17 Actionable Strategies for Getting High-Paying Coaching Clients

One major hurdle many coaches face is how to get high-paying coaching clients.

As a business mentor and strategist, I have helped many coaches run profitable workshops, sell their high-ticket offers, and turn their small communities into thriving email lists of tens and, in some cases, hundreds of thousands of subscribers.

The good news is that there are plenty of ways to do this. So, in this post, we’ll explore 17 simple strategies for landing consistent, high-paying coaching clients.

1. Launch a Targeted Social Media Campaign

Your target market – regardless of the type of coaching you specialize in – is on social media.

So, if you’re not already, you must start taking advantage of this powerful tool. One of the best strategies for becoming a successful coach is to launch a targeted social media campaign geared toward your ideal clients.

This strategy can help you:

• Build brand awareness
• Influence your target audience
• Attract more leads
• Increase revenue
• Gain valuable market insights
• Strengthen customer loyalty and more

Five proven steps to launch your social media campaign

You can launch a successful social media campaign in a few simple steps.

One caveat to understand first, however, is that this strategy requires a deep understanding of your clientele. You must be thoroughly “in tune” with your coaching client’s needs, preferences, desires, and pain points.

Here are five proven steps to launch a social media campaign:

1. Set your goals: If your goal is to attract high-paying clients so you can sell your high-ticket offers, be very clear about that outcome. This will allow you to determine and track the KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) so you can adjust them, if necessary, to start hitting your targets more accurately.
2. Determine your platform: Will you use Facebook, Instagram, or X for your social media campaign? Choose the platform that your clientele occupies the most. Try to limit it to one or two platforms for the sake of simplicity.
3. Plan your strategy: Now, consider how you will implement your social media campaign. Will it be an Instagram giveaway or maybe a Facebook challenge? What will be your strategy to attract those high-paying dream clients? Once you determine that, you’ll be ready to launch your campaign and move to the next step, which is…
4. Focus on conversions: Your social media campaign needs to be designed to be fully optimized so it converts leads into customers and brings revenue to your bottom line. One way to do this is to have a clear CTA (Call to action) in your content and ensure all marketing materials are geared toward your target market.
5. Track your results: It’s important to track results during and after your campaign. This will help you better understand what’s working and what’s not so you can adjust the necessary aspects of your campaign to improve your performance next time.

Many coaches have used this strategy to great effect.

Among them is the common theme of video usage. So, if you’re going to launch a targeted social media campaign, consider using video ads. Videos are usually more engaging, and as a result, they typically carry a higher conversion rate compared to text-based ads on social media.

Keep the video script short and simple, and ensure it touches on your client’s pain point. Lastly, include a single, simple CTA in both the video and the caption.

2. Create a Virtual Summit

Another way to get high-paying coaching clients is to create a virtual summit.

You’re undoubtedly familiar with a conference, expo, or trade show. These are interactive, in-person gatherings that – while valuable and good to attend – can quickly become inconvenient as well as a financial burden. That’s where a virtual summit can be beneficial.

A virtual summit is a multi-day, multi-speaker event.

It takes the structure of an in-person conference and transfers it to the virtual world. Moreover, virtual events have many networking opportunities, training sessions with thought leaders, and expert talks aimed at a particular niche.

What I’ve learned launching virtual summits

I have done over 15 virtual summits since 2015.

And with each summit, I have acquired 5,000 to 25,000 new leads and even brought in $50,000 in revenue on my first summit launch.

During that time, I have noticed recurring themes in the mistakes coaches make when hosting their first virtual summits. One of the biggest mistakes is trying to do it all on your own. It’s important to get assistance with an undertaking such as this. As a coach, you may need to be coached yourself, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

A lot goes on in the background of these types of events.

As a result, you need a step-by-step system for hosting a virtual summit to maximize the number of subscribers, buyers, and, yes, high-paying clients.

3. Create a Virtual Workshop

While a virtual summit is an online event comprised of multiple speakers and thought leaders sharing their insights over the course of a few days, a virtual workshop involves a single speaker (you, the expert) working with others in a group setting.

The focus is also slightly different with virtual workshops than with summits.

Workshops are focused on teaching one specific outcome over a 30 to 90-minute session. This is essential because it primes your client to want to do business with you even more. And the reason why is because of the shift in mindset of the participant.…

Quick Workshop Win formula

The idea behind the Quick Workshop Win formula is to create the conditions for your attendees to gain some quick and easy wins. This strategy builds a sense of progress and momentum while also alleviating a pain point your client is experiencing.

