In the competitive world of business coaching, standing out from the crowd and consistently attracting new clients can be challenging. What if you could create such high demand for your services that you become “oversubscribed”? This means having more clients eager to work with you than you can possibly take on, creating a sense of exclusivity and high value around your coaching practice.

Achieving this coveted status involves strategic planning and execution. By following the seven principles outlined in Daniel Priestley’s book, “Oversubscribed: How to Get People Lining Up to Do Business with You“, you can position your business coaching practice to be in constant high demand. These principles are designed to help you become an influential thought leader, attract and engage clients, and deliver exceptional coaching experiences that keep clients coming back for more.

In this blog post, we’ll explore these seven principles in detail, providing you with actionable steps to make your coaching practice oversubscribed. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your established business to the next level, these strategies will help you build a thriving, in-demand coaching practice.

1. Create Your Own ‘Market of Me’

Become an Influencer in Your Coaching Sector

In the world of business coaching, establishing yourself as an authority can significantly enhance your ability to attract clients. It’s not just about offering great coaching services; it’s about becoming a thought leader whom people look up to for insights and guidance. By sharing your expertise and knowledge, you position yourself as a go-to expert in your field.

Start by creating valuable content that resonates with your target audience. This could be in the form of blog posts, podcasts, webinars, or social media updates. Share industry trends, actionable tips, and success stories that highlight your coaching philosophy and methods. The key is to consistently provide content that adds value and positions you as an expert.

Campaign-based marketing is a powerful strategy to build anticipation and demand for your services. Instead of a continuous marketing effort, focus on a few impactful launches throughout the year. These campaigns can revolve around new coaching programs, workshops, or exclusive webinars. By limiting the number of launches, you create a sense of scarcity and urgency, making your audience more eager to engage with your offerings. This approach helps you build a “market of me,” where clients are excitedly waiting for your next initiative, ensuring you are always in high demand.

2. Product Staircase with a Free Lead Magnet

Attract and Engage with Valuable Free Resources

A cornerstone of becoming oversubscribed is to offer a product staircase that includes an effective, free lead magnet. A lead magnet is a valuable resource that attracts potential clients and engages them with your coaching practice. For business coaches, this could be a free introductory coaching session, a downloadable guide, an e-book, or access to a webinar series.

The goal of the lead magnet is to provide significant value upfront, demonstrating your expertise and the potential benefits of your coaching. It should be compelling enough to capture the interest of your target audience and encourage them to take the next step in your product staircase.

For instance, you might offer a free e-book titled “10 Strategies to Transform Your Business,” packed with actionable advice. Those who download the e-book are likely interested in further coaching, and you can guide them towards booking a free initial consultation. During this consultation, you can showcase the deeper value of your coaching services, eventually leading them to sign up for your paid programs.

By offering valuable free resources, you create a pathway for potential clients to experience your coaching style and see the benefits firsthand. This not only builds trust but also sets the stage for converting them into paying clients who are eager to benefit from your full range of services.

By joining if I Grow, You’ll full access to a bank of pre-prepared coaching resources to use as lead magnets.

3. Determine Your Capacity

Know Your Limits to Ensure Quality Service

Understanding your capacity is crucial for maintaining the quality of your coaching services and managing your resources effectively. Knowing how many clients you can handle simultaneously without compromising on the quality of your coaching is essential. This helps prevent overextension and ensures that each client receives the attention and support they deserve.

Start by calculating the maximum number of clients you can manage in a given period. Consider the time required for one-on-one sessions, group coaching, preparation, follow-ups, and any additional support your clients might need. This helps you set realistic boundaries and manage your workload efficiently.

Daniel Priestley emphasizes the importance of knowing your limits. By determining your capacity, you can plan your marketing and sales efforts accordingly, ensuring that you can deliver exceptional service to every client. Regularly review and adjust your capacity based on demand and resource availability. This approach not only helps maintain high service quality but also creates a sense of exclusivity, as clients know there are limited slots available.

4. Priming and Social Proof Messaging

Build Trust with Testimonials and Success Stories

Priming your audience and using social proof are essential strategies to create demand and build trust. Priming involves subtly preparing your audience to expect and desire your coaching services. This can be achieved through consistent messaging that highlights the value and benefits of your coaching.

Social proof is a powerful tool in this process. Collect and showcase testimonials, case studies, and success stories from your clients. Highlight specific results and benefits that your clients have experienced. This not only builds trust but also creates a compelling narrative that attracts new clients.

For example, you can feature client testimonials on your website and social media channels. Share detailed case studies that demonstrate how your coaching helped a client overcome challenges and achieve their goals. Video testimonials can be particularly impactful, as they provide a personal and authentic endorsement of your services.

