So you’re a psychotherapist, counsellor, psychologist …whilst COVID and lockdowns made you one of the most in demand jobs, maybe you need some leverage? Some clients who fit in the niche your passionate about?

 

Maybe you’re wondering how to turn your expertise into a thriving online business? Let me share a story that might inspire you.

 

I’m a therapist not a marketer!

 

A few years back I worked with a therapist who had developed an innovative online therapy method. Her goal? To guide people through anxiety and depression towards what we called ‘fearless freedom’. Despite two years of refining her approach, she struggled to reach her ideal clients.

 

This happens often, therapists are amazing at therapy – and not so much digital marketing and brand strategy. That’s ok – you can’t be a genius at everything! Linda knew for sure that she squarely fell in the therapist bucket not the marketer bucket!

 

Developing a Strategic Marketing Ecosystem

 

So we developed this therapist a strategic online marketing ecosystem to automate some of the lead generation and delivery.

 

We focused on Facebook ads, crafting an offer that resonated with those seeking help. The response was pretty amazing – leads began flowing in, eager for support and ready to engage.

 

Linda was getting between 5-10 new leads every day!

 

So we didn’t stop there. We implemented a robust system to nurture these leads, using carefully crafted email sequences to build a growing community. Our CRM helped her track lead sources and maintain long-term connections. Soon, her list grew to nearly 300 strong hot leads, reaching people across Australia and New Zealand. Which was awesome – because she started with ZERO!

 

Redefining Offers & Future Vision

 

Once we had people in the door, we refocused on her product suite. I mentored her to expand her services beyond the initial three-session therapy offering, developing a maintenance program for ongoing support. Despite juggling another job and family life, Linda maintained discipline, allocating specific days for sales, content creation, and other ‘working on the business’ activities.

 

Whilst the journey took just over a year (thanks to Linda’s other commitments), it proves that with the right guidance and a little perseverance, you can turn your passion into a successful online business. It’s about making a real difference while doing what you love.

 

Are you ready to enhance your online presence? Let’s discuss how we can make your digital strategy work harder for you.

 

Book a 15-minute ‘ask me anything’ call: https://bit.ly/YTAskMeAnythingKC

Many entrepreneurs find themselves in a frustrating cycle of attracting clients who don’t quite fit the bill. These clients might undervalue services, request endless customisations, or haggle over prices. It’s a common issue that can lead to a scattered product line and difficulty scaling. For those nodding along, it’s time to take a fresh look at brand positioning. The goal? To attract those high-value clients who truly appreciate expertise and are ready to invest.
Let’s explore how to refine a business’s place in the market:

Step One: Uncover the Unique Contribution

It all starts with a bit of soul-searching. Entrepreneurs often struggle to package and convey their vision. This is where my ‘Impact Alchemy’ comes into play. It’s about digging deep to reveal what’s at the heart of a service, going beyond what traditional brand strategists might focus on.

Step Two: Size Up the Competition

Understanding what sets a business apart is crucial. By analysing competitors, entrepreneurs can identify gaps in the market that align with their unique skills. This insight is gold for effective brand positioning.

Step Three: Get Inside the Market’s Head

This is where entrepreneurs need to really connect with their ideal client. Start by defining one person, one problem, and one solution. It’s about gaining an intimate understanding of the niche.

Step Four: Craft a Compelling Story

People connect with people before ideas. A brand’s story and philosophy are what resonate with an audience. It’s not just about what a business does, but why they do it. This personal connection is what forges deep, meaningful relationships with clients.

Step Five: Nail the Positioning Statement

With a clear understanding of the unique contribution, competitors, and market desires, it’s time to craft a positioning statement that truly represents the brand. But it doesn’t stop there. A brand should have its own personality that walks the journey alongside its clients.

Great storytelling is key to building a standout brand. It’s about finding the language and messaging that aligns with the brand’s philosophy and resonates with the audience. This becomes the heartbeat of the brand, something people can relate to and rally behind.

What’s Next?

