How I Got 6 Coaching Clients in 2 Months (+17 Strategies)

If you are trying to figure out how to get coaching clients, you don’t need a massive social following or to spend 24/7 online. When I was working a demanding 9-5 and hearing nothing but crickets, I realized I just needed two things: a reliable system, and a way to get the right people into it. 

And by building a simple 3-step engine, I landed my first 6 paying clients in just 2 months.

In this post, I’m going to show you exactly how that 3-step system works. 

Then, because every business is different, I’ll give you 17 proven ways to find your ideal audience to fuel it—whether you need clients in the next 48 hours, or want to build a predictable pipeline for the next 6 months.

This is just one part of the process. If you want the full step-by-step system, read my complete guide on how to build a coaching business.

How I got my first 6 coaching clients in 2 months: The 3-step strategy

I want to be upfront: I didn’t follow some genius master plan. I stumbled into most of this. But looking back, every single client came from the same three-step system.

Since then, I’ve watched thousands of new coaches use it to land their first paying clients without feeling pushy or burning themselves out.

Here’s exactly how it works.

If you prefer to watch instead of read, I also recorded a YouTube video that walks you through these strategies with extra context and real examples from my own business: 

Step 1: Get crystal clear on your value (and stop calling yourself a “coach”)

Here’s the hard truth nobody told me when I started: people don’t pay for coaching. They pay to solve a specific, painful problem.

When I first started my first coaching business as a digital advertising coach, I introduced myself as a coach. Crickets. 

It wasn’t until I started saying “I help business owners grow their businesses with digital advertising” that people started asking me, “wait — how?” 

To figure out what the outcome is that you sell you need to do one thing most new coaches skip entirely: actual market research. 

Here’s why it matters:

The coaches I see struggling most are the ones who built their entire offer around what they think their clients need. The coaches who get clients fast? They understand what their clients already want. 

Go find where your ideal clients are hanging out online. Read what they’re saying. Notice the exact, frustrated words they use to describe their pain.

The bottom line: Stop telling people you’re a coach and start telling them you solve a specific problem. 

(If you haven’t already, start by finding your coaching niche and package your offer.)

Step 2: Get in front of your audience (yes, every day)

I didn’t have an audience when I started. But I knew where my audience hung out: in Facebook groups — and I showed up in them consistently.

Because I was working an extremely demanding 9-5, I had to be strategic with my time. 

To do so, I used my 15×3 Method. 

I’d spend 15 minutes in these groups, 3 times a day. I’d scroll for questions I could genuinely help with, then I’d answer them — not to sell, but just to provide people with genuine value and learn about my audience. I did this every day for weeks.

My very first $5,000 client came from me helping her privately for a few weeks for free. 

One day, she emailed me and said: “You’ve given me so much value for free. I know I’ll get so much more if I hire you. How can I pay you?”

And because I kept showing up in these groups, other people started recognizing my name. Eventually, they’d reach out and ask how they could hire me.

Now, I used Facebook groups as my traffic source. But this strategy works anywhere.

Later in this post, I’ll give you 17 specific ways to find your audience—whether you love social media, hate it, or want to rely entirely on referrals. The platform matters less than the consistency: show up where they are, and help them.

Step 3: Get them on a free “Taster Call” (how to sell without the sleaze)

This is my favorite part, and the strategy that has helped more of my introverted, sales-shy students get their first paying client than anything else.

I call it the Free Taster Strategy. I want to be really clear about what it’s not, because I see coaches get this wrong constantly.

It’s not a 45-minute “discovery call” where you awkwardly try to transition into a pitch, and it’s not a beta-test where you give away hours of free coaching with no end in sight. Both of those attract freebie-seekers and drain your energy fast.

A Free Taster Call is a 30-minute, focused session that delivers one specific, actionable win.

Think of it like being the sample person at Costco. You’re not giving away the whole rotisserie chicken. You’re giving them a small, delicious bite that makes them think, “I need more of this.” (And yes, those sample people get me every single time.)

Here’s how to run one so it feels entirely natural:

• Anchor it at the start. The first thing I’d say on every taster call was something like: “In this next 30 minutes, we’re going to focus on getting you one clear takeaway you can act on today. And at the end, if you love what we covered, I’d love to tell you about how we could work further together. Does that sound good?” That one sentence does two things: it sets a clear expectation (so you’re not randomly rambling for 45 minutes), and it gently plants the seed of your paid offer — without any pressure.
• Deliver one “aha” moment — and resist the urge to do more. This is where new coaches trip up. We want to prove ourselves so badly that we overload people with information. But your potential client is already overwhelmed. If you pile on more, they leave feeling exhausted — not excited to work with you. Your job is to create one small win that makes them feel capable and clear. That feeling is what makes them want more.
• End with a no-pressure invitation. After you’ve delivered what you promised, if it feels right, simply say: “If you’d like to learn more about how I could support you further through coaching, I’d be happy to share what that looks like.” That’s it. 

