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February 11, 2025 12 mins

In this episode of the Sustainable Coaching Podcast, I’m sharing my personal journey of navigating a challenging 2024, from balancing my business to managing my health while healing from topical steroid withdrawal. It wasn’t easy, but grace carried me through, and I’m back with renewed energy to pour into this podcast. If you’ve been with me since my Clubhouse days, you know I love to talk, but last year took a toll on me. Now, I’m ready to dive deep into what matters most: building a sustainable coaching business that aligns with your goals and values.

Today, we’re discussing a crucial question for every coach and consultant: Are you chasing popularity or profitability in 2025? Social media has shifted, and it’s vital to know where your energy is best spent. I’ll share how sustainable strategies and SEO helped me grow my business, even when I wasn’t showing up on every platform. Plus, I’ll give you the tools to position yourself as an expert, attract the right clients, and avoid the burnout of chasing trends. If you’re ready to build a thriving, profitable coaching business, this episode is for you!

  • Are you focusing on gaining followers or building real relationships that lead to paying clients?
  • How do you identify which platforms align with your goals for profitability versus popularity?
  • What sustainable strategies can help you position yourself as an expert and attract ideal clients

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Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Welcome to Sustainable Coaching Podcast.

(00:03):
I'm your host, Marilyn West.
I teach new coaches how to start their coaching business without overspending and overthinking.
If you found yourself here, it means you are ready to start your coaching business, or you are ready to monetizE your expertise.
.333333333Let's get staRted. 6 00:00:21,93.333333333 --> 00:00:22,173.333333333 Hello friends. 7 00:00:22,353.333333333 --> 00:00:24,93.333333333 Welcome back to another episode. 8 00:00:24,123.333333333 --> 00:00:28,953.333333333 I can't believe this is my first podcast for 2025. 9 00:00:28,953.333333333 --> 00:00:37,113.333333333 You guys, 2024, did a number to your girl, and I'm telling you, it almost took me out. 10 00:00:37,113.333333333 --> 00:00:40,538.333333333 But you know what? Thank God for grace. 11 00:00:40,878.333333333 --> 00:00:51,358.333333333 I really had to learn how to balance my business and also my health while healing If you haven't seen the pictures, make sure that you're a part of my email list. 12 00:00:51,358.333333333 --> 00:00:57,678.334333333 Your girl went through it, but I'm so grateful that I have the energy to pour back into my podcast. 13 00:00:57,848.334333333 --> 00:01:02,648.334333333 if you've been rocking with me since the beginning at my clubhouse stage, y'all know your girl like to talk. 14 00:01:03,78.334333333 --> 00:01:08,498.333333333 But honey, when I tell y'all I didn't have the energy, I did not have the energy to do any of that. 15 00:01:08,788.333333333 --> 00:01:16,58.334333333 So, me being able to just show up and pour back into my podcast, something that I absolutely love doing. 16 00:01:16,428.334333333 --> 00:01:16,958.334333333 I'm back. 17 00:01:16,978.334333333 --> 00:01:17,578.334333333 I'm here. 18 00:01:17,778.334333333 --> 00:01:53,573.33383333 So you can start back expecting a podcast episode for me weekly if you want to go deeper with the conversation about the podcast episode that just dropped Just make sure that you join the community by scrolling down clicking in the show notes And join the community you guys it's over on mighty network, sustainable coaching space we have a workshop that's going to be kicking off next week That's going to be free to the public on february 19th at 6 30 eastern standard time So just make sure that you go and join the community So you could be a part of the conversation. 19 00:01:53,883.33383333 --> 00:01:56,403.33383333 So, I learned a lot. 20 00:01:56,833.33383333 --> 00:02:03,403.33383333 And I'm just so grateful that I wasn't the type of person who was all in on trends. 21 00:02:03,663.33383333 --> 00:02:20,408.33383333 I've been in this coaching industry since 2015 and what really saved my business and allowed me to coach the wonderful people that I had the opportunity to coach last year into this year is because I implemented sustainable strategies in my business. 22 00:02:20,418.33383333 --> 00:02:22,978.33383333 Not only am I teaching this, but I did it. 23 00:02:23,328.33383333 --> 00:02:48,268.33183333 And I am all in on team SEO across the social media platform, because at the end of the day, as coaches, consultants, therapists, we ain't convincing nobody in 2025, we want to attract the right people who are ready to invest in themselves, and that's looking for us and it's so important that we learn how to Position our expertise where people can find us. 24 00:02:48,518.33283333 --> 00:02:55,458.33283333 So today we're going to be talking about are you chasing popularity or profitability Listen to each his own. 25 00:02:55,538.33183333 --> 00:03:11,933.33283333 There's no right or wrong answer In 2025, I can truly say, if you are a coach and you want to be popular, Instagram is where it's at, TikTok is where it's at, being a content creator coach is where it's at. 26 00:03:12,243.33283333 --> 00:03:17,663.33283333 And if you've been listening to my past episode, you know, I always say you have to determine in the beginning. 