For entrepreneurs grappling with their unique selling proposition, remember: it’s the depth and resonance of the brand’s story that will elevate it beyond the flat and generic. It’s not just about standing out—it’s about standing true to what the business brings to the table and connecting with those who appreciate and seek that unique value.

By following these steps, entrepreneurs can transform their brand from just another option to the go-to choice for their ideal clients. It’s about creating a brand that not only attracts high-value clients but also resonates with the core values of the business.

From Midwife to Coach: From Work Life- to Life’s Work

 

I recently had the pleasure of working with Mary, a dedicated NHS midwife who took a courageous step towards aligning her work life with her life’s work. Her story brilliantly illustrates the power of owning your uniqueness and amplifying your impact.

 

Mary approached me with a vision to help her fellow NHS women manage their time and energy effectively, preventing the burnout she’d witnessed (and experienced) firsthand. She’d already earned her coaching certification, but needed guidance to bring her new business to life online.

 

We kicked off with the ‘Impact Alchemy’ process, delving deep into Mary’s unique contribution to the coaching world. This intensive work resulted in an eight-page profile that became the cornerstone of her brand identity and a wellspring of newfound confidence.

 

Building on this, we crafted Mary’s ‘Impact Code’ – a three-phase coaching methodology: ‘Restore’, ‘Reconnect’, and ‘Respect for Yourself’. This framework not only shaped her coaching programs but also informed her website structure and marketing strategy.

 

The clarity gained from this process was transformative. It provided Mary with a robust sales structure for client consultations and laid the foundation for her thought leadership. This clarity naturally extended to her social media strategy, ensuring her content resonated with her ideal audience.

 

We then created SEO-optimised blog posts to boost her website’s visibility upon launch. The final piece was a beautifully designed WordPress website, complete with a lead magnet to grow her email list, and a tailored CRM system with automated email sequences.

 

The result was more than just a website – it was a ‘business in a box’ that allowed Mary to launch her coaching business with confidence. Her online presence now reflects her mission: guiding NHS women towards a balanced life, free from burnout.

 

Mary’s transformation is a powerful example of what’s possible when you align your passion with your authentic self. It’s about finding the courage to step into those leadership opportunities and make big, impactful moves in life.

 

By owning her uniqueness and harnessing her individuality and personal power, Mary is now poised to influence positive change in her field and create a legacy that truly matters.

 

Are you a Coach, Consultant, Service Professional or Subject Matter Expert?

The key to building a life’s work – not just a work life is in your personal brand.

 

 

Are you ready to find that sweet spot where your 9-to-5 isn’t just about paying the bills, but actually aligns with your life’s work – the stuff that makes your heart sing? As a personal branding specialist, I know this matters more (particularly to women) than you might think, and how it can be the foundation for a fulfilling work life.

 

 

The Power of Influence: Expert Positioning for Consultants, Coaches, & SMEs

When you align your day job with your life’s calling, it’s like turning on a light in a dark room. That glow doesn’t just brighten your corner; it sends ripples of change across the globe.

 

  • Imagine coming home after a day of work that’s seriously impacting people for the better
  • That positivity spreads to your family, your community, and even future generations
  • Hot tip: This level of fulfilment can be found in thousands of jobs, not just saving lives or charity work!

 

 

Because We’re All Connected

You’re influencing your opportunities & outcomes with every interaction. We’re all connected, like it or not. It’s a bit like the characters in that film ‘Avatar’ (minus the blue people), or those moments when you’re out in nature and suddenly feel at one with the universe.

 

  • We’re made of the same stuff as the stars and the ocean
  • We get to choose how we show up in the world
  • Our choices shape everything around us including our outcomes

 

 

Your Unique Brilliance: The Core of Your Thought Leadership

Now, let’s talk about YOUR light – your unique brilliance. Every interaction leaves a mark. One positive encounter can start a chain reaction of goodwill…It’s kind of like turning up the dimmer switch on the world’s mood lighting

 

you know you’ve got something of impact to do, a difference to make. But life has a way of squishing us into boxes, and dampening our light, doesn’t it? Well, I say it’s time to call bullshit on that and take back our power. We’ve all been through a massive, collective shake-up over the last few years, and it’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to reassess and try something new. The universe is practically begging for change, and it’s nudging you to step up. So, how do we do this?

