Most of my early clients came from within my network of Life Sciences professionals. As I pivoted from corporate leadership to leadership coaching, I found that those who knew me in that realm knew and trusted my approach. I was so thankful for this starting point! As a scientist, I was not trained in marketing, so sharing my coaching practice felt a little inauthentic at first. Looking back, I would trust myself more and have many more exploratory conversations with many more people to learn. I would lean more into relationships over social posts (or have a much better balance of both).
I've been coaching for over 23 years. When I first started, there was no Facebook, Instagram or social media to help me grow my business. I started simple and local. I went to one networking group a week to ask for referrals from other wellness professionals (Not to get clients but referrals), I relied heavily on search engine optimization for my website so I came up in searches locally. I got on the local news and talked about what I did and was asked back every month for over 2 years which gave me a steady flow of clients. The most important thing I did was hire a coach. Without accountability, someone to help me focus my mind and efforts I probably would have gone in circles. So many coaches are afraid to invest in themselves which makes selling coaching even harder psychologically. If you don't believe it is worth it, why would your prospects. If I could do anything differently, I would spent less time worried about the future as it all worked out in the end. I tried many things that didn't work but kept going. If you are just starting out, don't lose faith you can do this. What a ride it has been and looking forward to another 20 years!
I landed my first coaching client by connecting with people in online groups. In my case, those were Facebook groups, but the same principles I used apply to any groups, like Reddit or Slack groups. I spent my lunch breaks in these groups, answering questions and providing value without selling or pitching. Eventually, someone asked to hire me. If I started again today, I'd start by choosing an existing skill I already have and apply it to an industry I find interesting. For me, that was helping business owners with digital advertising, a skill I'd already mastered at my day job. It doesn't have to be your life's passion; it just needs to be something you enjoy and that people will pay for.
I started my interview coaching business 10 years ago with a free Wix website and a $40/month Google ad. At the time, there was not much competition in the interview coaching space, and my ad got great results. I also worked on my SEO - and by that I mean I hired someone from the teaching platform Wyzant to teach me what SEO was and how to maximize it for my website. Within a year, I was getting clients regularly. Of course, none of that would work today. There is too much competition in the interview coaching arena now. My first step if I were starting now would be to join a professional organization like the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches, and go to all their online networking events to learn how to build a business from seasoned entrpreneur coaches, and build my brand professionally to position myself for referrals. And I would probably hire someone from Wyzant to teach me how to maximize my AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) and GEO (Generative Engine Optimization).
Hello there! My first few coaching clients came from relationships that I developed on the job as a COO. The CEO of our IT partner happened to be in the office chatting one day and saw the book Traction on my shelf and said, "we have tried for years to get that rolled out into our company." That comment started my coaching career. I told him that I'd love to help him and his team out, as I had implemented EOS into my own business and a few companies as a COO since. That success led to referrals and recommendations, which led to more opportunities and additional sales, all of which allowed me to bet on myself and begin my own coaching practice. Since, I've helped over fifty businesses and 100 CEOs with their businesses, through a variety of challenges, opportunity, and complexity. If I could start everything again, I would have crafted a vision of where I wanted to go, a unified brand guideline, and a structured marketing approach, so I wouldn't have wasted so much time and effort with inconsistent testing. Happy to discuss further if it could provide any assistance! Thanks, Pete Srodoski www.rollwithpunch.com
Hey there! Moritz here - from smartmined. I hope everything is well on your end :) Here is my answer to the above question: "I got my first clients through blogging. Instead of trying to reach out to people, I focused on pull marketing and published in-depth content. Over time, those articles started ranking in Google and my first clients reached out to me after reading multiple posts. That's how I got my first clients. If I had to start again today, I would do the same but with video content - creating blog content isn't as promising as it used to be due all the AI features that came up in recent years. However, what still works is utilizing pull marketing to win clients." Hope this helps! Best, Moritz
My first coaching clients came through my construction background--I was helping homeowners who'd gotten burned by contractors, and they started asking me to walk them through their next projects from start to finish. I'd charge a consulting fee to review bids, manage timelines, and basically be their advocate throughout the process. If I were starting over today, I'd launch a YouTube channel showing homeowners exactly what quality work looks like versus the shortcuts that lead to costly repairs later--there's so much misinformation out there, and visual proof of good versus bad craftsmanship would immediately establish credibility and attract clients who value expertise over the lowest bid.
Honestly, my first few clients came from what I call proximity networking. I basically leaned on the trust I'd already built during my years in engineering. Instead of trying to sell some massive coaching package, I offered high-impact, low-friction technical audits. I wasn't pitching a long-term deal right out of the gate; I was pitching a fix for a specific bottleneck they were dealing with right then and there. It was a consultative-first approach. It worked because I focused on their immediate headache instead of just rattling off a list of services. If I were starting from scratch today, I'd get serious about building niche authority through public documentation a lot sooner. The market is just too noisy for generalists to stand out anymore. I'd focus on solving one hyper-specific problem--like engineering velocity for scaling startups--and I'd share my whole methodology openly. The reality is that modern buyers are different. Our research shows that clients are usually 70% of the way through their decision-making process before they even pick up the phone. They've already vetted you. Having a digital footprint that proves you're an expert isn't a "nice to have" anymore; it's mandatory. I'd spend way less time on broad outreach and way more time becoming the go-to person for one single, painful transition.
