The O-Myth of Life Coach Marketing: Why Oprah Isn’t Calling Your Life Coaching Business Anytime Soon

In life coach marketing and publicity, there’s a common dream for coaches… that your life coaching business will be displayed to the world because you got on Oprah.

Here’s the truth…

No, it won’t.

It’s true that some of the big successes in the life coaching business have happened because they were on Oprah’s show, but more likely, you got on Oprah because you were already big (i.e. James Ray or Eckhardt Tolle).  The chances are so small that you’ll ever be discovered by Oprah or any other ‘guru maker’, that those odds aren’t even worth playing.

“Ok, Jeff, thanks for bursting my dream bubble.”

Ok, ok, sorry about that, but don’t go give up on your life coaching business just yet.

Life Coach Marketing Truth: How Coaches Really Get on Oprah

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There are two legitimate reasons why coaches do get to market their life coaching business on Oprah (or get access to a guru maker that will help them with their life coach marketing):

1.  They add massive value in a way that entertains and excites people

2.  They have used good life coach marketing to attract an already large following

By the way, if you learn to do #1, you’ll have a tendency to accomplish #2 naturally.

The reason why the life coaches that have gotten on Oprah actually got on Oprah wasn’t because they got lucky… it’s because they accomplished at least one of these two things.

Life Coaching Businesses Can be Successful Without Oprah

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If you want to master life coach marketing to the point of accomplishing these two things, you’ll need to learn some Guerrilla Publicity skills.  Good marketing and good publicity go hand in hand.  Publicity is all about getting the attention of mass amounts of people so you have a chance to attract them as followers, and in order to attract them and keep them around, you’ll need to add value in a way that’s entertaining or exciting.

Life Coach Marketing Keys to Getting Started With Your Publicity Machine

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I asked Jill Lublin, best selling author of Guerrilla Publicity, “What are the keys to marketing your life coaching business with free publicity?”  Here’s what I learned from her:

First, You Need to Ask The Right ‘Publicity Getting’ Questions

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1.  ‘Define Your Message’ Questions:

• What’s the problem ‘out there’?

News looks for problems in the world to report on because they know that fear sells (and problems create fear).  If you can work your coaching angle around one, and offer a fun solution, then media will more likely pick up on your message.

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If you want to learn more life coach marketing tips and how to use Guerrilla Publicity techniques in your coaching business, join me this week for a private interview with Jill Lublin, bestselling Author of Guerrilla Publicity.  She will answer your specific life coach marketing and publicity questions.  To sign up for the private interview list just go HERE, and I’ll send you the call in information.

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2.  ‘Use Everything You’ve Got’ Questions:

• What’s different about you?
• What’s special about you?
• Is there anything that sets you apart?  (ethnically, religion-wise, geographically, background-wise, etc.)

What is something that you think isn’t even connected with your expertise or your life coaching business that can be unique and interesting?

There are particular types of media that cover particular groups and mindsets, and if you connect with these groups, then those media outlets will want to hear from you.  Also, media just likes people that are ‘different’ because, again, it attracts attention.

3.  ‘Create Excitement’ Questions:

• What are you passionate about that you can insert into your message?
• What are 3 unique things that you’ve done?  (Go for the ‘ooh – ah’ factor.)

How to Put These Life Coach Publicity Questions to Work

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Once you’ve answered these questions, you’ve got to come up with some press releases that are going to pull and start shopping it around to local media outlets (or media outlets that might want to hear your message).  If you can connect the dots with your coaching publicity, then your life coach marketing will expand your life coaching business.  Then the perhaps Oprah or the guru makers might just knock on your door.

Jeffrey T. Sooey

CEO, JTS Advisors

Founder, Coaches Training Blog community

P.S.  If you want to learn more life coach marketing tips and how to use Guerrilla Publicity techniques in your coaching business, join me this week for a private interview with Jill Lublin, bestselling Author of Guerrilla Publicity.  She will answer your specific life coach marketing and publicity questions.  To sign up for the private interview list just go HERE, and I’ll send you the call in information.