Have you ever poured your heart into coaching, only to get no response on your social media? You create great programs, know your niche well, but those dream clients? Nowhere to be found. We have some good news for you!

There’s a hidden oasis in the digital desert, a platform where clients come to you like moths to a flame. A place where you can build authority, attract dream clients, and fill your calendar faster than a popcorn popper. That platform? LinkedIn.

In 2024, LinkedIn isn’t just for resumes. It’s a busy marketplace for coaches, with over 830 million potential clients and collaborators – all craving your expertise. 

This guide is your solution to unlocking LinkedIn’s power. To tell you how LinkedIn is excellent marketing strategy for coaches. We’ll show you how to craft a great profile, create content that resonates with your audience, and build connections that turn into a full calendar and a thriving practice.

Ready to turn your coaching journey into a rock concert? Let’s get right to it!

1) Define Your Niche and Ideal Client

In preparation for your LinkedIn journey, let’s shape your compass: your niche and ideal client. They’re the guiding stars, leading you to connect with the perfect audience and share your coaching magic.

Your niche is where you shine, where your passion thrives, and where clients discover tailored solutions. Here’s how to narrow it down:

  1. Passion First: Identify what ignites your coaching fire – whether it’s navigating career changes, promoting healthy habits, or unlocking creative potential. Your passion attracts clients who share your spark.
  1. Skills in Play: Highlight your natural strengths. Are you a communication expert, a productivity pro, or a goal-setting guru? Let your skills shine within your chosen niche.
  1. Market Demand: Even the most passionate niche needs an audience. Investigate potential clients’ needs and struggles, finding where your skills and passion intersect with a thriving market.

Now moving on to your ideal client. Knowing who you’re assisting makes your content and connections focused and irresistible. Consider:

  1. Demographics: Specify age, location, profession, and even their favourite Netflix show for precision.
  1. Goals & Aspirations: Understand what they dream of achieving with your coaching – deeper connections, career breakthroughs, or financial freedom.
  1. Challenges & Pain Points: Recognize the obstacles aligning with your expertise, offering targeted solutions for issues like self-doubt, time constraints, or tech challenges.
2) LinkedIn Profile

Your LinkedIn profile is where you create a strong first impression, show what you know, and get people interested in your coaching. The first step to the marketing strategy. Let’s work on your profile until it stands out!

1. Headline:

Think of your headline as a short movie preview for your coaching. It should grab attention, use words people understand, and tell your story quickly. Aim for:

  • Clear Message: Say what you do and who you help without using confusing words!
  • Useful Words: Add words that match what people are looking for. Like “career coach” or “relationship expert”. 
  • Make Them Curious: End with a question or a way for people to learn more about your coaching.
2. Summary:

Your summary is where you share your coaching world. It’s your chance to talk about your story, share what you’re good at, and connect with possible clients. 

  • Show Your Passion: Let people see what you love! Talk about why you’re a coach and how you help people.
  • Share Stories: Talk about real stories or successes to make your summary interesting and easy to understand.
  • Solve Problems: Explain the issues your ideal client faces and how you help them overcome those problems.
3. Experience:

This part is not just about past jobs; it’s a stage for your coaching journey, showing what you’re good at. Make it interesting by:

  • Numbers Talk: Use numbers to show the impact you’ve had on clients. Like, did you help them make more money or be more productive? Show your achievements!
  • Use Good Words: Put words related to what you do throughout your job descriptions. This helps people find you.
  • Add Pictures or Videos: Make your experience section look nice with images or videos. It makes your profile interesting to look at.

Bonus Tip: Use LinkedIn’s “Featured” section to show off important things, like happy clients, articles, or coaching programs.

3) Attracting value with good content 

Think of your LinkedIn feed as your coaching spot, a friendly place where clients find out about your skills. To keep them interested, you need good content – the kind that pulls them into your coaching world.

Content Tips:

  • Variety is Key: Mix it up! Share articles, videos, live sessions, or polls – keep your audience curious.
  • Speak to Your People: Make content that talks directly to the problems and needs of your ideal clients. What’s on their minds?
  • Give Useful Stuff: Share tips, thoughts, and quick changes they can make. Give them a taste of the great journey they could have with you.
  • Start Chats: Answer comments, join talks, and ask questions. Make your spot a two-way street.
  • Share & Be Seen: Share useful stuff from others, tag people you know, and join popular conversations. Show you’re part of the LinkedIn world.
  • Keep it Regular: Post often, but don’t overwhelm your audience. Find a rhythm that your ideal clients like.

