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Social Media Networking for Coaches

You know you should do it to help the growth of your coaching business. But stepping into the jungle that is social media, let alone using it as a tool to attract clients and create beneficial relationships can be quite scary.

This page is about taking it out of the scary, too hard basket and having enough knowledge and confidence to move social media networking into your comfort zone.

Quick Links

1. Social Platforms for coaches

2. Join the right groups

3. 8 Networking Success tips

4. Outsourcing Social Media

5. More social media help

FYI: I may receive commissions at no cost to you. I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. More...

What are the Best Social Media Platforms for Coaches?

The reach of social media networking for life coaches.

The world is yours locally and worldwide, when you network using social media, whether to attract clients or just to make useful connectons. But how do you choose the best media platforms to use.

Here are some of the social media platforms that are most often recommended for life coaches and why. And with platforms such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams you can have "almost" the same connection as being in the same room with someone you want to have a face to face chat with.

LinkedIn:

This is a favourite for professional networking for high ticket executive and leadership coaching and corporate coaching jobs. It allows for provding a really deep profile to promote you and your coaching.

Facebook (Meta):
Very useful for coaches to seek out, join and even create targeted niche groups where they can promote themselves by creating relevant posts and join in conversations. Also great for community-building and deeper discussions. However, you cannot create a business page dedicated to your coaching without first having a a personal account.

Be sure to read my advice on using your personal page to promote yourself as a coach in the tips further down this page .

YouTube:
If you master how to present yourself and your coaching, YouTube can become a very effective lead-generation platform.

Read how to look and sound good in a video and avoid the traps in my tips on Online Coaching (Quicklink 5):

Instagram and Pintrest:
Great for visual content and quotes, connecting with other professionals and potential clients and exploring niche communities.

Both these platforms are good for leading people to your website, Facebook page or coaching product. And if creating graphics is not your forte you can purchase a years worth of brandable graphics here (link to CTC Graphics pack)

How Do You Find the Best Social Media Groups to Join?

Befor joining a Social Media forum, whether for life coaches or other special interest groups that have your ideal clients, you need to do some research. There are three things to consider so you don't end up wasting efforts or your time.

1. Is the group well moderated? Some life coaching groups are so full of irrelevant and self-promotion posts that there are no real conversations. This means the opportunities for making meaningful connections with other coaches, answering questions and communicating with possible clients may be hard.

So have a good look at the quality of the posts and the comments over a few days before you join.

2. What is the purpose of the group? Many groups for life coaches are set up by a life coach in the hope of attracting clients. Nothing wrong with that and you might even consider doing it yourself.

However, the host coach, while giving great advice and starting good conversations, will most likely not encourage a contributions from another coach wanting to promote themself and make connections with possible clients.

3. Are Coaches are the target market? There are also people who set up their group aimed at life coaches where the agenda is to to market their business building services or products to coaches, such as website design, sales funnels or even business coaching. None of these groups are likely to give you the networking opportunities you need.

Eight Rules for Social Media Success - Do's and Dont's

Good social networking habits and manners are very important if you are to engage people so they want to connect with you. Here are some of my favourite social media tips for success as well as some social media behaviours that may work against you.

DO - Make your invitation personal: When inviting someone to join a network such as LinkedIn or “be your friend” on Facebook, don’t just use the formatted message. Try and give a reason why you want to connect and make it sound sincere.
Maybe remind them where you have met or what your mutual connection is. I have met so many people over the years, that I often need reminding who’s who or where I met them or I might just decline their request.
DO - Be selective of accepting requests to connect as a friend. If you can’t recall where you have met the person who is inviting you to join their social media network, send a message asking where you met, or how you are connected, even why do they want to be connected. This will weed out the social business network spammers who just want to build their list.

It's great that someone want to your friend, or talk to you on Messenger, but be choosey. I've got into the habit of checking out the personal profile of anyone who wants to friend or have a message conversation with me me to see if this is someone I really want to connect and communicate with or if they want to connect merely to promote their services to me or if they have philosophies or beliefs that are simply not compatible with mine.
DON'T - just promote yourself: Avoid just using the network to make announcements or promote you coaching or products. This will just annoy people and may not get you the results you want.

