Yesterday I posted some lessons I’ve learned from Oprah.

She’s an incredible human being and as a result of having an incredible impact (a positive one) on society, she’s a multi-billionaire. So cool.

The last lesson yesterday was “promote yourself.” Its so important I want to place it here again to ensure you get this message as its critical and most coaches struggle mightily with this one.

**BTW if you’re a great coach that struggles to promote yourself, get the attention of local business owners (it seems all the best coaches do!) – leave a comment and I’ll give a bulletproof solution.

So here are the rest of the lessons from Oprah…

Promote yourself

When you become a self-promoter there is a pretty good chance you’ll attract some flack.  But the reality is that if you’re not comfortable and willing to promote yourself and your coaching services… why would anyone else?

Oprah is a rock star in this area. She’s built her personal brand and the Harpo name as a self-promoter. And if you want proof… she has made herself the cover model for each edition of her own magazine!! I bow to you Oprah.  

This maintains her ‘brand consistency’ and obviously her promotions work… she’s a billionaire and marketing rock star. Take a page out of Oprah’s book here and be willing to shamelessly promote yourself, your coaching services and your programs. Others just might follow suit.

Be best in class

If you’re going to put yourself on the front cover of your own magazine… for every addition ever put out you need to be able to back it up and be best in class.   

Oprah’s a multi-billionaire and has created a brand after brand by simply recommending the products/services on her show. To say she backs it up would be an understatement.

In the small knit community of coaching if you’re going to be a successful self-promoter you’ll need to back it up as well.

If you say you provide amazing breakthroughs for your small business clients… you’ll need to start doing it.  If you say their company will reach new heights of profitability after working with you… you’ll need to back it up and increase revenues in a number of different ways. And by the way, if you want help in this area of finding legitimate and incredible financial breakthroughs for small business folks, just ask for a test drive of our game-changing Profit Acceleration Software™).

Reality is the best coach in the city (marketplace) is never short of a client nor someone to help for a fee. Simply take a small step every day to becoming the best coach in your market and success will be yours.   

“It doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from. The ability to triumph begins with you—always.” Oprah Winfrey

Build a team

While Oprah is a master in the art of “self-promotion”, she’s also built an incredible team. She not only seeks out and hires the best of the best to work with her companies like Adam Glassman, the creative director of The Oprah Magazine … but she has literally launched the careers of designer Nate Berkus, Dr. Phil, Suze Orman, Robert Kiyosaki, Dr. Oz and many more.

By creating this star-studded lineup, she’s been able to create an incredible value proposition her followers love and respond to. 

When it comes to building your coaching company, make sure your partner and align yourself with great business people. Partner with a local accountant you trust and that goes above and beyond. A local business broker with passion and a burning desire to help small businesses sell in record time.  The networking group that is run with passion and helps people connect. Align with these types and watch your business grow and succeed beyond your wildest dreams.

Give and you shall receive

You can’t watch her show without seeing the incredible giveaways. “You get a free car!” is locked into every die-hard Oprah supporters mind. Her constant giveaway strategies created a ton of excitement for the show, not just with the people who won and left with tons of cool stuff, but with fans across the globe who heard about it long after the fact.

While you’re probably not well advised to have your coaching company give away free cars (although I’d love one if you’re offering :o) perhaps you can give away 12 months of free coaching to one lucky business owner and manage to get applications from across the city (country) along with lots of free press. You could go to your existing client list and offer 12 months of free SEO from a local company.

It will get the SEO company exposure and you’ll find through the promotion a lot of your clients that did not win will be willing to buy the services (and you get a hefty affiliate fee for lining up the relationship).  And if you do the 12-month coach offer above… you to will get applications and those that do not win can be sold. Boom.

Whatever you might give away, just make sure you’re creating excitement — for your clients, for your company and for your brand.

That’s how Oprah did it…. Just might work for you too.

You, rock star!

Thanks for tuning in,

Karl Bryan

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