The mindset shift that makes this feel good: You’re not trying to sell anyone anything. You’re inviting them to experience the transformation you offer.

When I stopped thinking of it as “converting” and started thinking of it as “giving someone a taste of what’s possible,” the whole thing felt easier — and ironically, I started signing more clients.

Do this 10 times. Genuinely help 10 people get one small win. I promise you: your confidence will grow, and somewhere in those 10 calls, you’ll land a paying client.

Now let’s talk about where to find your audience.

17 ways to get coaching clients (to fuel your Taster Calls)

You have the 3-step framework. Now, you just need to get the right people into it so they can experience that “Aha!” moment with you.

If you are currently juggling a 9-5, the thought of executing a massive marketing plan probably sounds paralyzing. Let me save you the overwhelm right now: you do not need to do all of these. In fact, please don’t.

The goal is to pick just one strategy that feels completely natural to your personality—whether you love chatting on video, writing, or simply reaching out to people you already know—and use them to invite people to your Free Taster Calls.

Over the past decade, I’ve tested every single one of these channels to scale my own business, and I’ve watched over 4,000 of my students do the same to finally quit their jobs.

Here are the 17 most effective ways to find your ideal clients, broken down by exactly how fast you need to see results.

3 ways to get coaching clients in the next 48 hours

If you want to get your first “yes” fast, here are the three lowest-friction ways to find people today.

1. Reach out to your network (without being weird about it)

Think about the people you’ve already helped casually—a coworker you gave career advice to, or a friend you talked through a health challenge. Text five of them today.

You don’t need a polished pitch. Something like: “Hey, I’m starting to take my coaching seriously and I’d love to work with you properly. Since I’m just getting started, I’m offering a price that’s way lower than what I’ll charge later — but you’ll still get all my experience. Interested?” 

That’s how I, when I first dabbled in coaching, got my first career coaching clients. 

2. Ask for referrals — but make it easy

Here’s the truth about asking your network for referrals: most people don’t know how to help you unless you make it incredibly easy. They don’t want to feel like they are selling your services to their friends.

So instead of saying “let me know if anyone needs a coach,” say this: “I’m offering free 30-minute coaching sessions right now to get some experience. Do you know anyone who could use help with [specific problem]? I’d love to gift them one.” 

Now your friend isn’t selling your services. They’re doing someone a favor. That’s a much easier ask — and you’d be surprised how fast your reach grows when you make it that simple.

3. Send a proof-first cold pitch

I know “cold pitch” sounds terrifying. But hear me out — this one works for some coaches, especially those who coach corporate clients or business owners. The key word is proof-first.

Don’t pitch your coaching. Lead with your experience, and invite them to a Taster Call.

When I was starting my ads consulting business, I’d say something like: “Hey, I looked at your ads. Based on what I did managing campaigns at [company], here are a couple of things I noticed. I’d love to share more — no strings attached.” 

See the difference between that and “hire me”? You’re demonstrating expertise before asking for anything. If you spent 10 years in HR, finance, health, law, or any corporate field — that is your credential. Use it.

8 ways to get clients in the next 2-4 weeks

Once you’ve tapped your immediate network, use these strategies to get in front of new audiences and fill your Taster Call calendar.

1. Build relationships in online communities

This is the strategy that got me my first $5,000 client and it’s the same strategy my former client Ruby used to get her first relationship coaching client on Reddit.

Pick one community where your ideal clients are hanging out: a Facebook group, a Reddit thread, a WhatsApp group, or a LinkedIn community. 

Then start engaging in them every day. If you need a push to get started, simply write 20 genuinely helpful comments in the next 48 hours. Not “great post!” But real, specific, and useful help. Think of it as a proof-of-concept sprint. 

Back when I was building a tech startup, I once made 150 cold calls in one day (yes, as an introvert — it was my personal nightmare). But it got me in motion fast, and it gave me feedback I couldn’t have gotten any other way. 

The same principle applies here. Every comment is data and every response tells you something about your message, your audience, and your offer. 

2. Show up on social media (without posting 24/7)

You can apply the 15×3 Method to Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, or wherever your people are. 

That’s how Emily, a career coach, landed clients within a few weeks after announcing her new business on LinkedIn.

The mistake I see constantly that keeps coaches from getting clients on social media? Coaches posting three times a day on their own feed and wondering why nothing’s happening. 

Posting content and building relationships are two different things. Do both, but especially in the early days, prioritize the conversations over the content. (For how to create the right content, take a look at my coaching content ideas.)

