Coach Pony

Should you run ads when you’re a new coach?

Whether it’s Facebook, Instagram, Google, or any other platform, there are a lot of opinions, thoughts, strategies, and advice floating around out there about whether or not you need to run paid ads for your business to succeed.

To dig into that question, I’m joined by a very special member of Team Pony, our Director of Growth Marketing (and my husband), Suhaib Abdali.

Over the course of his career, Suhaib has run millions and millions of dollars worth of ads on different platforms. Here at Coach Pony, he specializes in Google ads, and we’ve run close to a million dollars worth of ads ourselves. So, we’re not exactly spring chickens when it comes to the advertising game. 

We’ll each give our takes on what you need to know before you start spending money, and whether you need to advertise at all to grow your coaching business.

Listen to the full episode to hear about:

• Why your offer and your sales process need to be rock solid before you even think about paying for ads
• What you need to have set up on your website before you run ads
• Why a broader audience isn’t always better (no matter what the platforms try to tell you)
• Why copy and creative will almost always take more time and effort than you think
• Why ads are never set it and forget it

To learn more about Christie Mims:

• Coach Pony
• Instagram @christiecoachpony
• Build A Real Business
• Jumpstart Your Business Bootcamp

Resources: 

• FREE Marketing Masterclass
• Rita Barry & Co.

If you have some chocolate worth reviewing on the show, we are easily bribed! 

Email us at [email protected] with your recommendation or if you want to send us something to try! 

When you’re trying to demonstrate your credibility, what’s better than having the glowing testimonials of happy clients talking about how awesome you are?

Even better if they’re spontaneously given to you with permission to share on your website and in your marketing materials, right? But that’s not usually how it works.

So how do you get comfortable asking clients for testimonials? 

And more than that, how do you get GREAT ones that will land you more clients?

This season on the Coach Pony Podcast, dating coach Bobbi Palmer, of Date Like a Grownup and I are here to help by answering your burning questions about your coaching business, so you can get more clients and get paid to coach! Also, we have a Bridgerton audio theme this season, so enjoy!

Today, we’re digging into testimonials. Why humans love them, how to ask for them without feeling like a sleaze, and why it really, really isn’t too much to ask of your clients. We promise.

Listen to the full episode to hear about:

• Why you should not only ask for testimonials, but you should follow up on the request
• How asking the right questions helps you get the most useful testimonials
• Tips for getting testimonials when you’re just starting out and are brand new
• Why it’s important to be explicit about what client information you will and won’t include when you use a testimonial
• An unusual way to get amazing testimonials (that also help your current clients)
• Three pieces of homework to generate testimonials

To learn more about Bobbi Palmer:

• Date Like a Grownup

To learn more about Christie Mims:

• Coach Pony
• Instagram @christiecoachpony
• Build A Real Business

If you have some chocolate worth reviewing on the show, we are easily bribed! 

Email us at [email protected] with your recommendation or if you want to send us something to try!

At some point in your coaching business, someone is going to ask you for a refund.

This season on the Coach Pony Podcast, dating coach Bobbi Palmer, of Date Like a Grownup and I are here to help by answering your burning questions about your coaching business, so you can get more clients and get paid to coach! Also, we have a Bridgerton audio theme this season, so enjoy!

Refunds can be a tricky and uncomfortable situation. But today, Bobbi and I are giving you our best advice for how to handle these requests with integrity, so you can best serve your clients and your business.

Listen to the full episode to hear about:

• Why there is no right answer for refund requests
• Why having a solid intake process and clear contracts can help you avoid refund requests to begin with
• How Bobbi handled two very different refund requests
• Two pieces of homework to make handling refunds easier

To learn more about Bobbi Palmer:

• Date Like a Grownup

To learn more about Christie Mims:

• Coach Pony
• Instagram @christiecoachpony
• Build A Real Business

If you have some chocolate worth reviewing on the show, we are easily bribed! 

Email us at [email protected] with your recommendation or if you want to send us something to try!

Sometimes to move forward as a coach, you just need your questions answered.

This season on the Coach Pony Podcast, dating coach Bobbi Palmer, of Date Like a Grownup and I are here to help by answering your burning questions about your coaching business, so you can get more clients and get paid to coach!

Today, we’re talking about how to stay motivated in your business and how to get back on track when you feel like you’ve fallen behind.

Listen to the full episode to hear about:

• How to lean on the support of routine and structure when your motivation is flagging
• Why the only reason to look backwards is to see where you got off track–no beating yourself up!
• How engaging with a community helps keep you accountable until you get your groove back
• Why you need to set up boundaries, expectations, and time for rest before you burn out and lose motivation

To learn more about Bobbi Palmer:

• Date Like a Grownup

To learn more about Christie Mims:

• Coach Pony
• Instagram @christiecoachpony
• Build A Real Business

Resources: 

• Coach Pony S04E11: How I Built a Premium Membership Site on a Shoestring Budget with Natalie Sisson

If you have some chocolate worth reviewing on the show, we are easily bribed! 