As a result, clients will feel more compelled to continue working with you.

So ask yourself: What is one result (no matter how small) your prospective client can walk away with by attending your 30 to 90-minute workshop? What urgent need can you help resolve for your clients in your workshop?

I have launched dozens of workshops and sold over 1,000 of them between $27 and $97.

In fact, here is what one of our customers accomplished after hosting their workshop.

“From my first workshop, several people joined my group and 1-on-1 coaching program. I intend to run one a month going forward, and I now use the workshops as my primary way of attracting clients!”
– Janine Bolon, Podcaster & Author

4. Create a Lead Magnet

If all your social media accounts got hacked and deleted tomorrow, could you still connect to and communicate with your audience?

If not, you’re in trouble. But don’t worry – this situation has a simple solution: Build your email list. Your email list is your digital estate. You don’t own any of the social media platforms you occupy.

However, your email list is yours, free and clear.

You can start building it by creating a lead magnet for people to download. Lead magnets are excellent tools for encouraging people to opt into your email list so you can begin nurturing those relationships and, eventually, land those high-paying coaching clients.

The best kinds of lead magnets for coaches

You have numerous lead magnet options.

However, the better you understand and have a pulse on your clientele (who they are, what they want, and what their pains and frustrations are), the better you’ll understand which lead magnet is most appropriate for your business and audience.

But here are a few suggestions for inspiration:

• Workbook
• Checklist
• Cheatsheet
• Templates
• Discovery call
• Ebook
• Masterclass

A coach who has used lead magnets effectively

Ciara Stockeland, a financial business coach, executes this flawlessly.

Her website hosts a debt-free challenge. The popup opt-in form asks visitors for their emails in exchange for a debt-free challenge, which helps them build a strong financial foundation.

This type of lead magnet illustrates how you can use creativity to create a unique experience for visitors.

5. Launch a Targeted Email Marketing Campaign

A targeted email marketing campaign can be an excellent way to increase your impact in the inbox.

Moreover, this method can produce exceptional results if you already have an engaged list. The idea is to land high-paying coaching clients by engaging old prospects instead of trying to find new ones. And the good news is that it’s easier than you think.

A few benefits of launching a targeted email marketing campaign include:

• Engage your ideal coaching clients with valuable content
• Build and nurture your relationships with prospects
• Generate traffic to your website
• Increase revenue
• Acquire important insights into your customer base
• Promote your services to prospects who are already engaged with your brand

How to create a targeted email marketing campaign

The main thing you need to launch a targeted email campaign is a list.

You must have an email list of prospects who know, like, and trust you. The best part is that your list doesn’t have to be large – you can see great success even with a small or modest list. As long as the people on it are engaged with you and your content, this strategy can deliver an incredible ROI.

Here are a few simple steps you can take to get started:

1. Consider your objectives: What are your goals for your email marketing campaign? How many prospects do you want to contact you or sign up for your program? Once you have your aim in mind, you can begin crafting your content.
2. Develop a compelling campaign: You now need to write the content. You may want to outsource this step to a professional copywriter who can distill your messaging into clear, concise, and compelling copy that hooks prospects. It’s worth the investment, especially if you’re busy with other aspects of your business.
3. Segment your email list: There may be certain portions of your list you don’t want to target with this campaign. Conversely, there will be portions of your list you are specifically targeting. This step is where you’ll segment your list to ensure your messages end up in the right inboxes.
4. Split test: You’ll run a split test to assess various sections of your emails to see where improvements need to be made. For example, you can test different subject lines, hooks, and CTAs to see which ones perform the best, doubling down on the best ones.

A coach who has launched successful email campaigns

Alex Cattoni is a marketing strategist and copywriting coach.

She founded one of the largest online copywriting communities in the world, the Copy Posse, and has launched many successful email campaigns, not just for her clients but also for her own business.

She uses an empathetic, heart-centered approach to her email marketing campaigns that continually draw in sales for mini-challenges and high-ticket courses.

6. Get active in online communities in your niche

Many coaches wonder how to get high-paying coaching clients.

However, they don’t realize that they’re closer to their goal than they think. Why? Because high-paying coaching clients are everywhere. All you need to do is create some visibility – you need to be seen. And one of the easiest and most effective ways to do that is through online communities.

Even if you coach in a tiny niche, there is a good chance there are already at least 1-2 active communities on the topic. Getting active by answering other members’ questions and providing valuable tips is a great way to gain visibility. In addition, if you want to take it a step further, many successful coaches create their own communities.

