Business Coaching and Local Marketing

Your job as a business coach is to take a new or struggling business and teach its owner how to see success. This success should be an increase in profits and sales. There are many important components to running a profitable business, but marketing is vital. If you are not already stressing the importance of marketing to your clients, you need to start.

When getting started, create a step-by-step guide just for marketing. Step one is highlighting the importance of marketing. It enables customers to know that a business exists, as well as what they sell. Step two is the consequences for not having a solid marketing plan. This is decreased sales and loss of profits. Step three is sharing marketing tactics.

In terms of sharing marketing tactics with your clients, focus on both local and internet marketing. Some mistakenly believe they should only do one or the other. They should do both, as it expands their reach. The more consumers they reach, the higher the sales. Internet marketing is easy, as most business owners and advertising departments know the internet like the back of their hand. What many companies struggle with is local marketing. So offer a few suggestions, such as the ones outlined below.

Advertising a business in the phone book. Many new business owners list their businesses in the white pages. After all, this is free to do. What they don’t realize is that customers must already know their business name to find a phone number or address. That is why yellow page listings are a must. Yes, they do cost money, but they are a wise investment.

Advertising a business in the classified ads. The internet has made it much easier to stay up-to-date on the news, but most Americans still read a paper in print. For that reason, classified ads are still a successful marketing tactic. In the classified section, most newspapers have an “Advertise Your Business Here,” section. Your client can write a short summary of their business, where it is located, what they sell, and how to contact. For a slightly higher fee, your client can invest in a larger ad with bold printing, pictures, and more.

Advertising a business through mailable fliers. Many business owners tend to sway away from mailable fliers. This is because some consider them an invading form of solicitation. If your client is against this practice, encourage them to purchase a full-page insert in a weekly classified newspaper. This way, mailings are still delivered to doors, but no solicitation occurred. To reduce the risk of angry residents who received unsolicited mailings, your client can include a moneysaving coupon or a free promotional product, such as a magnet bearing the company name, logo, address, and phone number.

Advertising a business through a grand opening or reopening celebration. New storefront business owners need to attract customers. It is best to start with a bang. Help your client plan a grand opening celebration. Offer deeply discounted prices, have free promotional items on hand, host a contest, and hire a radio station to broadcast in front of their store. If you are helping a struggling business, help the business owner make needed improvements to inventory, management, sales, and so forth. Then, work together to plan a grand reopening celebration.

As you can see, there are many ways to market and advertise a business. A professional in the field of business management, you already know this, but not all business owners do. Help your client understand the importance of local marketing and point them in the right direction.

Business Coaching and Internet Marketing

If you run a business coaching service, it is your job to coach new and struggling business owners to make the right choices. You are just like a football coach. You give your clients plays and encourage them to run the plays properly. One aspect of business that you should cover is marketing, namely internet marketing. Even storefront businesses can benefit from internet marketing. Many just do not know why they should invest time and money into the effort or how to get started. It is your job to give them ideas.

In terms of internet marketing, there are many options. Internet marketing presents a lot of opportunity, both large and small. All businesses can and should utilize the internet. As previously stated, some just don’t know how to. So, create a game plan for your clients or their advertising department to follow. What could that plan include?

Blogging. Many individuals make the mistake of believing blogs are for personal use only. They are not. Blogs can also be used as successful internet marketing tools. Blogs rely on content, so your client or one of their employees will need to do this task, but it should only take less than 30 minutes a day. They can write content related to the products or services they sell. For example, someone running a dog grooming business can write articles on anything pet related, including care and health. That blog can and should lead back to their business website.

Hosting contests. People love free stuff and contests give them the chance to win. It is, however, important to proceed with caution. If your client posts a contest on their website, they will get those who fill out the entry form a leave. Use a blog and have a monthly newsletter or RSS feed available. Instruct your client to allow for an extra entry for anyone who subscribes to these. They receive daily or weekly updates, always reminding them about the business and the products or services offered.

Online business directories. In terms of internet marketing, one of the first places business owners should head to is online business directories, but most make it their last stop. Fewer Americans turn to their phone books to find a business. They perform standard internet searches and use online business directories, such as the one offered under the “Local,” heading at Yahoo.com. If your client is not listed in these directories, encourage them to do so and right away. The process should only take a few minutes.

Online message boards. For most business owners, online message boards are nothing but a waste of time. They don’t want to see their employees socializing online while on the clock. Yes, this is good, but encourage your client to see the marketing aspect. For example, companies who sell pet related products and services should participate in discussions on pet related forums. Include a link back to the company website in all allowable signatures and profiles. When posting, the name and link will show. Pet owners are this company’s targeted market. They aren’t waiting for the customers to come to them. Instead, they are going directly to the source.

Banner and link exchanges. Online networking is just as important as internet marketing. There are many connections to be made online and these connections can lead to increased advertising. To get started, encourage your client to network with those in related fields. They can set up link and banner exchanges. For example, if your client sells pet products, coach them through finding pet services, such as dog grooming or dog sitting. Instruct them to contact the owner of the website and offer a banner or link exchange. In these aspects, both companies benefit and advertising is free.

As you can see, there are many ways to market a business online. Your job is to coach your clients through the process. Carefully monitor each step and offer feedback.