 

Finding Your People

It starts with finding your people – people who get it, who are on the same wavelength about making a change. It’s about quiet influence. Making ripples of impact behind the scenes. Leading from a place of authenticity and creating a deep connection with who you really are.

 

Then You’re On Your Journey to Influence

Influence doesn’t come easy, mind you. It starts from within.

 

  • Get out of your head and into your heart
  • Understand your ‘why’ before worrying about the ‘how’ and the ‘who’
  • Move through states: possibility, realisation, and alchemy
  • Until you reach the state of influence where you own what makes you brilliantly different

 

Making Your Mark

In this state of influence, you’re articulating your ideas and building a community who share your vision.

  • You’re not just flogging products or services
  • You’re selling your authentic self, your vision, your values
  • This is where your ripples of change turn into waves of impacts

 

Your Personal Brand is the conscious curation of the way people perceive you. Their perception can make or break your consultancy or coaching practice. Whether you’re a coach, an entrepreneur, or a leader in any field, aligning your work with your life’s work is the key to real success and fulfillment.

 

Ready to get in the state of influence? Let’s create a world where our work and our lives aren’t just aligned, they’re one and the same – where everything we do sends out ripples of positive imapct.

Right, let’s chat about Kim McKinnon and her Pilates studio, Think Pilates. It’s a brilliant example of how a personal brand strategist can help transform a business.

 

Nestled in Albury-Wodonga, Think Pilates isn’t your run-of-the-mill fitness centre. It’s a boutique studio offering a unique blend of mat classes, equipment sessions, and studio mat thank-you classes. But the real story here is how Kim turned this wellness haven into a thriving business that truly reflects her unique contribution.

 

It all started with a strategy day that was anything but conventional. Armed with sticky notes and a window, we set out to uncover the essence of Think Pilates. Through a series of thought-provoking questions, we began to weave together a teaching framework that would become the backbone of Kim’s marketing strategy.

 

This session was transformative, to say the least. We delved deep into what makes Think Pilates special, exploring both the tangible benefits and the soulful experience it provides. It was about expert positioning and crafting a personal brand for coaches that truly resonates.

 

Kim’s realisation that her business needed to reflect her unique magic was a turning point. In a market full of competitors, the goal wasn’t to compete but to carve out a niche where Think Pilates could shine authentically. This is where the concept of impact alchemy for coaches really came into play.

 

The strategy day helped Kim see her business not as a separate entity, but as an extension of herself. It was about aligning her passion with her business goals, creating a powerful consultant marketing strategy.

 

One of the most significant outcomes was the creation of an educational framework for Pilates, setting Think Pilates apart. It wasn’t about being better than others, but about recognising and leveraging her unique value. This is the essence of thought leadership for consultants.

 

This shift in perspective was monumental. Kim’s clients began to understand the value she offered, and word-of-mouth became a powerful tool. Her clarity of messaging meant that her clients could now advocate for her services with confidence.

 

Kim and I then kicked off on a digital transformation, crafting an entire educational Pilates process complete with visual aids and a revamped website. This is where the importance of digital presence for consultants really shone through.

 

Looking ahead, Kim is set to authentically occupy her space in the wellness industry, shining a light on her unique approach to Pilates. It’s a testament to the power of authentic marketing for experts.

 

Kim’s journey is a brilliant example of how personal brand strategy, combined with expert positioning and authentic marketing, can transform a business. It’s about finding your unique voice, crafting a compelling narrative, and creating a brand that truly resonates with your ideal clients.

 

If you feel like your professional service business could do with a reposition, and branding upgrade book in for a call and I will give you a bespoke strategy over the phone. If it feels like a fit we can do it together…otherwise it’s all yours to do with as you wish!

 

Kath x

If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably had your fair share of banging your head against the wall trying to figure out how to get your coaching or consulting business out there to the right people. Over 10 years in business as a coach branding specialist and consultant marketing strategist, it took me probably longer than it should for the penny to drop on these game-changers – that once I nailed – everything took off.

