4 Ways You Can Get Coaching Projects from Seminars

Whether you're a motivational speaker or a consultant, speaking at a seminar is an excellent way to jumpstart your career as a coach. Becoming a coach is simply an extension of your specialization and will be an excellent source of experience, additional contacts and income. Here's how you can use your seminar to get coaching projects:



Streamline your seminar.

Design your seminar in such a way that it showcases your expertise. Find a niche where your skills, training and knowledge can be showcased. Never try to be some sort of jack-of-all-trades person. Even the most inexperienced seminar attendees are suspicious about people who claim to know it all.



If your background is in Human Resources, for example, offer seminars that teach the people in your industry about related concerns like recruitment, manpower training, benefits and compensation issues, human capital development, etc. You not only have the past experience to tap, you actually know what you're talking about.



Offer your own studies, interviews and surveys.

If you've done some research on the subject of your seminar in the past, use that. Even a five-year-old survey can be used provided you have new data to compare it with. Being able to offer data you have collected and analyzed yourself establishes the image that you take your specialization seriously. It also lets people know that you have the necessary skills to assume coaching projects effectively.



Advertise your expertise.

In your promotional and advertising materials, enumerate your qualifications. That way, when potential attendees read your brochures or invites, they will know what to expect from you. Make a list of all your major certifications and trainings, especially those that can help you get potential coaching projects.



Create a brief profile on your seminar invitations and brochures. Include your education, career highlights and other qualifications. And yes, let them know you accept appointments and consultations.



Prepare a kit for your target market.

A simple coaching kit can be made up of a brochure that lists your subject expertise, qualifications and schedule of seminars. You could also include other promotional materials, testimonials and list of individuals and companies you've worked with before (don't forget to ask permission to do this).



Know the right people to send this kit to. For companies, for example, send a kit to the HR person, department supervisor or manager. Know who the major decision makers are and market to them. Do the same for associations and clubs. For individuals, however, you can be more flexible but try to see which ones will truly be interested in what you have to offer.