Marketing Tips, Tricks, Experiences, Marketing 101

[DesireInspires]

I just checked out musiciancoaching dot com. The site has some excellent marketing tips for musicians.

Marketing tips: http://tinyurl.com/cq895et

[coachdebra]

I just checked out musiciancoaching dot com. The site has some excellent marketing tips for musicians.

Marketing tips: http://tinyurl.com/cq895et

Rick Goetz has a lot of good info on his site. Though it is a pet peeve of mine when a consultant calls themselves a coach - but has no coach training. Because "coaching" has become a thing.

There is a difference between coaching and consulting. Consulting is giving advice. And Rick is a consultant - he just calls it coaching. Don't get me wrong - there is a place for consultants in your business. It's just not the same thing as coaching.

OK - now that I got that off my chest...

Your music business COACH,
Debra

[DesireInspires]

Rick Goetz has a lot of good info on his site. Though it is a pet peeve of mine when a consultant calls themselves a coach - but has no coach training. Because "coaching" has become a thing.

There is a difference between coaching and consulting. Consulting is giving advice. And Rick is a consultant - he just calls it coaching. Don't get me wrong - there is a place for consultants in your business. It's just not the same thing as coaching.

OK - now that I got that off my chest...

Your music business COACH,
Debra

Hey Deb,

Can you explain to us what the difference is between coaching and consulting?

[coachdebra]

Rick Goetz has a lot of good info on his site. Though it is a pet peeve of mine when a consultant calls themselves a coach - but has no coach training. Because "coaching" has become a thing.

There is a difference between coaching and consulting. Consulting is giving advice. And Rick is a consultant - he just calls it coaching. Don't get me wrong - there is a place for consultants in your business. It's just not the same thing as coaching.

OK - now that I got that off my chest...

Your music business COACH,
Debra

Hey Deb,

Can you explain to us what the difference is between coaching and consulting?

Sure DI - thanks for asking!

The short answer - a consultant tells you WHAT to do. And generally, that's where it ends.

A coach helps you figure out what to do (sometimes pointing you in the right direction for research, sometimes giving you the benefit of their knowledge, depending on the goal and the coach). This differs from telling you what to do in the same way that giving a person a fish feeds them for a day and teaching them how to fish feeds them for life.

And then a coach also helps you figure out HOW to do it -
- including how to get out of your own way if you're blocked or fearful or confused,
- figuring out which steps to take in what order,
- creating a plan for bigger projects.

And holds you ACCOUNTABLE for getting it done.

I have often recommended that a client seek out a consultant for a problem area that I didn't feel I had sufficient expertise in and then I helped them implement the recommendations. You can read more about my definition of coaching (and different coaches do define it somewhat differently) at my FAQ page - http://artists-edge.com/faq/

Debra

[brentmagstadt]

Yeah. It is such a shame I have to tap dance and walk on eggshells somedays.

I have a growing ambivalence to not only the work I do, but the people I work with. I cannot get myself to maintain and stay cool like I used to. I have noticed myself making sarcastic and brash comments about different things. I am not able to play along like a good guy anymore because I do not care too much anymore.

It'll be over soon.

Yep. For us all.

[suzdoyle]

I would add that natural "sales" is asking questions of a potential client to determine what their needs are, and if you (or your music/ product etc.) is the right match for their needs). If not, you help them find the person/ product that works best for them. This kind of non-attachment to outcome and concern for the well-being of the client is a more natural way to let one's business grow, and, in my view, is more effective than artificially trying to sell something to someone regardless of what's best for them.

The latter is more about serving one's own needs, which the former is about creating authentic connection and concern for the needs of the potential clients.

By truly caring for one's client and helping then get their needs met (whether it is me doing it or someone else to whom I refer them), I feel a true connection is made, and, as a result, it naturally cultivates a cadre of "champions" who attest to your value to others.

I know I LOVE telling others about people who truly care about my well-being (if they have a product or service that meets my needs or refer me to someone who is a better fit for my needs); whereas I don't enjoy being "pitched to" by someone trying to sell me something, regardless of whether it's really in my best interests.

In my book, I value this kind of authentic connection and concern (in myself and others) in every facet of life, including in sashaying through how one does one's work in the world.


Suz

[coachdebra]

I would add that natural "sales" is asking questions of a potential client to determine what their needs are, and if you (or your music/ product etc.) is the right match for their needs). If not, you help them find the person/ product that works best for them. This kind of non-attachment to outcome and concern for the well-being of the client is a more natural way to let one's business grow, and, in my view, is more effective than artificially trying to sell something to someone regardless of what's best for them.

The latter is more about serving one's own needs, which the former is about creating authentic connection and concern for the needs of the potential clients.

By truly caring for one's client and helping then get their needs met (whether it is me doing it or someone else to whom I refer them), I feel a true connection is made, and, as a result, it naturally cultivates a cadre of "champions" who attest to your value to others.

I know I LOVE telling others about people who truly care about my well-being (if they have a product or service that meets my needs or refer me to someone who is a better fit for my needs); whereas I don't enjoy being "pitched to" by someone trying to sell me something, regardless of whether it's really in my best interests.

In my book, I value this kind of authentic connection and concern (in myself and others) in every facet of life, including in sashaying through how one does one's work in the world.


Suz

YES! I totally agree! You are in a service business - you are in business to serve your clients/customers/fans. If you think you are in business to create music - then you are not in business, you are in hobby.... Because if what you create does not have a customer who is served by it, who wants it and is willing to pay for it, it's not a business.

[DesireInspires]

If you think you are in business to create music - then you are not in business, you are in hobby.... Because if what you create does not have a customer who is served by it, who wants it and is willing to pay for it, it's not a business.

I am in hobby. Yes!