How to build your social media presence as a coach

There is enough advice on the internet about how to build your social media profile. And in a pinch, ChatGPT will churn out a list of suggestions.

But, in my opinion, coaching is a unique job profile that requires careful building on social media. If you are a coach who is contemplating using social media to create a presence, here are tips that could help those who are just starting to use social media:

Define your social media style

Are you more comfortable with long posts, do you have the ability to record short videos, do you like speaking live on spaces or on podcasts? Do you love posting pics? Understanding which type of social media engagement you enjoy the most helps you start off with a skill and inclination you already possess. Like long posts? Use LinkedIn. Like the visual medium, use Insta. Comfortable with chatting? Join spaces to get a feel of live speaking and webinars. OF course, this is not to say that all of these don't matter in different ways, but it is useful to pick your primary channel and approach.

Invest in social media assets

To bring polish to your social media posts, get a logo designed professionally, and create branded frames for inserting text, this can be done by getting a PPT template designed. It wouldn't cost much and will bring shine and branded elements to your outings on social media.

Use current trends to leverage coaching posts

Without overtly pushing your own coaching practice, you can use current events to talk about coaching. Elon Musk, for example, is a gold mine of what not to do at work. The latest incident where he targeted a physically challenged employee is a textbook example of what happens when a company lacks the empathy of a strong coaching culture.

Keep a regular posting schedule

SEO gives priority to regular posting. Easier said than done, but do try and post at least once a week, if not twice, using hashtags that are relevant. Create your own calendar, using scheduling apps such as Later and Hootsuite to schedule your posts. Create a back of three weeks' undated posts so you have material to tide over a post-less week.

Maintain social media hygiene

Try not to add potential clients on social media. Nothing is more off-putting than receiving a pitch from someone who you have just added as a connection. Joining groups that cater to coaching and posting with care is a better way of getting noticed. Indiscriminate tagging without permission is another social media gaffe.

The WhatsApp demon

And finally don't spam people with your latest posts on WhatsApp.