Email Tips for Coaches

By Susan Dunn
Posted Tuesday, November 23, 2004

Coaching is a relationship field. Many of us offer unlimited email along with our coaching. Here are some ways you can make your emails professional yet engaging.

1. Include a quotation that reveals something about you and your philosophy. I use "The last thing a fish knows about is water." Doug Abercrombie uses "By taking action we define ourselves." Nancy Fenn uses "To follow knowledge like a sinking star, beyond the utmost bound of human thought." Which one's your kinda coach?

2. Include every way possible a person can reach you -- email, phone number, website.

3. The judicious use of graphics is suitable. I sometimes include an animated gif of a tiny fishbowl with a fish in it. Evangeline, a personal life coach, sends me butterflies. Tex, a business coach, uses his logo.

4. Include a picture of yourself. It's a very personalized field!

5. Use a special closing indicative of your style and use it every time. Consistency builds trust. Leslie, a business coach uses "All the best." Judi, a personal life coach, signs her "Hugs." Anne, a parenting coach, signs hers "Yours, for the children."

6. If time allows, personalize your signature block on an individual basis. Change it to fit the recipient. I may remove the gif for executive/business clients, and substitute a business-oriented quotation, or add this link from my ezine for a client working on Relationships or this for a client working on Intuition Doesn't that take a lot of time? You bet it does. I give my clients a lot of time.

7. Coaching is all about your voice. Record a greeting. Go to pagoo.com and get one for free.

8. Use a tagline that defines you. Cathy puts "The Idea Lady" (tm). Eddie puts "A Seasoned Professional." Anne has "Decide and Define Yourself." Which one's your kinda coach?

9. Present your client/prospective client with a gift. One of your distance learning courses -- free or discounted; a link to some useful information; a link to a product from your store they might have missed.

10. Respond as quickly as you can, but take the time to write well. Both show you care. The advantage of writing is that there’s time to reflect before you respond. Use it.

11. If you’re not getting the results you want, having a poor conversion rate, or attracting unsuitable prospective clients because you’re not projecting a true image, work with a mentor coach.

Permission is granted to reproduce provided bio and links are left intact. Courtesy copy appreciated.

About the Author
Susan Dunn is a personal and professional development coach who mentors other coaches. Email her for free ezine.