors do appreciate the transparency.

What Makes it Special:

• Every chance she gets, she shows you that her philosophy is about more than just physical health, including joy, well-being, and life balance.
• Her Health Coaching page opens with “What is a Health Coach?” which is a smart move considering health coaching is still a new concept to most people.
• Muskan doesn’t hold back in her About story. She’s honest and vulnerable, letting visitors in on the journey she took to get here and who she truly is.

3. Gro With Clo

At a Glance:

• Coach Chloe Maleski’s colors and branding are inviting and consistent throughout. I appreciate the combination of colors, soft peach with deep cyan-green, a unique design choice that may just help cast a subliminal, lasting impression.
• Right away, on the primary image, she invites visitors to “Work With Me” on the call-to-action (CTA) button.
• Throughout the home page, you see “Gro With Clo” text and logo variations interspersed—a smart strategy for increasing brand recognition.

What Makes it Special:

• Right below the fold, Chloe talks about “Why Mental Game?” is essential in a holistic model for individuals and teams striving to achieve peak performance.
• Every single page of her website is accessible by continuously scrolling the home page, as well as via traditional menu navigation.
• Brilliant move embedding a new client application on the home page, Chloe. This helps remove any barriers to entry, allowing visitors to take action when instinct and curiosity strike.
• Scroll to the end of her home page and you’ll see this grid of ass-kicking gym photos that showcase Chloe’s versatility and passion for athletic performance.

4. Charlene Gisele

At a Glance:

• You immediately get a feel for Charlene’s professional vibe with the clean design, black and white style, and the composed look she portrays in her primary image. I love the duality achieved with her second photo, smiling in the Primal Health Coach gear, too.
• Many new coaches are hesitant to use their name as the business name, but, using Charlene’s website as an example, aren’t visitors more likely to remember her name and see her as an authority thanks to her self-branded approach? Yes. 
• Notice the CTA button right on the main image, “Book a Call.” She also shares several free resources and invitations to work with her across her entire site.
• Right at first scroll, visitors are made aware of Charlene’s niche clientele (those who work in the legal sector), and they get an idea of the deep work she does—as she is “lovingly dubbed ‘the Soulicitor.'”

What Makes it Special:

• Her About page explains the concept of “Primal Health,” which is a great idea for any primal-driven coach and website.
• We don’t see this often: Charlene displays images of herself working with 1-on-1 clients. This is a simple move that can help clients envision themselves working with her as a personal coach.
• Her YouTube section (on the Press and Media page) really demonstrates industry proof and authority in her field.
• It’s quite amazing how many resources and services Charlene has to offer her visitors. Be sure to view her Breathwork page, under the Online Classes tab, where you’ll see some effective content blocks and design ideas that make the text-heavy page easy to read and enticing to engage with.
• The “Coached by Charlene” program screams holistic wellness. Inspired by the earth’s elements, the pillars of her program include breathing techniques, fasting, cold therapy, primal eating, earthing/grounding, as well as meditation, sexuality, and sun exposure.
• And so much more…this website can captivate a visitor for hours!

Learn more about Charlene in her Primal Health Coach success story, here.

5. Christine Hassler

At a Glance:

• A happy, inviting presence is generated by her photos, allowing a lively spirit to come through—and that’s precisely what you’d want in a wellness coach.
• Give subscribers something valuable: Christine’s CTA button and pop-up window offers a freebie assessment to help her ICA (ideal client avatar) get clear on their personal blocks.
• Notice the banner filled with logos of the top media brands she’s collaborated with, and be sure to visit her jaw-dropping Media page—something to inspire us all to dream big!
• All of her products, services, freebies, and courses have a place on her home page as well as dedicated menu tabs.

What Makes it Special:

• Christine’s messaging is very consistent. Her podcast, “Over It & On With It,” shares the same title of her freebie assessment and her “personal mastery course” program.
• Digging further into her Media page, I noticed “The top 10 reasons to book Christine,” videos of her presenting in action, keynote topics, professional testimonials, and more!
• Notice the 1-minute greeting video Christine created for her Coaching page.
• Try giving visitors all of the good stuff on your home page—like you see Christine doing—so they can simply scroll to find more value as they get to know you better.
• Her podcast page has a sub-menu that helps categorize her large podcast library for visitors so it’s easy to navigate to topics that meet their curiosity. The way she dedicates a single content block per episode is visitor-friendly, too.