Email us at [email protected] with your recommendation or if you want to send us something to try!

Are you a new coach who wants to use words to sell things? AWESOME!

My guest today is a genius at using words to sell things. And she’s used herself as a guinea pig. 

She started a newsletter that produced six figures of income, which grew into an empire full of written programs, and landed her a huge book deal with Penguin Books.

All in, she’s made over $5 million just from her words.

Obviously we need to know, Ash Ambirge how did you build that?

Ash Ambirge is the founder of The Middle Finger Project, where she writes every week about how to earn $250,000/year as a high-income digital nomad from anywhere in the world. 

Listen to the full episode to hear about:

• How Ash successfully used her blog to sell thousands of copies of her first book
• Why Ash writes books and guides instead of selling courses or masterminds
• Why her email list is the nucleus for every other project
• What surprised her when she went from self-publishing to working with Penguin
• Ash’s top three tips for gaining visibility from your writing

To learn more about Ash Ambirge:

• The Middle Finger Project
• Meat and Hair
• Twitter: @AshAmbirge

To learn more about Christie Mims:

• Coach Pony
• Instagram @christiecoachpony
• Build A Real Business

If you have some chocolate worth reviewing on the show, we are easily bribed! 

Email us at [email protected] with your recommendation or if you want to send us something to try!

If you love working intimately with a small group of clients, and you love the community building that happens in group coaching, you might be thinking about starting a membership program.

But getting it off the ground can be daunting.

Today’s guest wanted to create engagement and support for a small group of people and she built out a premium membership program called the 10K Club on a minimal budget, all while the world was in lockdown. 

So we want to know, Natalie Sisson, how did you build that?

Natalie Sisson is a New Zealand entrepreneur, bestselling author, speaker, host of the ‘Untapped’ podcast, and lover of handstands and dogs. Her mission is to help women entrepreneurs leverage their unique set of skills, knowledge, and experience to get paid to be them, make the income and impact they desire, simply by being exactly who they are.

Listen to the full episode to hear about:

• Why Natalie chose the membership model and narrowed her offering to cater to a select group of women
• How Natalie used one-on-one sales calls and a Google doc to enroll members
• How she structured the program to offer an intimate, hands-on coaching experience
• How she kept her initial expenses to a minimum
• Natalie’s top three tips for starting a premium membership

To learn more about Natalie Sisson:

• NatalieSisson.com
• Untapped Podcast
• Instagram: @NatalieSisson
• Facebook: @NatalieSisson

To learn more about Christie Mims:

• Coach Pony
• Instagram @christiecoachpony
• Build A Real Business

If you have some chocolate worth reviewing on the show, we are easily bribed! 

Email us at [email protected] with your recommendation or if you want to send us something to try! 

Are you struggling to get referrals or with organic growth?

Before you spend money on ads (which new coaches shouldn’t do unless you like setting money on fire), listen to today’s episode.

My guest built a highly successful digital marketing firm the old fashioned way–through referrals and word of mouth.

Before she made millions and built a team, Rita Barry was a solo business owner trying to grow.

We want to know, how did you build that?

Rita founded her company, a boutique digital marketing optimization consultancy based in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, in 2009. Rita Barry & Co. is a relationship-driven company that partners closely with select 6 to 8 figure female-led businesses to help them grow with data-driven Facebook advertising and marketing optimization.

Listen to the full episode to hear about:

• Why Rita knew she needed to tangibly connect with potential clients
• How she handpicked masterminds and events to attend to nurture relationships
• How Rita maintains the relationships she’s built through networking
• Rita’s top three tips for coach/consultants

To learn more about Rita Barry:

• RitaBarry.co
• Instagram: @ritabarryco
• Connect with Rita on LinkedIn
• Facebook: @ritabarryco

To learn more about Christie Mims:

• Coach Pony
• Instagram @christiecoachpony
• Build A Real Business

If you have some chocolate worth reviewing on the show, we are easily bribed! 

Email us at [email protected] with your recommendation or if you want to send us something to try! 

There are lots of ways to do courses, but if you’ve been thinking about offering a DIY-style option, this episode is for you.

Today, we’re sitting down to pick Laura Belgray’s brain about her program, Inbox Hero, that brought in over six figures the very first time she launched it.

We definitely want to know: How did you build that?

We’ll find out how she developed the course, why she went DIY, and how she made her launch such a wild success.

Laura Belgray, founder of Talking Shrimp®, is a copywriting expert who helps entrepreneurs find the perfect words to express and sell what they do in a way that gets them paid to be themselves. Through her work with hundreds of clients (including online biggies like Marie Forleo and Amy Porterfield) she’s seen firsthand that putting “you” into your copy and all through your business is pure magic for getting people to love you up, share your ideas, and happily click your Buy button.