Remember, your content is like money for making connections. Spend time creating good, interesting pieces that show what you know and bring in clients like bees to a blossoming spot.

Bonus Tip: Use your content in different ways! Turn blogs into videos, quotes into pictures, and live talks into podcast episodes.

4) Building Relationships

It’s time to go beyond your coaching spot and learn to network. Making real connections is important for finding clients and growing your network.

1. Connecting with Others:
  • Join Groups that Matter: Get into groups where your ideal clients hang out. Share ideas, help others, and make friends.
  • Engage with Purpose: Don’t just comment to get noticed. Leave thoughtful comments, start chats, and make real connections.
  • Celebrate Others: Congratulate others on their successes, recommend their work, and show you’re part of a supportive community.
2. Introducing Yourself:
  • Make it Personal: Forget boring messages. Learn about people before connecting and make your introductions personal. Show you care about who they are and what they do.
  • Give Before You Get: Help, share ideas, or give resources before asking for anything. Build trust and value before talking about your coaching.
  • Be Yourself: Be real! Let your personality show and connect on a human level.

Remember, relationships work both ways. Spend time making real connections, and see your network grow into a group of potential clients.

3. Showcase Testimonials and Success Stories:

Prospective clients often seek social proof before choosing a coach. Feature client testimonials and success stories prominently on your profile. This builds credibility and provides tangible evidence of your coaching impact. Consider creating multimedia content such as video testimonials for added authenticity.

4. Offer Exclusive Webinars and Workshops:

Host webinars and virtual workshops to showcase your coaching skills and provide value to your audience. Promote these events through your LinkedIn profile and use them as an opportunity to capture leads. Consider offering exclusive discounts or resources to webinar attendees to incentivize engagement and conversion.

5. Optimise Your LinkedIn SEO:

Implement SEO best practices on your LinkedIn profile by incorporating relevant keywords. This increases the likelihood of your profile being discovered by individuals searching for coaching services. Use keywords strategically in your headline, summary, and experience sections to enhance your visibility within LinkedIn’s search algorithm.

5)  LinkedIn Ads for More Views

Want to show your coaching skills to more people on LinkedIn? Think about using ads as the marketing strategy to reach a bigger audience!

Ad Tips:

  • Target the Right People: Reach the people you want with details like age, interests, and job titles. No need to talk to everyone!
  • Budget-Friendly Ads: Start small and test what works for your budget. See what gives you the best results and adjust.
  • Magic Offers: Give away useful things like ebooks or webinars. Get contact details in return and fill your coaching list with potential clients.
6) Checking Your LinkedIn Progress: See What’s Working

Just like in coaching, knowing how well you’re doing on LinkedIn is important! Keep an eye on key numbers to understand what’s going well and what might need a little change.

Success Checkpoints:

  • Post Popularity: Figure out what people like. Check likes, comments, shares, and video views to know which posts are the most popular.
  • Visitors to Your Website: Did your LinkedIn post send people to your website? Use tools to see how LinkedIn is helping your online presence.
  • Magic Offers Success: Are people interested in your ebooks and webinars? Look at conversion rates to see how many turn into potential clients.
7) Return on Your Investment:
  • Ad Details: Look at the data from your ads. See which ads work best, track how much each lead costs, and make sure you’re using your budget wisely.
  • Turning Leads into Clients: Did your LinkedIn work lead to coaching successes? Track how your online strategy turns into real coaching results.

Remember, data is like your coaching map. Check your numbers often, learn from what you find, and tweak your plan for steady growth.

As coaches navigate the landscape of LinkedIn in 2024, a well-crafted marketing strategy is the key to standing out in a crowded market.

By optimising your profile, showcasing testimonials, sharing valuable content, and engaging strategically, you’ll position yourself as a sought-after coach and build a profitable coaching business.

Remember, LinkedIn is not just a platform for connection; it’s a dynamic space to demonstrate your coaching prowess, attract your ideal clients, and elevate your coaching business to new heights. It is new and innovative way of marketing.

If you want to get started on your LinkedIn and want some help with the marketing strategy, we would be delighted to work with you! Leave us a query and let’s get started!

We Think North

This piece was collaboratively written by multiple members of the We Think North team, bringing you perspectives from across the branding, marketing, content and tech verticals.