Business Coaching and Communication

If you want to offer your services as a business coach, there many areas of business that you need to familiarize yourself with. After all, if you don’t know the keys to running a successful business, how can you teach others?

As previously stated, there are many areas of running a business that new and struggling business owners need assistance with. One of those areas is business communication. Business owners need to learn to properly communicate with employees and clients. Employees need to learn how to communicate with their bosses, coworkers, and clients. It goes on and on. Proper communication is key to running a successful and profitable business.

So, what will you, as a business coach, need to teach your clients?

The best way to communicate. Technology has given us many ways to communicate with friends, family, coworkers, clients, and employees. Just a sample of the options available includes letters, faxes, emails, text messages, and phone calls. Which option is best? It depends on the type of business. Other than emergencies, all professionals should avoid text messages. Instead, they should pickup the phone, send a fax, or write a well-composed email.

Communication etiquette. This is important for both communication with coworkers and clients. Some inexperienced workers and business owners do not fully understand the importance of politeness and etiquette. You need to show them. For example, it is okay to use abbreviations in personal emails, like BRB or LOL, but never with business communications. In emails, all writers should identify themselves by name and position and address all recipients the same. It is the polite and professional thing to do.

Tips for improving writing skills. Unfortunately, all of our writing skills have suffered. The internet, instant messaging programs, and text messages make it particularly hard to write by hand and legibly. Your job as a business coach is to stress the importance of proper writing. Highlight the importance of proper spelling, grammar, proofreading, and good sentence structure.

The importance of clear communication. In business, straightforward directions and little rambling is best. You client’s customers don’t want to know about the day they are having or what the weather is like; they want to know if you can help them. A good approach is to find former letters and emails and dissect them. Show, by example, if it is good or bad and what changes can be made.

Giving both bad and good news. Business owners, rarely deliver only good news. For example, a retail store may have processed an order for a client, only to later learn that item is out of stock. They must then contact that customer to inform them that their order cannot be filled. Some just say “your order cannot be filled.” Stress the importance of keeping that customer happy. In this situation, a formal apology, notification of when the item becomes available, and a small discount is best.

The importance of listening. Business owners and their employees should never make a client repeat him or herself. The same is true for other in-office communication. Coworkers and bosses should only need to ask someone to do a task once. Stress the importance of taking notes. There is less risk of errors and no having to ask someone to explain themselves again.

Non-verbal communication. A lot of business focus is placed on the word we speak or type, but communication can be non-verbal too. This includes body language, appearance, and actions. When meeting with a client, conservative apparel sends the proper message. Soft, but confident tones are best. As for body language, this is difficult. Some send signals without even realizing it. Stress the importance of monitoring your body language and learning to control impulsive actions.

These are just a few of the communication areas you will want to focus on as a business coach. Regardless of who are you working with, whether it be a business owner, paid employees, or both, all business can benefit and profit from good and proper communication.

Business Coaching: Pros and Cons of Fun Exercises

As a business coach, it is your job to teach small to medium sized business owners and their employees how to run successful and profitable businesses. There are many ways you can do this. You can lecture, handout reading materials, or do fun training exercises. All are great, but fun exercises are sure to catch your eye. Do know however, that they have pros and cons.

The Pros of Fun Training Exercises

They can easily hold the attention of group members. People love fun. What people dislike is listing to lectures and reading training materials. These are very boring. No one wants to spend their day stuck in an office chair. By developing fun and interactive exercises, you get the attention of group members. They are listing to what you say and watching what happens. They aren’t staring off into space.

They allow you to accomplish two goals. That is the task at hand, such as improving office organization, and teamwork. Most activities involve thinking and working together as a team. Consider it a two for one deal. You work on improving and show the importance of office teamwork, while also focusing on other important components of running a business, such as sales, marketing, and workplace communication.

They get workers to lighten and loosen up. Most employees dread training sessions. They think they are boring and there are concerns if supervisors are present. What if the wrong thing is said? Fun and interactive exercise allow workers to loose. They should participate more in discussions at the end of the session. For example, lecture on the importance of workplace conflict and then ask the audience to share tips. You will get a few responses. On the other hand, have two employees act out a conflict. Then, ask the audience to share what the volunteers did right and wrong. What the hands fly in the air.

They are easy to plan. To plan fun and interactive training exercise, use nothing more than your creativity. You may be surprised how many ideas come to you. For example, you can create a game based on the show Family Feud. Divide the room into two groups. Ask team members questions and they must come up with the best five answers, such as how to avoid workplace conflict or how to peacefully resolve it.

The Cons of Fun Training Exercises

It is easy to get off track. As for why interactive training exercises work, they are fun. Unfortunately, fun doesn’t always translate into good. A group of volunteers role-playing workplace conflict may start to goof off. This can fill the room with lots of laughter and jokes, but what about the task? If you find your audience or group getting off track, restate the importance. In fact, mention they need to take the exercises seriously or you will resort to a lecture style teaching.

Your client, the business owner, may not like the approach. Most business coaches work one-on-one with a business owner or operating manager before training the entire team. If you intend to use fun and interactive training exercises, state so before hand. The last thing you want is to see a disapproving manger in the back. Explain the benefits of these exercising, including teamwork and attention hold, and then give a few examples.

