If you have an internet connection, then there’ll be no shortage of businesses you can set up.
One of the more popular options these days is a video coaching business. Indeed, they seem to be popping up everywhere. If you’ve got an internet connection, then there’ll be no shortage of companies you can set up.
We live in an age when people want as much help as they can get to become the best version of themselves -- and that’s a ripe environment for video coaching business success.
However, and of course, a big market for video coaching businesses doesn’t mean that success is guaranteed.
As with all industries, there’s always a chance of failure.
In this article, we’re going to run through what you need to know about building a video coaching business from the ground up.
Take our advice, and it won’t be long before you’re on your way towards building a handsome income with your coaching skills!
What Is A Video Coaching Business?
A video coach trains other people via video calls that are made through the internet. It’s that simple!
OK, well, maybe it’s not that simple.
That’s the general gist of it, but of course, there’s more to say. There are various types of video coaching businesses. The biggest thing that separates one from the other is the type of coaching they provide.
For example, a coach could help a person start an LLC, improve their love life, career, decision-making process, health, or help to find their life purpose.
There’s a variety of different ways that you can train clients, too. For example, you could offer private coaching or work with businesses and provide group coaching.
The makeup of your video coaching business will depend on various factors, including the type of service you want to offer, how you like to work, and so on.
Let The Best Clients Find You
You’ll find it much easier to grow your business if you’re attracting the best clients and generating the most leads, rather than wasting time with the wrong clients.
As a new company, you’ll be tempted to go out there and attract anyone who will listen to more than half a second to your pitch.
But that’s not the thoughtful approach.
Your time is arguably the most valuable asset you have, so you must use it correctly.
And if you’re wasting your time trying to pin down bad clients, then you won’t be using your time correctly. Bad clients are like those hikers who want to get to the top of the mountain but who will never put the work in -- they’re just kind of interested.
The best clients will be determined to reach the top of the mountain and be willing to work hard to get there.
They’re the clients you want!
This approach will require a bit of patience. You can’t drag people to work with you. Instead, you have to focus on becoming the best coach that you can be.
Once you’ve done that, you can identify the clients looking specifically for the type of services you offer. It’s a longer process, but one that’s much more effective -- and beneficial to your long-term future -- than targeting your services to anyone and everyone.
Trickle Your Knowledge
You’ll have worked hard to acquire the knowledge that’s necessary to help people improve. Indeed, your knowledge is your most valuable asset.
As such, it would make no sense to let everything out of the bag all at once. If you play your hand straight away, then you don’t have much to fall back on.
So think of your video coaching business as like a consultant business. First, you have to know when to give the proper knowledge.
Typically, you should just give the knowledge your client needs to get to the next level, not to three or four levels above where they currently stand.
The key to trickling your knowledge is to require a long-term commitment. Say, of around twelve months. This will give you space to structure your content.
If you’re working on a month-by-month basis, then you might be more tempted to give your clients the goods at a time that’s convenient for them, not for you, in a way to keep them interested.
Plus, it’s next to impossible to make a noticeable, long-lasting impact on a person’s life in a month or two. It’ll take many months!
Don’t Make These Common Video Coaching Mistakes
Part of the appeal of starting a video coaching business is that anyone can do it. If you have an internet connection and a webcam, then you can do it.
However, the ease of access does mean that it’s more likely that mistakes will be made.
Fortunately, the common video coaching mistakes are well known, and if you’re aware of them, then it’ll be much less likely that you’ll make them!
Starting too big
You’re not going to have success overnight.
No-one does. Even if you could get a long list of clients on your side within the first month, you would be advised not to. Instead, it’s better to start small.
Even if you’re a natural-born video coach, you’ll need time to feel your way into your new role. If you take on too many people too quickly, then you’ll run the risk of being in over your head and offering a poor level of service.
Of course, it’s unlikely that you will have this problem.
But, even if you only get one client in the first months, do not be discouraged. As with all businesses, it takes time to get customers. But, if you keep plugging away, then eventually they’ll come.
Ignoring Social Media
Or rather, not using social media correctly. It can be fun and enjoyable to post inspiring quotes and so forth on your Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages. However, they’re not going to yield results -- or not the level of results that make it worth your time and effort.
Instead, you should use social media as the way it was intended -- to connect with other people.
Don’t shout into the void.
Instead, identify people that you think could use your coaching services, and reach out. From social media stories to keeping your social media feed fresh, the more your video coaching business is out there, the better.
Ignoring the Self
We all have stories to tell.
Be sure to share it with the world. How can you expect people to trust you to direct their future if you can’t be honest with your past? There’ll be events and mistakes in your history that have led to this stage.
By being open and honest about who you are, you’ll be telling your clients that you’re OK being vulnerable -- and that’ll make it much more likely that they’ll be vulnerable with you.
Plus, it’ll build respect. You might have been through hell to get to where you are now, but guess what? You made it through the other side, and that’s something that people will always admire.
Failing to Improve
This isn’t so much about failing to improve. It’s more about thinking that you know everything. You don’t! In large part because nobody does.
You’ll learn some things that will help you help other people, but you’re not the finished article.
As we mentioned above, part of the appeal of becoming a life coach is that anyone can do it. You don’t need to go to school or pass an exam to become a life coach.
But does that mean that you shouldn’t do those things?
Absolutely not.
You’ll have weaknesses just like everyone else. And if you’re not actively working to overcome those weaknesses, then you’ll be doing your clients a disservice.
Simple things, like taking an online course, reading a leadership book, or attending workshops, will make you better at what you do, which will only positively impact you!
