How to Make Your Coaching Business Look Professional and Legit in 4 Simple Steps: A Complete Guide

Starting or growing a coaching business is exciting, but it comes with its challenges—especially when it comes to earning the trust of potential clients. In Chris Barry’s video, he breaks down four key steps that will make your coaching business appear professional and credible, even if you’re just starting out. By following these simple but effective strategies, you can build a solid foundation that will help you stand out in a crowded marketplace and convince potential clients that you’re the real deal.

Chris Barry, a former COO of a coaching business that grew from $0 to $10 million in under two years, shares his expertise on making your coaching business look legit without spending a ton of time or money. Let’s dive into the actionable steps that will elevate your business.

Why Looking Professional is Crucial for Coaches

Before jumping into the steps, Chris stresses the importance of looking professional in the eyes of potential clients. As a coach, your primary goal is to help clients achieve specific results. However, if your business doesn’t appear professional or organized, potential clients may question your ability to deliver. The bottom line? First impressions matter.

When clients look into your services, they need to believe in your ability to help them succeed. This belief is directly tied to how professional and legitimate you appear. If you don’t come across as organized and competent, it decreases the likelihood of potential clients investing in your program. However, don’t worry—Chris makes it clear that you don’t need to spend months perfecting everything. A few simple actions can go a long way toward making you look like a pro.

Step 1: Set Up a Professional Email Address

This might seem like a small detail, but having a professional email address is one of the easiest ways to build credibility right from the start. Would you be more likely to trust a coach who emails you from "john123@gmail.com" or "john@coachingcompany.com"? The latter instantly makes you look more established.

Setting up a professional email is straightforward. All you need to do is purchase a domain, which costs around $20 per year, from platforms like GoDaddy. After securing your domain, you can use Google Workspace to create a professional email for just $7 per month. Not only does this make your communication look more polished, but it also signals to your clients that you’re serious about your business.

A professional email reflects how much care you put into every aspect of your business. It’s a small investment with big returns in terms of credibility.

Step 2: Build a Simple Yet Effective Website

Many coaches are told they don’t need a full website—just a landing page to capture leads. While that can work to some extent, having a well-designed website goes a long way in making your coaching business appear professional and legitimate. After all, what’s one of the first things people do when they’re considering working with someone? They Google them.

A website serves as a home base for your business, where potential clients can learn more about you, your services, and the results you provide. It doesn’t have to be overly complicated. Chris shares that you don’t need to spend thousands of dollars or months of your time building a website. In fact, he recommends using Go High Level, a platform designed specifically for coaches that includes all the tools you need: from website templates to sales funnels, pipelines, and even course hosting. 

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the thought of building a website, don’t worry. Chris advises starting with the basics: create a homepage, an about page, and a testimonial page. If you have any testimonials, share them prominently to build trust. You can also add a simple "contact us" or "client support" page, which helps position your business as legitimate. The key is to create a website that’s clean, easy to navigate, and communicates your value. You can even hire someone to do this for a few hundred dollars if needed—but steer clear of unnecessary expenses like the $25,000 Chris has seen some people spend.

Step 3: Establish a Strong Social Media Presence

In today’s digital age, social media isn’t just an optional marketing tool—it’s a necessity. Having an active social media presence helps potential clients get to know you, trust you, and engage with your content. Studies show that people need to consume around seven hours of content from you across multiple touchpoints before they feel comfortable making a decision. Social media is one of the best ways to build that trust over time.

So, what platforms should you be on? Chris suggests starting with the following:

• Instagram: Great for showcasing quick insights, behind-the-scenes looks, and engaging with followers.

• Facebook (Business Page): Your Facebook business page should act as an official presence for your coaching business, sharing updates, content, and interacting with potential clients.

• LinkedIn (Business Profile): LinkedIn is perfect for presenting yourself as a professional in your niche and networking with other professionals.

• YouTube: Share long-form content like videos and webinars to show your expertise.

• TikTok: Short, impactful videos are great for reaching younger audiences or those consuming fast content.

• (formerly Twitter): Quick insights, thoughts, and engaging in trending conversations in your industry.

Chris emphasizes that setting up these accounts doesn’t take long. In fact, you can likely set up profiles on all these platforms in under an hour. Use the same professional profile picture across all platforms to maintain consistency, and make sure your bios clearly state what you do and who you help. A simple, clean bio might say, "I help aspiring coaches grow their businesses to six figures using proven strategies."

When it comes to posting content, don’t get caught up in the idea that you need to post constantly. Start with a few high-quality posts that showcase your expertise and then build from there. The more touch points you create with your audience, the more trust you build over time. Make sure you have at least 10 pieces of content on each platform so that when potential clients check you out, they see that you’re active and engaged.

Step 4: Create Professional Sales Assets

Sales are the lifeblood of your coaching business, and one of the best ways to increase your success is by creating professional sales assets that guide your prospects through your process. A well-structured sales presentation not only showcases your expertise but also helps clients visualize how they can achieve their goals by working with you.

When conducting sales calls, Chris recommends using Zoom and sharing your screen to walk potential clients through your process. This step-by-step guide, often called a "roadmap," makes it easy for clients to see how you’ll help them achieve their desired outcomes. Having a structured roadmap that outlines the steps they’ll take with you helps build confidence in your services.

For example, if your coaching program is designed to help entrepreneurs grow their business, your roadmap might look like this:

1. Onboarding: Set up foundational assets (professional email, website, etc.).

2. Business Development: Create a tailored growth strategy based on the client’s needs.

3. Implementation: Guide clients through the action steps that will generate results.

4. Scaling: Help clients refine their processes and grow sustainably.

Chris also suggests using testimonials during sales calls to further validate your program. For instance, show real-world examples of clients who followed your roadmap and achieved great results. This visual representation, paired with success stories, can be a powerful tool in closing deals.

Conclusion: Putting it All Together

To sum it all up, making your coaching business look professional and legitimate doesn’t require a huge investment of time or money. With a few simple steps, you can greatly enhance how potential clients perceive you:

1. Create a professional email: A small investment that instantly boosts your credibility.

2. Build a basic website: Make it clean and simple—don’t overspend, but make sure it reflects your professionalism.

3. Establish a social media presence: Be present on the major platforms, and use them to build trust and credibility.

4. Create sales assets: A clear, structured sales process helps clients visualize success with you.

By following these steps, even if you’re just starting out, you can make your coaching business look like a well-established, trustworthy operation. This will ultimately help you attract more clients, close more sales, and build a thriving coaching practice.

For more in-depth guidance, be sure to check out Chris Barry’s video on building a professional coaching business, and don’t forget to subscribe for more tips on growing your coaching empire!

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