I am currently overwhelmed and discouraged with my business. Yet I have never been more EXCITED about the opportunity. I have been struggling with marketing Charisma Coaching for the last six months. I have done everything that I had set out to do in my original marketing plan and ended up with only minor enrollment in seminars and a small increase in phone coaching. Success is something that I know will come my way because I know what I have to offer changed my life and continues to help tons of people.
In many respects I have hit a wall. I feel very much like when I originally started looking for dating advice, unfulfilled and accepting that I didn’t have the skills to succeed. This is far different from failing to me. The moment I realize I need help is when I make the most progress. I swear though, my damn ego thinking I can do anything and I don’t need help is what always slows me down. So here is an outline of a thought progression I have that is applicable to any situation:
Goal: Create a financially successful business where I can positively impact the lives of others or this planet in general.
Assets: Strong teaching skills, Good speaking presence, Articulate, Experience in many different fields.
Hindrances: Large Ego, Unwilling to ask for help, Cheap, Lack of financial resources, Laziness, Overloaded with conflicting information, Little to no marketing experience
Problem: Slow business growth
Solution Brainstorming:
Hire a marketing person.
Pros: They do the work for me.
Cons: Expensive and hard to find someone who has a proven track record of success with my industry
Hire a Life Coach.
Pros: Affordable, Will keep me motivated, good for brainstorming, Will keep me accountable for progress.
Cons: Limited Marketing Experience,
Find someone with a successful business similar to mine and inquire about mentorship
Pros: Learn from someone experienced and is successful
Cons: They may not know how to help me become a success or be able to explain teach it. Hard to find
Join a group of other entrepreneurs to brainstorm solutions
Pros: Free or low cost. Easy to find in San Francisco (meetup.com)
Cons: Possibility of being overwhelmed by ideas and directions
What do all the solutions have in common:
Ask for help.
My next step I believe is going to be hiring a consultant to help me achieve my goals as well as get involved in the online entrepreneur community. Also as I learn what mistakes I made and am making I need to learn to ask for help when I need it. So first I’d like to ask you my loyal clients and readers for help. Please help me by answering these quick questions in a comment
1. What are your goals with dating?
2. What products or services would you like to see Charisma Coaching Offer? (paid or free)
3. What other dating websites/blogs do you read?
4. What do you think I could do or not do to reach more people?
So what do you need help with? Try using my outline to go through the process to help you figure out what you need. Maybe that will be just getting a group together to motivate you to do what you already know you should be doing. Or possibly you are ready to receive some help from someone who can help you just as I decided to get help. If I can help you be that person you want to be and achieve your goals go check out the services I offer.
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January 8th, 2009 at 1:36 am
Another option that may be fruitful it to think about finding a 3rd or 4th year Business/Marketing student in your area. They are likely to work cheap and are eager to build their resume.
As a business student myself I can attest to our desire for meaningful and relevant work.
January 8th, 2009 at 5:11 am
Hey Dan, I’d suggest promoting the fact that you’re in San Francisco and try to build up a customer base there for in-person training. That way you could build a reputation locally and also do some ground-level marketing to reach people who could use some help but haven’t thought to look online for it…
January 8th, 2009 at 6:37 am
agree with Andrew’s comment. each school / university has a work board where you can hire students with specialties..
i’d hire and pay for:
advanced web designer, graphics designer, and a marketing major
then have them meet and work together to revamp your site.
another problem with this business is that it’s so segmented. they really need to have a network established
January 8th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Hi Dan. The most immediate and affordable action you can take to bring in more business is to update your website and take advantage of all the free services (social networking, forums, video blogging, search engines, link exchanges…) the internet has to offer to increase your exposure. The pick up community started and continues to grow via the web. Whenever I begin a web design project, I always research my client’s competitors to see what they’re doing. In your case, I would look at the websites for Love Systems, David Wygant, Carlos Xuma, .etc….. and see how your website compares. If your website looks reputable, new visitors to your website will just assume you are and will want to do business with you. I realize that you do more than just the “pick up” stuff, but I’ve found focusing on your strongest asset and building on that is much more effective than trying to focus on too many areas in the beginning. I do this for a living and love talking about it. Feel free to contact me if you want to know more.
January 8th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
Actually now that I think about it…
You could work with a Marking Prof to hold a contest for marketing students’ where they submit marking plans to you and when you see the best one give away a free training seminar.
You could get tons of great ideas this way.
January 11th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
I suspect a large part of your problem is that the market is somewhat glutted with dating gurus right now. It seems like once they reach a certain level of mastery, all of these guys want to open their own business. At the same time, when guys like me are looking to do our first seminar, we’re naturally going to look first at the most well known companies (RSD, Love Systems, Art of Charm, Venusian Arts and a few others), which kind of puts you at a natural disadvantage.
