Don’t Leave Them Feeling Like They’re Not Worth Pursuing:
Why Follow-Up With Potential Clients Is Critical for Life Coaches
When you meet a client for a Sample Session, it can be an extraordinary experience, much like meeting someone of interest at a party for the first time (wink). For many of our would-be clients, the Sample Session is the first time in a long time (or, sadly, sometimes EVER) that our clients are actually seen, heard, and made to feel special, like a person of interest. When they leave you at the end of that first session, they often are walking on air.
Now, just imagine for a moment what it must feel like for a potential client that just completed an absolutely magical and possible life-changing sample session with you. You part ways saying, “let’s continue talking about working together.” Several days go by, you get busy, and you don’t reach out. After two weeks of meaning to follow up with this person, you figure it’s probably too late at this point, that they’ve likely lost interest, and likely not worth your time. This person clearly isn’t interested in working with you, else he/she would’ve contacted you by now…right?
Or, worse than that, a week or two passes and you begin to feel guilty and embarrassed that you’ve taken so long to get back in touch with the potential client that you just decide to forget it. After all, how would it that if you contacted them after so much time has passed? Completely unprofessional, you decide. And you let go of the opportunity to serve someone that really might need you.
When someone fails to follow-up with you, regardless of whether its for personal or professional reasons, it leaves you feeling like that person doesn’t really care, like you really aren’t worth their time, like your relationship, whatever the nature of it may be, is not worth pursuing.
Is this the right way to follow up after a Sample Session?
Heck no!
Hear me now: never, ever skip the follow-up! In my estimation, the follow up system you use is one of the most critical steps for new coaches to put into place when trying to create clients for their practice. Remember, potential clients are busy. They often mean to let you know that they are interested in continuing with you after a sample session. But time gets away from them. Each day brings a multitude of responsibilities; from raising children to building a career, and often times coaching can get sidelined. It’s your job as a business owner, however, to make sure that you follow up in a valuable and non-pushy manner with each and every person who completes a sample coaching session with you. Doing so will ensure that those clients that want to work with you will end up on your roster and, those that don’t, will not be “lost.”
My favorite follow-up: I like to send a handwritten notecard that is meaningful and personalized to the client, thanking them for their time and willingness to allow me along on their journey. What are your initial follow-up steps after a Sample Session? Please post in the comments below.
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