BellaOnline Forums Beauty and Self Life Coaching Free Trial Coaching Versus Discount Session?

Some Life Coaches may offer a free introductory Coaching Session. Others may offer a discount or even none at all.

The Free Session is an interesting debate. I've done lots of Free Coaching Sessions in the past. Over time, I've discovered that most people who do not pay don't seem to take their coaching as seriously.

I've done pro bono coaching before and I've also found these are the clients who progress the least. I find that if we set a small rate that they feel stretches them, they take it very seriously because they invest in themselves.

What's your experience as either a Coach or a Client?

TamiS,

I am a small business and writing coach. I have to say I completely agree. People who do not pay, do not take coaching seriously.

I stopped giving free sessions. Instead, I offer a free newsletter, a free audio program, and free teleclasses for people to "sample" me.

It works much better! :<)

Kim

Hi Kim,

I completely agree. We can still be generous and inspire people, but we can do it on a larger scale where hopefully more people will gain value from it.

A rarely do this anymore, but just recently, I spent over an hour with someone whom I had gifted with a free session. We set up a plan based on the things she's really wanted to accomplish. Though she was enthusiastic about how powerful our session was, it was apparently too much bother to finish our pre-determined accountability emails to me about her progress in the end.

Had she paid, I'm sure she would have taken the coaching time very seriously and would have grown that much faster because of it.

If I had spent that time with a group of people, at least more would have been impacted, even if some didn't take it seriously.

I wonder how many women are interested in a free group coaching call. If you're out there, speak up and tell us your thoughts!

People pay for value. I do few free consultations; but when I do, I get better clients. How? The form I have has the criteria for giving away my time! If they don't fit the criteria, they don't ask for free. Instead they pay me for an hour

My freebies are strategic. I give away in value about double or triple what I make from my businesses.

People want to know what they're getting. So I do introductory sessions free - if the person requesting it has a project or motivating factor that I'm excited about. And, during the intro session, I get to suss out the prospective client. I don't want to work with just anybody - I choose carefully who I take on as a paying client.

Is this someone who will do the work? Is this person coachable? Is it like pulling teeth from a cat? (Not that I've done it, but you get the picture.)

And then there are the freebies like the 30 Day Challenge (see sig) where I'm coaching a team of people who are motivated. The idea wasn't mine, nor is the challenge - but everyone on my team gets to work with me for free for the entire run of the program.

Also, I have a variety of price points - like the Business Coaching Club($19.19 - $37.37), Executive Coaching Club ($9.95 - $37.37), and Small Business Start-Up School($3,000 - $4,200).

Not everyone is going to pay $3000 to get help starting a business. But smart ones will see the guarantee and know it's worth it to get a successful start. With 50% of businesses failing - a guarantee to get the first paying client during our run together - makes complete sense to a success-minded entrepreneur.

But "tire kickers" will still get a lot of value out of the clubs - they feature training, coaching, and support - they get to know me, and what I do, at a price they feel more comfortable affording. These clients then can purchase individual or group sessions and will feel good doing so, because they already know me and know I've helped them.

As fellow coaches, I don't mind sharing how I do what I do - helping each other succeed helps the whole industry of coaching. My life's work is to help others succeed in creating vocations out of what they love to do - you all are included in that!

Feel free to join my free membership newsletter and be kept informed of what's going on. Join Small Business Services | Executive Business Coaching here.