Learn more about Christine’s wellness approach in her interview with us on Health Coach Radio.

Looking for more website inspiration? We’ve featured stunning health coaching websites in the Nutrition, Fitness, and Primal categories, too. Check them out and get started building your own website, next.

]]> https://www.primalhealthcoach.com/blog/testimonials-30-ways-to-capture-and-use-them-in-your-health-coaching-business/ Mon, 29 Mar 2021 17:10:33 +0000 https://www.primalhealthcoach.com/?p=8595

What’s one of the first things you look for when deciding on a purchase? Reviews and testimonials, of course!

People are skeptical in the world of health and dieting—as they should be—but a relatable testimonial can validate you and your services as a health coach, softening that apprehension as you build the know, like, and trust factors that lead to eager new clients. 

Below we’re sharing with you 30 ways to capture and utilize raving testimonials from your clients and followers, so you can build your reputation as a health coach and inspire others to work with you.

18 Ways to Capture Testimonials

= perfect for new coaches

1. Ask family and friends

“Tell me in a few sentences, ‘How would you describe my passion for health and wellness? How has my advice and support helped to improve your life?‘”

2. Feedback from workshops

Hosting a workshop or webinar? Use Zoom’s post-webinar survey, or provide a feedback form (see #5-10 for tips) for attendees to share comments and praise about your presentation.

3. Professional testimonials

Think: colleagues, mentors, even something like a guest blog post, or podcast interview. Help busy professionals put this together by providing an example version, AKA swipe copy, which also ensures you get what you’re looking for.

4. Happy clients? Just ask.

When a client or follower expresses gratitude for your work, that’s the perfect time to ask for a testimonial. “Wow, thank you! It would be a big help if you’d be willing to put that in a testimonial! I can send you a form so it’s quick and easy.” Have a form ready (see the next tips), and send it right over.

5. Provide questions with survey software

When a client agrees to provide a testimonial, try a free service (Google Forms, JotForm, Survey Monkey, or TypeForm) to send and collect answers in a professional, organized way.

Capture Testimonials With These Questions:

1. 1. Describe what your health/wellness/mindset was like before we started working together.
   2. Describe what you liked or loved most about working with me as your coach.
   3. What are the 3 most significant outcomes/results you’ve experienced since working with me? (include specific details like how your feel, before and after weight, measurements, etc…)
   4. Describe the most eye-opening realizations or breakthrough moments you had. (e.g. patterns you noticed, what you learned about yourself, nutrition insights, etc…)

Tips: Keep it simple and limit the number of questions. Send the form immediately after they agree to help.

6. Embed the form on your website

Check your website for a form-builder, content block, or plugin to embed a feedback form into a page on your site. The tools listed in #5 usually offer an embed code to capture and paste it on your site, too. Make the page “unlisted” (with a “noindex” tag—hidden from Google/public, see more SEO best practices here), and share the link when you ask for a testimonial. How professional!

7. Scheduled email template

Does your coaching program have a certain end-date? Schedule a testimonial/feedback request email to go out near the end of your program. Using Gmail business email, you can create and store custom-email templates, and with one click you can auto-populate the message. Schedule it when you start a new client, and you’ll have plenty of testimonials in no time.

8. Automated feedback form

Similar to #7, here you’d combine the testimonial request into a feedback form. This is highly recommended near the end of your coaching program because it helps you learn what you can improve upon, from the client’s perspective, while getting testimonials, too.

9. Fill in the blank

Share a fill-in-the-blank option, like this:

“Before I came to Marisa I was ______[feeling, struggling with].

__________ [continue to describe what life was like before we started working together].

Marisa helped me by _________, and I really appreciated _________.

Now I can say I __________ [feel, think, look, know ____] thanks to her guidance.