Business Coaching and Conflict Resolution

Do you have a business management degree or years of experience running a profitable small to medium sized business? If you are looking for a new career path or if you want to increase your moneymaking opportunities, business coaching is the way to go. Both a degree and on the job experience deems you qualified enough to teach others.

When offering your services as a business coach, there are many areas of business you need to consider. Marketing is the most common. Marketing enables the public to know about a company and the products or services they sell. Your step-by-step guide to running a successful and profitable business should include marketing, but don’t forget the smaller aspects. For example, conflict resolution.

Conflict is common in the workplace and it comes in many different formats. Coworkers have conflict with each other. Supervisors have conflict with their employees. Business owners and employees have conflicts with clients. Honestly, the list goes on and on. Although conflict is common in the workplace, it is unhealthy. It is your job to teach small business owners and their employees how to avoid workplace conflict and how to resolve it quickly and peacefully.

One of the best ways to teach your clients about conflict resolution is with role-playing. If hosting a seminar retraining employees, pick a couple from the group. Start with two employees playing themselves. This is very important. A disruptive workplace starts a chain reaction. Create the scenario where the two coworkers are supposed to be working jointly on a project, but only one is carrying their weight. Allow the two to attempt to resolve the problem themselves. Then, step in. Highlight the good choices and the bad. Then, coach these coworkers through a positive resolution. This involves calm voices, friendly tones, and no finger pointing.

Next, work on the conflict between supervisors and employees. If the business owner or manager is present you can use them for the exercise, but you may find little volunteers. If that is the case, select one or, once again, use two employees. Create the scenario that the boss is unhappy with the employee constantly showing up for work. Start with the supervisor. They need to calmly approach their employee and state their dissatisfaction. Do not blame or accuse. Next, the late arriving employee needs to explain him or herself. In this situation, it is best just to apologize for the delay and state it will not happen again. Excuses may lead to conflict.

Finally, role-play with a client and an employee. All businesses strive to please their clients, but no one is ever 100% happy. If the company you are working with is a retail store, use the example that a customer was double charged for a product. They arrive in the store the next day. There is little proof that they were overcharged. In this situation, many employees and managers try to get out of refunds. No business wants to lose or handout money, but think of the consequences. A happy customer tells their friends, but an unhappy customer tells anyone who will listen. Think long-term and about the company’s and employee’s reputation. Offer a refund or allow the customer to grab another of the product.

As previously stated, the best way to practice conflict resolution is with role-playing. Unfortunately, not all business coaches are able to meet with their clients face-to-face. In these instances, create literature for the business owner, supervisors, and employees to read. Make it clear, short, and easy to read.

Regardless of how you teach your clients about conflict resolution, always highlight the important points in the end. These include the consequences of conflict. They are an unhappy client or disruptions in the workplace that can start a chain reaction. Then restate the ways to avoid conflict, such as not placing blame, talking in a friendly tone, and addressing all issues as they arise and not later down the road.

Business Coaching: Pros and Cons of Choosing a Niche

If you want to make money working as a business coach, you have an important decision to make. That decision is who you want to help. It if is one group of individuals, such as small business owners, you have a niche. It is your specialty. Do you need to pick one? No, but it does have its pros and cons. What are they?

The Pros of Choosing a Business Coaching Niche

You can claim that you have a specialty. When opting for a niche in business coaching, it is important to choose an area you have familiarity with. For example, if you want to help those running struggling home based businesses, you should have home based business experience yourself. You are then able to call yourself a specialist. What is the importance of that? Say you want to lose weight, should you turn to a health food expert or someone who just shares easy-to-cook recipes? Your goal is to lose weight, so you opt for the health food expert. Your clients are thinking the same.

It is easier to stay up-to-date. When working as a business coach, you need to stay up-to-date and well-informed. The economy, internet marketing, and the way that consumers shop are all changing. They change often. For that reason, you can’t be a business coach and not update your schooling or stop learning new things. A niche allows you to spend less time and money doing so. For example, if your niche is home based businesses, stay updated on marketing tactics, laws, and so forth. You should not avoid, but don’t spend a lot of time or money researching corporate businesses; it isn’t your specialty.

You have a wide range of options. As previously stated, you should choose a business coaching niche that you have familiarity with. Luckily, this is easy. Should you hold a business management degree, you are qualified to help home based, large, small, and medium sized business owners. Your options are unlimited. The same is true for management experience. Do you have experience running a medium sized business? You are qualified to help the self-employed and those running both small and medium sized companies. When choosing a niche, pick your hearts desire, as you have many options.

The Cons of Choosing a Business Coaching Niche

You limit your moneymaking potential. By choosing a business coaching niche, you opt to work with a specific group of individuals. This is nice, as you are able to focus your attention, but there are cons to this approach too. The biggest is your limitations. If you focus on helping small business owners, a corporate company with headquarters right down the street could use your services. Since they aren’t your specialty, they will turn to someone else. This means you lose a potential client and profits.

When opting for a business niche, choose a profitable one. For example, right now, a lot of men and women want to work from home and start their own business. They want to be self-employed. This is a common dream; therefore, there is a bigger potential to make money. Choose your passion and a niche that you have experience in, but also go where the money is.

In short, there are many pros and cons to choosing a business niche. Always remember that nothing is set in stone. You can choose a niche or expand your reach at any point in time.

