If I wanted to teach a class on the theory and techniques of coaching online, what would it cover? What topics could I teach my students that would best prepare them for starting an online coaching business?

My Theory and Techniques of Coaching Online class would have to prepare both existing and new coaches for the exciting opportunity to reach more clients around the world and supercharge a new revenue stream.

The Theory and Techniques of Coaching Online 101

The first topic covered would be a website. Many coaches already have a website, but the class would cover techniques to make it easier for clients to use and for potential clients to find. A website should be viewed as both a tool and a resource. It should be seen as a tool for advertising, online presence, and promotion. For online coaches, it also serves as a client’s portal to your services, knowledge, and expertise.

The website also serves as a resource for your clients, or potential clients. You can develop a page or two dedicated to self-development services and products from other coaches or businesses. You can monetize some of those to create an additional stream of income, but mostly it would offer more value to your clients. In the theory and practice of online coaching, your website is you.

The class would cover the best ways for online coaches to market their services. It would cover social media, blogging, writing articles, getting ranked on Google, creating a newsletter, and other forms of online marketing. It would also cover joining relevant communities, networking through community and business groups, public speaking, and more traditional methods of advertising.

Our Theory and Techniques of Coaching Online class would also cover niche coaching and finding the right niche for you. Consider the following criteria before deciding on a niche:

• Is there a burning need? Is there a group with an intense need for help in this niche.
• Is the niche under served? If you enter this niche, will you be filling a void?
• Can the target market pay for your services? The group of potential clients must have the discretionary income to afford your service and see a perceived value in paying you to help solve their issues.
• Can you offer an outcome for the targeted group? Do you have the skills, knowledge, and expertise to help clients?

The final component of the Theory and Techniques of Coaching Online class would be to teach dedicated coaches how to brand themselves. Branding yourself is more significant than ever in today’s highly competitive market. The class would help you develop a killer tagline for your services (Just Do It! Got Milk?, etc…). A tagline should be powerful, yet concise. The tagline could be used on your website, on all your social media platforms, in all the articles and blogs you write, and in every piece of marketing you do.

Any credible theories and techniques of coaching online course should have all of these parts and more. Though most coaching is done face-to-face (one-on-one, seminars, etc), online coaching is becoming more relevant and popular. You may not want to discard the traditional method of coaching altogether, but offering online coaching can be a way to supplement your income and promote your services. I’m not sure if there are any Theory and Techniques of Coaching Online courses available; if not, perhaps you could create your own – that’s one way to create an additional stream of income right there!

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Fred Philips
Business Coach
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