 

The Heart of Your Coaching or Consulting Business: Your Unique Contribution

 

Let’s start with the core of your business – your unique contribution. This is the special sauce that only you can bring to the table. It’s not just about your fancy qualifications or the latest coaching tools you’ve mastered. No, it’s about the transformation you create and the unique way you impact your clients’ lives. It’s your experiences, your skills, and your passions all rolled into one brilliant package. This is where expert positioning really comes into play.

 

Four Pillars of a Solid Business Strategy

 

To really harness your unique contribution, you need a solid foundation. I’m talking about four key pillars: Attract, Convert, Deliver, and Refer. Each of these is crucial in guiding your clients from the moment they come across your services to the point where they’re shouting your praises from the rooftops.

 

Attract: Building Authority and Getting People to Take Notice

 

Creating a strong attraction strategy is about establishing yourself as a go-to expert in your niche. It’s about understanding how to craft messages that make your ideal clients sit up and take notice. Your message needs to resonate with them, making them curious to learn more about how you can help them transform their outcomes. This is where content strategy for experts becomes crucial.

 

Convert: Having the Right Chats and Smooth Systems

 

Conversion is where those initial interactions turn into meaningful engagements. It’s about having the right conversations, presenting a clear and compelling value-driven and authentic offer, and having systems in place that make the journey smooth for your clients. Think a well-designed website or a hassle-free way to book a discovery call. This is where your digital presence for consultants really shines.

 

Deliver: Stand Out and Show Clear Results

 

When you’re delivering your coaching program, it’s crucial to ensure your approach is easy to digest and distinctive. But be careful – you don’t want to be so ‘out there’ that it feels like a leap of faith for your clients. Your delivery should promise a clear transformation – a before and after that gets them excited.

 

Refer: Create Raving Fans

 

Finally, a thriving coaching or consulting business isn’t just about the first sale. It’s about creating a cycle of referrals and adding more value to keep solving problems for your clients and they come back for more. This means delivering such brilliant value that your clients can’t help but tell others about you and are chomping to sign up for your next thing!

 

The Marketing and Sales Puzzle

 

Understanding the world of marketing and sales is like putting together a complex jigsaw. It’s about aligning your unique contribution, and your magic with the right platforms, crafting messages that speak directly to your ideal clients, and using tools that make the whole process smoother. Whether it’s social media, email marketing, or your website, each piece should work together to support your business goals.

 

When to Start Building These Foundations

 

If you’re wondering when the right time is to start laying these foundations, the answer is simple: now. Whether you’ve been coaching/consulting for years or you’re just starting out, the sooner you begin to align your strategies with your unique magic, the better positioned you’ll be to attract, convert, deliver, and get those all-important referrals.

 

Wrapping Up: Your Next Steps

 

As you mull over these insights, think about where you currently stand.

 

Are you clear on your unique magic?

Do you have a strategy in place for each of the four pillars?

Have you got clear and consistent messaging?

 

If not, now might be the perfect time to take action. Start by defining your unique contribution, then have a good look at your current strategies to see where you can fine-tune and improve.

 

Remember, building a successful coaching/consulting business can take a lot of fine-tuning over time. By focusing on these foundational elements, you’ll set yourself up for an impact-making business – what we all want right? This is where the concept of impact alchemy for coaches really comes into its own.

Right, let’s talk personal branding for coaches, consultants, and experts, shall we? But not in that stuffy, textbook way you’ve likely heard a thousand times before. No, I’m here to share some honest truths about coach branding and consultant branding that might ruffle a few feathers – perhaps even yours. And you know what? That’s brilliant. Because if you find yourself disagreeing with me in the training video above, then we’ve already found common ground: you’re wonderfully unique, and that’s exactly as it should be.

 

So, what brought you here? Are you feeling content with the impact you’re making? or is there a niggling feeling that there’s more out there for you to inspire, uplift, educate or create in the world?

