Casual Articles - Finding Time For Marketing! - How To Have Time To Market As Well As Deliver Your Coaching Services

How do coaches find time to market when we are busy delivering our coaching services? My research indicates that this one of the biggest problems faced by coaches who are beginning to get clients.

When I asked coaches, they expressed the problem like this:

• “…creating a balance between spending time selling and marketing and actually coaching.”
• “Finding the time to win the business as well as deliver.”
• “ …getting the 'Marketing and doing' balance right.”
• “Finding the time to do everything myself (produce product, market, deliver).”

You Must Market Your Coaching Services

Of course, unless we're actively marketing, our flow of work is going to dry up. So marketing is vital - it's the lifeblood of our business. If we are not working on our marketing every waking hour while we're not actually delivering, what are we doing in business?

To paraphrase Dan Kennedy, from his book No BS Direct Marketing – "Your business is the business of marketing of your coaching practice".

So we must deliver and we must market. But how can we do both?

The EASED Process

The key is in my EASED process. EASED stands for Eliminate, Automate, Simplify, Execute and Delegate. It allows you to categorise the work you do and find more effective solutions for its completion.

What Do You Spend Your Time Doing?

First, let's see what you're actually doing. Take a look at a typical week and see where you spend your time. Write down all the major tasks you undertake. This includes your delivery of coaching services, your marketing activities and everything else that doesn't contribute to your business. Look at your list - it's probably quite long. For each item, we're going to be asking – "Do I really need to be doing all of that?"

So let’s start the EASED process with Eliminate.

Eliminate

Firstly, what can you Eliminate from your stack of work with no impact to your marketing or delivery? In this category you might find time spent watching TV, playing video games, surfing the 'net - stuff you like but that doesn't contribute to your business. Also in this category is low value activities - stuff you don't get paid for and that would have no real impact if you didn't do it.

So, once you've identified what these activities are – just stop doing them! You will probably find you will immediately have more time on your hands.

Automate

The next category is Automate. Have another look at the remaining tasks you perform. The increasing numbers of online and PC-based tools available mean that today many tasks can be automated. What are your marketing and administration tasks that you can automate? Talk to other coaches to see what systems they use.

The secret here is to find automated systems that do the work for you. Examples here might be 1shoppingcart or other autoresponders to keep in touch with your client and prospect list. It might include having an online system to take booking requests and accept client payments automatically.

As this area of technology moves fast, it pays to check often on the current position.

Simplify

Once you've Eliminated and Automated tasks, what tasks can you Simplify? How can you make what you have to do easier and have it take less time?

Simplifying means organising your resources so they're close at hand. It means reducing the standards for completion of non-essential tasks. It means making processes easier to operate and taking out non-essential activities from them.

You can simplify not only marketing and coaching delivery tasks, but also your home management activities. For example, can you use online shopping and delivery to save yourself two hours a week?

Execute

Now we come to the remaining and core activities of your business. These include tasks only you can do and tasks that could be completed by others.

Execute tasks are those you must do yourself - this naturally includes the delivery of your coaching services. But it also includes a proportion of your marketing tasks. Here, it's helpful to distinguish between content and process. You need to provide the content for your marketing – the text for your sales letters and your website content.

But others can manage the processes of marketing for you. This might include setting up your website or blog in the first place, uploading your sales pages to the internet, sending out your weekly newsletter, managing your autoresponders and making telephone calls to arrange coaching sessions or meetings.

The key is being ruthless about what do you HAVE to do. If a task is not focused around your core skills, and high-value added activities, you shouldn't be doing it.

And that leads us to the final part of the EASED model – Delegate.

Delegate

After you've gone through the Execute phase, you'll have some tasks that are candidates for delegation. These will probably include aspects of the administration of your business and aspects of the process of your marketing. They may also include elements of your home-life like childcare or cleaning.

Your potential task list may be quite long, and you know there are many tasks that you could usefully delegate. But, I also know what you’re going to say next.

But I can't afford to pay staff…

No, not many start-up coaches can afford to pay full-time, permanent staff. But you don't need to do that yet. Just look at the list of tasks you had from above, and the ones that you could delegate.

Now consider these options:
• Get yourself a cleaner, order groceries online and delegate other non-business related time-consuming tasks.
• Consider getting part-time typing assistance from a temp agency or from personal contacts.
• Hire a VA – a Virtual Assistant.
• Use resources for specific tasks from www.elance.com .