I __________ [describe the transformation and changes you now experience after working together].

I highly recommend her for anyone who_________.”

10. Give deadlines and details

It’s common for clients to unintentionally forget to reply or submit the form. Try providing them with more specifics when you send the message, like, “I’m creating a new coaching page on my site, so, your testimonial comes at the perfect time! I can’t wait to share your amazing story this week. Thank you!”

11. Entice clients with a “Celebration Pack”

Coach Angie Brazzale came up with this idea that incentivizes the feedback form. “Once they submit the form, they’re redirected to a ‘Celebration’ page containing an E-Book, a completion certificate, a discount for their next program, plus, a summary of all they’ve learned.”

12. Video requests

Videos are the most impactful form of testimonials! Ask your extroverted clients if they’d be willing to record a short video, answering 3 questions you’ve provided, to help share their success story.

13. Interview format

The client might feel more comfortable if you ask for a short interview. You can use Zoom, record it on your podcast, or use any audio recorder as you interview the client about their triumphant experience and outcome.

14. Screenshot candid client messages

When clients praise you via text or tag you on social media, take a screenshot and get their permission to share it (with or without their name shown). These can be a powerful form of social proof because it’s the real deal.

15. Before-and-after photos

People love the side-by-side comparison, and it doesn’t have to be weight loss to represent a transformation!

16. Offer anonymity

Even photos can be shared anonymously if you add a smiley emoji or your logo to cover the client’s face. Always offer an option to remain anonymous, especially in before/after photos, but don’t hesitate to emphasize the value of sharing their name.

17. HIPAA-compliant testimonial release form

Coaches who operate under HIPAA privacy laws can create a testimonial release form, like this one, where you’d state their privacy rights, gain their consent, and ask for the testimonial, all in one form.

18. Ask for platform-specific reviews

When your client expresses gratitude, ask, “Would you mind putting that into a review on my Facebook page? That would be a big help!” Many coaching directories have reviews, too, because reviews help to build trust between strangers.

12 Ways to Use Testimonials in Your Biz

19. Showcase industry proof

Waiting to gain more clients and testimonials? Display images of you speaking at an event. Think: screenshot a zoom interview, event promo pages/flyers, guest blog posts you’ve written, etc.

20. Edit, then confirm

In most cases, you’ll want to edit the client’s testimonial. You’re writing it using their words, of course, but you’ll tweak the grammar, combine their answers into flowing statements, or rearrange things so it reads more clearly. Send the completed version back for their approval.

21. Quote graphics

Take one glowing statement from your client and turn it into a testimonial graphic. Try quote templates in a free app like Canva, and customize it to match your brand.

22. Consider supporting details

Opt for images or video, and the client’s full name, whenever possible. Consider adding more relevant details if it makes sense for your niche, like their age or job title.

23. Key pages on your website

The 2-3 essential places for testimonials on your website include:

1. 1. A dedicated page—Success Stories or Testimonials
   2. Discovery Call and/or Coaching Services Page
   3. Product Sales Page

24. Add one below your email signature

Add this after your name and contact info, and keep it fresh by changing it whenever you get a new testimonial.

25. Rotate them into your content

Sprinkle one into your weekly content. Think: email newsletters, social media posts, blogs, wherever.

26. Interview on Facebook or Instagram Live

A standard testimonial is great, but an amazing transformation might be begging for a larger reach. Ask if you can interview this client, live, like a podcast, as you talk together about their riveting experience.

27. Infuse a sales sequence with your coach POV

If you send out automated emails, known as sales-sequences, it’s a great idea to share a client success story from your point of view. Drive it home with a quote from their testimonial, and your reader will naturally associate their life with the success of your client.

28. Enhance a webinar

When hosting a webinar, be sure to share a client’s before/after photo or testimonial in your presentation because it helps validate your work and build more trust.

29. Podcast intros

Do you host a podcast? Share some testimonials and shoutouts on the air, or in your intro or closing message, to help turn listeners into clients.

30. Boost client motivation

Refer back to your success stories whenever a client needs a boost of inspiration. When you choose a relatable example, it can be a powerful motivator that helps your client see themselves succeeding, too.