Business Coaching and Home Based Businesses

When it comes to business coaching, many coaches specialize in small to medium sized companies. Those with experience in executive settings, assist large corporations. Regardless of the specialty, there is money to be made. But, many business coaches are failing to change with the times. Many do not realize the potential of home based businesses, but you can and should.

As you know, home based businesses come in a number of formats. For example, a mom may run a daycare out of her home, a dad may make handmade toys to sell from home, or a cosmetologist may run an in-home salon out of the garage or basement. In terms of home based businesses, the options are endless. They also vary in size. Most are self-employed; working for themselves and by themselves. Some hire outside help.

Anyone can start a home based business. Someone who has a dream or a passion or wants to leave the dog-eat-dog corporate world behind can start a business and right from their own home. There is a growing trend though. That trend is parents who want to work from home. Some want a work-at-home job, meaning they are employed by a company, but perform their tasks at home. Others, want to capitalize on a talent or hobby and start their own business. For parents, starting a home based business provides them with unlimited flexibility and control.

Do you need proof that people want to start their own business? If so, perform a standard internet search with the phrases “work-from-home,” and “home based businesses.” You will get thousands of results. There is a lot of information available online to assist these people, but they need more. Just because a parent has a good product or service and a website, it does not mean that they will make money. That is why they can benefit from using your services as a business coach.

The first step in working as a home based business coach is to find clients. If you have a website, include home based business coaching as one of your services. Then, seek out these individuals. As previously stated, a lot of information can be found online. Most websites are informational sites, but some are online communities, like message boards. Join; insert yourself into the community. Add a link to your business website in your profile and signature. Join in on the discussions. If someone asks for tips, provide them with a few. Never give out too much information. Members will wonder how you know so much and who you are, so they should click on your links. If they want or need your service, they will use it.

Once you acquire a client, it is time to get to work. Home based business coaches tend to have more responsibility and tasks. This is because many home based business owners setup shop on a whim. They realized they could make money doing something they love and ran with it. Some did not even have a plan in place. If your client does not have a business plan, coach them through creating one. This plan should include what they sell, who their targeted market is, how they intend to generate income, and how to market their product to the public.

Business coaching involves encouragement. You need to encourage home based business owners to take a step in the right direction. Show them their potential. If they truly have a great product, show them exactly how a solid marketing can increase sales. Even if their marketing plan results in five new customers a week, calculate for them the additional yearly profit. Also, given them ideas to run with. Do more than just say “you need to market your business.” Give them specific examples, watch implement, and offer feedback.

Business Coaching and Organization

If you run a business coaching service, your job is to education business owners and their employees on how to run a smooth, sound, and profitable business. For most, this requires improving marketing and increasing sales. Yes, you should focus on these topics, but look deeper. One reason why companies and their profits suffer is due to poor organization. If you haven’t already, make sure organization is included in your step-by-step guide.

If you have yet to cover organization in your step-by-step guide for business success or if you yourself have just started a business, you may be looking for more ideas. Many wonder if they should just talk about organization, use training exercises, and whom they should talk to.

When working with clients, you should deal one-on-one with the business owner or operating manager. Get started with them. Browse through their records. Are all tax documents in order? What about human resource documents? If a business owner or operating manager is unorganized, chances are that disorder continues down the line. Start fixing it at its source. Work one-on-one with the business owner or operating manager to improve their organizational skills.

When working one-on-one with a client to improve their organizational skills, it is important to stress the positives and the negatives. For example, there are many benefits to being organized. There are also many cons to being unorganized. This includes decreased productivity. Many new and struggling business owners do not always make the connection between organization, productivity, and profits.

When showing a business owner or operating manager how to improve their organization, meet in their office. Point out the mistakes made, such as the huge stack of papers on their desk. Then, make a visit together to an office supply store. Show your client some of the many tools they have available at their disposal. Do not pressure them to buy, especially if they are limited on funds, but give them ideas. For example, a desk sorter won’t eliminate that stack of papers, but it will make them more organized. When it comes time to for your client to tackle them, they can do so easier, quicker, and with less stress.

As previously stated, if a business owner or operating manager is unorganized, chances are it goes right down the line. For that reason, suggest viewing the offices of other onsite employees. Look at their organizational skills. Are they poor? If so, suggest hosting a small training session. For small businesses with only a few employees, meet right in one of those offices. For large business, with many employees, schedule your training session in a conference room. Before helping a worker cleanup and organize their office, take pictures. You will have before and after pictures to show.

As previously stated, there are many organization tools available to help small to medium sized businesses. Do not pressure your client to purchase these tools, but offer the encouragement. Better yet, look at the tools they have and are not utilizing. Encourage use. Breakout some filing cabinets and bookshelves from the storeroom and incorporate them into your presentation.

Remember, that organization is key to running a profitable and successful business. It improves productivity and should later increase sales. After all, a client who must wait 20 minutes before someone finds their file is a client who is likely to take their business elsewhere.

Business Coaching and Stress Management

If you work as a business coach, your job is to teach others how to run a successful and profitable business. You use your training, experience, and schooling to provide them with insightful knowledge. When properly implemented, your steps should translate into success and profits for your clients.

