A business coach is more than a buzzword. It’s an experienced professional who is specifically equipped to help entrepreneurs, business owners, and professional speakers take their brands to the next level. With experience growing brands from the ground up, online business coaches are tuned into the path to success. Still, you might be wondering why you need an online business coach if you’re already working to achieve your own status as a thought leader.
While the term online business coach might bring an image of a so-called digital guru shouting into cyberspace, this isn’t what we mean. It’s true many are quick to call themselves online business coaches without the credentials to back it up. These are the would-be “pros” who advocate for #hustle culture, sharing “motivational” content with no actionable advice. This isn’t a real online business coach, this is a salesperson trying to market their paper-thin lifestyle.
On the other hand, a real business coach is an important investment for any entrepreneur. They have experience working with real-world brands, and they have proven results. A business coach challenges professionals to develop their own strengths while identifying their weaknesses. They help with things like organization, collaboration, networking, and thought leadership to take businesses to the next level.
Even if you’ve already found your footing as a thought leader in your industry, you still need an online business coach. Anyone who’s wondering “what next?” needs to take this step. An online business coach works with you every step of the way, helping you work on your business with a fresh perspective. Keep reading to explore how an online business coach takes your business further.
What are the pros of hiring an online business coach?
First, what are the benefits of hiring an online business coach? Why not explore other forms of learning, like reading personal development books, attending conferences, or collaborating with your industry? While these are all important steps in their own right, an online business coach brings unique advantages.
Attention To Your Blind Spots
To begin, an online business coach has a much clearer view of your own business. While you might think you know your brand best, that’s actually not true. It’s easy to get comfortable from your position at the top. You’ve developed blind spots over the years, and you might not even recognize your own strengths and weaknesses. This is normal, but it’s something you need to actively work on.
An online business coach brings a new sense of self-awareness. They quickly identify areas in your business that need work, as well as what you’re doing well. It can be lonely at the top of your business. Even CEOs and professionals need experts of their own to rely on for assistance. With more than two-thirds of companies competing solely on customer experience, now is the time to eliminate your blind spots.
Greater Productivity
Additionally, an online business coach gives you the freedom to focus on your business. Because they take over the planning, insights, and strategy, you can put your energy towards the things that make you more productive. In this day and age, you need to work smarter, not harder. You’re a single person. Even if you have a team under you, it’s hard to “do it all.”
It’s okay to use the help of an online business coach. In fact, it only helps you. Though it can be hard to admit you might need help, this is an act of courage. By using the best insights, you take your business farther in less time. Though you might make the same progress on your own, your timeline matters.
Greater Access To Industry Resources
Another reason to use an online business coach is because they bring new opportunities. A business coach is someone who is already established in your space. Not only do they know their stuff, but they also bring access to industry resources. Though you could figure these things out for yourself, they take time, energy, and know-how. An online business coach lets you skip these steps to access:
- The best tools
- Other experts and consultants
- Training programs
- Conferences
- Networking circles
As the saying goes, sometimes it’s not about what you know. It’s who you know. An online business coach is someone who already has the keys to these things above, so you don’t have to stumble into them yourself. This is especially useful if you’re still getting your footing in your space. Whether you’re looking to be introduced to the right people or invest in the perfect tools, a business coach acts as your personalized guide.
Connection To Industry-Specific Vendors
Similarly, a business coach opens the door to industry-specific vendors. While these are different for every space, it’s important to know who to trust. Researching potential vendors is time-consuming, and you risk wasting money on the wrong service. Conversely, 92% of people trust referrals from people they know. Your business coach likely already knows the most reliable vendors in your space, and they can simplify these decisions.
For example, if you’re a professional speaker, you might be seeking speaking-specific resources. A business coach could direct you to Video Narrative for website and showreels as well as our integration with eSpeakers for event management and CRM. Having an expert walk you through these steps and vendors saves you time, money, and resources. This applies to all industries. When you use the right tools and vendors, you focus on the parts of your business that serve you best.
Ongoing Support & Advisement
Lastly, when you use an online business coach, you have ongoing support and advice. As a business owner or top professional, you might not always feel like you have someone to go to for support. An online business coach is there to be your advisor when things are going well and when they’re going not. Being able to act quickly and without hesitation can make all the difference.
This is especially beneficial in times of change and crisis. When the world went into lockdown during the COVID19 pandemic, businesses turned to coaches for support. They provided additional support, resources, and help when everyone needed it most. In the speaking space, for instance, this meant pivoting to virtual gigs and engagements. Having this kind of help in times of uncertainty is priceless.
How do you know it’s time to hire an online business coach?
With that in mind, how do you know it’s time to hire an online business coach? There’s no telltale sign for this. Like all things business, there is no one-size-fits-all. However, there are some signs that you might need extra help from an online business coach. These are:
- Plateau: First, if you’ve hit a plateau in some way, this is a good sign it’s time to talk to a pro. Whether you’re not able to get beyond a specific number of website impressions or you’re not hitting revenue goals, you don’t have to settle for this plateau.