You can never have too many testimonials in your health coaching business. The next one could be the single factor that moves a dedicated follower into your current clientele. 

]]> https://www.primalhealthcoach.com/blog/avoid-these-mistakes-when-choosing-your-health-coaching-niche-a-qa-with-michelle-leotta-part-2/ Mon, 08 Feb 2021 23:54:42 +0000 https://www.primalhealthcoach.com/?p=8433

One sure way to save yourself time and stress in business is to learn from someone who’s walked the road many times before you. Today, in Part 2 of my interview with health coach marketing expert Michelle Leotta, we’ll get a healthy dose of what works and what doesn’t work when it comes to your marketing angle.

Michelle Leotta hosts the Health Coach Power Community podcast, and she serves as a business mentor to our health coaches here at PHCI. Michelle is the mastermind behind Healthy Profit University, where she guides health coaches to nail their niche and turn that into a profitable business in no time.

Last week, in Part 1, we addressed the hesitations coaches have regarding a niche, and how to make sure your niche is viable (read: profitable). Now, you’re ready to learn from Michelle about the common traps you should avoid—including the mistakes she made in her first decade as a self-employed health coach. Stick around ’til the end and download her freebie workbook for nailing your niche.

Q: What are some of the top mistakes coaches make when choosing a niche or marketing message?

Michelle: “When coaches hear advice to describe their perfect avatar client, they’ll describe the person in a 1000-word essay, with something like, ‘She has a dog and a cat and wears a size 6 shoe, and she’s allergic to cilantro,’ and it goes on and on. I’m like, ‘These details are irrelevant. I still don’t know where to find your client.’

I find no value in the allergic-to-cilantro kind of detail. The same goes for describing your ideal client as ‘someone who’s motivated.’ That’s nice, but where am I going to find them? At the Motivation Club?…you need to get specific about literally where to locate these people in order to market yourself.

So, maybe your ideal client is a woman with pets and she plays tennis. Awesome, now you know where to locate her—in the pet groups, the sporting goods shop, the tennis spots. We need those details, but we don’t need extraneous details—which I call fluff…useless cilantro-type fluff.”

Q: While crafting your marketing message, how important is it to use the same language your ideal client uses?

Michelle: “It makes all the difference. This is what will make you different from all of the health practitioners on the entire planet, especially the ones selling snake oil. It takes effort to not just regurgitate health marketing messages that you’ve seen your whole life because it’s sort of baked into our brains.

And the best way to do that is with those ICA interviews we talked about in Part 1—when you’re validating a target market. If you’re smart about it and ask the right questions, you can collect a lot of really good language to use in your marketing.”

Marisa: “Totally. At first, we all do that—choosing big words, trying to sound smart and feel like real health professionals—but it just doesn’t translate.”

Q: How do you know if your niche is specific enough?

Marisa: “Some do well without getting too specific, like a health coach whose niche is thyroid dysfunction vs. another coach whose niche is women with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

Michelle: “Is it working? I mean, look at your bank account. If you’re attracting clients, and they want to pay you to solve this problem, it’s working out just fine. If you’re competing in a really flooded area, like weight loss where it’s just a dime a dozen for these practitioners, it will be harder to attract clients with something as vague as ‘I’m going to help you lose weight.’ You need to niche down until you have something to say that not everybody else is saying.”

Q: Can you have more than one niche?

Michelle: “Can you have more than 24 hours in the day? It’s like if you were going to open an ice cream shop and an Italian restaurant; you’d be running around like crazy, really tired and only giving 30% of your energy to each. Your family and your health would suffer.

What I recommend is that you choose one direction and stick with it. Make it profitable and to the point that you have a well-oiled machine because then you don’t have to work so hard at it anymore. Then you can start another project.

Just remember, you can do a lot of things in life but you can’t do them all at the same time.”

Q: How can a coach decide if or when they should change their current niche?