But, But… Don't All Of These Cost Money?

What Do You Spend Your Time Doing?

First, let's see what you're actually doing. Take a look at a typical week and see where you spend your time. Write down all the major tasks you undertake. This includes your delivery of coaching services, your marketing activities and everything else that doesn't contribute to your business. Look at your list - it's probably quite long. For each item, we're going to be asking – "Do I really need to be doing all of that?"

So let’s start the EASED process with Eliminate.

Eliminate

Firstly, what can you Eliminate from your stack of work with no impact to your marketing or delivery? In this category you might find time spent watching TV, playing video games, surfing the 'net - stuff you like but that doesn't contribute to your business. Also in this category is low value activities - stuff you don't get paid for and that would have no real impact if you didn't do it.

So, once you've identified what these activities are – just stop doing them! You will probably find you will immediately have more time on your hands.

Automate

The next category is Automate. Have another look at the remaining tasks you perform. The increasing numbers of online and PC-based tools available mean that today many tasks can be automated. What are your marketing and administration tasks that you can automate? Talk to other coaches to see what systems they use.

The secret here is to find automated systems that do the work for you. Examples here might be 1shoppingcart or other autoresponders to keep in touch with your client and prospect list. It might include having an online system to take booking requests and accept client payments automatically.

As this area of technology moves fast, it pays to check often on the current position.

Simplify

Once you've Eliminated and Automated tasks, what tasks can you Simplify? How can you make what you have to do easier and have it take less time?

Simplifying means organising your resources so they're close at hand. It means reducing the standards for completion of non-essential tasks. It means making processes easier to operate and taking out non-essential activities from them.

You can simplify not only marketing and coaching delivery tasks, but also your home management activities. For example, can you use online shopping and delivery to save yourself two hours a week?

Execute

Now we come to the remaining and core activities of your business. These include tasks only you can do and tasks that could be completed by others.

Execute tasks are those you must do yourself - this naturally includes the delivery of your coaching services. But it also includes a proportion of your marketing tasks. Here, it's helpful to distinguish between content and process. You need to provide the content for your marketing – the text for your sales letters and your website content.

But others can manage the processes of marketing for you. This might include setting up your website or blog in the first place, uploading your sales pages to the internet, sending out your weekly newsletter, managing your autoresponders and making telephone calls to arrange coaching sessions or meetings.

The key is being ruthless about what do you HAVE to do. If a task is not focused around your core skills, and high-value added activities, you shouldn't be doing it.

And that leads us to the final part of the EASED model – Delegate.

Delegate

After you've gone through the Execute phase, you'll have some tasks that are candidates for delegation. These will probably include aspects of the administration of your business and aspects of the process of your marketing. They may also include elements of your home-life like childcare or cleaning.

Your potential task list may be quite long, and you know there are many tasks that you could usefully delegate. But, I also know what you’re going to say next.

But I can't afford to pay staff…

No, not many start-up coaches can afford to pay full-time, permanent staff. But you don't need to do that yet. Just look at the list of tasks you had from above, and the ones that you could delegate.

Now consider these options:
• Get yourself a cleaner, order groceries online and delegate other non-business related time-consuming tasks.
• Consider getting part-time typing assistance from a temp agency or from personal contacts.
• Hire a VA – a Virtual Assistant.
• Use resources for specific tasks from www.elance.com .

But, But… Don't All Of These Cost Money?

Specialty Equipment Marketability and Feasibility Evaluations Pre-Launch; Case Study
When evaluating specialty equipment market niches the manufacturer must determine what the unit will sell for in the industry sector and do a complete evaluation prior to launching the product or developing a marketing plan. Part of marketing is determining price. Now then lets look at a case study; this one in the carwash sector. The specialty equipment will be a filtration and RO system capable of cleaning, recycling and reusing the waste wash water for other uses on the property such as pressure washing facilities, toilets and even landscaping.Our brilliant innovator is Paula Chavis a top notched marketing student who fills us in on some more details in our case study and states; “This product will start at $5000 for mobile businesses and $25,000 for Drive through businesses with financing available.”I believe the mobile price would be fine for flobably find you will immediately have more time on your hands.

Automate

The next category is Automate. Have another look at the remaining tasks you perform. The increasing numbers of online and PC-based tools available mean that today many tasks can be automated. What are your marketing and administration tasks that you can automate? Talk to other coaches to see what systems they use.