A few suggestions:
1) Do nothing. Stick with what you’re doing but focus on building up your customer base and reputation over time. Maybe get a second job to help pay the bills.
2) Reach out to the Community lairs in as many cities as you can. Do a little tour to hit up some of these cities and go out with some of the guys and help them with their game. This will make you more well known. The downside is the upfront cost.
3) Partner or merge with some of the other more upstart companies out there that are also trying to compete with the big boys.
4) I don’t know what you are charging for your various services, but at this stage in your business, and especially in this economy, you need to make sure you are competing on price and delivering value for the dollar. I read somewhere recently that RSD is going to start charging more for their bootcamps. I suspect that’s a mistake.
January 12th, 2009 at 10:33 am
Oh
Well it may not help, but get yourself on David D, etc. and put in a good showing in insider, that is rare, and it is really shaking the tree and showing whose good, and whose hot air.
Also submit a mission or 2 for SL labs. if some come to mind. If people have good experiences then hopefully that will give them good results.
Generally though the independants charge less. I guess you will have to figure that one out. But if its ‘all the skill developed under Mr Elise, for less…’ seems persuasive to me.
January 12th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Here are a few suggestions:
1. Update/change the website. This would be fairly low cost, and because it is your primary way of doing business, the most beneficial.
2. Perform a service that others do not/can not. I think CA does some great things, and there is a structure to the method, but the information is somewhat scattered. A strongly organized layout with checklists would help everybody. Also cover things that CA does not, but should. This is a life skill, not just pickup. You have shared so many tips, organize them into a book(or have someone else do it for you). This would help gain interest for personal coaching.
3. Boot camps are a great way to get a jump start, and anyone who has taken one understands the “boot camp high”. This does fade over time, and it is harder to keep going than to slip back into one’s old habits. If you address this with some structured outlines, a more lasting effect will take place. I learned a lot on my boot camp, but I wish there had been a note taking outline to help me create and keep a stronger identity. I do not like “routines”, but we all have stories and working the details more with written examples would help everybody.
4. Get in touch with other former CA instructors. Sub contract phone coaching for anyone who would like to work with them, and take a small percentage. There are a lot of people who miss some of the former instructors, and would pay extra to work with someone we have worked with in the past.
5. I see from the recent post of a coaching call that you repeat many of the same obstacles with your clients (myself included). It might help to write down what you worked on with each person, and look for repeating patterns. Then find out who has made the most progress and what it was that got them over their obstacles.
I think many of us have made great progress from your work, and I hope you stick with this Dan. I am sure you will find a way to get this business to go where you want it.
James
January 14th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
I posted a long winded response, but it’s not showing up. Maybe it got eaten by the spam filter. Here goes again:
1. What are your goals with dating?
To overcome my insecurities concerning women, to enjoy multiple relationships with high quality women, and have choice in this area of my life.
2. What products or services would you like to see Charisma Coaching Offer? (paid or free)
You already offer a wide range of services such one-on-one coaching, phone coaching, workshops, podcasts, and a blog. You may want to offer an ebook (a product people can buy) to round out the offering.
3. What other dating websites/blogs do you read?
Pickup Podcast, Approach Anxiety, Kinowear, SF Lair Forums
4. What do you think I could do or not do to reach more people?
You don’t need to hire a marketing person, you don’t need to create new products, you don’t need a new design for you website.
Your business (beyond phone coaching) is very local, so what you need to do is network and get involved with people from the SF/North Bay seduction community.
Attend lair meetings, post on the forums, comment on people’s blogs. Build a reputation for yourself and develop those connections. There are tons of new people at every lair meeting, and I think you will find a good market for your services if you offer them at competitive prices.
If you want to expand your phone coaching business beyond the SF Bay area, then start marketing and getting involved in the greater PUA and dating community. Offer to do guest posts for blogs like the Pickup Podcast, and offer other instructors the chance to do guest posts on your blog. If you can tap into even a fraction of the larger market, you will have more business than you alone could handle.
How have your past clients found out about you? What were you doing then that was successful, and how can you do more of it?
Good luck!
January 15th, 2009 at 4:01 am
I’ve been thinking about this more.
1. Your not alone, I suspect there is a general downturn.
Mr Hudson is taking the time to become a protege to some super-marketing guy, so when the upturn comes around his poised to seize it.
2. I’ve never met anyone out of a BC who was good. Like substanially better than me (since I’m terribly I shouldn’t really be giving advice on problems, but the BCs don’t seem to equip them well).
Obviously you can’t control students motivation, but if you can get your students good results, while your there… that will aid motivation when you’re gone, and maybe I would be impressed by them. Meaning maybe the people they are around generally will be impressed and inspired to splash.
It would be so cool if you could say
’social hitch hiker – getting better results for guys’.
But obviously I don’t know how possible this is.
3. Become a hero to guys.
I reckon you’re already dismissing this one.
