Here's How to Find Clients for Your Sleep Consultancy
One of the coolest parts about becoming a sleep consultant is that you control how many clients you take on. Some people have packed caseloads and meet with several new parents each day, while other consultants work part-time while raising their own families. Once you complete your certification, you can start marketing your business and building your client base.
One of the most frequent questions from students and practicing consultants alike is how to find clients. It can be intimidating to market your business when you are just starting, especially if you are new to entrepreneurship. Fortunately, the mentors and instructors at Sweet Sleep Academy are here to help. Here are a few excellent places to start sharing your brand with others to grow your list of potential clients.
Develop a Professional Online Presence
The first step to promoting your business and attracting clients is to have a professional digital first impression. This includes a website and relevant social media pages like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram profiles.
It’s impossible to overestimate the value of a great web presence. In most cases, this is how clients will find you, and it will be the platform for learning about your business and engaging with your services. Whenever you share a business card or have a call to action in your marketing materials, it will direct people to your webpage.
Professional social media accounts are also extremely valuable if you are engaging with online communities. For example, if you join a local parenting group and post about your consultancy, people can click through to your business page instead of your personal account.
As you work on how to find clients, your website and social pages can increase your chances that the leads you generate will turn into customers. They cost a little money, but if you get them right, they deliver incredible returns on the investment.
Attend Networking Events and Meetups
Don't underestimate the power of referrals. Doulas, birthing coaches, and nannies can recommend your services to their clients and drive a lot of business your way. If you get to know your local childcare community, you can build a network of connections that recommend your business. You can also contribute to this community by referring other types of specialists to your clients. Everyone can help each other, and you all win!
You can connect with these communities by attending local networking events and meet-up groups. There are also plenty of online communities that you can join, and don't be afraid to introduce yourself and develop an elevator pitch about your services.
It might take time for your local birthing and childcare community to get to know you, but these results can be worth it once the referrals start flowing in.
Tap Into Your Personal Network
Your personal network includes friends, family members, and acquaintances who already have a family or are thinking of starting one. Let these people in your life know that you recently completed your sleep consultancy certification and are there to support them if they need assistance. Not only will these loved ones turn to you when they need help, but they also might refer you to their own friends and family.
Your personal network is a great place to start if you are intimidated by online groups and in-person events. They give you a low-pressure opportunity to develop your messaging and grow more confident in talking about yourself until you are ready to meet new people.
Attend Baby Conferences and Expos
If you are ready to promote your sleep consultancy on a large scale, baby expos can be a valuable starting point. These events are usually packed with vendors and fill up conference centers with thousands of attendees. This is a great way to talk to hundreds of people within a single weekend.
If you want to attend baby expos regularly, consider investing in reusable banners and signage related to your sleep consultancy. Many of these expos charge fees for vendors, and you can track whether these events are worth the time and cost by calculating your return on investment (ROI). For example, if you pay $500 for a table at an expo, you will want to make sure you attract enough clients to recoup those funds and then some.
This marketing strategy is ideal if you love talking to people. If talking to strangers and keeping your energy high throughout the day sounds exhausting, Sweet Sleep Academy has put together a list of other marketing outlets to consider trying.
Find Marketing Channels That Work for You
There is no single answer for how to find clients for your sleep consultancy business. Some people love attending in-person events while others prefer networking digitally through online communities and forums. When you first start out, explore different marketing channels and see which ones generate the best leads. You can then focus your efforts on the outlets that get you the most clients.
To work with a business-minded sleep consultancy, enroll in Sweet Sleep Academy. You can also keep up with our news articles and blog posts where we share tips and advice on how to improve your business. Not only will our program make you a better sleep consultant, but it will prepare you for entrepreneurship as a whole.