Incorporate these success stories into your marketing materials, email campaigns, and webinars. The goal is to create a strong impression that working with you leads to significant and positive outcomes. By doing so, you build credibility and make potential clients more likely to choose your coaching services.

5. Release Formula

Timing Your Coaching Program Launch for Maximum Impact

Daniel Priestley’s book outlines a specific formula to determine when to release your offering based on the level of interest and engagement from your audience. This strategy ensures that you launch your coaching programs at the right time to maximize demand and impact.

Here’s how it works for business coaching:

• Strongly Signalled Interest: If you can manage 20 coaching clients at once, aim for 100 potential clients expressing strong interest (e.g., signing up for a webinar or requesting more information). This indicates a solid demand and readiness for your services.
• Educated or Entertained Customers: If you want 50 active clients in your group coaching program, ensure 500 people have engaged with your content (e.g., attended your webinars, read your blog posts). This larger pool of educated prospects increases the likelihood of conversion.
• Soft Signalling: For a goal of 100 paid clients, ensure at least 10,000 people have interacted with your lead magnet or free resources (e.g., downloaded your e-book, attended a free workshop). This broad level of awareness and initial interest sets the stage for higher conversion rates.

By following this formula, you can strategically time your program launches to ensure maximum impact and readiness from your audience. This method helps you build momentum and ensures you have a strong base of interested prospects before you launch.

6. Remarkable Offering Delivery

Exceed Expectations with Every Coaching Session

When you release your coaching program, it’s crucial to deliver an experience that exceeds your clients’ expectations. This means ensuring your coaching sessions are not only effective but also engaging and transformative. Provide exceptional support, address issues promptly, and continuously refine your coaching techniques based on client feedback.

Delivering a remarkable coaching experience involves more than just meeting expectations; it’s about creating a memorable and positive experience that turns clients into advocates. Personalise your coaching sessions to address individual client needs and goals. Provide valuable resources, actionable insights, and continuous support to help clients achieve their desired outcomes.

For example, you might offer follow-up materials, such as worksheets, progress tracking tools, or additional reading resources, to supplement your coaching sessions. Hosting regular check-ins and providing personalised feedback can also enhance the client experience.

By delivering exceptional coaching services, you create loyal clients who are more likely to recommend your services to others. This word-of-mouth marketing is invaluable in building an oversubscribed coaching practice.

7. Social Proof and Success Stories

Leverage Client Success to Attract More Business

The final principle involves creating an overwhelming amount of social proof by showcasing your clients’ success stories. Collect and highlight testimonials, case studies, and reviews from your satisfied clients. Use different formats, such as written testimonials, video interviews, and detailed case studies, to provide a comprehensive view of how your coaching has helped others.

Place these success stories prominently on your website and social media channels. Not only do they build trust and credibility, but they also serve as powerful marketing tools that can persuade potential clients to choose your coaching services over competitors.

For instance, you could create a dedicated section on your website for success stories, featuring detailed case studies that outline the challenges your clients faced, the coaching process, and the outcomes achieved. Share these stories in your email newsletters and social media posts to reach a wider audience.

By consistently showcasing your clients’ successes, you reinforce the value and effectiveness of your coaching services. This social proof not only attracts new clients but also enhances your reputation as a highly sought-after business coach.

Conclusion

Achieving an oversubscribed status in your business coaching practice is a strategic and rewarding journey. By implementing the seven principles from Daniel Priestley’s book, “Oversubscribed,” you can position yourself as a sought-after coach with a constant flow of eager clients. From establishing yourself as a thought leader and offering valuable free resources to understanding your capacity and leveraging social proof, these principles provide a robust framework for building demand and delivering exceptional services.

Now that you have a roadmap to making your coaching practice oversubscribed, it’s time to take action. Start implementing these strategies today to attract and retain more clients, creating a thriving coaching business that stands out in the market.

Join the If I Grow Coaching Directory

Ready to expand your reach and connect with more clients? Join the iFiGrow coaching directory at www.ifigrow.com. Our directory is designed to help business coaches like you reach a wider audience, showcase your expertise, and grow your practice.

By joining If I Grow, you’ll:

• Increase Visibility: Get discovered by clients actively seeking business coaching services.
• Showcase Your Expertise: Highlight your unique coaching approach, success stories, and testimonials.
• Expand Your Network: Connect with other professionals and potential clients in your industry.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to elevate your coaching practice. Join the If I Grow coaching directory today and start your journey to becoming oversubscribed!