#251: [Coach the Coach] 3 Things You Need Instead of Business Cards

Michelle:
Hello there, health coaches. How many of you have a stack of business cards sitting around that you hardly ever use? I've thrown away box after box of business cards through the years. So today I want to share what you can use instead, how to handle the whole business card situation. In fact, I have three ideas that I can't wait to share with you. But before we do that, are you finding this podcast helpful? Like I'm over here throwing down what I think is helpful information, perspective tips week after week for health coaches. So what's resonating? I would absolutely love if you would take a minute and write a written review of the show on Apple Podcasts, because that's what helps us reach more coaches. And we know there are health coaches out there who need this sort of support. And it also allows me to keep showing up for you every single week.

In fact, if you do that, I may even read your review live on the air. I like to do that from time to time. And if I do, I got a little gift to send your way. So head over to Apple Podcasts, write us a review, and then keep your ears open for me to very, very possibly read it in a future episode. Thank you so much for that is a huge way to support the show. Back to business cards for today though, or rather, the idea of not using business cards. So this question came up recently among my Healthy Profit University members. Now, I don't know if you know this, but every week I hold a live office hours style or mentorship type call for my HPU members. And in this episode I'm about to share a small snippet from one of our calls when Kathy and Kathy is so lovely, I just adore her. She came to the call and she asked, what can she give people when they express interest in her business? She felt like she needed something to give them maybe like a business card. So I gave Kathy two alternatives that work really well, and you're going to hear those in just a minute. Then at the end, I have one more bonus idea to add on for you. So stick around for that because it has been a game changer in my own business. You want business cards? Is that what you're saying to me, Kathy?

Kathy:
So I'm older than you just by a month, probably. Probably. So I just didn't know if, is that the cool thing that you want to have? Cause I don't want to get into detail with a flyer per se. I want to be able to talk, but the other day I think I shared that I had met somebody if she was a teacher and she was at the pharmacy at Walmart, she's busy, but at the same time she's asking me, oh my word, I'm really interested in this and I know people and blah, blah, blah. Write your phone number down. So I did, but I didn't really like that. I'd rather have something concrete to give people.

Michelle:
All right.

Kathy:
One question short, right? What's your recommendation?

Michelle:
Here's my recommendation. Cause Well, did she call you first of all?

Kathy:
No, and I know what she is and she knows me not well, but we've taught together back in the day, and so I do feel comfortable going back in there. I really feel like she meant what she said. So it's not a lost cause, but...

Michelle:
Totally. And people mean it, right? Even if you had a business card and they take it or whatever they do, they mean well in that moment, but where business cards end up the bottom of your purse covered in crumbs. Yeah.

Kathy:
They do.

Michelle:
So what I was doing for a long, what I have done for a very long time is when someone shows any type of interest, I ask for their email address.

Kathy:
Oh, I like that.

Michelle:
And I try to find, I mean, it could just be like, I'll email you. But usually we got there somehow, we were talking about something in this case. How did you even get into the conversation about this?

Kathy:
Oh, well, I'm not teaching anymore. I'm doing what my heart is le, I'm happy in this health and wellness. And then she's like, what do you do? And then there we go. And she's like, oh yes, I really want information. And I know people and...

Michelle:
Okay, so maybe she's having difficulty with her fill in the blank health issue.

Kathy:
Right? Sure.

Michelle:
Okay. So I would come up with something that you could send her - a reason to get her email address. You know, could say, oh, I have, Lisa could say, oh, I have this podcast episode about that, that I can send to you. Or I have a blog post, right? Kathy, I have a blog post that I think you'd be interested in. Or I have a recipe book, or I have whatever. Even if it's not your stuff, even if it's like you're going to refer them to a product or whatever. Sometimes people have got into a conversation because they're like, did you make these cookies? And I'm like, I did. And they're grain free. And then we'll send you the recipe. So anyway, you take the ownership of like, you're going to take the next step, not them. Cause they're just going to put it in their purse. That's the end of it. And then when you email them, you have a reason. It's not just Gotcha. Oh, I said hi, and I'm just calling to connect and here's that thing I told you about.

Kathy:
I like that a lot. Thank you. I knew you'd have an answer.

Michelle:
Yeah, I mean, always. I think I just started doing it because I didn't have a business card and I had to come up with a way to get in touch with people.

Kathy:
Really think business cards were the answer. So see, I asked the right question today,

Michelle:
I like this so much more as a, and then you, it's good to ask a question, an easy question. Okay, here's the thing I'm sending you. Are you looking to accomplish X, Y, Z this year? Or, when is your daughter's wedding again or something that's an easy thing that they can answer. That way they are inclined to do so.

Kathy:
Okay.

Michelle:
And then you have a conversation.

Kathy:
Yes. Perfect.

Michelle:
Beautiful. Yeah. And then the second thing I wanted to tell everybody about in terms of business cards is, again, we just started doing this at the conference last month, is using an app for a digital business card. And I don't have my phone up here, I would just show you what it looks like. But if you go to, hi, hello. It's just an app that I downloaded for free and it will allow you to make a digital business card very, very easily. So if you do want to give a card, basically you just pull up a QR code and somebody scans it and then they can save the contact directly to their contacts.

Kathy:
Nice.

Michelle:
Okay. Their phone, which is cool. It doesn't mean they're going to do anything with it, but it does serve that purpose because I really feel like paper business cards are a big waste.

Kathy:
Yeah. Yeah. Great. Perfect. Thank you.

Michelle:
There you have it a peek into what it's like to have your questions answered inside Healthy Profit University and two very good alternatives to standard business cards. What do you think? I got a third idea that I just have to share with you as a bonus, kind of goes along with this same theme. See, the most traction that you're ever going to get in your business is with the people, right? Your connections, your network. Now, sometimes these people may become a client very often, they're going to be able to connect you to clients in one way or another. In any case, it's one thing for you to exchange a business card one time or a digital business card or an email or two. It's another to make someone a regular part of your world, reaching out to them over and over and developing a relationship over time.

Anybody in sales knows this, by the way. This is the number one way to drive business. And I know we are health coaches and we hate, when I just said in sales, you probably went, oh, I don't want to be in sales. No, none of us do. But think of it this way, we are absolutely in the business of building relationships, right? Coaching, it's all about relationship. So recently I started using an inexpensive service. It's called Dex, d e x. It's short for Rolodex. And if you're old like me, you will remember Rolodex just sitting on the desk, sitting in your parents' office maybe depending on what age you are. Dex keeps track of your contacts and it also keeps track of when you last spoke to them automatically. It's really cool. But the magic is that you can set a reminder to refresh your connection with people after a given length of time, one month or three months or whatever period of time you set.

So Dex sends me a reminder like, Hey, you haven't touched base with so-and-so for a while. And that prompts me in like two seconds to just shoot them a little email, say hello, maybe try to set up a coffee date or even just comment on their social media post so that they see me and they remember me. It just keeps the connection alive. So that is my bonus tip for you today. Don't let your connections be a one and done affair. The value of your network is going to pay off over time if you nurture it. And Dex is a really great tool. I highly recommend it, and you can get started for free at healthcoachpower.com/dex. All right, enjoy your summertime everyone. And if you are currently seeking to add more clients to your health coaching business, we would love to send you our Healthy Profit University blueprint, free of charge email support at healthcoachpower.com, and we will get it right over to you.