How to Build Your Credibility in Your Coaching Business

Establishing your credibility is a key factor to attracting your dream coaching clients.

You’ve heard it before: People buy from people they know, like, and trust.

One way to earn that trust is by showing your potential clients that you are an expert in that specific thing they need help with.

So how do you build your credibility as a coach, even if you’re new?

There are many tactics — big and small — that can help you build your credibility and showcase your expertise.

But like anything, it’s important to start with the inner work.

First, own your expertise

The goal of sharing our expertise and establishing credibility with clients is so that they’ll trust us and eventually do business with us. But first we need to cultivate that sense of intrinsic value within ourselves. 

Be willing to own your expertise. Even if you’re still learning (who’s not?), you can still be an expert. Sure, you’re not an expert in everything, but hone in on those key areas where you are and embrace the role.

We must know that we are valuable and worthy of attracting the clients and business we want in order to do exactly that.

When you know that your work is valuable, your inner confidence shines through and attracts your ideal clients.

That being said, you also want to take strategic steps to showcase your expertise and establish your credibility.

12 tips to establish your expertise and build your credibility

These tips can help you build your credibility and establish your expertise with your audience and beyond, so you can increase your impact and grow your business.

#1: Make sure you have a clear what-I-do statement.

What exactly do you do for your clients? Do you have a way to clearly and concisely explain that? Your goal is to talk about your business in a way that connects directly to your ideal clients and lets them know you can help. If you say you’re an “empowerment coach” or a “life coach for women,” that’s too broad. Get more descriptive. Tell people exactly what you do and who you do it for. (A compelling elevator pitch can help! Download my free template here.)

#2: Use your domain’s email address.

I cringe whenever I see someone’s name@gmail.com (or worse, yahoo or hotmail!) for their business email address. It makes me wonder, is this a real business? Take this question out of your potential client’s minds by using your own domain in your email. You can also pay a small fee per month for Google’s G Suite for business so you can use your domain name with the Gmail interface.

#3: Display a professional presence on your website and social media.

It’s not about having the perfect website or Instagram grid, or looking put together every time you go live. But you do want to have a website and at least one social media account that demonstrates that you are an expert in your business. This means having a professional bio with a link back to a fully functioning website where clients can learn more about you and take the first step to working with you. 

#4: Share social proof.

Using social proof in your marketing assets can help establish your credibility. Potential clients want to see evidence that you can actually help them. Sharing client testimonials, examples of results you’ve helped clients achieve, and before and after stories will provide evidence that you are a real business and your services work for people. 

#5: Create content that speaks to your ideal client

You want to address your ideal client’s problems and show them you have the solutions. Remember that your content and your copy should be focused on your clients, and not on you. (Yes, even your About page copy!) Every piece of copy on your website and in your marketing should be written as if you were talking directly to an ideal client. They should be able to say, “I feel like she’s talking to me!” when reading your copy.

#6: Always provide value.

One main goal of your blog posts, newsletters, and social posts should be to provide value. Always make sure that you are offering information that your ideal client will find valuable. When you continually provide value, your audience will see you as an expert in the topics you discuss and look to you for guidance in these key areas. (If you’re not sure if you’re providing value, ask yourself with everything you create: What’s in it for my ideal client?)

#7: Get in front of a different audience.

Being featured in someone else’s platform helps establish you as an expert. Not only will it help get the world out about your business, you’ll gain access to a new audience. Consider things like guest posting on a larger blog, being a guest on a podcast, or going live from someone else’s social media account. Share it with your own audience to further establish your credibility in their eyes.

#8: Be consistent.

Don’t show up on social regularly for a month and then drop off. People will wonder if you’re still in business. Likewise, don’t collect a bunch of email addresses only to email your subscribers once in a blue moon! Your credibility (and trust with your audience) is built through showing up consistently over time. Make it a habit to be consistent with all of your marketing activities.

#9: Share your unique perspective.

When you share your unique perspective, you stand out and attract more of the clients who share similar ideas and values. Not everyone likes the tried and true status quo ways of doing things, and you can be a breath of fresh air when you share a different perspective.

#10: Build a community.

You can build a community in a variety of ways: through your Instagram following, in a Facebook group, or even a membership community. When you create a community, you automatically establish your credibility as a leader. To keep that credibility, though, you want to consistently provide value to your community and let them know that you are a resource for them.

#11: Leverage strategic partnerships.

Partnering with a business owner who serves a similar audience but provides a complementary (i.e., non-competitive) service, creates mutually supportive partnerships. You can feature one another in your respective communities, collaborate on projects, and co-promote one another. This allows you to build relationships and leverage theirexpertise, as well as gain access to a new audience.

#12: Use professional photos.

This isn’t a must-have when you’re first starting out. However, when you can afford it, having professionally shot photos can elevate your professional presence on your website and social media accounts. Plus, professional shots look great when you are featured on a guest post or podcast. Working with a personal brand photographer can help you take your image to the next level and build even more credibility.

Want more help establishing yourself as an expert in your field?

A clear message that speaks to the essence of what you do and what makes you unique is key to talking about yourself and your work with ease and confidence. 

Check out how we can work together to magnetize your message.