In terms of business management, much focus is placed on organization, marketing, and sales. These are important components of running a sound business, but there is more. Small to medium sized business owners and their employees suffer from stress. As you know, business has its difficulties. For some, this stress takes a huge toll. Not only should you cover sales, organization, and marketing, but stress management too.

How can you incorporate stress management into your already proven step-by-step business coaching guide?

By offering it as an extra bonus. Clients pay for your service. New business owners and those struggling will gladly pay for your service, but give them an extra incentive. Include stress management as a bonus service or feature. With this approach, you cover this important aspect of business and your clients will feel like they are getting something for free. Everyone wins!

You now know how to offer stress management as a part of your business coaching services, but what steps should you take to educate?

If you are able to meet with your clients and their employees one-on-one, do so. Gather everyone in a room and ask some to share their biggest stress concerns. Most will mention the balance between family and home. Others will mention short deadlines or long work hours. Some may actually mention that they are stressing out about your training session, because they are missing valuable work time. Once you get a good idea of what troubles your clients and their employees are facing, you get a better grasp on the situation. Next, comes the solution.

It is important to know how to manage stress, but it is also important to know how to prevent it. Encourage those worried about short deadlines to improve their time management skills. Suggest monitoring their progress and recording whenever they get off track. What were they doing? Surfing the internet, checking email, or socializing with a coworker? It is easier to eliminate these trigger factors when we know what they are. As for balancing family and home, most companies provide their employees with vacation time. Encourage your audience to use theirs, especially when they need a break.

As previously stated, it is best to avoid stress, but this is impossible for some. Many individuals cannot help blowing things out of proportion. These individuals need to learn to manage it. Now is the time to suggest stress reducing tools, such as aromatherapy candles, hot and cold therapy, stress balls, and so forth. In fact, if you discuss this with your client ahead of time, they may be willing to go the extra mile for their employees and purchase stress balls for everyone.

Hot and cold patches and stress balls are ideal for at-work use, but there is more to stress management. As mentioned above, some individuals are stressed about home life and they bring that stress to work. The goal of a business owner is to have happy and healthy employees. This involves encouraging positive attitudes at home too. In your stress management session, stress the importance of relaxation outside of the office. Those who are worried about spending time with family should know that it is okay to let a sink full of dishes sit for the night. It will still be there in the morning.

As a recap, marketing, sales, and organization are three important components of running a successful and profitable business. But, if the individuals in charge of these tasks are ridden with stress and unable to deal with it, poor results are likely. When dealing directly with a business owner, urge them to allow you to hold a short session on stress management or encourage them to do the same.

Business Coaching Services: Are They Worth It?

If you work as a business coach, it is your job to train and education business owners, operating managers, and all remaining employees. Running a successful and profitable business starts at the top and works its way down.

Your responsibilities, as a business coach, include getting your client to understand the important aspects of running a business, such as sales, marketing, communication, organization, and conflict resolution. This is an important job and you know this. But, there are some business owners who wonder if using the services of a business coach are worth it. It is also your job to convince them that it is.

You need to convince potential clients that your service is great and more than worth the money. This is nice to know, but how? Continue reading on for a few sample ideas.

You can do so with promotional brochures and free promotional items. Sending a pamphlet outlining your services and how they can increase sales is a great idea, but these brochures often just get thrown in the trash. Include more! Add a free magnet or pen with your company name, address, and phone number. People love and will use free stuff, so your name will get seen. The struggling business owner may literally be stressing about their future and glance over to see your logo in their office.

You can do so by offering discounts. Many of the business owners who use the services of a business coach are struggling. Some are barely staying afloat financially. They need to use their money wisely. Make it seem like they are getting a good deal. Offer a small, but meaningful discount on your services. Also, include extra bonuses in your package. Most business coaches hold training seminars. Include, as a bonus, free printed guides for each employee. These guides allow for later reference, long after your training session has ended.

You can do so by offering free consultations and assessments. As previously stated, most business owner who uses coaches are struggling. Unfortunately, some wait until they are in the red to seek help. Offer free consultations and assessments. Show the business owner or operating manager that they are heading down a dangerous path. Use their records to show what they can expect the next year if swift action is not taken. Then, go into great deal about how you can turn their business around. For example, you will teach that business owner the importance of local and internet marketing, and share unique marketing tactics with them.

You can do so by being a real person. Your job, as a business coach, is a professional one. It is important to stay professional, but business coaches work side-by-side their clients. You need to show these people that you are a real person, more than just a suit. Some struggling business owners fear seeking help because they are afraid that their ideas and actions will be dissected and criticized. Yes, this is your job, but always put a positive spin on things. When soliciting business, never blame a business owner. Comment that they did many great things, but a few simple improvements can do wonders.

In short, business coaching is a valuable service for all small, medium, and large companies. Unfortunately, not everyone sees it that way. For that reason, market yourself, get the word out, and encourage those in trouble to save their business and with your help.

Business Coaching and Responsibility

Americans are always looking for new ways to make money. If you are one of those individuals and have a business management degree or experience in business management, there is a good opportunity waiting for you. That opportunity is working as a business coach. With today’s struggling economy, once profitable businesses are losing money. Unless help is sought and fast, those businesses may have to close their doors.