Michelle: “I would say the biggest indicator is when you find out that your niche is not financially viable, meaning it occurs to you, perhaps many years later, that the people you’ve been targeting are not buyers…

They may love you, they may follow you, they may leave comments and read your emails, but they are not buying and they’re never going to because, again, you’re not talking to them about a problem that they are willing to spend money to solve. And when you have good evidence that that’s the case, it’s time to get out of there.”

Q: How many times have YOU changed your niche?

Michelle: “Ah, well, I resisted choosing a niche entirely for seven years. So, when I am encouraging people to do this it’s because I know how hard it is without a niche, and I know how hard it is to sit down and choose…and when I did choose, I chose two niches because I thought that would be a good idea—to split my energy 50/50. So I did that, and I don’t recommend that because it drove me crazy.

It was interesting though because it ended up like A/B testing…I put effort into these two different groups. One was for women in their 40s who are perfectionist, overachiever-types that struggle with chronic stress. The other group was for moms with little kids, and my niche idea was to help them make one meal that the whole family would eat.

Well, the Facebook group for the moms grew and grew. It was so active, and I thought, ‘Oh my god, I am so successful and amazing!’ Meanwhile, in the other group for stressed-out perfectionist women, nobody really participated and the group fell kind of flat…big difference between the two groups.

Once I offered my services to each group, the moms bought nothing. The other group of women—who simply did not have the time to participate or to read every email I sent—they were the ones signing up and paying big money when I offered my coaching packages.”

Marisa: “Oh my gosh stop. This is such a good example.”

Michelle: “Exactly. I said bye-bye to the moms group…it was not going to pay the bills because it wasn’t a big enough problem that they’d spend thousands on.”

Marisa: “I’m glad you shared that because many of us would feel like ‘I proved my niche is viable because everybody’s engaged in this Facebook group.’”

Michelle: “This is what I mean…you have to find out if they’re spending money.”

Q: Do you have a system to help coaches put all the niche-building pieces together?

Michelle: “Yes. Check out my free resource to Nail your Target Market in 5 Steps for a workbook that walks you through my process. What I teach there is how to put together the Who and the What to formulate one, very succinct statement I call your ‘My Best Work Statement,’ which you’ll learn in that free resource.

Essentially, it goes like this:

‘I do my best work when I work with_____ [*type of person], and the number one result they see is______ [**the result they will pay to achieve].’

*The type of person in the first blank space is just a couple of words. **In the second blank space, describe the main result they see, the transformation, that big problem you help solve and that they’re willing to pay for.

Then, every time you do any sort of marketing, you can reflect back on exactly who this person is and what big problem they want to solve. You do that first because every decision you make later will flow out of that statement.

It used to be enough to say, ‘I help people eat real, whole food.’ But these days, the health and wellness industry is booming. The solution? Narrow down to a specific target market, otherwise, you’ll never know what kind of programs to offer, how to market yourself, or earn an actual salary.”

The good news is that choosing a target market can be simple if you know what steps to follow. Michelle walks you through it in her freebie, Nail Your Target Market. Check it out and be sure to follow her suggestions about how to confirm that your niche idea is viable.

]]> https://www.primalhealthcoach.com/blog/health-coaches-its-time-to-define-your-niche-a-qa-with-michelle-leotta/ Tue, 02 Feb 2021 20:42:39 +0000 https://www.primalhealthcoach.com/?p=8413

If there’s one mission that all new and aspiring health coaches have in common, it’s to help more people achieve greater health and vitality. How do you find those people who need your help while also building a profitable health coaching business in the process?

The answer is to Nail Your Niche.

“Think of a Niche or Target Market as a tool to help you find people that have a problem you can help with and are willing to solve.”

In order to find answers to some of the most pressing questions and objections on this topic, I sat down with health coach and marketing expert Michelle Leotta.

In her signature course, Healthy Profit University, Michelle has helped thousands of health coaches grow their own profitable businesses. Now a guest marketing lecturer at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, and an expert business mentor for our PHCI students and grads, Michelle is the perfect pro to address this all-too-important topic.

Ready? “It’s time to build an audience that’s ready, willing, and able to work with you!”

Q: Speaking to new and aspiring coaches, should they decide on a niche right away? 

