Did you notice the first thing that happened when you set up your social media accounts as a coach?  The ads tumbled into your newsfeed from coaches who coach coaches.  These ads claim to have the secret combination for making 6 figures in 6 weeks!  They know what you don't and with one call and a hefty payment, you too can be super successful.

New coaches can feel vulnerable and will click on a couple of these 'promise it all' ads. The coach's photo on their ad makes them seem nice and relatable.  You might have even paid for one of their webinars and quite possibly learned something helpful.  

Here's what I've learned as a coach who specializes in supporting small businesses with their digital marketing.  Selling yourself is very personal but that doesn't mean it has to be painful.  Social Media Marketing is about building relationships with an audience and as a general rule, coaches are very good at relationship building.  Here's a few helpful steps:

1.  Start from Simple.  Even a novice at social media is constantly running from behind.  The platforms are designed to stay fresh and new.  The constant changes are the addictive hook.  As soon as you master a strategy, the whole world wakes up to a new algorithm and we all start over.  You can pay a web master lots of money to stay ahead of the game, but you can also keep it simple.  Pick 1 or 2 things you actual enjoy or at least don't dread doing and stay with it.  If you like to write like me, a weekly or monthly blog might be your thing.  If you enjoy video, a Facebook Live once a week might be fun.  

2.  Consistency is Critical.  Step 1 matters because consistency is the most important aspect of building an audience for what you are putting out there.  It's not quantity, it's quality.  It's also a marathon not a sprint.  You could (like me) write a weekly blog for a year before anyone takes notice.  I truly believe only 3 people were reading for the first few months.  Over time, my followers grew and having a library of consistent thoughtful content has led to clients and speaking engagements.  And because I enjoy doing it, I have been able to stay consistent.  If you aren't a writer, share quotes that speak to people.  Photos that are thought provoking.  Ted Talks.  Whatever you enjoy, your future audience and clients will love too.

3.  Replicate What You Consume.  My first question for all clients who hire me for marketing is:  What coach do you follow?  What do you enjoy about their social media content?  If it's their videos, why not try doing a video yourself.  It won't be the same, because it's you, your unique voice and message.  I think you will be surprised to see how much fun you can have replicating a medium that you enjoy consuming.  
4.  Never Do What You Disdain.  If the thought of being in front of a camera let alone a live feed like Facebook Live makes you want to throw up.  By all means, don't do it!  If you're forcing yourself to do marketing you don't like, it will show.  You will come across as uncomfortable and inauthentic.  

I hope these steps help make Social Media Marketing seem like an enjoyable way to prospect for new clients and no longer a painful puzzle to solve.