Think back to your childhood… how did you learn to do something new? Chances are you learned all the basics of life – reading, writing, arithmetic and more – in school. Maybe you played soccer or guitar; it’s a good bet you had a coach for that. Now that you’re an adult, do you think you can learn new things – like setting up an internet marketing website – simply by teaching yourself? You probably can, but is that the most efficient or effective method?
On one such occasion we went to the White River in northern Arkansas near the Bull Shoals Dam. I had heard about a fishing guide there named Johnny – who was said to be the best- and so we booked him, our hotel, and we headed north. The experience turned out to be one of the best ever and we caught fish everyday.
Many coaches believe that, as a coach, being specific and measurable is difficult… one reason is that they’ve been taught that they can help anyone by challenging what’s inside that person. But, I’m challenging YOU to start taking responsibility for what you can measurably deliver, and what YOU personally bring to that relationship, not just what is within the person you are working with. There is SOMETHING that YOU personally bring to the relationship. Step up and own that, then make sure that the word is spread, and that you are known for that result, and the VALUE of that result.
A marketing Coach should offer you a complimentary 15-minute coaching session so both of you can decide if you are a good fit for each other. Your coach is not your buddy or pal, but you must develop strong rapport so you can get the most possible out of your coaching sessions. Of course, it may take some time to develop a high level of trust, but the coach definitely should not give you the heebie-jeebies. If your spidey-sense sounds an alarm during the coaching sessions, you should absolutely acknowledge it, and respond in an appropriate manner.
When I reflect on that experience, it occurs to me that a business coach is a lot like a good fishing guide. As a marketing Coach I guide my clients on not only how to catch more fish (customers,) but I know all the best spots (best business practices) so they will succeed in business.
If you can, meet with your coach personally, but if you can’t do that, modern technology has made it possible to meet with coaches in online training centers. That is the next best thing, and it is quite adequate. In fact, many of those training centers are much more than adequate. They are excellent!
Continually practice the Art of Wastebasketry?. Research shows we use only 20% of what we keep. For each piece of information you receive, whether in hard copy or on the computer screen, ask these questions: Does this require action? Can I identify a specific use? Would it be difficult to get again? Is it recent enough to be useful? If the answer to all those questions is “No,” ask one final question: “What’s the worst thing that could happen if I don’t have this piece of paper?” If you can live with your answer — toss or recycle it! Take a look around your office. Do you see unused equipment, books you’ll never use again, drawers full of unidentified paper, or outdated inventory? If so, you’ll experience a new sense of energy if you get rid of it.
Do you have a strategic plan? Do you have business goals that you want to achieve? Do you know what you have to do to reach those goals? Do your employees know what your goals are and did they buy in? Are they all on the same page? Do you have performance goals that help guide them in helping you reach your goals and objectives?
The secret to getting coaching clients for any kind of coach is basically the same. I wish it wasn’t a secret but 99% of all coaches don’t know these answers, so, I guess it is a well kept secret anyway.
Get organized. Not having your marketing ideas, materials and plan in one easy to access location is a sure fire way to undermine your efforts. So if you’ve been writing your “plan” on sticky notes, random pieces of paper or just have your ideas floating around in your head, it’s time to get organized. Use your re-boot day to gather all of your marketing information in one place so you can access what needs to be tackled first.
Unfortunately there technology coach isn’t one magic answer to the question what should I do”. Depending on your main goal, your niche and target market, you could make a great case for taking any number of steps.
I’m sure you have seen some websites claiming they can teach you SEO when their sites technology coach can only be found in sponsored links meaning they are probably teaching you search engine advertising and not free search engine optimization techniques).
Most Internet marketing coach es will teach you what THEY’VE been doing. Regardless of whether their business is based on selling $2 ebooks, or $100 affiliate products, your business will look similar. So you should determine how you want to run your business before deciding on a coach. You need to get a coach from someone who has already accomplished what you want to do. For example, if you want to make $500 a month, you cannot enter into a coaching program from someone who is only making $300 a month. And the same goes with larger sums. If you want to make $5000 a month, the internet marketing coach you choose should be making at least that much.