Michelle: “Your first clients are probably going to come to you because you already know them. You’re just talking to your family and friends, naturally taking them on as your first clients. That’s not marketing, so much. So take the clients that come to you for sure…and you never have to limit yourself.

I want you to work with lots of different people, especially when you’re first starting out…so that you can gain experience and figure out, ‘Do I want to work with this kind of person in the future?’

Once you start pushing out a niche marketing message, that means you are actively going out into the world and finding clients. That’s when you’re going to utilize your target market [AKA your niche audience].

Even if you’re currently working with lots of different people, you can still choose a target market because your target market is a tool that informs your marketing.”

Q: What about branding—website, logo, business cards, etc…—should I decide on my niche before branding?

Michelle: “I think the appropriate amount of branding to do in the beginning is a little bit more personal branding. I would not choose a fancy name or get a wild URL because those things will change. You might think that you want to work with women who have fibromyalgia, and six months later you’re like, ‘Oh no, I don’t wanna do that at all.’

So you don’t want to invest all this time, energy, and money into building that brand, but you are not going to change. If you’re posting things on social media about your food, your diet, the work that you’re doing with your clients, that’s good because none of that’s going to change much, but it may not be the right time to choose your niche social media handles like @fibromyalgia_coach or whatever.

I think it’s important that you not only choose a niche, but you validate it. You work in that niche for a period of time and feel really confident about it before you go dropping thousands of dollars on branding yourself. I always advise getting a URL that matches your name. It’s the easiest thing to do and it’s not going to change—unless you get divorced, which I did recently which screws it all up.”

Q: What if you’re not ready? You feel you need more education before specializing in a niche…

Michelle: “One important part of your niche is the problem you solve; that’s only half of it. For the most part, the things we learn as health coaches are going to help most people solve those problems, like hormonal health or gut health. However, if you do need to continue your education, what you can do now is define the other part of your niche which is the who—what type of person are you going to help with this problem?

You’re not going to help the whole world with gut health. That’s way too broad…

Let’s say you used to be a lawyer. Maybe you know a lot about being a lawyer, the lifestyle, and how that interferes with gut health, etc…. You’d be very well suited to work with lawyers, you don’t need additional certifications for that. Pick a problem that you know you can help them solve and go work with lawyers. If and when you get more certifications, you can help them even more.”

Q: What are the top objections you hear from coaches about choosing a niche?

Michelle: “‘Why would I choose a niche when I would be leaving out all these other people that I could help?’ But, what I really hear between the lines is, ‘I don’t know if I’m confident enough to put a stake in the ground and say anything specific about what I can achieve as a coach.’

I think health coaches are more comfortable keeping it loosey-goosey because, inside, there’s fear…fear that they’re not sure who they can help. They’re not sure what problem they can solve. And so it manifests as ‘I wanna help everyone a little bit about everything.’

Your niche or target market is just a tool to help you find people that have a problem you can reasonably help them with, and have a willingness to solve it.”

Q: What about coaches who prefer coaching different types of clients on a wide range of health topics?

Michelle: “I think you’ll like it more when you see your paycheck reflecting a strong target market.”

Marisa: “Hahaha, you’re absolutely right…that’s exactly what happened to me.”

Michelle: “Isn’t that funny? Then you realize this is where it’s worth putting my time and where it feels the energy exchange is the best.

Q: What comes first, defining who your ideal client is or the problem you help to solve?

Michelle: “Those two things go hand in hand…if you’re just talking about a big problem that’s too general, you won’t know where to find them. If I say that I work in gut health, well, that could be literally anyone on the planet; how am I going to actually target anybody?

But if you say, ‘I work with lawyers who have gut health issues,’ then I know I can find them in law firms, in lawyer association clubs or professional groups, things like that. Now that you have a specific destination, your “google map” is actually pointing you somewhere you can find this person.

So those two things really go hand in hand and need to be considered together—like does this person consider this problem a big problem that they want to pay to solve? Or does this person have this problem but they don’t really care? Put those pieces together and find out if it’s valid and viable as a business model.”

Q: What’s the best way to validate your niche idea?

