The Real Reason You’re Not Getting Coaching Clients (And How to Fix It)

You’ve built your coaching program. You’ve posted on social. Maybe you’ve even done some cold outreach. But still—crickets.

Sound familiar?

After helping coaches sell over $10 million in programs, Chris Barry shares the biggest insight he’s learned:
You don’t have a coaching problem or a lead problem. You have a visibility problem.

People who need your offer don’t even know you exist.

Here’s the fix—and the three proven ways to generate real leads for your coaching business, plus the #1 mistake that’s keeping most coaches broke.

1. Manual Outreach (Best for Quick Wins)

If you need clients fast and have more time than money, start with outreach.

This means:

• DMing people on Instagram or LinkedIn

• Texting or emailing warm contacts

• Manually connecting with leads in Facebook groups or your phone contacts

Do it right:

• Be personal: No copy-paste messages.

• Lead with value: Don’t pitch immediately. Offer something helpful.

🚫 Downside: It’s time-consuming and not scalable long-term.

But if you need clients now and don’t have a budget, this works.

2. Content Marketing (Best for Long-Term Authority)

Posting content builds trust and expert positioning over time.

Great platforms include:

• Instagram Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts (for attention)

• YouTube videos, blogs, podcasts (for trust)

Strategy:

• Speak directly to your ideal client’s pain point.

• Start with short-form content to attract.

• Transition to long-form content to convert.

“People need to know, like, and trust you before they buy. Content lets you earn that trust on autopilot.”

Downside:

• It takes time to create and see results.

• You need to stay very consistent (3–5 times per week minimum).

3. Paid Ads (Best for Fast, Scalable Growth)

If you're serious about growing fast, paid ads are the most predictable way to generate leads.

Run ads on:

• Facebook & Instagram

• YouTube

• Google

• TikTok

Do it right:

• Start with a clear message that calls out your audience’s problem.

• Offer a lead magnet, free training, or booking link.

• Capture name, email, and phone number.

• Retarget based on behavior (e.g., video views or page visits).

“You can even segment your ads by revenue levels—imagine speaking directly to $0–5k/month coaches with custom messaging.”

Budget recommendation:

Start with $500/month. Test, tweak, and scale.

Which Method Is Right for You?

Here’s Chris’s quick guide:

• More time than money? Do outreach + content.

• Want to scale fast? Run paid ads.

• Want long-term success? Combine paid ads with content.

“The biggest mistake I see coaches make is trying to convince the wrong people to buy.”

Stop chasing leads. Start attracting qualified clients who already want what you offer.

The #1 Mistake Keeping Coaches Broke

Most coaches try to sell to the wrong people.

They:

• Chase unqualified leads

• Pitch instead of attract

• Waste time convincing instead of positioning

The fix?

Get visible.
Get seen by the right people.
Put the right message in front of the right audience at the right time.

Final Thought: Leads Don’t Mean Sales

Once you solve visibility, the next challenge is conversion.

“You can have all the leads in the world, but if you can’t convert them to paying clients, nothing happens.”

Want to learn how to close clients without feeling salesy?

🎥 Watch the full episode here
📞 Book a strategy call with TD Coach here