As nice as it is to hear that you can make money working as a business coach, you need more information. Most importantly, you need to know what is expected of you. What job responsibilities do business coaches have?

Education. As a business coach, you are the expert. You have schooling or experience that makes you qualified to run a business. You know what works and what doesn’t. Unfortunately, many home based business and small business owners did not think their plans through. They realized they could make money and jumped in with both feet. Action is good, but having knowledge and experience is even better.

It is your job as a business coach to educate them on how to properly run a successful and profitable business. To do this, dissect the key components of running a business. These include leadership development, proper communication, teamwork, organization, resolving workplace conflict, sales, and marketing. Those who started a business on a whim may not see the connection between these important components and profits. You need to show them.

Setting examples. As a business coach, your job is to educate and teach a business owner how to run a successful and profitable business. You are just like a sports coach, you teach the team plays to run. Do not do the work yourself. You can however, set examples and give continued instructions.

For example, organization is key to business. In the retail industry, an unorganized sales floor turns off customers. They want to shop where it is easy to find what they need, easy to walk through the aisles, and so forth. If your client’s retail store is unorganized and unclean, give team members a shopping cart and a list of items to pickup. Let them see for themselves how hard it was to shop. Then, give them a few suggestions, such as removing bulky displays from the middle of the aisle. Run through one play yourself, but let the team do the rest of the work.

Reviewing. You can educate your clients and show them ways to improve productivity, organization, marketing, and sales, but there are no guarantees. As soon as you leave or end a training session, your client and their employees can revert to their old habits. Include a review in with your fees. Return a week or two after your training sessions. Have things changed? Did the company utilize your tips or did they return to normal habits?

If you return to a client’s place of business and do not see improvements, don’t start the process again, especially for free. Verbally repeat the important components of running a business and restate some of the tips you shared. Before leaving, warn your former client about the dangerous path they are headed on. Unless they offer to pay for your services again, your hands are tied, but at least you made an attempt.

Business Coaching and Sports Coaching

Do you want to work as a business coach? If so, you have opted for a very potentially profitable career. With the struggling economy, many businesses are barely staying afloat financially. They need help from a professional and they need it now. That professional can be you.

When it comes to business coaching, you will find many similarities between sports coaching. In fact, if targeting the self-employed, home business owners and small business owners, you should use the analogy. Some know they need business help, but don’t actually know what a business coach is. Comparing business coaching with sports coaching is an easy way to make them understand.

As previously stated, business coaching and sports coaching are very similar. How?

Most sports are team sports. For example, there is football, baseball, basketball, and volleyball. One team member can have an amazing game, but overall the team can still lose. Everyone needs to work together to see success.

When coaching small to medium sized business owners, emphasize the importance of teamwork. Both offices and retail settings are in disarray when no one is on the same page. The workplace is likely hectic and unorganized. Poor teamwork also leads to troubling and disruptive workplace conflict. A good example is when two coworkers are working jointly on a project. One is pulling their weight and the other is slacking off. Conflict is likely.

As a business coach, do not just highlight the importance of teamwork. Show your clients teambuilding exercises, offer tips, and work hands on with the entire staff.

With basketball, the coaches call the plays. These plays have been gone over and practiced before. It isn’t the coach’s job to score a basket or stop the opposing team from scoring. It is up to the players to remember their training and practice drills. The same is true for business coaching.

When working with a client, don’t do all the work for them. This teaches them nothing. Show your clients how to do it themselves. For example, if your client has a poorly organized office, pickup a few items to show them how it is done. Then, make suggestions. Let them handle the rest. You gave your client a play, showed them how it was done, and let them score the point.

This leads to another similarity. Coaches not only watch their players score a basket. They analyze their actions and provide feedback. As a business coach, do the same. Use the above mentioned example of watching an office manager or owner organize their office. Once finished, point out what they did right, what they did wrong, and how they can make improvements, both now and in the long-term future.

With sports, coaches use practice and training to buildup strength and to practice play calls. You can and should do the same. With small to medium sized businesses, work with more than just the owner. Work with the entire team. Don’t just stand in front of the room and talk or handout reading material. You will lose their interest and quick. Instead, rely on fun exercises. To show peaceful ways to resolve conflict in the workplace, use role-playing and two volunteers.

As you can see, there are many similarities between business coaching and sport coaching. In fact, if you are new to the game and have yet to develop a business plan, look at sports. You can learn many successful tips on how to run a smooth, successful, and profitable coaching service.

Business Coaching and Health and Wellness

As a business coach, it is your responsibility to teach your clients the key components of running a successful and profitable business. For most small to medium sized business owners, this is increased sales, lowered operating costs, leadership development, marketing, and proper communication. These are very important aspects of running a business, but your step-by-step coaching guide should include more. What? Health and wellness in the workplace.

In terms of health and wellness in the workplace, some business owners and operating mangers have it all wrong. Some literally believe that unless their employees are dying or in the hospital, they should be at work. Yes, those in good health should show at work and arrive on time. There are however, many consequences to not promoting a happy and healthy workplace. As a business coach, it is your job to outline these consequences for your clients.