27 00:03:17,998.33283333 --> 00:03:38,508.33283333 Are you chasing popularity or profitability because the girl that's chasing profitability She's gonna have to show up a little bit more professional the person that's chasing popularity You're going to be dancing and having a vibe as an influencer on your social media platform So it's so important that you understand which one you are chasing in the beginning. 28 00:03:38,728.33283333 --> 00:04:24,398.33283333 So today we're going to be diving into Why you need to choose if you're chasing popularity or profitability in 2025 So you can position yourself on the right platform because the coaching industry has shifted again I remember one time when Instagram that's what the buyers was at now The platform have turned into more like a content Influence survive and believe it or not the coaches that was on tick tock having a good time We didn't see the shift where? TikTok was training that platform for people to buy from you to invest from you on the platform this shift you have to understand how to navigate these changes to grow your brand And that's why i'm here for the social media. 29 00:04:24,398.33283333 --> 00:04:33,353.33283333 I love social media But it's not where I want to grow my business because I don't have the time to Pay attention to the latest trend. 30 00:04:33,393.33283333 --> 00:04:48,393.33283333 I want the professional girly who's ready to start their podcast, who's ready to grow their brand so we can be on these stages, not just here in the U S but worldwide talking to our ideal client. 31 00:04:48,853.33283333 --> 00:04:59,43.33283333 Right? you have to understand what platform is thriving, what platform you feel comfortable showing up and talking on, so you can position yourself as the subject matter expert. 32 00:04:59,303.33283333 --> 00:05:03,53.33183333 So the first thing I want to talk about, popularity versus profitability. 33 00:05:03,353.33283333 --> 00:05:34,508.33283333 You have to understand, are you creating content to gain followers, just for engagement, or are you building relationships that's going to lead to paying clients? That's going to be so important because the follower is not going to turn into a super fan that's going to buy in to your programs, your communities, or are you building real relationships with people that's going to be interested in your coaching or consulting business? And that's going to be the difference. 34 00:05:34,998.33283333 --> 00:05:38,858.33283333 Followers, you don't care if Joe, John, whoever followed you. 35 00:05:39,303.33283333 --> 00:06:07,983.33283333 but if you are building a business for profitability you want to make sure that you have already nailed your niche You know, your person is coming in with the ideal problem that you can solve So therefore they're gonna invest in your program The truth is popularity don't always equal profitability and I have been saying that for years You can see a coach with 20, 000 followers and I guarantee you They're still struggling, to convert one client. 36 00:06:08,573.33283333 --> 00:06:17,413.33383333 I had to look at my inquiry forms and realize like, where were my hottest leads, the people that I really wanted to work with was coming from. 37 00:06:17,903.33383333 --> 00:06:21,903.33383333 most of my clients that I enjoyed working with, came from my podcast. 38 00:06:22,473.33383333 --> 00:06:29,313.33383333 if you've been rocking with me since I started this podcast, you know in 2024 I cut out clubhouse. 39 00:06:29,383.33383333 --> 00:06:37,13.33383333 I used to be heavy on clubhouse and I had to take a step back even though I got some amazing clients and made some great friendships over there. 40 00:06:37,293.33383333 --> 00:06:39,573.33383333 I took that out of my strategy as well. 41 00:06:39,773.33383333 --> 00:06:49,433.33283333 So when it comes to multi channeling, you have to be able to break down how to find the balance in what's working for your business and what's not, as a coach. 42 00:06:49,443.33283333 --> 00:07:00,678.33283333 You got to look at your analytics You have to make sure that you are looking at what is converting into profits versus over vanity matrix. 43 00:07:00,928.33283333 --> 00:07:04,28.33483333 because that's going to let you know if your content is hitting. 44 00:07:04,368.33483333 --> 00:07:40,543.33483333 The way that you need it to so you can make sure that you're meeting your monthly goals when it comes to How many times people are watching your reels? Are they saving your reels? Are they saving your content? Then you want to be paying attention to that vanity matrix now when it comes to my podcast I'm definitely paying attention to that as well because I want to know how many new subscribers I'm getting, how many times that people listen to this podcast episode, how well did it do the first week out the first month it was out, which one is picking up momentum, what podcast episode is in my top 10. 45 00:07:41,323.33483333 --> 00:07:46,323.33483333 How buyers behavior change over time is changing yearly. 46 00:07:46,973.33483333 --> 00:07:54,43.33583333 if you would have told me a year ago that TikTok has become a buyer's market, I would tell you I don't believe it. 47 00:07:54,43.33583333 --> 00:07:59,903.33583333 look at how time has changed, coaches are now turning into influencer. 48 00:08:00,193.33483333 --> 00:08:04,853.33583333 And trust me, if you're helping people, I'll say this again. 