Early on, my first coaching clients came out of genuine connections--people I'd helped out of sticky real estate jams who began recommending me to their networks simply because I treated them with honesty and respect. One thing I'd do differently now is capture those moments and feedback immediately, turning them into quick case studies or short testimonials to build trust with potential clients online. It's easy to downplay the value you provide in one-on-one interactions, but being proactive about sharing those small wins makes a big difference when you're starting out.
I got my first coaching clients by helping homeowners who were overwhelmed and just needed someone to break down their options in plain English--I treated it more like serving than selling, and that built immediate trust. If I were starting again today, I'd double down on that transparency but pair it with consistent online education--short, real-world videos showing how to navigate difficult sell-or-hold decisions--so people see my approach and values before ever picking up the phone.
I observe that many coaches mistakenly fail to define their target market, leading to broad marketing efforts that waste resources and dilute messaging. This aligns with affiliate marketing principles, where understanding the audience is essential. Coaches need to focus their strategies to effectively reach and engage their intended clients, avoiding the pitfalls of a nonspecific approach.
My first coaching relationships grew out of the very real, often emotional, conversations I had with homeowners at their kitchen tables while helping them navigate a tough property sale. It wasn't about a formal service, but providing a clear, compassionate path through situations like probate or foreclosure. If I were starting over, I would create simple, heartfelt videos sharing those stories and partner with local community and support groups to distribute them--ensuring the families who need that compassionate guidance most can find it.
My very first clients were simply friends or colleagues who knew about my real estate success and needed guidance on their challenges--I wasn't even calling it "coaching" yet, just offering solutions. If I were starting over today, I'd create short, engaging video series on "real estate myths and truths" for social media, because people are hungry for honest information, and that builds trust and a client base much faster than relying purely on one-on-one connections. It's about being visible with your integrity.
When I first started out, I naturally attracted my initial coaching clients through players I was mentoring on the football field and friends in real estate who watched how I handled deals--my authenticity and willingness to problem-solve brought people in. If I could do it all over again today, I'd be more proactive about offering short, free strategy calls to my network and ask for specific referrals, because that direct outreach creates momentum and grows trust much faster than waiting for word to spread on its own.
I landed my first coaching clients by leveraging the trust I'd already built in my local real estate community--I started by helping fellow investors and contractors who were struggling with property renovations that had gone sideways. What I'd do differently today is be more intentional about documenting those early success stories and testimonials, because word-of-mouth is powerful, but having concrete case studies would have accelerated my growth significantly. I also wish I had started an email newsletter from day one to stay connected with my network, rather than relying solely on face-to-face interactions at industry meetups.
I got my first coaching clients by being brutally honest about the nightmare experiences I was witnessing in real estate transactions--I started hosting informal 'avoid the BS' gatherings at local coffee shops where I'd walk people through red flags when choosing an agent, and those conversations naturally turned into referrals and consulting requests. If I were starting today, I'd immediately build a simple video series showing real examples of deals gone wrong and what buyers could have done differently, because people connect with authentic war stories way more than polished sales pitches, and video reaches exponentially more people than I could ever meet face-to-face in Cleveland.
My very first coaching clients came from conversations I was already having about real estate problems-people knew I was transparent and ethical from my Marine Corps background. They'd come to me needing solutions for inherited homes or foreclosure, and while I structured win-win deals, I'd also coach them through the emotional and financial steps to gain peace of mind. If I were starting again today, I'd focus on building a simple, values-driven podcast sharing those transparent stories and practical tips, because it reaches a wider audience who resonates with integrity and authentic problem-solving, not just transactions.
I got my first coaching clients by helping fellow homeowners untangle tricky property situations--one couple I'd assisted informally referred three more people within a month because I focused on solving problems, not selling advice. If I were starting again today, I'd create a short educational video series that walks through real client scenarios I've solved, then use those to start meaningful conversations online instead of relying entirely on word-of-mouth. It's about showing your approach in action so people can immediately see the kind of results you deliver.
I got my first coaching clients by simply listening to the pain points homeowners shared during what should have been straightforward transactions--when they'd mention feeling overwhelmed by repairs, timelines, or family dynamics around inherited properties, I'd offer to walk them through a step-by-step action plan for a small fee. If I were starting over today, I'd create a monthly 'Homeowner Hero Workshop' in my community where I'd tackle real case studies of complicated situations I've solved, because people need to see themselves in your success stories before they'll trust you with their biggest financial decisions. The key is proving you can turn their chaos into clarity before they even become a client.