As previously stated, some employers want their employees at work, no matter how they look or feel. This is very dangerous. Not just for the sick worker, but for everyone else in the workplace. A good example is to highlight common illnesses, such as the flu, the stomach bug, and the common cold. Print information from the internet showing the many and easy ways that these viruses spread. Then highlight the consequences, which could include everyone in the office coming down with a cold. Unfortunately, not everyone will get sick all at once. They will continue passing the virus around. One cold can negatively influence an entire office for weeks.

Using the internet and printed guides to show how easily germs and colds spread from coworker to coworker is a great approach, but it isn’t enough for all. A great approach is to test surfaces. Do not opt for someone’s office or workplace, as the results may be embarrassing. Instead, test a common area, such as a commonplace phone, filing cabinet, or bathroom. Some test kits are available for sale, but they usually give limited results. Bite the cost and get true lab testing. In fact, include the cost in with your fee. There is no denying the results. Even cleaned offices have germs, many of which are the cause of viruses and colds.

As previously stated, a simple cold can affect a workplace for weeks. This is because not all coworkers come into contact with each other at the same time. It could take weeks or months for an entire office to run through a cold. Once again, not all office managers and business owners understand this. You need to show them. Use volunteers. In fact, use the entire staff present for training.

Take one individual, he or she is sick, but called in sick to work. Set that volunteer aside. They stayed home; therefore, are not passing germs around the office. Then take another volunteer; they are sick, but still went to work. In just the first hour of the day, they came into touching contact with three different coworkers. Those then turned around and encountered six more, and so forth. Create a line showing all the people who will get sick. Compare the two. Yes, one employee does miss work, but it is much better than having the entire staff out of commission. It is a chain reaction.

As previously stated, it is your job to educate business owners and managers on the key components of running a business. However, to properly implement those components, happy, healthy, and well staff members must carry out those actions. Otherwise, time is wasted, productivity is low, and the results are poor.

How to Market Your Business Coaching Services

An important part of business coaching is teaching clients to manage and market a business. For that reason, marketing is vital to your own success. Clients need to find business coaches and easily. After all, that is your specialty. If it takes potential clients hours to find your business online, they may question your ability to assist with their own marketing. How do you prevent this from happening? You familiarize yourself with ways to market your coaching service. So, what are your options?

The phonebook. When people need a service, most head to their local phone book. When looking to market a business or service, you should do the same. It will cost more money, but opt for a listing in the yellow pages or business directory section. Look at your phone book and find the best category for your service. It should be the “business services,” section or another related field.

When looking into phonebook listings, remember that not all individuals are familiar with business coaching. Invest money for a larger ad. It does not need to be full size, but have enough room to highlight the services offered. For example, state you can help businesses improve their profits with team-building, time management, and successful marketing tactics. If you live in or operate your business out of a small town, expand your listings to phonebooks for larger nearby communities too.

Business directories. Although many turn to their local phone book to find a business or service, many more turn to the internet. To capitalize on its popularity, use it. To get started, turn to online business directories. You can find them with a standard internet search and most search engines, like Yahoo, have built in directories. They allow internet users to search for a business, like yours, by city and state.

To add your listing to a business directory, contact the owner of the website. You may find an “Add a Business,” or “Contact Us,” link towards the bottom of the page. When creating your listing, provide as much detail as possible. Ideal keywords or tags to describe your services including, business coaching, business coaches, business services, and business help. Provide your name or the name of your business, address, phone number, email address, and website URL.

Create a website. Speaking of a website URL, you need to have one. Business directories enable you to reach a wide audience, but that audience is usually local. Remember, they enable internet users to search based on city and state. If you can offer services over-the-internet or over-the-phone or through travel, a website enables to you expand your reach.

When creating a website, realize the importance of a professional and easy-to-navigate website. If you need assistance, hire a professional web designer. As for website content, state what you do. Do not just list your title as a business coach; explain the process. Highlight who can benefit from your services, such as small to medium sized business owners. Go into detail explaining the services you offer, such as time management, marketing, and sales help. Explain how each of these services, when implemented, translate into increased sales.

Word of mouth. Small to medium sized business owners tend to turn to each other for help and advice. The internet makes it easy for these individual to connect by social networking websites and message boards. A small business owner who saw their profits increased due to your help is likely to spread the word. This will happen naturally, but why not provide an extra push? You can do so by offering a referral discount. Offer to refund a small percentage of the money a client paid, like 5% or 10% for each new paying client they refer.

Solicitation. With solicitation, it is important to proceed with caution. Some states and local governments have rules pertaining to door-to-door solicitation. If not an issue, head to those who need your services. Why wait for them to come to you?

With solicitation, you have many options. You can visit a small to medium sized business, speak with the owner or manager and explain your services. Leave behind literature explaining your business, such as your rates and the services offered. You can also mail these items to businesses in or around your area. To avoid outright solicitation, include a free product, such as a magnet bearing your company logo or a discount card for new clients.

Business Coaching and Marketing

As a business coach, it is your job to educate business owners and their employees. Most are new business owners who want to take a step in the right direction or struggling business owners who need help getting back on the right track. There are many areas of business management that you need to cover. With that said, focus on marketing. To make money, a business must sell either a product or a service. If your client has a good product, but no sales, it is because their marketing plan fell flat. Speaking of which did they even have a plan?

One of the mistakes that many new business owners make is believing as soon as they setup shop people will come. A storefront in a well-trafficked location will help. Even then, it is not enough. People will stop and notice their business, but will it get them insides the doors? Not always. That is why a strong marketing plan is key.