49 00:08:04,873.33483333 --> 00:08:12,963.33583333 If you are really helping people making money, there's no way in the world you're going to turn your coaching business into an influencer business. 50 00:08:14,348.33583333 --> 00:08:15,978.33583333 Unless you got imposter syndrome. 51 00:08:16,988.33583333 --> 00:08:18,568.33583333 Unless you're not making any money. 52 00:08:19,398.33583333 --> 00:08:23,168.33583333 Unless things are not panning out the way that you want it to. 53 00:08:23,538.33483333 --> 00:08:26,868.33483333 don't be that coach that turns into an influencer. 54 00:08:28,653.33483333 --> 00:08:30,823.33483333 Just because you don't have that clarity. 55 00:08:31,773.33483333 --> 00:08:42,693.33483333 don't be that coach that moves from profitability to popularity because you haven't found a strategy that works for you. 56 00:08:43,608.33483333 --> 00:08:45,708.33483333 Buyers are taking longer to commit. 57 00:08:45,978.33483333 --> 00:08:58,258.33583333 One time before, In 2020, we could look at our email campaigns and say, if I send out this many emails, this many people open my emails, I know I'm gonna have a successful launch. 58 00:08:58,778.33483333 --> 00:08:59,898.33583333 Now you never know. 59 00:09:00,48.33583333 --> 00:09:02,128.33583333 Buyers are taking longer to commit. 60 00:09:02,658.33583333 --> 00:09:08,328.33583333 You have to understand that you are building trust every time that you put out a piece of content. 61 00:09:09,208.33583333 --> 00:09:26,863.33633333 So you have to find a platform that you really want to build on have to position your content as the solution to someone problem You got a build real relationships with people this shift from a pulsive buy in to intentional investing is where people are at right now. 62 00:09:27,403.33633333 --> 00:09:43,273.33533333 People are being very intentional with their coins because they have been taken advantage of, promised things, and unfortunately, people don't have processes and procedures in place to get people where they say they can. 63 00:09:44,113.33633333 --> 00:09:55,273.33633333 So it's now more important than ever that you build your coaching program around the solution and problem that you know you can solve. 64 00:09:55,273.33633333 --> 00:10:01,153.33533333 You just can't be making up modules and sticking it into a course and saying, hey, this is how I can help you. 65 00:10:01,463.33633333 --> 00:10:05,513.33633333 You need to make sure that you validate your offer. 66 00:10:05,693.33633333 --> 00:10:09,873.33633333 And this is something that I have talked about over and over on this podcast. 67 00:10:10,213.33633333 --> 00:10:15,183.33533333 If your offer isn't validated to get people the outcome that they want. 68 00:10:15,728.33633333 --> 00:10:20,548.33633333 you're going to have a hard time selling it because you're going to feel like it doesn't work. 69 00:10:21,608.33633333 --> 00:10:33,38.33633333 when it comes to 2025, it's so important now that you realize and identify if you're chasing popularity or profitability. 70 00:10:33,658.33633333 --> 00:10:42,358.33683333 the crazy thing about 2025, You can be profitable doing either but you have to make the decision. 71 00:10:43,158.33683333 --> 00:11:05,608.33683333 Are you looking for followers? Or are you trying to build real relationships? Are you chasing views or you really analyzing your vanity matrix for profitability? Because that's going to be the game changer between you being a successful coach in 2025 Versus you turn it into a influencer. 72 00:11:05,878.33683333 --> 00:11:13,913.23683333 So my friends I have a workshop coming up Which is Nail Your Niche on February 19th at 6. 73 00:11:13,913.33683333 --> 00:11:14,763.33683333 30 p. 74 00:11:14,763.33683333 --> 00:11:14,923.33683333 m. 75 00:11:14,963.33683333 --> 00:11:16,213.33683333 Eastern Standard Time. 76 00:11:16,303.33683333 --> 00:11:17,943.33683333 scroll down in the show notes. 77 00:11:17,973.33683333 --> 00:11:21,643.33783333 Make sure you join the free community over on Mighty Networks. 78 00:11:21,843.33783333 --> 00:11:25,413.33883333 I will be talking about profitability versus popularity. 79 00:11:25,603.33883333 --> 00:11:29,563.33883333 And not only that, we're gonna have the free workshop in there as well. 80 00:11:29,713.33883333 --> 00:11:36,923.33883333 if you can't make it live It will be safe inside of the community Okay, my friends your girl is back. 81 00:11:37,33.33883333 --> 00:11:52,893.33883333 So whether you're chasing profitability popularity or trying to do both the key is to have a balance and stay adaptable and authentic to your most truest self your ideal client is on every platform. 82 00:11:53,353.33883333 --> 00:11:55,313.33883333 Until next time, my friend. 83 00:11:55,313.33883333 --> 00:11:58,133.33883333 Thank you for listening to sustainable co-chair podcast. 84 00:11:58,223.33883333 --> 00:12:02,153.33883333 I hope it gave you the clarity and confidence to start your coating business. 85 00:12:02,453.33883333 --> 00:12:04,523.33883333 This is just not another podcast. 86 00:12:04,553.33883333 --> 00:12:06,593.33883333 Visit sustainable coaching.com 87 00:12:06,743.33883333 --> 00:12:09,113.33883333 to learn more about coaching with confidence. 88 00:12:09,413.33883333 --> 00:12:21,683.33883333 And culture with confidence, you will gain the clarity and confidence to launch your coaching business and how to attract clients by dominating the search engine, because we are the solution to someone's problem. 89 00:12:22,13.33883333 --> 00:12:22,823.33883333 As a coach.
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