A couple of examples of coaches or thought leaders who have done this (to great effect) include Ian Stanley (a marketing and email copywriting coach), Alex Hormozi (a marketing and business coach), and even Andrew Huberman (a neuroscientist and podcaster).

Each of these influencers has created online communities for others to come together to discuss ideas, connect, and network.

7. Pitch Yourself to Podcasts or YouTube Shows

Popular podcasts and YouTube shows are another promising avenue to get high-paying clients.

These platforms already have an active audience. Moreover, if you choose the right ones to pitch to, you’ll make guest appearances on platforms with the exact audiences you’re looking to serve. However, there is a process you must follow to see success with this method.

Here are a few easy steps you can implement to start pitching podcasts or YouTube shows:

1. Intriguing subject line: People are busy. They’re getting swamped with dozens, maybe even hundreds, of messages a day. For this reason, your message needs to stand out. Write a subject line that includes their name and some type of benefit they’ll gain from opening and reading your email.
2. Get to the point: Your introduction doesn’t need to take up half the email. Brevity is key. Once you’ve hooked them in with your subject line, get to the point by telling them why you’re sending this email and how you can deliver value to them and their audience.
3. Call to action: After leading with value and stating all the necessary and relevant information, be sure to end with the CTA you want them to take. Make it easy for them to know what the next step should be.

In fact, here is a template you can use to pitch podcasts in your coaching niche.

Subject: Guest Feature on [Podcast Name]?

Hi [Podcast Host’s Name],

I’m [Your Name], and I loved the episode you did on [Topic] and [insert one thing that resonated with you].

With my background in [relevant expertise/experience], I believe I could offer some fresh insights on topics like [mention a couple of relevant topics]. I’d love to bring a different perspective to your audience and have a fun, engaging conversation.

Would you be open to having me as a guest?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Cheers,
[Your Name + Email Signature]

If you’d prefer having podcasts reach out to you, create your expert speaker profile on Talks. This way you can be matched weekly with relevant speaking opportunities.

8. Collaborate With Other Coaches and Businesses via Partnerships, Bundles, or Affiliate Deals

We host multiple speakers and thought leaders during our virtual summits.

Yes, we do this to ensure our audience receives first-rate value by attending. However, another reason we do it is that this collaboration draws more people into our virtual summits. As a result, it increases the number of those who sign up for coaching programs and become paying customers.

Collaborating with others can be among the most effective ways to land high-paying clients.

So, what does your network look like? Do you have a roster of businesses, organizations, and other coaches you can connect to and collaborate with? By leveraging your network, you can continue building your ecosystem of clients while also creating more brand awareness.

Consider creating partnerships, bundles, and affiliate deals to reach a broader audience.

An example of this would be when Jordan Peterson collaborated with The Daily Wire.

This collaboration brought Peterson to the forefront of The Daily Wire’s rapidly growing audience (and vice versa). As a result, both parties got to enjoy a substantial increase in their digital presence.

The same concept applies to you.

By collaborating with other coaches, thought leaders, or businesses, you open the door to a larger audience that would have remained closed to you otherwise.

9. Launch a Referral Program for Past/Current Clients

The best advertising on your coaching journey is word of mouth.

People trust you much more if they hear about you via friends, relatives, or even acquaintances than if they see your ad online or on a bus bench. So, why not create a referral program for your past and present clients to incentivize them to spread the word about your coaching services?

Think of ways you can reward previous or current clients if they bring in referrals who purchase a coaching program.

You can start a referral program that offers a:

• Discounted coaching session
• Complimentary session
• Workbook or guide
• Special deal on courses (if applicable)
• Savings on enrolment

A great example of an excellent referral program

Abe Brown, a life coach based in Canada, has done this exceptionally well.

He brings aspiring coaches into his community and certifies them through his high-quality training programs. If his new coaches bring in additional members to one of the high-ticket programs, they get a 60% cut.

For example, Abe’s $5,000 program dishes out a generous $3,000 payment to the coach who brought in the referral.

10. Create Case Studies

Case studies are excellent sources of social proof to help you get higher-paying clients.

People are naturally skeptical. And case studies help alleviate some of that skepticism by acting as “proof” that you can generate results. It’s hard to argue against facts and figures. For this reason, if you can demonstrate success with previous clients, you’ll drastically improve your chances of landing more of your ideal customers.

Case studies allow you to leverage the results of a previously satisfied client to attract new ones.