But its basically what Brad P did, endless FRs on MASF made him massive. Or that’s how I perceive it.
MASF is fairly secure from women. But you would have to create a new pseudo-name, and an additional website for your services – the whole duel identity thing.
I know you won’t go for that, no guarentee it will work now anyway. But I did suggest other things.
January 19th, 2009 at 8:00 am
I’m your man dude – I’m frustrated by the teaching of seduction no end.
I would like a workbook with theory of foundational points covered plus practical exercises. And by practical I don’t mean field exercise but creativity exercises to get in sync with the new communication modes you need.
I’d advise teaching building a sexual vibe before opening because if you have some confidence you can build a sexual vibe you’ll be more confident when learning about opening. Aren’t I a genius!
Teachings ought to give at least 3 example interactions that illustrate each practical teaching point, preferably 5 for more subtle ones.
This will simulate field experience a tiny bit I feel. Current books routinely give only one illustration of each point or their examples cover many points which while reading impressive is difficult to deconstruct to learn from confidently.
Often they add another maneuver in the summary of the point and give no illustration of it. I also think color coding the “lines” is attractive.
The problem with the teaching of seduction is it doesn’t build confidence unless you happen to get successful field experience – which is hard for a variety of reasons.
If you can make people feel – hey I’m thinking in the modes of a charming guy they will be confident and go on and love you.
Then there should be exercises to fill in the book so you get a handle on creating the communication mode being taught.
Then the teacher could correct/validate the exercises.
I’d invite you to use me as a guinea pig to test out these ideas if you feel theyr’e compelling to you Dan – thanks.
I’m training to be an alternative school teacher – so teaching is very compelling to me – and this is a very important thing to teach that is getting a bad rep, which only good teachers can stop.
That’s my idea!
January 20th, 2009 at 11:35 pm
I met you in Seattle on accident a few years back and think you’re a rad dude. But honestly, before you start marketing, getting your business plan organized…
Get a new website. This one looks like absolute s—.
Your website is the store front for your entire company. If you had a building would you make it strictly Valentines colors? Really?
I don’t think you need to implement the standard black and red of virtually ever seduction website either.
Honestly, I would look at Wordpress templates for a few hours and save the best. You don’t need to be revolutionary yet, you just need to look credible.
Right now your website has ZERO credibility.
January 21st, 2009 at 3:55 pm
1.To improve my social interactions using the charisma arts method.
2.I’m interested in the phone and in person coaching. I enjoyed your interviews on the pickupodcast site and your articles here and older articles from the Charisma Arts website.
3. Charisma Arts website and some of their instructors blogs. iwforums.com/ is where I was recommended Juggler method. By looking into that, I eventually learned about you, when forum members (CA forum) were ranting about your posts being deleted. That led me to this site.
4. I think your website could use a refreshed look. I like the name Socialhitchhiker and think it should be used in the title some how. Like Socialhitchhiker’s Charisma Tips. List more of your products on the front page, like the phone and in person coaching. Post some of your great articles on forums like iwforums.com/ to spread your name around.
January 21st, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Also advertise your podcasts, that you have on itunes.
January 29th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Dan, I think you should seriously consider whether or not you have a product that people actually want to/should buy.
February 10th, 2009 at 4:08 am
Website! I buy alot online and have been in IT for a number of years. It is inevitable that people can be persuaded or dissuaded to purchase services based on their perception of the website in the first few seconds/minutes of interaction with it. I would say this site needs help, at least as far as the look and feel go.
Like reading the content though – thanks!
PS. one of my friends is a designer with integrity and artistic flair. If you want, drop Ben an email on info@benchapmandesign.co.uk and mention me and ask for examples of his work. Hope this helps.
February 11th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
(1) Improving the website’s look would help; if money is an issue there, consider graphic design students, they often take classes where they design websites. You might get one to do it for free, or for a low price. (2) Look into reasonably like-minded people, and get interviewed by them or interview them. Maybe Scott McKay. Eric Disco did an interview with Rob Overmann on his site. (3) Be clear on what you offer that CA and others do not offer, make sure visitors are clear on that. What’s distinctive about your service? If you can’t answer that clearly, there are problems. This can involve either explaining what is distinctive, or becomming more distinctive. (4) Innovate. Troy, formerly at CA, is doing coaching over Skype that is in the form of a 1 month course — innovation. Christian Hudson has a one-month course on opening and creating attraction alone. This is a good idea because: (a) it’s not just a 3-day bootcamp. I believe a lot of guys are skeptical of the ‘magical bootcamp transformation’ idea, and many dating coaches are experimenting with other teaching methods. (b) if you can persuade someone you can teach opening really well, it’s likely you teach the rest of it well, too. (c) a guy who learns opening and attraction will be more motivated, and thus will be more likely to seek more help from you, and recommend you.
November 26th, 2009 at 11:20 am
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