🔎 Authentic Market Discovery

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When you signed up for the course, you received a few months of live Q&A access: See the dates & sign up for the Q&A You can "mark as complete" below to acknowledge knowing about the Q&A calls :)

If you've never experienced one of my Work Retreats, you've got to try it :) You'll find yourself in a calmly focused environment where you accomplish a lot... the power of group intention on joyful productivity. Attendees are getting a lot of good work done and they're enjoying the group! Click here for Work Retreats 😊 These work retreats are usually for my group coaching members only... but even if you're not a member, I'm inviting you for the next 2 months! No additional cost to you. Your access will expire in 2 months, so please make use of it while you can 🙏🏼 Click the button above to get started.

I do a lot of Q&A calls on various topics including: How to describe your offerings Creating authentic content Growing a true fan audience Joyful productivity tips Gentle Launches Recent Q&A video segments are located here: George Kao Bonus Q&A Segments Your access to those Q&A segments are only for the next 2 months. Enjoy them while you can :)

A warm welcome here! I encourage us to see this course as a community... not comments from random people, but rather, focused comments about specific topics, from your kindred spirits 😊 The most important part of a community is its culture. Each of us (who participate here) influence the culture with every interaction we have here.  A few values to keep in mind: Comment once, reply twice. For each comment you make, look for 2 other comments (especially ones with few replies) and add a reply – with your encouragement and suggestions (if appropriate). This helps to balance the comment/reply ratio, and gives you practice in seeking and giving support here. Notice and name each others' energy signatures. Each person's presence is unique, and each person has their strengths. It can be difficult for us to notice our own, and easier to notice others'. Whenever you notice someone's comment that refers to something personal to them, try to name something that you appreciate. We all have a fear of being fully seen. Let’s help each other feel accepted and received. Co-Learning Community. Nobody here (not even the "teacher") knows everything about market research/discovery... it's a rich process that can be customized greatly to each person's way of doing things, so let's create a co-learning environment here. Even I as a "teacher" can and will learn from your shares too! Share generously. Be supportive of others here. If you discover something that works, or hear about a great tip that helps with market discovery, please do share it with us. Comment under the appropriate lesson if possible, or if not sure where, just comment below. Sharing will make this course better for all of us! Keep all sharings confidential.  Let's keep this a safe space for sharing by promising to keep all comments (particularly the personal ones) confidential. Let me know below if these values are helpful, and if you have any suggestions. The values we embody here is what makes this course experience amazing for each other 😊 If no comments below and no ability to comment, first log into this course.

Those who have worked through my Energy Signature course -- it can be very helpful for this course to revisit your notes. If you haven't taken that course, don't worry!  This course (market discovery) will be adequate to help you clarify that intersection between your passions and the market's wants. Continue to the next lesson :)

Why do you think that is? Before you continue to read, comment below first on what your hunch tells you...  If your stuff isn't selling well, here's why it might be...  You might be thinking a lot in isolation when it comes to what to offer. Analogy of mountaintop vs people at the river. To get clients, you must sell what others want (not just what you want). To understand what they want (to buy), you must do market discovery... that's what this course is about! Find out what your people are hungry for... for which they aren't finding satisfying options. Find the gaps in offerings that your people are *eagerly* looking for. Finding "product-market fit" is life or death for a business. For us who are coaches/healers/mentors, this translates into "You-topic-format-audience fit". You = your energy signature Topic = what your services are about Format = offer format, e.g. 1-1 services, group programs, or something else? Audience = of all the people you can reach, who's most interested to work with you? This is what the Authentic Market Discovery process unconvers. We help you discover what your ideal clients must buy, not just would be "nice to have." Bottom line -- You must choose the right thing to offer, if you want people to buy from you...

Once you have multiple MDCs, it can be difficult to integrate everything they say...   When I'm overwhelmed, I apply temporary constraints. In this case, it would be something like this: "If I can just integrate the 3 best tidbits from this call, I'll consider it successful." Keep doing market discovery calls, and just keep integrating a bit more every time. Your offers will keep getting more aligned! In the next few lessons, I'll give you some ways to integrate the potentially vast amount of info. Always remember: gentle, deep breaths. Step by joyful step, you can accomplish anything :)

Our potential clients go through stages of awareness before they enroll with us... below is a description of these stages, with Life Coaching as an example...  1. Unaware: Description: The potential client lives their life, unaware of the transformative power of coaching. They might feel a vague sense of "something's missing" but haven't connected it to a need for support. Example: A talented artist feels unfulfilled despite moderate success, attributing it to the unpredictable nature of the art world, not realizing they lack a clear vision. Marketing Focus: Create content around broad themes of purpose, passion, and living a fulfilling life. Use inspiring stories, relatable quotes, and gentle introductions to the world of coaching. 2. Problem-Aware: Description: A trigger event, like a career plateau or personal dissatisfaction, brings the individual's challenges into sharp focus. They acknowledge a problem exists and seek answers. Example: The artist experiences a creative block, leading to frustration and self-doubt. They begin researching ways to overcome this hurdle and reignite their passion. Marketing Focus: Target keywords related to common life challenges and offer content that validates their feelings. Clearly explain how coaching can provide support and guidance through these specific obstacles. 3. Solutions-Aware: Description: The individual actively explores solutions, researching self-improvement options like therapy, online courses, self-help books, and—you guessed it—life coaching. Example: The artist discovers articles about overcoming creative blocks, attends a workshop on goal setting, and stumbles upon life coaching as a potential solution. Marketing Focus: Showcase the unique benefits of life coaching compared to other methods. Use relevant testimonials, case studies highlighting transformation and results, and offer free webinars. 4. Niche-Aware: Description: Life coaching becomes the preferred solution. The individual researches different coaches, comparing approaches, niches, testimonials, and asking, "Are you the right guide for me?" Example: The artist feels drawn to life coaching's action-oriented approach and personalized support. They visit your website, read blog posts, listen to your podcast, and resonate with your coaching style. Marketing Focus: Clearly articulate your unique value proposition and ideal client. Highlight your coaching style, areas of expertise, and client success stories that resonate with their aspirations. Offer a free exploratory call as a low-risk way to connect. 5. Price-Aware: Description: The individual is ready to hire a life coach but hesitates, comparing factors like price, program structure, and scheduling. They might need a final nudge to commit. Example: The artist feels confident you're the right coach but hesitates due to the investment cost, questioning if it's the right time or if they're "ready" for coaching. Marketing Focus: Address common objections head-on, provide flexible payment options, and emphasize the long-term ROI of coaching. Share testimonials from clients who were once in their shoes. 6. Action-Aware: Description: The individual takes the leap and commits to your coaching services, excited to embark on their transformation journey. Example: The artist signs up for your coaching program, feeling a mix of excitement and determination to overcome their creative block and achieve their full potential. Marketing Focus: Ensure a seamless onboarding experience with clear next steps, warm welcomes, and access to valuable resources. Nurture the relationship from day one, fostering trust and open communication. In your MDCs, what stage(s) do your people occupy the most? Focus your content and marketing accordingly...