24: Choosing a Viable Target Audience for Your Coaching Business

We're taking a pause from the Smart Mindsets & Habits Series. This episode is another On Air Coaching Session (there are 3 previous) where you get to listen in as I work with a coach to decide on a viable target audience for her coaching business.I'm sorry, I no longer offer On Air Coaching Sessions but you can grab a Strategy Session if you want help choosing your target audience and coaching niche.  Today, I have the pleasure of working with Deborah York. Deborah introduced herself this way ...I am a divorced mother of two young men that are coming into their own. My younger son will be graduating soon and going off to med school. And my other son is working full time and taking classes and still trying to figure out what he wants to do.  That kind of makes me think about my coaching and trying to wrangle it in to determine which direction I really want to go into. I tell people all the time that I'm a Jill of all trade and master of some because I have two master's degrees. I love working with people in helping them to uncover their purpose or their path in life. And that's, I guess what's caused me to struggle a little bit because I want to help everyone. And I understand as a coach, you can't help everyone.One of my Masters is in industrial organizational psychology that has a specialization leadership coaching. So when I initially started coaching, and it's been almost 10 years ago now, I started off coaching people that were in management or are looking to get into management. And through that, it made me look even deeper. So I ended up getting another certification in health and nutrition. My approach is more of a holistic approach, uh, but still trying to find that right group of people that saw the value that I brought to the table who were willing to pay for it has been the struggle.Don't Do This AloneDeborah isn't alone in that struggle. Most coaches, including me, start out not knowing who is a viable and ideal target audience for their coaching business. Many simply do not choose and that often means their business doesn't get off the ground.  And, it's not the easiest thing to figure out on your own.I wanted to acknowledge Deborah and all women who are the primary or sole provider for their kids, plus getting advanced degrees while holding a full time job and then starting their own coaching business. Super women! You all have my deepest respect.All Coaching Is Holistic In NatureDeborah mentioned that she coaches her clients holistically. I pump my fist for that!When I'm working with coaches to help them build their coaching businesses, there are some days I'll do somatic coaching to get them in touch with the wisdom of their bodies. Some days we'll talk about what's going on at home. Sometimes we're going to talk about mindset or spirituality.But even though every coach can coach about any topic and we should work holistically with our clients, that does not mean that you shouldn't specialize. In fact, to some degree the more you specialize on a narrow and viable audience, the easier it will be to attract clients who pay you well.  The best way to go is to create a program for that unique target audience where you help them reach their top goal and overcome related challenges in a holistic way.So, Deborah was already clear about working holistically with her audience.Questions Revealed Her Ideal & Viable Coaching AudienceNext, I asked Deborah ... (find more from this coaching session here.)