Just six weeks after she started networking, Stephanie had 10 clients enrolled in her fall program – and none of them came from social media or her tiny email list. In this episode, Michelle talks with Stephanie about her new business and the conversations that helped her build momentum so quickly. In an era of AI and growing uncertainty about who or what to trust, real relationships are the gold standard, and Stephanie’s story is powerful proof.
Want to start networking like Stephanie? The Client Connection Lab for Health Coaches starts September 2026.
For deeper, personalized business support, email EMPOWERED to michelle@healthcoachpower.com.
Connect with Michelle:
📘 Facebook group: https://HealthCoachPowerCommunity.com
💻 Website: https://HealthCoachPower.com
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💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellepf/
Why Networking Can Work Faster Than Building a Mailing List For Your Health Coaching Business
Six weeks ago, Stephanie started networking for her brand-new health practice. Today, she has 10 clients enrolled in her fall program.
And none of them came from social media.
(None came from her email list, either. Stephanie’s list is only about 40 people right now.)
What changed was that she started having more conversations. Not a funnel. Not a big launch. Not months of posting.
She simply started meeting people.
One Conversation Creates the Next
This is the part of networking that’s easy to underestimate. You go to one event and meet one person.
That person introduces you to someone else. Someone mentions a group you should attend. Another person knows someone who could use your help.
The opportunity expands from there.
Not every conversation turns into a client – that isn’t the point.
The point is that, when done well, every conversation increases the number of people who know what you do. And when people know what you do, they can hire you, refer you, invite you to speak, or connect you with someone else.
Health Coaches Are Rarely Expert Marketers
Stephanie recently left a long and successful career in finance. She was accomplished, professional, and very capable.
But marketing her own business was new. She felt like a beginner.
That matters because so many health coaches assume they need more confidence before they put themselves out there. They think they need a better pitch, a better website, a better niche, or better messaging.
Then they’ll start talking to people.
Stephanie did the opposite. She started talking to people, and the clarity came from there.
Networking Gets Easier When You Actually Do It
The first few conversations may feel awkward. You may stumble over how you describe what you do or wonder whether you’re saying too much. Or not enough.
That’s normal. You learn by doing it.
The more Stephanie talked about her work, the more comfortable she became. She learned what people responded to and got better at following up.
She also got better at recognizing a real opportunity and knowing when to keep the conversation going.
That is hard to learn in theory. You gotta practice.
You May Not Need More Followers
Health coaches often assume the answer to “I need more clients” is “I need a bigger audience.”
Sometimes it is. But sometimes you need more real relationships – which, these days, is the gold standard for business growth.
One real, human conversation can lead to another person, another introduction, another opportunity.
That’s exactly what happened for Stephanie. She didn’t need thousands of followers to fill her program.
She needed enough of the right people to know she existed.
Health Coaches Need More Conversations
Social media can absolutely support your business. But it’s not the only path – and for most health coaches, it’s not be the fastest one.
Especially if you are spending hours creating content without actually talking to anyone.
Networking puts you in direct contact with real people. People who can ask questions, tell you what they need, and immediately think of someone they know.
That feedback loop is fast. And it builds confidence quickly.
You stop wondering whether anyone wants what you offer, and start finding out.
Ten Clients in Six Weeks Is the Result
But the bigger win is that Stephanie now knows how to create opportunities. She doesn’t have to sit around hoping someone discovers her website.
She knows how to meet people. She knows how to talk about what she does. She knows how to follow up.
That’s a skill she can keep using long after this fall program is over.
Want to network like Stephanie? Oh, heck yeah!
The Client Connection Lab starts September 2026. We’ll focus on creating more conversations that lead to clients, referrals, partnerships and opportunities. Click here for more info
And if you want deeper, personalized support with your health coaching business, email EMPOWERED to michelle@healthcoachpower.com.
