Introduction

Starting an online coaching business can be a fantastic way to share your expertise, help others, and generate additional income. Whether you're looking to turn a passion into a side hustle or transition to a new career, coaching can offer the flexibility and fulfilment you're seeking. In this post, I'll share five essential tips to help you get started with your online coaching business, even if you only have a few hours a week to spare.

Why Start an Online Coaching Business?

There are several reasons why you might want to start an online coaching business. Firstly, if you have a passion for a particular subject that doesn't fit into your current job, coaching can be a great way to share your knowledge while earning extra income. Secondly, if you're already maxed out on time but want to increase your income, online coaching allows you to scale your business without being tied to one-on-one client sessions. Lastly, if you're considering a career change, coaching can be a way to leverage your skills and experience in a new, rewarding way.

Tip 1: Define Your Niche

The first step in starting your coaching business is to define your niche. A niche is essentially the specific area you want to focus on and the type of people you want to help. It's crucial to narrow down your niche to avoid being too broad, which can dilute your message and make it harder for potential clients to understand what you offer. To define your niche, think about what you know, what you love, and what you're good at. Consider what comes easily to you but might be challenging for others. Talk to people and ask about their biggest struggles and goals related to your niche. I started my author coaching business by accident after I’d helped a friend self publish his book and he said ‘You should charge people for this - it’s so helpful!’. That led me to talk to other people about writing and book publishing which led me to work out how I thought I could help them.

Tip 2: Start Talking and Posting Online

Once you've defined your niche, start talking to people and posting about it online. You don't need to be on every platform—choose one where your potential clients are likely to hang out. Join relevant Facebook groups, start conversations, and provide helpful insights. If you're serious about building a presence, consider starting a blog, podcast, or YouTube channel. These platforms allow you to create permanent, searchable content that can attract and engage your audience over time.

Tip 3: Help Someone for Free

To gain experience and build confidence, offer to help someone for free. Some people say never to do this - and you do have to be careful not to end up working on someone’s problem harder than they are. But this approach allows you to test your methods, learn from the experience, and refine your process without the pressure of charging a fee. Be selective about who you help for free to ensure they're motivated and genuinely need your assistance. This step is particularly useful if you're new to coaching or transitioning to an online model.

Tip 4: Write Down Your Process

After helping a few people, create a structured process for your coaching. Outline the journey your clients will go through, from their current struggles to their desired outcomes. This process should include clear milestones and steps, making it easier for clients to understand what to expect and how you'll help them achieve their goals. A well-defined process not only adds credibility to your coaching but also helps you stay organized and efficient.

Tip 5: Build a Landing Page and Email List

To grow your coaching business, create a landing page where potential clients can sign up for more information or join your email list. Collecting email addresses allows you to stay in touch with your audience and keep them informed about new content, services, and offers. Platforms like Kajabi and ConvertKit can help you set up a landing page and manage your email list effectively. Email marketing is a powerful tool for building relationships and converting leads into clients. I use Kajabi because it also can host any courses that you later build and a whole load more. It saves me so much time. If you want a free trial and some help getting started then visit therawleader.com/kajabi for a special offer!

Conclusion

Starting an online coaching business in your spare time is entirely possible with the right approach. By defining your niche, engaging with your audience online, offering free help initially, creating a clear process, and building an email list, you can lay a strong foundation for your coaching business.

How I Can Help

If you’re ready to learn more about creating a successful online course, coaching or mentoring program, here are some ways we can work together to bring your vision to life:

1. Subscribe to The Raw News

If you're not already receiving it, get weekly tips, tactics, and inspiration delivered straight to your inbox to help you build your online coaching program. Sign up here.

2. Join My FREE Facebook Group

Become part of a community of aspiring coaches, mentors and course creators in the Online Course & Coach Accelerator group. Here we share resources, answer questions, and provide feedback to help you grow. Join us here.

3. Sign Up for my Impact & Income Accelerator Program

If you’re ready to take the leap, my Impact & Income Accelerator Program is a 3-6 month course that guides people to turn their knowledge into their first scalable online coaching program so that they can create lasting impact and generate increasingly passive income. More information here.