 

Let me tell you, my journey to becoming a personal brand strategist has been far from straightforward. I’ve been that irritable mum and wife, wondering if this was all life had to offer. Communication was a right mess, and I never quite fit into the traditional employment mould. I knew I had more impact to make if only I knew how to unpack my thought leadership and articulate my uniqueness effectively, so I could inspire coaches, consultants and subject matter experts to do the same.

 

A little bit of background on me – and truth be told, I’m not one for talking about myself – I’ve always preferred being behind the scenes. But I’ve learned that sharing our stories can be powerful…

 

Over the past decade, I’ve been busy creating personal brands for coaches, content strategies for experts, and ad campaigns. I’ve coached people across the globe, spoken on stages, and even popped up in the media. I was busy calling myself a digital marketer but I KNEW I wasn’t just that!

 

Does that resonate with you? Do you feel like you have more to offer?

 

So in lockdown, I got busy with a bit of self-reflection…and developed the Impact Alchemy for coaches, consultants, thought leaders, and subject matter experts.

 

The Impact Alchemy got to the heart of what made the individual unique – and let me tell you (as a Personal Brand Strategist) it’s not about your fancy clothes or best-selling book so much as it is about how you make people feel. It’s the impression you leave, whether you’re trying to or not. Your personal brand is a conscious curation of someone’s experience of you.

 

So how do you want to leave them feeling? Think about it – we’re all just energy, aren’t we? Constantly responding to the energies around us. Often, others can see us more clearly than we see ourselves. Your digital presence, your thought leadership, your first impressions are already out there, even if you’re not paying attention to it.

 

But if you’re ready to give some conscious awareness to what makes you uniquely brilliant and embrace your true self – you can let that guide your business clarity as a consultant, coach or subject matter expert.

 

Remember, your personal brand is a reflection of your most authentic self. When you’re in sync with it, you become more effective, more impactful, and more influential. You become the leader others look up to, not because you’re trying to be someone else, but because you’re unapologetically you.

 

 

Are you feeling the tug of ambition, dreaming of transitioning from the security of full-time work to the exhilarating realm of consultancy in your SME field? 

Or perhaps you’re yearning to raise your profile, standing out as an authority in your industry? 

As the humdrum of full-time work whispers a yearning for something more, the prospect of consultancy shimmers on the horizon. 

That’s great. 

So how do you get yourself out there? 

How do you start fine-tuning what you do? 

What is a Position Statement?

Picture this – you’re at a networking event, and someone asks you what you do. Do you have an answer that goes beyond the surface? Crafting a positioning statement is not just about creating a tagline; it’s about expressing YOU. Your brand’s heartbeat.

A powerful position statement captures who you are, what you offer, and why it’s irresistible. It’s not just a marketing spiel; it’s the essence of your brand woven into a few impactful sentences.

Where to start?

Before we dive into crafting your perfect position statement, let’s tap into your unique story – the experiences, passions, and perspectives that define you. This isn’t just about consultancy; it’s about illuminating the essence of who you are. If you’ve worked with me before, you’d have heard of my Origin Story Technique or my Impact Alchemy. It’s where personal brand meets strategy. Together we’ll draw out your unique story,  a narrative that resonates with authenticity, setting the stage for your consultancy brand.

Who do I start with? 

To capture your perfect audience you need to speak to them directly. Picture your ideal client. What challenges do they face? How can your consultancy alleviate their pain points? Your position statement should be tailored to resonate with their exact needs.

How do I solve their problem?

To shine the light on why you’re the solution to their problems, you need to understand exactly how you solve them. Begin by narrowing down your expertise. What makes you stand out in your SME field? What’s your competitive advantage? What makes you, you? And how does that answer their pain point? Identify what makes you unique and see your true value. Be seen and understood for who you truly are.

When do I own it? 

When you understand your value. Your unique value is in the way you  articulate your legacy, bigger mission, or purpose. When you embody what it feels like to be a leader on your own terms – in your own skin; in your own words; and derived from your own greatness. If you need help with this, I created Sprint Offerings – a blend of done-with-you and done-for-you services to kick start you embodying your true self. 

How to refine it?

