This is a statement that I hear quite frequently, from potential clients and from people I meet when I am out networking. Many coaches, consultants and trainers – and in fact anyone running a service business – all want to reach a wider audience, work with a larger number of clients and earn a better living from what they do. So what’s stopping them from growing their business? What’s stopping you from growing your business?

There are three reasons that I come across on a regular basis.

“I don’t know how to do it.” This is very understandable, unless you run some sort of marketing company! If you’re an Accountant, you’ll spend most of your time dealing with numbers and looking after the financial affairs of your clients. Coaches dedicate their time to helping their clients solve a huge variety of problems. If you’re looking to grow your business, you do this by doing more paid work, so why spend time learning a new skill, such as marketing? I meet a lot of people who confess to not knowing how to promote their businesses properly and this is completely understandable.

“I don’t understand marketing!” This is a very common complaint right now, especially in light of how much and how quickly marketing seems to change. When I first started out in marketing (over 20 years ago now!) there was no such thing as ‘social media’. We relied on more ‘traditional’ methods of marketing, such as direct mail and exhibitions. If marketing isn’t your field (because you spend your time consulting with or training your clients in your subject) then you could attempt to understand marketing by reading about it. There are numerous blogs (aside from this one!) that will tell you about marketing. There are thousands of websites and news feeds you can use. However, you will soon find that you read conflicting views from different ‘experts’. How do you know who to believe? Even I find it tricky to know who to listen to sometimes, with so many people having an opinion about how marketing should be done these days.

“I don’t want to do any marketing!” And why would you, when you’ve spent the last however many years developing your skills in your chosen field?! You’re building a strong reputation for being an expert in your area, so why would you want to waste any time on marketing? You want to focus your time and energy on delivering the work for which you are paid – and that you love doing.

And yet you still want to grow your business! If you don’t know how to do it, you don’t understand the black art of marketing and you don’t want to do it, how can you grow your business? How can you find more clients who are willing to pay you what you want to charge?

Don’t worry – there is a solution! In next week’s blog we’ll look at how to reach a wider audience and promote your coaching, consulting or training business to more potential clients. I’ll share with you some tips that will make marketing much easier to understand, so that you see how to use it more effectively to grow your business. If you can’t wait until next week, get in touch by calling me on 01635 578 500 or by clicking here to email me.