3. Partner with people who already serve your audience

You don’t need a big platform to borrow someone else’s credibility. Think about coaches, creators, or service providers who work with the same type of person you do — but offer something completely different. 

Think: A fitness coach and a nutritionist or a career coach and a resume writer. 

Reach out and ask: how can I bring value to your audience? A joint workshop, a guest training, a simple shout-out — any of these can put you in front of a warm, pre-qualified audience overnight.

4. Pitch niche podcasts

You don’t need to aim for the top shows. Smaller podcasts often convert better because their listeners are highly engaged. 

Before I ever appeared on a major show like So Money with Farnoosh Torabi, I was pitching tiny niche podcasts where I knew my ideal clients were listening.

My client Ryan, a real estate investor turned coach, built his client pipeline through podcasts. 

To find your podcasts, search “podcast + [your topic]” or ask ChatGPT for a list of relevant shows in your niche. Then pitch yourself with a specific angle that’s useful to their audience — not just “I’m a coach and I’d love to come on.”

5. Speak at events

Both online and in-person events work here. Reach out to conference organizers, offer to run a local workshop, or co-host a virtual event with someone in your network. 

I’ve spoken at events like Gary V Live and seen the ripple effect firsthand — sometimes one talk leads to clients months later.

6. Write guest posts

Most coaches assume guest posting is dead. It’s not — it’s just crowded with mediocre pitches.

If you land a post in a publication your ideal clients actually read, it does two things: gets you in front of a warm audience and instantly signals credibility. 

Take one of my guest posts on Business Insider. It got a lot of traction – and a five-figure sales week.

That’s the formula: bring a real story or a real take, not just a generic “5 tips” article.

7. Create an affiliate offer

Ask a few people you trust — past clients, collaborators, complementary coaches — to refer clients to you in exchange for a commission. Ten percent is standard for services. 

What makes this work is who you ask. Don’t chase people with huge audiences. Look for people with small but highly engaged ones — the ones whose audience actually trusts their recommendations. 

Those referrals convert at a completely different level.

I work with select affiliates who promote my programs. I’ll also occasionally do an affiliate promo if I love the program I’m promoting.

For example, I’m a proud affiliate of Lifehack Method (a productivity training business) and I regularly promote their offer. Like I do in this email:

8. Leverage testimonials

As you work with more clients, use their stories on your website, social media, and in discovery calls to build trust and close more sales.

Testimonials were a big reason for why I was able to increase my rates and sign on more clients early on – growing my business from zero to six figures and resigning from my full-time job in just four months.

6 long-term ways to build a steady client pipeline (3+ months)

These strategies take longer to build. I recommend focusing on these only after you’ve proven your engine works and you are ready to scale past the 9-5 entirely.

1. Start a newsletter

Early on, you get clients by building one-on-one relationships. But as you grow, you can’t personally follow up with everyone — and that’s where email comes in. 

Your email list is the one audience you actually own. Social media accounts get shadowbanned, algorithms change, and platforms disappear. Your list doesn’t. 

That said, this is a strategy for scaling, not starting. Build it once you have clients and a proven offer.

I talk more about email marketing here:

2. Run webinars

Webinars let you build trust with a lot of people at once — without jumping on individual sales calls with all of them. When structured well, they can do a lot of the selling for you. 

I’ve sold millions through webinars. But I want to be honest with you: they require a real sales funnel behind them to work. 

This one’s for when you’re ready to scale, not when you’re still looking for your first five clients.

3. Invest in paid ads

I used paid ads to grow my business to seven figures in my first year. They can absolutely accelerate your growth — but they’re not a shortcut for an unproven offer. 

If you don’t know who your audience is, what they want, and what messaging works, ads will just help you lose money faster. 

Get your first clients the relationship-based way first. Once you’ve proven your offer and know your numbers, then put fuel on the fire.

4. Invest in PR

Getting media mentions can help you become the go-to in your niche… fast. Thanks to being mentioned across publications like Forbes and Bloomberg, I built my brand in a highly competitive space.

And the best part? You don’t need to pitch for hours.

Instead, use PR platforms like Featured or HARO to pitch journalists in under 20 minutes a day.

On the platform, you’ll get access to tons of media requests.

Those opportunities are posted by journalists and bloggers who are looking for article sources.

If your pitch gets selected, you get featured in their publication.

5. Build your SEO (and GEO)

A few years into my business, I noticed something: my highest-quality leads were coming from search traffic. People who found me through Google already trusted me before they’d ever seen my face, because I’d shown up as an authority in search results. 

Today, SEO — and increasingly, GEO (being cited in AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude) — is one of the biggest revenue drivers in my business. 

It takes time to build, but the compounding effect is real. It’s not where you start, but it’s absolutely where you want to be heading.