Listen to the full episode to hear about:

• How Laura built on a format she already knew resonated with her audience
• Why she thinks in terms of value and results when setting pricing
• Where Laura spent the most money and time to get the course to market
• Why there is has been a no-refund policy on Inbox Hero from day one
• Laura’s top advice for growing and building trust with your email list

To learn more about Laura Belgray:

• Talking Shrimp
• FREE: 33 Non-Sucky Subject Lines

To learn more about Christie Mims:

• Coach Pony
• Instagram @christiecoachpony
• Build A Real Business

If you have some chocolate worth reviewing on the show, we are easily bribed! 

Email us at [email protected] with your recommendation or if you want to send us something to try! 

So far this season, we’ve talked to big name coaches about how they built wildly successful programs, conferences, and podcasts in their businesses.

But it’s not just the big name coaches that are doing really interesting work.

Coaches all over the world, in businesses big and small and new and old, are building cool and life-changing things for their clients and their businesses every single day.

And in this episode, I want to highlight their stories.

So we invited our amazing community of coaches to tell us how you built something successful in your business and to share your wisdom with us. 

And wow, you guys responded.

So today, it’s time to ask six members of the Coach Pony community, how did you build that?

Kay Kirkman is a career coach and host of The Genx Career Show podcast. 

Ann Sutton helps mid-career professionals regain the confidence, optimism, and momentum they need to land work they love so that they have the freedom to create the life they want. 

Irene Alexander is a University Professor of Christian marriage, ICF Certified Relationship Coach, and the Founder of Adored for Life Marriage Coaching. 

Annie Das is a writer and dating coach for millennial women. She helps women grow their dating confidence and self love so that they can attract high quality partners. 

Laëtitia Gnago is the founder of Aligned Corporate Experiences. She is a Talent Experience Enhancement Strategist and Alignment Success Architect. 

Rob Southgate (MBA) is founder of ThePodcastProfs and Southgate Media Group. 

Listen to the full episode to hear about:

• How Kay uses surveys to answer her audience’s burning questions on her podcast
• Three key things Ann did to build a killer lead magnet
• How Irene used a pre-launch to build her waitlist as she developed her VIP program
• How Annie turned an article she was scared to write into one that’s been seen by hundreds of thousands of people and boosted her business
• How Laëtitia created a tool kit for navigating unhealthy workplaces from her own experiences
• How Rob lands guests for his podcast and even turns them into clients

To learn more about Kay Kirkman:

• Your GenX Career
• Connect with Kay on LinkedIn

To learn more about Ann Sutton:

• Ann Sutton Coaching
• Facebook: Career Success Strategies

To learn more about Irene Alexander:

• Adored for Life

To learn more about Annie Das:

• Annie Das Coaching
• Instagram: @AnnieDasCoaching
• Pinterest: @AnnieDasCoaching

To learn more about Laëtitia Gnago:

• Aligned Corporate Experiences
• Connect with Laëtitia on LinkedIn

To learn more about Rob Southgate:

• The Podcast Profs
• Connect with Rob on LinkedIn

To learn more about Christie Mims:

• Coach Pony
• Instagram @christiecoachpony
• Build A Real Business

If you have some chocolate worth reviewing on the show, we are easily bribed! 

Email us at [email protected] with your recommendation or if you want to send us something to try! 

Have you wondered what it takes to start a membership site or community?

Today, our guests, Erica Cordae and India Jackson, have done just that. In 2018, they founded Pause on the Play®, a community hub of professionals and entrepreneurs connecting at the intersection of values and visibility. 

We'll dive into how they got started and how they grew their membership business into an inclusive community committed to guiding individuals in the process of defining their values, diversifying their networks, and disrupting systems of oppression.

As an athlete, photographer, and creative consultant to personal brands, India Jackson spent the first decade of her career watching as talented professionals were forced to adopt identities that were sellable but not authentic. Watching the market flooded with an intense focus on follower count and crafted personas, she committed to taking a more aligned approach to influence-building.

Erica Courdae is a trusted advisor to entrepreneurs and executive teams committed to shifting focus, power, and resources in order to create more equity in their business and the world. She believes imperfect action is necessary to create meaningful social change and helps public figures engage in the work without fear of judgment.

Listen to the full episode to hear about:

• What Erica says many entrepreneurs get wrong when they build to fill a need
• Why their launch goals for the community didn’t have any numbers attached
• How Erica and India went about building a community with safety and transparency as top priorities
• What money investments they made to get the community up and running, and what they’ve added and changed since (so what it cost to get started!) 
• Their top three tips for starting a coaching membership or community

To learn more about Erica Courdae and India Jackson:

• Pause on the Play
• Instagram: @PauseonthePlay 
• Connect with Erica on LinkedIn
• Connect with India on LinkedIn

To learn more about Christie Mims:

• Coach Pony
• Instagram @christiecoachpony
• Build A Real Business

If you have some chocolate worth reviewing on the show, we are easily bribed! 

Email us at [email protected] with your recommendation or if you want to send us something to try!