The secret here is to find automated systems that do the work for you. Examples here might be 1shoppingcart or other autoresponders to keep in touch with your client and prospect list. It might include having an online system to take booking requests and accept client payments automatically.

As this area of technology moves fast, it pays to check often on the current position.

Simplify

Once you've Eliminated and Automated tasks, what tasks can you Simplify? How can you make what you have to do easier and have it take less time?

Simplifying means organising your resources so they're close at hand. It means reducing the standards for completion of non-essential tasks. It means making processes easier to operate and taking out non-essential activities from them.

You can simplify not only marketing and coaching delivery tasks, but also your home management activities. For example, can you use online shopping and delivery to save yourself two hours a week?

Execute

Now we come to the remaining and core activities of your business. These include tasks only you can do and tasks that could be completed by others.

Execute tasks are those you must do yourself - this naturally includes the delivery of your coaching services. But it also includes a proportion of your marketing tasks. Here, it's helpful to distinguish between content and process. You need to provide the content for your marketing – the text for your sales letters and your website content.

But others can manage the processes of marketing for you. This might include setting up your website or blog in the first place, uploading your sales pages to the internet, sending out your weekly newsletter, managing your autoresponders and making telephone calls to arrange coaching sessions or meetings.

The key is being ruthless about what do you HAVE to do. If a task is not focused around your core skills, and high-value added activities, you shouldn't be doing it.

And that leads us to the final part of the EASED model – Delegate.

Delegate

After you've gone through the Execute phase, you'll have some tasks that are candidates for delegation. These will probably include aspects of the administration of your business and aspects of the process of your marketing. They may also include elements of your home-life like childcare or cleaning.

Your potential task list may be quite long, and you know there are many tasks that you could usefully delegate. But, I also know what you’re going to say next.

But I can't afford to pay staff…

No, not many start-up coaches can afford to pay full-time, permanent staff. But you don't need to do that yet. Just look at the list of tasks you had from above, and the ones that you could delegate.

Now consider these options:
• Get yourself a cleaner, order groceries online and delegate other non-business related time-consuming tasks.
• Consider getting part-time typing assistance from a temp agency or from personal contacts.
• Hire a VA – a Virtual Assistant.
• Use resources for specific tasks from www.elance.com .

But, But… Don't All Of These Cost Money?

Customer Referrals - Three Strategies for Increasing Them
If you’re getting few customer referrals but are confident that your products and services are as good as or better than those of your competition, you should seriously examine the steps you’re taking to turn your customers into your most effective salespeople. Then, you should write a plan detailing how you will increase your customer referrals.Rule One: Ask your customers for referrals.Oftentimes, the simplest techniques work the best. Back in my furniture days, when I had a good customer on the phone I would simply ask whether they knew a colleague who might be able to use our products. In one case, I got a referral that resulted in a $25,000 sale that would never have happened otherwise. First, without the referral, I never would have known that the person needed my product. Second, even if I knew about the person’s needs, I wouldn’t have closed simplify not only marketing and coaching delivery tasks, but also your home management activities. For example, can you use online shopping and delivery to save yourself two hours a week?

Execute

Now we come to the remaining and core activities of your business. These include tasks only you can do and tasks that could be completed by others.

Execute tasks are those you must do yourself - this naturally includes the delivery of your coaching services. But it also includes a proportion of your marketing tasks. Here, it's helpful to distinguish between content and process. You need to provide the content for your marketing – the text for your sales letters and your website content.

But others can manage the processes of marketing for you. This might include setting up your website or blog in the first place, uploading your sales pages to the internet, sending out your weekly newsletter, managing your autoresponders and making telephone calls to arrange coaching sessions or meetings.

The key is being ruthless about what do you HAVE to do. If a task is not focused around your core skills, and high-value added activities, you shouldn't be doing it.

And that leads us to the final part of the EASED model – Delegate.

Delegate

After you've gone through the Execute phase, you'll have some tasks that are candidates for delegation. These will probably include aspects of the administration of your business and aspects of the process of your marketing. They may also include elements of your home-life like childcare or cleaning.

Your potential task list may be quite long, and you know there are many tasks that you could usefully delegate. But, I also know what you’re going to say next.

But I can't afford to pay staff…

No, not many start-up coaches can afford to pay full-time, permanent staff. But you don't need to do that yet. Just look at the list of tasks you had from above, and the ones that you could delegate.