Advantages And Challenges Of Working Remotely
A video coaching business is, of course, different from working in person. And there are advantages and disadvantages to this arrangement.
It’s not as if one is better than others; they’re just different.
If you’re going to work online, you must be aware of them, especially if you’re transitioning from working in person, as many people are following the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
First, let’s focus on the advantages.
- The obvious appeal is that you can work with clients who live and work in a different area from where you live. Rather than being limited to the number of potential clients that happen to live where you live, you can appeal to the whole world!
- It’s also much cheaper and more flexible. Meeting in person involves spending money on transport and dedicating time to get to and from the meeting point.
- When you’re working remotely, you’ll simply be able to fire up your video chat wherever you are, providing you have an internet connection.
Now let’s think about the cons.
- While you’ll save money on transport, you will likely need to invest cash to ensure you have the correct setup. You’ll need a high-quality speaker and headphones system, and also the right video software.
- While you can establish a close connection on video, it’s probably not quite as close as it would be if you met in real life.
- Real closeness depends on body language and connection -- that comes across much more on video chats than it does on audio chats, but not as much as in real life.
Tools To Effectively Build And Run A Mobile, Remote Business
You’re trying to set up your video coaching business at the right time!
In recent years, many tools have been launched to help people run their mobile, remote businesses effectively.
From creating a website and learning about the website design trends to becoming acquainted with marketing automation and figuring out which tools are most suited for your business, there’s a lot to learn.
The tools below aren’t necessarily explicitly intended for use by people that run a video coaching business, but they will work.
Below, we’ll run through some of the most popular tools available, making comparisons between the different options.
Google Workspace vs. Office 365
Google and Microsoft have been at war in recent years, trying to develop the perfect suite of cloud-based services that’ll make remote business owners reach their full potential.
And that’s good news for business owners since their competition meant that both worked tirelessly to create the best products possible.
So which one should you choose?
First, let’s think about what you can get from both. Business email, online storage, a whole host of productivity applications and communication services, and a management interface are just some of the features they share.
If you’re making decisions based on how much things cost, then Google Workspace will probably be the better option. Their cheapest plan is cheaper than the most affordable Office 365 plan. However, you’ll receive fewer features.
If cost isn’t the overriding feature, then you’ll be interested in which one works best for you.
If you’ve been using Google Docs and Google Sheets for years, then Google will be the way to go -- if you’re familiar with those services, then you’ll have no problem figuring out how to use Workspace. The same applies to the Windows product, though to a slightly lesser degree.
Asana vs. Basecamp
Both Asana and Basecamp are designed to make it easier for you to manage your work. You might have a solid grip on your tasks when you only have one client, but once that client base begins to multiply, you’ll need a stable system that can help you to stay organized.
So which one is right for you?
If you’re looking for simplicity, then Basecamp will likely be the way to go. The pricing model is more simple than Asana’s, though more expensive, and the user interface is easy to get to grips with. The drawbacks are that sometimes things are a little too simple; for instance, you won’t develop reports related to your business, which can be helpful. And there’s no time-tracking feature, which would be beneficial when you’re selling your time.
Asana also has a simple interface that’s easy to use.
However, the features are advanced, with many workload monitoring features that can simplify your professional life.
The pricing is more complicated than Basecamp, but if you’re only a one-person operation, as you will be when you’re a video coach, then it’ll work out cheaper. Basecamp charges $99 for unlimited users; Asana can cost between $10.99 and $24.99.
As such, Basecamp would be useful if you were building a video coach empire, but if you’re sticking with just you, then Asana will work out cheaper.
Outfunnel vs. SendinBlue
You’ll do some of your marketing, such as with your social media posts and so on. However, to grow your client list, it’s recommended that you have a marketing automation platform on your side.
Some of the best options include Outfunnel and SendinBlue. The good thing about both these products is that you can try both of them with the available free trials.
So it might be worthwhile giving both a shot -- the per month cost of each is more or less the same, so the price factor is less important.
Both Outfunnel and SendinBlue are aimed at marketing and sales, while Outfunnel has deep CRM integrations and lead scoring and can be helpful with managing your CRM and clientele.
Zoom vs. Google Meet
The quality of your video is essential when you’re a video coach! Indeed, if you don’t have that aspect of your operations locked down, then you’re going to struggle.
The two leading options are Zoom and Google Meet.
At first glance, they both seem pretty similar -- so how different can two video platforms be?
There are differences, however. Zoom is generally better for large meetings, which won’t be of use to you unless you’re coaching teams rather than individuals. Google Meet is recommended if you’re using G-Suite products since they all sync up pretty well.
However, if you want features, such as a waiting room or virtual background option, then Zoom will be the way to go.
Vmaker vs. Loom
Not all your videos will be live. You’ll want the option of recording videos too. The two best for this are Vmaker and Loom.
There’s very little to differentiate between these two products. They both get great reviews and come with all the features that you would need them to have.
If you can’t decide, then download both and give them both a chance -- there are free trial versions of Loom and Vmaker available.
Other Tools
You’ll also find tools such as Kdan PDF Reader or Dotted Sign useful as you grow your video coaching business.
When you take on a client, you’ll likely need them to sign an agreement or a contract. Both these tools allow them to do just that. Kdan does offer some additional features, such as the ability to annotate PDF files, so if that’s something you think you’ll use, then go with that.
As we’ve seen, there are plenty of tools and handy tips that’ll allow you to develop your video coaching business. If you’re good enough, then you’ll have everything you need to grow your business!
About the Author
Darya Jandossova Troncoso is a photographer, artist, and writer working on her first novel and managing a digital marketing blog - MarketSplash. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, creating art, and learning everything there is to know about digital marketing.