Want the full strategy to scale your coaching business with SEO?

Read my guide on SEO for coaches.

6. Create a YouTube channel

Another channel I love? YouTube – because it’s an interactive search engine that can help you engage with your audience and help them find you. 

Video content typically builds trust faster than text. That’s why even a small YouTube channel can drive consistent discovery call bookings because people feel like they know you.

My own YouTube channel generates six figures. Here’s how:

Skip these client acquisition strategies (seriously)

I believe almost any marketing strategy can work eventually. But when you are just getting started, balancing a 9-5, and every hour counts, these are genuinely not worth your time.

• Posting content without a clear next step. Posting three times a day on Instagram isn’t a client acquisition strategy. If someone loves your content but doesn’t know what to do next — if there’s no clear invitation to a Taster Call, no offer, and no path to a conversation — you’re just shouting into a void. Content works when it leads somewhere. Until you have a funnel or a clear call to action, focus on direct conversations over content.
• Creating a logo, business cards, or a website too early. This can feel productive. It feels like building a business. But your logo has never signed a client. I booked $20,000 in sales before I built my website — and before that, I just sent people my LinkedIn profile. Spending three weeks on brand colors and font choices before you have a single client is just a really expensive way to procrastinate. Get clients first. Build the brand after.
• Relying on coaching platforms. Directories can occasionally send a lead your way, but if that’s your main strategy, you’re building someone else’s business, not yours. These platforms treat coaches as interchangeable — and clients using them are often shopping on price. To build a business where people are genuinely excited to work with you, you need your own marketing system. One where clients come because of your specific expertise, your story, and your approach. 

FAQs: Get coaching clients

How long does it take to get coaching clients?

You can get your first client in 2–4 weeks when you focus on direct strategies like your network or building relationships online. Based on 4,000+ coaches I’ve worked with, the timeline usually looks like this: 

2-4 weeks: Your first clients come through your network, outreach, and social conversations 

4-12 weeks: The next clients come through referrals, podcasts, and other authority-building strategies

3-6+ months: Your business scales through a funnel, SEO, and paid ads 

What’s the fastest way to get my first coaching client?

The fastest way is to start with people who already know and trust you. From what I’ve seen, the first clients usually come from existing connections, direct conversations, or a simple offer. Not from advanced strategies like ads or SEO. Prioritize relationships first. 

Do I need certification before I can get clients?

No, you don’t need certification to get coaching clients in most niches. In fact, many of the 4,000+ coaches I’ve worked with signed their first clients before getting certified. What matters most is that you can help people get results. Clients ultimately care about transformation, not a degree. 

What type of coaching is most in demand?

High-demand niches include career coaching, health and wellness coaching, executive coaching, and mindset coaching. But demand alone doesn’t determine success. Based on 10+ years in the industry, I’ve seen the best-performing niches solve a clear, urgent problem and offer a measurable transformation for a specific target audience. 

Can you get clients without social media?

Yes, many coaches get their first clients without social media. The most reliable alternatives are your existing network, referrals, and podcast interviews. Later on, you can tap into strategies like SEO. 

How do you get high-paying coaching clients? 

High-paying clients come from clear positioning and strong results. Coaches who charge 4-5 figures typically target a specific audience, solve a high-value problem, and communicate a clear result.

How do you sell yourself as a coach?

You sell your offer by showing the value of your coaching. Share content that helps your audience, build trust through stories and case studies, and invite people into conversations (like discovery calls or webinars). When people see you can solve their problems, selling becomes natural.

One last thing: Momentum over perfection

If seeing a list of 17 marketing strategies feels overwhelming, I want you to hear me loud and clear: you don’t have to do all of it. 

Pick one fuel source from the 48-hour list. Use it to invite one person to a Free Taster Call today. That’s it.

I know that for a lot of coaches—especially introverted ones (hi, that’s me)—the idea of “putting yourself out there” or jumping on a call with a stranger triggers a very specific kind of anxiety.

But remember the mindset shift that changed everything for me: you are not trying to sell anyone anything. You are just handing out a Costco sample. You’re giving someone a small, actionable win to see if you can help them, and letting them experience what it’s like to be supported by you.

If they say no, or if they don’t become a client—that’s just data. Every “no” tells you something. Maybe your messaging needs sharpening, maybe you need to try a different traffic source, or maybe that person just wasn’t your ideal client.

You don’t need to be “more ready” than you are right now. You don’t need to finish your website, and you don’t need to pick the perfect brand colors. You just need to start having conversations.

And if you want a complete, step-by-step roadmap for building this client-generation engine without the expensive trial and error, get my free blueprint.

I’ll walk you through exactly how to go from feeling stuck and exhausted in your 9-5 to building a predictable, profitable coaching business.

Warmly,

Luisa Zhou