After you’ve delved deep and unearth and articulate your unique contribution, rework it until it’s short, impactful, and to the point. Aim for one to three sentences or phrases; clarity resonates better than complexity.

Here’s some short, snappy examples that stick: 

  • We solve business problems by looking at your humans first (HR company)
  • I empower companies to integrate sustainable holistic healthcare frameworks by commercialising the outcomes. (Medical SME Consultant for Cruise Companies)
  • I give women the tools to liberate themselves into money freedom, and build a financial legacy. (Financial Liberation Coach).

Conclusion:

 A powerful position statement isn’t truly powerful until you’ve truly stepped into it. Go out and live it. Show up more. Do more. Be more impactful. 

If you need help, let’s work together using my unique Impact Alchemy process. With proven results my process uncovers your unique contribution as a an expansive living leader. Step out of the vicious cycle of self-doubt and personal development, and step into your uniqueness.

Are you ready to build a work-life around your life’s work? Let’s go.

Struggling to consistently share engaging content on social media? So many of my clients are spending upward of 15hrs a week tending to their socials garden! 

LinkedIn or Instagram is slowly sucking their time and inspiring energy, and all they’re hearing is crickets!

But you don’t have to do content creation EVERY day. I mean if you love it – go for it, but I think most of my clients prefer to be making the ACTUAL impact they’re here to make! 

Let’s check out how an evergreen content creation system can effortlessly grow and nurture your audience. (The bonus of building a creative evergreen system is that your campaigns become SOOO much more effective!)

The key is having content mapped to every stage of your audience’s journey:

  1. Attract their attention with value. Develop blogs, guides, or videos that provide solutions to questions your audience has. Sounds obvious – but I can hear you saying ‘where do I start?’ (head to my Signature Framework sprint to find out about unpacking your thought leadership!)
  2. Build relationships and trust. Share personality-driven content like behind-the-scenes and customer success stories. (I have a great case study builder – book a call and we can chat about it)
  3. Generate engagement with polls, questions, and conversations. Respond consistently.
  4. Promote your offers. Highlight program details, enrolment deadlines, and special promotions.
  5. Guide new followers. Welcome and onboard them by sharing your best introductory content.
  6. Develop many variations of each content type mapped to audience needs.
  7. Store and schedule these evergreen content variations to autopost consistently. But not just on your socials – think CRM too! (If you need a new all-in-one CRM solution for coaches and consultants check out Amplify)

Having a bank of optimised evergreen content allows you to confidently build engaged audiences 24/7 without starting at a blank page each day. Automate posting so you can focus on high-impact activities like connecting one-on-one. Consistent value drives growth.

Want more coaching clients to convert after visiting your website? Got a high bounce rate. Google (and other search engines) LOVE your website when people want to stick around on it! So creating a site that is SEO friendly, loaded with great content is absolutely KEY in getting found in search engines!

Learn how to create a high-converting website tailored specifically to attract and engage your ideal clients.

Optimizing your website starts with understanding your niche clients’ journey:

  1. Identify your client avatar. Determine your ideal client’s demographics, worldview, goals and challenges. Your content targets their needs.
  2. Map their journey. Outline the typical path and questions your niche client has when researching coaches. Design page content accordingly.
  3. Lead with your transformation. Prominently feature the tangible outcome clients get from your consulting or coaching. Include proof through testimonials.
  4. Communicate your niche clearly. Use targeted language focussed on your specialty and the specific problems you solve for your niche.
  5. Guide visitors to convert. Use calls-to-action, lead flows, and forms to capture contacts and guide prospects to sales conversations.
  6. Feature your personality. Share your origin story, values, and pictures of yourself. Humanise your website to build familiarity and trust.
  7. Optimise technical elements. Speed up load times, enhance SEO rankings, and create a mobile-friendly experience.

With strategic conversion-focused design tailored to your niche, your website can become an impactful experience for your visitors, not to mention a client nurturing machine! 

The key is to clarify your difference, and guide visitors on a journey through your content.  Accelerate your impact by capturing more leads with a beautiful website.