- Overwhelmed: If you’re feeling overwhelmed, this is also a sign to invest in a business coach before you feel completely out of control or burnt out.
- Save time: Another reason to hire a business coach is when you want to save time and money. Even if you know what to do next, you might not know the best way to do it. Doing things yourself could cost you both time and money in the long run.
- Ideas: If you notice that you’re only listening to your own ideas, it’s time to hire a business coach. This individual acts as a checks and balances to encourage you to listen to ideas beyond your own reach.
- Growth: Lastly, if you’re ready for your business to grow, you need a business coach. This is a mentor who works with you to streamline your progress and fight in your corner.
If any of the above apply to you, this is a good sign it’s time to hire an online business coach. This is someone who knows how to guide a manager, founder, or speaker through growing their business. Like a sports coach, they build your skills and confidence so you’re ready to achieve more. Even business owners at the top of their game feel stuck from time to time. It’s time to reach for better results.
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How much does it cost to hire an online business coach?
Next, how much does it cost when hiring an online business coach? Again, there is no single number that fits every situation. The cost varies a lot by industry, experience level, and region. Even amongst speaker-specific coaches, you’ll notice a wide spectrum. You can expect to pay anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.
Ultimately, the cost depends on the depth of your commitment, their level of expertise, and your needs. If you’re not sure where to begin, start where you can afford. You want to ensure you’ll see a worthwhile return on your investment. From there, jump up to a more in-depth commitment with a coach, such as a 6-month contract. It’s okay to start where you’re comfortable and grow from there. Any step forward is a step in the right direction.
Remember, this is an investment in your business. Like all investments, there might be an upfront cost. In learning how to run your business more efficiently, you maximize this investment to create long-term growth for your company. You might only need a few sessions with a business coach to find the strategy you’re looking for. On the other hand, you might need a long-term commitment. There’s no single best process, so let your goals be your guide.
What should you look for when hiring an online business coach?
Last but not least, what should you look for when hiring an online business coach? There are a lot of important things to look for, but you might not know where to begin at first. Though you’ll find endless so-called entrepreneur coaches online, you want to make sure you’re choosing trustworthy experts.
Social Proof Of Their Skills
First, look for social proof. As we explained earlier, a referral is worth its weight in gold. The expert shouldn’t be the only one singing their praise. Other experts, industry thought leaders, and professionals should trust them as well. When they have the social proof to back up their experience, you know you can trust them.
What type of social proof should you look for? This comes in all shapes and sizes. It can be an engaged, active following on social media, podcast features, conference appearances, and published books. In other words, do they have a proven track record of success? Make sure they have the experience to back up their coaching.
Knowledge & Acceptance Of Your Goals
Next, does this online business coach have knowledge and understanding of your specific goals? Not every expert is the right fit for every professional. You need a coach who is not only familiar with your goals but aligned with them. If you’re looking to land more speaking engagements, for instance, you’ll want a business coach with this specific experience.
While it’s helpful to have an outside perspective, you want this to come from a place of expertise. Online business coaches focus on all areas, from customer service experience to sales and marketing. Find one that not only accepts your goals but surpasses them. You want to be on the same page from the first interaction.
Similar Attitude & Tone
Next, you should make sure you actually like your business coach as a person. While experience, education, and know-how are all worthwhile, this isn’t enough on its own. Since this is someone you’ll be working with often, you need to make sure you share a similar attitude and tone.
We don’t always get to pick the people we work with, but this is a time when you actually can. While personality shouldn’t be your only qualifier, it’s undoubtedly important. Yes, you want to appreciate their professional experience and insight. However, you also want to trust them as a person.
Willingness To “Tell It Like It Is”
Finally, business owners sometimes need to hear the cold, hard truth. If you’re at the top of your business, you might not always get honest feedback from those under you. Your coworkers, fellow experts, and colleagues might not feel comfortable sharing their thoughts freely. This comes with the territory, but it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still seek honesty.
A business coach is someone who’s in the right position to “tell you like it is.” Though they’ll phrase their feedback from a constructive place, they aren’t going to sugar-coat the truth. Sometimes, as a business owner, that’s what you really need to hear to bring change.
Recognize When to Use Expert Help
Ultimately, you’re only human. You’re never going to be a master of everything. However, true wisdom is recognizing when and where to use expert help. An online business coach is a tool everyone can use at any stage in their leadership journey. Whether you need help meeting goals or landing bigger speaking events, you don’t have to fumble through the steps alone.
Online business coaching is rising in popularity amongst today’s greatest leaders, and it’s easy to see why. As an entrepreneur, you can’t exist in a vacuum. You need to be open to change, advancement, and learning at every stage. There’s no such thing as being too comfortable.