Michelle: “The best way to know if you have a viable target market is to see if the people you just defined are spending money to solve that problem you just defined. If they’ve never spent money on it before then it’s like, they don’t care that much about it. It may be a huge problem from the health coach’s perspective, but if they’re not spending money to solve that problem, then they’re probably not going to spend money with you, either.

The best thing to do is actually find people within your target market and talk to them about their big problem—it might not be what you think. Ask them if and how they’ve spent money on that problem before…it’s just market research, and that’s something that I teach inside my course, Healthy Profit University—the exact questions that you would ask when you find these people in your target market, and how to go about it.

A great place to get started, if you’re not quite there yet, is a free resource Michelle created called Define Your Target Market in 5 Steps. The downloadable workbook walks you through defining the person and the problem, and then combining that into something she calls ‘My Best Work Statement‘…Michelle said, “I always advise that you do that first because every decision you make later is going to flow out of that statement.”

…stay tuned to go deeper next week in Part 2 of this interview, where Michelle shares the biggest mistakes coaches make when choosing a niche. 

]]> https://www.primalhealthcoach.com/blog/6-stunning-primal-driven-health-coaching-websites-that-inspire/ Tue, 26 Jan 2021 21:22:21 +0000 https://www.primalhealthcoach.com/?p=8360

Building a beautiful website is no small feat as a new health coach, and we are thoroughly impressed with the lineup featured here today. The following websites come from coaches who’ve rooted their brands in Primal philosophy, and we’re proud to say that every one of them is a PHCI graduate.

What will you do next to make a lasting impression with visitors on your website? Get ready for some great inspiration…

1. Primal Wife Happy Life

At a Glance:

• Right away I can’t help but notice the beautiful way Dana’s brand colors, clothing, and images match so well, and they accentuate the feminine nature of her brand.
• Notice the invitation to “Work With Me” in a call-to-action (CTA) button, right at first glance.
• I appreciate how she created something like a tagline to summarize herself in one sentence: “I’m Dana, a wife, mom, believer in Christ, California native, certified primal health coach, and doTERRA wellness advocate.”

What Makes it Special:

• Dana builds intrigue and familiarity by explaining the personal significance behind her business name: “That name has a ton of meaning for me as I was not always primal, a wife, or happy…”.
• Stylistically she’s made some great choices, like the simple text graphics (pictured above) you’ll see as you scroll down the home page—pale teal and orchid pink provide backdrops for inspirational quotes that give voice to her coaching perspective.
• The use of her (adorable) kids’ photos, along with CTA’s like “Primal Kids,” is perfect for her brand. Click through and you see a relevant sub-headline, “Raising Primal Kids in a World Full of Sugar.”
• Several more not-to-miss elements: Dana created beautiful graphics for her testimonials, she refers to her blog as a “Journal,” and the home page features 3 ways a visitor can explore her free offers.

2. Primal Peak

At a Glance:

• You know exactly what Primal Peak is about with the headline: “Real Food for Real Families.”
• Notice how Shannon kept the design simple by using content blocks that link to other pages on her site. This makes everything look professional, clean, and aesthetically pleasing.
• It doesn’t take more than a few seconds to know that Shannon and Primal Peak are truly down to earth.

What Makes it Special:

• The homesteading page (wow), the blog and recipes, it’s inspiring how much value Shannon gives her readers. It reminds me of the old blogging days—useful information that’s plentiful, organic, and full of lively wisdom.
• Shannon wears many hats, and instead of focusing her website on services she offers, she focuses on building that like, know, and trust factor.
• Click on the Shop tab and you’ll see some valuable paid offers that speak to her ideal clients’ concerns: Four Weeks of Real Food (meal-planning cookbook guide), Kids in the Kitchen cookbook and Eat the Rainbow Cooking Camp (video cooking lessons for kids), and a guided-journal for adults to reach their Peak Potential.