You can write an article or film a video for your case studies. However, regardless of the medium you select, ensure that it contains these essential elements:

• The challenges your coaching services solved
• Objectives of the client
• The solutions you developed
• Before and after testimonial from the client
• Summary of the main achievements

For example, Performance Consultants is a training and coaching corporation that helps businesses and leaders continually improve in the workplace. Their homepage is chock-full of social proof in the form of case studies. And each example details how they’ve helped improve systems and operations for their various clients.

This acts as proof of their coaching effectiveness while also solidifying their credibility. As a result, they stand out as authorities in their industry.

11. Host an AMA on Reddit or Social Media

If you have the authority and expertise, consider hosting an AMA (Ask Me Anything) on Reddit or other online communities.

This suggestion can be a valuable marketing tool. Moreover, you can use AMAs almost anywhere. While AMAs initially started on Reddit, you can also try them on Instagram stories, Facebook live streams, webinars, and other social platforms.

A few notable benefits to AMAs include:

• Nurture relationships with prospects
• Build engagement
• Establish rapport with your audience
• Gather data that can help you create a better coaching offer

For example, Connie Jakab is an entrepreneur and coach.

She emboldens women and kids to flourish by helping them to see their own bravery. As a mental health advocate, she regularly gives talks at schools and companies on the topic. And one effective aspect of her marketing is her social media AMAs.

She periodically takes to Instagram or Facebook to use AMAs to nurture her audience while also providing value to them.

12. Start an Email or Social Media Challenge

People love fun and interesting challenges.

It creates a sense of excitement and intrigue. Why not take advantage of this by launching an email or social media challenge? The winner gets a free ebook, checklist, cheat sheet, or some kind of special coaching deal. This creates a unique incentive for people to engage with you and start following your brand more vigilantly.

Here are some additional challenge ideas to consider:

• Hashtag challenge on Instagram
• Comment to win on Facebook
• Tag a friend
• Refer another person to win
• Sweepstakes
• Polling contest

These simple contests are an excellent content strategy for landing more high-ticket clients. Moreover, they effectively create unique experiences that people will associate with your brand as a coach.

This can be invaluable in separating you from coaches who are content with posting the occasional article or YouTube video but rarely go beyond that to provide more value.

Brian Mark is an entrepreneur and business coach based in Canada, who executes this strategy.

He regularly launches Instagram and Facebook challenges for his audience. Many of these challenges consist of simply watching his videos, tagging a friend in the comments, and Brain selecting a winner for a free giveaway.

Sometimes, the free giveaway is a ticket to one of his live events or simply a cash prize. Either way, this can be an excellent strategy for engaging your audience and gaining clients.

13. Create a Signature Offer and Run Paid Ads

One thing that can attract more high-paying coaching clients is having a unique offer or idea.

The South Beach Diet exploded in popularity in 2003. It had actually been around since 1995 but struggled to gain traction for many years. The problem? Its name. It was originally called The Modified Carbohydrate Diet, which was not an exciting or enticing label.

However, it enjoyed almost instantaneous success once it was rebranded as The South Beach Diet.

That simple name change created a new and exciting offer for people to sink their teeth into. What new element can you add to your services that can help you stand out? And in all honesty, when answering this question, your answer doesn’t even need to be “that new.”

Similar to The South Beach Diet example, simply putting a new twist on an old idea can be sufficient to engage your market in a paid ad campaign.

This strategy, when done correctly, can be an effective method for driving traffic to your site and increasing sales. You can display ads pretty much anywhere. A few of these places you may want to consider include:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Bing
• Pinterest
• Linkedin
• YouTube
• X
• Yahoo!
• TV and radio

While nothing is guaranteed, paid ads can be another effective tool to add to your advertising toolbox to help you attract more high-paying clients.

For example, Brian Tracy is a self-development speaker and coach, who uses paid ads to successfully capture demand for one of his signature offers: Master the Million-Dollar Craft of Public Speaking. A signature offer is a product or service that delivers transformational results that your clients can ONLY get from you.

And Brian Tracy’s public speaking coaching falls perfectly into that category.

Moreover, Tracy has also run many successful paid ads across the internet. His advertisements for his signature offer have been seen on Instagram, Facebook, and even YouTube. Both signature offers and paid ads can work in unison to attract clients.

14. Write Guest Posts on Blogs Within Your Industry

Guest posting on prominent industry blogs is another way to pick up high-paying coaching clients.