Business marketing should be divided into two different categories. These are local marketing and internet marketing. All business owners and managers should utilize both. For example, a client who runs an online store should do more than just market online. They should market locally too and visa versa. Implementing both types of marketing expands reach and profits. Start with one section at a time, such as local marketing. Later, move onto internet marketing.

When covering the marketing aspect of running a business to your client, create a step-by-step plan. This plan should have three different steps.

Step 1 – The Importance of Marketing

As previously stated, some new business owners mistakenly believe if they step a store, the customers will come. This is rare. A good example is to create a “dummy,” website ahead of time. On this website, sell something, such as your services as a business coach. Do not market or advertise your website. Let it sit there. Ask a team member to search for it. See if your volunteer can find your fake website with a standard internet search. With no marketing and incoming links, chances are they cannot.

This exercise shows that just because you have a product or service available for sale, it does not mean people will know or be able to find it. Outline how internet marketing can change that.

Step 2 – Give Examples

Your job as a business coach is to first show your clients the importance of business marketing. This is a step in the right direction, but it isn’t enough. You need to show them steps to take. Business marketing should be divided into two categories, local marketing and online marketing. Give at least 10 examples. Do more than just say try these marketing tactics, but have them available in printed format for reuse.

When sharing business marketing tactics with clients, business coaches must think both inside and outside of the box. What seems like common sense to you, may not be to a client. You know that businesses should advertise in the yellow pages of local phone books, but does your client have a listing? If not, they should.

Then, think outside of the box. Suggest to your clients creating a monthly newsletter. Readers can signup for these newsletters via the company website. In that newsletter, share tips, review new products or services available for sale, and include a moneysaving discount code. Consumers are more likely to buy a product or service when they feel like they are getting a good deal or something for free.

Step 3 – Review

Before closing your training session, summarize everything you just said. State the importance of having a solid marketing plan, as well as the consequences for not. Restate a few of your shared marketing tactics and encourage management to implement these steps right away and build from them. Whether you are training one person or one hundred, open the floor for questions.

Business Coaching and Leadership Development

As a business coach, your area of expertise is educating business owners. You share tips on how to operate a successful and profitable business. You do so though with one-on-one explanations, training exercises, and written materials that can be referenced at anytime. Most business coaches have a special step-by-step program that they use. You should be no different. Whether your current program has you working one-on-one with your client or with your client and their employees, leadership training is vital.

In small businesses, there is usually one or two leaders. With medium sized business, there are more, but usually less than twenty. Leadership training should involve each member of management or those on their way up the company ladder. Be sure your client knows this. Yes, you can educate them on leadership development and they can later train their staff with this knowledge, but there are a number of benefits to doing it yourself. After all, you are a trained and experienced expert on the subject.

In terms of leadership training, get started with your client. This is the business owner or operating manager. Monitor a few hours of their day. How do they manage their time? How do they interact with clients and employees? Is their time well-managed? Take notes throughout the day. Commend your client for taking positive steps, but make suggestions where improvements are needed. Finally, discuss with them what you will use to train their employees, particularly those in or on the way to management positions.

Speaking of which, what will you do? Since medium sized businesses typically have less than twenty in management positions, you are at an advantage. You should have a relatively small group to work with. This gives you an edge. You do not have to entertain or the hold the attention of a room of 50. A small group also makes interactive exercises easy.

To get started, ask each team member to describe his or her day from start to finish. Ask them to include the little things, such as bathroom breaks, smoke breaks, socializing with coworkers, and checking email. You will collect these notes and read them aloud. Ask the audience member to vote on which manager is making the best use of their time. Conclude the exercise by highlighting the importance of time management in the workplace. Then, share tips on how to improve the use of time. This includes waiting until scheduled breaks to go to the bathroom, smoke, and socialize with coworkers.

Another ideal exercise focuses on conflict resolution. Those in management positions deal with many conflicts. Other employees approach them with complaints. These complaints may be about the poor work environment or coworker troubles. Managers also deal with customer complaints. In these situations, the wrong action can lead to conflict. Use role-playing to highlight your point. Ask two managers to role-play. Have one be a customer with a valid complaint. See how the two handle the situation on their own in front of the group. Then, analyze. Show for the room what the two volunteers did right, what they did wrong, and offer tips to reduce and resolve workplace conflict.

In addition to time management and conflict resolution, good communication skills are a must for those in management. As previously stated, managers need to communicate their bosses, coworkers, and clients. They will provide direction and solve complications as they arise. To do this, good communication skills are vital. Directions must be easy to comprehend, detailed, and clear. Buy a cheap plastic shelf from a discount store. Choose two volunteers from the group. The first provides direction, in their own words, on how to assemble. The second volunteer does the assembly. Were clear instructions given? If the volunteer rambled or gave confusion suggestions, show how it influenced the second volunteer’s ability to do the task. Stress the importance of clear communication and tips for making it happen.

Time management, conflict resolution, and communication are just three aspects of leadership development that you should cover as a business coach. Businesses generate income by selling a product or a service. Yes, you want to focus on sales and marketing, but start at the base of the business. Once that is functioning smoothly, the rest will start to fall into place.