Join in the discussions with opinion and information and start your own discussions. As people in the forum groups get to know you, what you do and what you have to say, they are far more likely to respond to any announcements you have to make about your coaching and/or pay a visit to your website or FaceBook page.
DO -Make your discussions engaging: When starting a discussion, write a little more than just the heading. Engage your reader in a conversation and maybe ask for feedback or comment. Also don't obviously use the post simply as an opportunity to grow your contact list. Be genuine.
DO - Add links to your website: With any comment you make, where it is appropriate (and possible) include a link to the relevant page on your own website or blog that could add more value. This way people will get to see more of who you are and what you do.
DO - Be NICE! Have opinions in your comments, but be nice about it. Whilst it's OK to have a "robust" conversations one-on-one, putting caustic or personally negative comments out into cyberspace is a whoe different ball game that can get you into trouble or even banned from a group that is strictly moderated. And it certainly won't win you any clients.
DO- Be selective where you comment or contribute content. This can be a real trap for the unwary. You want to make sure where you contribute content or comments is worth the effort and not a waste of your time. I've written a piece on the Benefits and Traps of Guest Blogging that can help.
DON'T overlook this FREE promotional opportunity. When I was a moderator for the Coaches Helping Coaching group on Facebook, I often checked the profiles of coaches wanting to join. Why? Because, for several reasons, I want to see who they were are as coach.

So often this is was not possible and really frustrating. I'd get to see their family, pets and personal views and experiences but nothing about them as a coach. This is a huge, free and simple promotional opportunity missed.

So my final tip is to make use of the space that says “intro” where you can give a brief description of yourself as a coach and/or a link to either your website or Facebook business page.

That's it folks! If you have any other tips, do let me know via by contact form.

Should You Outsource Your Social Media Posts?

A lot of coaches (me included), find keeping up a constant stream of social media posts a real challenge and chore. One solution is to outsource your posting to a social media "expert". They will either edit and post what you have written or create posts from your website content. Sounds great but make sure you check they...

a) Understand your voice. That is use language you would use and write in a way that connects with your audience. Until you are confident of this, best to organise to check all the proposed posts for approval.

b) Make person who is handling your social media posts read the rules of the forums you agree to use: If not the posts you are paying for may just be declined. So regularly follow up and check that the post has been accepting for posting. If not, take notice of any feedback from the host.

This is especially necessary when a post is being place on multiple social media forums as a routine process.

Why? Some Facebook forums are strictly moderated (like the Coaches Helping Coaches forum where for six years I was one of the moderators), They are often strict rules on what will and will not be accepted for posting and where. If these rules are constantly broken you may be banned from that forum and not even know about it.

So the bottom line here is not to "delegate by abdication" when you outsource your social media posting with blind trust, but keep a close eye on how the outsourcing process working for you.

Make Posting Social Media Graphics Easy

Do you want to use Social Media platform such as Instagram and Pinterest to give your life coaching practice a real boost, but get stuck around the graphics and content or can't afford to outsource.

Then the 365 day brandable Social Media Mega Bundle from the Coaching Tools Company will provide you with everything you need to make a great impresssion all year round.

Coaching Tools Social Media Mega Bundle displaying four packages of social media support elements for life coaches needing help with marketing ideas

Click to Discover More

The kit of infographics 365 includes Coaching Questions, Inspirational Quotes, Journal Prompts and more, all brandable to your coaching and with a user guide to get you going. It will help you connect with your fans and gain followers - not to mention save time and money and make you look really professional.

You Get?

12 x MONTHLY Infographics: 1) Set Your Goals! 2) I Love Kindness! 3) Feel Happier! 4) Be Confident, 5) Be Authentic, 6) Why Hire A Coach, 7) Life Balance, 8) Feel Inspired, 9) Succeed In Life, 10) Inner Strength, 11) Be Thankful! And 12) Celebrate You
52 x WEEKLY Themed Questions Graphics
260 x DAILY Inspirational Quotes (for Monday-Friday)
52 x SATURDAY Journaling Prompts (note that graphic for UK spelling of Journalling also provided)
52 x SUNDAY Weekly Affirmations

PLUS for each Quarter (3 months), you also get :

A User Guide
The Text for all the Quotes, Journal Prompts & Affirmations (includes Appendix of Monthly & Weekly Graphics Titles)
The Guide: "Where to Add Your Logo"

You can review the full list of amazing tools and cost here.

Want More Help with Social Media Success?

The Social Media Marketing Workbook by Jason McDonald

This could be really useful in for the success of social media networking.

In addition to the tips I have given you, it will help you with your use of social media networking and how to go about it.

It is current and packed full of practical information and links to worksheets and videos.

Help to Grow Your Coaching Skills and Promote Yourself

I have written a wide range of informative books (all from my own 25+ years experience) that will help you to authentically attract new quality clients, increase your coaching skills and promote your coaching services.