When you write for others, you’re piggybacking off of the success of their platforms. You’re leveraging the audience they’ve built while also delivering value through your knowledge and experience as a coach.

Now, of course, this will require some strategy.

You don’t want to write for any site that has a blog. Ensure you write for well-established sites within your industry, as this is the best way to enhance your credibility and find more high-paying coaching clients.

How to pitch blog posts to land high-paying clients

Create a list of a few hundred companies within the industry for which you want to write.

Keep it organized in a Google spreadsheet. Do your research regarding the decision makers, the company, and their audience. Personalization is the key to success here. You want your guest-post pitches to be highly tailored to the companies you’re contacting. So be sure to include:

• The name of the person you’ll message
• A genuine compliment about the company/brand (it shows you did your research)
• Who you are and why you’re messaging them
• How you can deliver value to their audience through your guest post

Someone who has done this well is human optimization coach Francesca Facio.

She has written numerous posts for Mindvalley and, as a result, has further cemented her credibility in her field. This step always compounds and produces additional opportunities. And Francesca is a perfect example.

When your name is used on a large platform, their audience is exposed to you and your work. And this increased visibility creates the conditions for you to expand and grow in your coaching business.

15. Use Public Speaking to Gain Attention

Becoming more active on social media to get noticed by clients is smart.

However, it’s not the only method of gaining more visibility. One of the best ways to get in front of your target clientele (while also building authority) is to use public speaking to share your insights and knowledge as a coach.

Public speaking is your “secret hack” that can help potential clients see you as an authority.

Serial entrepreneur and world-renowned speaker Eric Edmeades discusses an idea known as the “stage effect.”

He describes this concept as a compelling power that a skilled public speaker has over an audience. Moreover, Edmeades also shares how taking the stage can open opportunities for career advancement and client acquisition.

So, consider giving more presentations to land those high-paying clients.

16. Choose a Specialization

Choosing a specialization (a coaching niche) for your coaching business is critical.

Think about it: You don’t want a foot doctor if your child is sick. You want a pediatrician. You don’t want an aircraft mechanic if your car starts breaking down. You want an automotive mechanic. You want someone who specializes in solving your specific problem.

This makes you feel confident that the problem will be solved quickly and easily by an expert who knows what they’re doing.

The same principle applies to landing high-paying coaching clients. Clients are looking for an expert who can help them solve a specific problem. As such, you have to specialize in a particular type of coaching.

And there are plenty of options to choose from. Consider the following:

• Health coach
• Business coach
• Life coach
• Executive coach
• Career coach
• Fitness coach
• Finance coach

I recommend deciding on a coaching specialization you’re most excited, knowledgeable, and passionate about.

This step is essential for your marketing strategy as a coach. It will help set you apart and enable you to command higher rates, as your specialization will contribute to your value proposition.

A good example of this is world-famous life coach Tony Robbins.

Due to his specialization in self-improvement, he almost single handedly propelled the self-help industry to the consciousness of middle America in the 1980s. He has since become one of the world’s leading life coaches and personal development experts.

17. Improve Your Skills

So often, coaches look for new and exotic ways to get high-paying coaching clients.

While sometimes finding a new strategy can be what you need, more often than not, simply returning to the basics is most helpful. And one of the best things you can do to land those higher-paying clients is simply to become better at what you do.

So ask yourself: how do your current coaching skills fare against the industry standard?

Remember, your income is directly related to the value you provide your clients. Could your toolkit use a little sharpening? If so, there are many ways you can improve your skills as a coach. Try considering:

• Taking online courses
• Getting certified (if you’re not already)
• Improving your communication skills
• Asking for client feedback
• Practicing your active listening skills

The most successful coaches practice what they preach.

They don’t just talk about the power of coaching, they work with coaches themselves to improve what they do. A perfect example of this would be Bob Proctor. He was a self-development coach who was also coached by Earl Nightingale (one of the Fathers of the self-help movement).

Proctor was coached by Nightingale to develop his skills and grow his knowledge.

The result? Over time, Proctor became one of the leading experts in the self-help industry, using his knowledge to coach others to grow mentally, spiritually, and financially.

Conclusion

Your coaching practice will grow to the degree you commit to serving others.

Each step in this article incorporates the idea of better serving your current and potential coaching clients. That’s the golden rule. All the best coaching techniques in the world will fail you if you don’t lead with value as your main coaching tool.

If you still need assistance landing high-ticket clients, we can help. Ask us for our free training on how to get high-paying coaching clients.