3. Primal Breathwork

At a Glance:

• There’s no question what Brian’s specialty is when you first land on his site thanks to his business name, Primal Breathwork, his headline, “Accomplish More. Stress Less. Live Your Best Life,” and his tagline, “Breathe Better to Be Better.”
• Notice how Brian immediately explains the What and the Why, making the concept simple to grasp: “Breathwork is meditation on rocket fuel! Breathwork allows us to re-calibrate and elevate our internal state to match the nonstop demands of the external world.” The only thing missing is a button/link for his CTA, “try a session today!”

What Makes it Special:

• I like the flow of his About page. In the top section, he explains breathwork, and in the next section, he tells his own story. Finally, he displays all of the world-renowned instructors he has been trained under (he’s one of the first certified instructors under Wim Hof!)
• Take a look at his classes tab for a beautiful clean layout that not only lists his events, but also leads curious visitors into his corporate wellness and one-on-one offers.
• With all of the event photos on every page, Brian is demonstrating social proof because we can see he is busy in his field and his classes are full.

4. Primal Alternative

At a Glance:

• I know at first glance that this company specializes in “Grain-Free Made Easy,” which is immediately followed by “Great tasting, healthy alternatives to bread, pizza, cookies…”
• Helen does pop-ups the right way. Offer your audience something they want, and be sure the pop-up doesn’t keep appearing on every page. Free Recipe eBook from Primal Alternative? Yes please!
• I’m captivated by the drool-worthy food photography on this website. The simplest things can be the most beautiful.

What Makes it Special:

• I adore how Helen used symbols to emphasize the dietary restrictions her food products can accommodate. It draws your attention to important values that set her brand apart: low carb, grain-free, low FODMAP, Paleo, etc….
• Beautifully showcased testimonials on the home page are a great strategy to demonstrate social proof from other experts in her industry. She further solidifies her authority with a list of organizations her brand is “approved by” as well as an inventory count of the number of products they carry, home-cooks they’ve certified, countries they serve, and more. Smart!
• On the About page, notice how she tells you about the brand before she tells you about herself, which is great for a product-centric brand. Also, you’ll see clear statements that connect her ICA’s problems to her brand’s solution. “How hard is life without bread?”
• Take a look at Helen’s Case Studies page which further demonstrates her authority, experience, and real-life impact. The images and success stories of “Primalistas” really take it to the next level.

5. Peak Primal Health

At a Glance:

• The insanely mouthwatering food image in his cover photo makes me trust that this guy knows good food. What’s important here also is that he keeps it simple. The colors pop and the ingredients can be counted on one hand.
• Coach Ste’s header does a great job of stating his mission, “A back to basics approach to a better you.”
• Scroll right below the fold and you’ll see an answer for this question: “Why Primal?”

What Makes it Special:

• Check out his testimonials page and you’ll see detailed client stories that really come to life, and he finishes the section with a CTA button that says, “Be Your Own Success Story.”
• At the bottom of every page is an embedded contact form which is great way to remove all barriers for connecting with curious, rushed visitors.
• Although his home page offers several ways to work with him, the Work With Me page focuses on his signature offering: Personalized Coaching. The bulleted list of what’s included helps add value, and he links to an in-depth digital brochure that covers all aspects of his 12-week transformation program (plus testimonials!).

6. Latitude Health Coaching

At a Glance:

• You get that healthy-family feel right from the start thanks to the image and tagline, “Elevating Families to the Highest Degree of Wellness.”
• Right under Carrie’s headline, you see a brief overview of the company mission and a CTA button that says “Discover Our Programs.”
• Visitors appreciate the explanation for “Why Primal Works” on the home page because it piques interest and addresses possible objections.

What Makes it Special:

• The infographics on Carrie’s home page are awesome (pictured above). She addresses outdated dieting tactics that don’t work, and how her services offer something that does work.
• I love a good Philosophy tab, and this is where coach Carrie really dives into the Primal approach. All of that leads visitors to a 21-Day program she offers.
• The clean, cohesive design of her website comes through on every page, and it’s greatly appreciated on the Programs page where each program title is easy to understand and the features are laid out plain and simple.

Looking for more website inspiration? We’ve featured health coaching websites in the Nutrition and Fitness categories, too. Check them out and get started building your own website, next. 

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