From Follower to Fan: Turn Social Media into Your Coaching Client Pipeline

Josh Dykes

Let’s be real: mastering social media as a coach can feel like trying to navigate a busy marketplace with everyone shouting for attention. How do you convert a Follower to Fan? You pour time and effort into posts, but are those likes and comments actually translating into paying clients? If the answer is a disheartening “not really,” it’s time to rethink your strategy.

The truth is, social media can be an incredibly powerful lead generation tool for coaches… but only if you have a strategic funnel in place. Think of it this way: a funnel guides scattered interest and channels it into a focused stream of potential clients, ready to take the next step in their transformative journey with you.

Back when I started, I was guilty of random posting. A motivational quote here, a client success story there, a sprinkle of personal insights…it felt like throwing darts blindfolded, hoping something would stick. I’d see other coaches with slick, automated funnels and feel intimidated, thinking that kind of tech wizardry was beyond me.

But here’s what I discovered: building a simple yet effective social media funnel is well within reach, even for the non-tech-savvy coach. And in 2024, when social media algorithms are constantly in flux, it’s your ability to nurture warm audiences that sets you apart.

Let’s break it down:

  • The Magnet at the Top Your social media should offer immense value for your ideal clients. Instead of generic inspiration, solve their pain points. Share actionable tips, bust myths in your niche, conduct live Q&As…establish yourself as the go-to expert they trust.
  • The Irresistible Offer: This is where a lead magnet comes in. Offer a freebie (think powerful mini-training, transformational workbook, etc.) in exchange for email addresses. Now you can continue the conversation beyond the crowded social media landscape.
  • Nurture with Intention: Don’t bombard new leads with sales pitches. Provide more value, share your story, invite them into webinars or workshops where they experience your coaching style firsthand. This builds trust and weeds out those who aren’t a good fit.
  • The Seamless Invitation: When the time is right, make it incredibly easy for those warm leads to book a discovery call, join your program, or purchase your offering. The journey should feel natural, not pushy.

Remember, consistency is Key

Even the most brilliant funnel won’t deliver results if you post sporadically or leave long gaps in communication. Make engaging with your social communities a non-negotiable part of your business rhythm.

I was at an event last year and one of the speakers demonstrated this beautifully.

He asked

  • Who in the room has been posting every day for 7 days? (many hands went up)
  • Who has been posting daily for 30 days? (many hands went down)
  • Who has been posting daily for 90 days? (only 4 hands remained up in a room of 300+)
  • He then asked those 4 people about the size of their audience. On average, they had about 12000 people in their audiences.
  • He then asked people in the room to raise their hand if they have this many followers who don’t post daily (only 1 persons hand went up)

This goes to show the power of taking action consistently.

The Secret Ingredient: You

While strategy matters, your unique voice and authentic passion are what truly connect with potential clients. Don’t hide behind polished perfection– let your personality, your story, and your genuine desire to help people shine through. That’s what sets you apart.

Building an effective social media funnel takes a bit of learning and tweaking, but I promise you, it’s a game-changer for your coaching business. It turns casual followers into a community ready to invest in themselves with your support.

Destroying the Nightmare of Posting Daily

You can post daily without posting every day. This blog was written over 2 months ago (hopefully it is still relevant!) and scheduled. Most social media platforms have in-built functions to allow you to schedule content for the future.

Secret to consistency…

  • One day of the week, schedule all your content for the following week. Record a few videos and write a few posts. This may take a few hours but the more experience you get, the less time this will take.
  • If you are really interested in this, spend one weekend planning all your content for the month! Then you get a 1 month holiday from creating content. Remember to change clothes for some of the videos, otherwise, your audience may think you live in the same shirt 🙂
  • Limit the amount of time you give for this. Avoid perfectionism. Sure, keep it professional but it doesn’t need to be world class when you get started, this is the sure path to procrastination!

If you’re ready to overcome your limiting beliefs and become a successful coach, I encourage you to attend one of our 1-Day Coaching Diplomas to start your coaching journey. For those who want more speaking support, here is the link to our speaking training. It’ll help you to develop a plan to achieve your goals and build a successful coaching business. You can also find our beginners guide to becoming a coach here.

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