Now consider these options:
• Get yourself a cleaner, order groceries online and delegate other non-business related time-consuming tasks.
• Consider getting part-time typing assistance from a temp agency or from personal contacts.
• Hire a VA – a Virtual Assistant.
• Use resources for specific tasks from www.elance.com .

But, But… Don't All Of These Cost Money?

Forex - Choosing the Right Broker
There are a mind boggling number of forex brokers available to choose from. Choosing the right broker is the most important decision you can make for your forex venture. Here is a checklist of what you need to be looking for.1. Regulation. Just because a broker is available does not mean they are regulated. You may want to check first what country your broker is registered in. Some countries have lax laws regarding forex brokers. In the US, brokers are regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission or the National Futures Association. If a broker is regulated, then they must regularly submit financial reports to these organizations. If these reports are not submitted, then they can be fined, or shut down. Any person can view these financial reports (similar to publicly traded companies). This regulation also give the investors avenues to pleads us to the final part of the EASED model – Delegate.

Delegate

After you've gone through the Execute phase, you'll have some tasks that are candidates for delegation. These will probably include aspects of the administration of your business and aspects of the process of your marketing. They may also include elements of your home-life like childcare or cleaning.

Your potential task list may be quite long, and you know there are many tasks that you could usefully delegate. But, I also know what you’re going to say next.

But I can't afford to pay staff…

No, not many start-up coaches can afford to pay full-time, permanent staff. But you don't need to do that yet. Just look at the list of tasks you had from above, and the ones that you could delegate.

Now consider these options:
• Get yourself a cleaner, order groceries online and delegate other non-business related time-consuming tasks.
• Consider getting part-time typing assistance from a temp agency or from personal contacts.
• Hire a VA – a Virtual Assistant.
• Use resources for specific tasks from www.elance.com .

But, But… Don't All Of These Cost Money?

Yes they do. And that's the wrong question. The right question is, if this frees me up and allows me to get one paid coaching session extra per week, what is that worth?

Let's say it costs you ?15 per hour for admin support – for a VA perhaps. And let's say your coaching fees are only ?80 per hour. You could pay for five hours of your admin and marketing time a week, if you got just one ongoing coaching session per week.

Now, what would five hours of marketing per week, every week give you, or get for you? Hmmmm… Just a thought…

Summary

This article has outlined my EASED process for categorising tasks in your coaching practice that can be Eliminated, Automated, Simplified, Executed by you or Delegated. What from this article could you put in place in your coaching practice this week?

HTTP = HTML link (for blogs, profiles,phorums):
<a href="http://www.casualarticles.com/article/287265/casualarticles-Finding-Time-For-Marketing---How-To-Have-Time-To-Market-As-Well-As-Deliver-Your-Coaching-Services.html">Finding Time For Marketing! - How To Have Time To Market As Well As Deliver Your Coaching Services</a>

BB link (for phorums):
[url=http://www.casualarticles.com/article/287265/casualarticles-Finding-Time-For-Marketing---How-To-Have-Time-To-Market-As-Well-As-Deliver-Your-Coaching-Services.html]Finding Time For Marketing! - How To Have Time To Market As Well As Deliver Your Coaching Services[/url]

Related Articles:

Entrepreneurs Need Opportunities To Serve For A Profitable Fee - NOT Handouts Or Pity!

What would be your reaction if an individual just starting up, or in the difficult early stages of running, his/her business came to you with a proposal, asking you to consider purchasing part-ownership in it? Would you look objectively at his/her ability, the market potential of his (hopefully) unique offering and other relevant details, in taking a decision? In other words - if it was there - would you be willing to see an opportunity for a potentially rewarding/mutually beneficial relationship? Or are you likely to conclude s/he is just someone you can feel sorry for, and help out with say, some money? This article can help prospective investors or clients/customers - especially those in developing societies - understand why a TRUE entrepreneur will PREFER to request a fair and impartial opportunity to give you a solution or benefit you will be WILLING to part with YOUR money, or other equivalent valuable in exchange for. It also offers experience based ideas for entrepreneurs who may be plagued with self-doubt arising from poor responses from prospective clients/customers and investors.

How To Sell A Stock You Don't Own

Do not limit yourself to making money in only ONE direction.

Internet Fax -- New Way to Send and Receive Faxes

Internet Fax is a new technology which allows consumers to send and receive fax by email. This service is both cost effective and convenient to use for home users and small businesses.

Bookmark it: