A couple of years ago, I had a fellow blogger say to me, “You should be a blog coach.”
Not really knowing what a blogging coach does, I let it go.
Then again recently, another blogger told me the same.
This time I questioned it further.
Today’s Lesson
Not only is real life, but online too, we see coaches, consultants, trainers and paid “helpers” for nearly everything imaginable.
You see them. I see them.
Life coaches. Career coaches. Money coaches. Writing coaches. Business consultants. SEO and Social Media Consultants. Personal trainers. And the list goes on, and on.
Some will say their life changed due to their experience with a coach or consultant, whereas others think it’s a complete waste of time and money.
Anyway, back to blog coaching….
Because I’m not sure what a blog coach does, I question if there’s even a need for one.
Let’s face it. Anyone who has blogged for any length of time will tell you, “Blogs are individual”. “Blog from your heart”. “Make your blog a reflection of YOU.”.
And that’s what we do. We individualize our blogs.
We find a theme that suits us. We add plugins and widgets that meet our needs. Then we write from the heart and may even show pictures which reflect our thoughts at that moment.
We visit other blogs. Connect with like minded people and progress at our own pace dependent on how much time we have to blog.
We experiment with that which we read and toss out that which doesn’t work.
We blog with no obligation. Answering to no one.
So I ask, what would a blog coach even do?
Regenerate the information other bloggers are telling us?
Maybe help out with a little bit of SEO (search engine optimization)?
Hold our hand?
Give us a pat on the back for a job well done?
Be the fall guy if our blog doesn’t take off the way we expected?
Personally, even though some think I would be a good blog coach, that which I know can be found on this blog.
As I learn more, I add it.
Ask me a question, and I’ll give you my opinion. For free.
And if you can’t find what you’re looking for here, there are plenty of other blogging bloggers willingly sharing what they know.
On that note…
Today’s Assignment
Would you ever consider hiring a blogging coach?
If so, how do you think they could help you?
Out of curiosity, are you a coach or consultant or have you ever used one?
Care to share?
~Barbara.
Hi Barbara,
Hiring a blogging coach?
I suppose it’ll depend on what we want to do with our blogs. If it is about efficiency to create money, my guess is that a blogging coach could be of help and the cost be a part of the investment, but if we just want to blog for the fun of it, then having a blogging coach could deviate the personal feelings and intentions of the blogger.
Coaching for bloggers? Definitely the information is already in the net and is free, but when someone is in a hurry to get the facts and have a guide that will steer him/her from all the crap that’s also in the net, a blogging coach should be of invaluable help and for the coach it could become a good business (I suppose)
Raul
Hi Raul,
I agree, a blog coach could help us become more efficient, especially when I think about how much time I’ve spent beating my head against the wall trying to learn something new. However, as you said, it could also take away from the blogging experience.
I’m guessing it comes down to what we want to accomplish and in what time frame.
Hi Barbara – I think the main difference when working with a coach of any sort is the addition of accountability to the equation. I do make my living from consulting and retainer work on all sorts of Internet-related things, and use the Internet to do it. It’s easy enough to Google free information and derive a consensus as to practice for ROI, and even a resulting plan, from that. But, like Godin says, “You gotta ship” – meaning you have to execute. So for some who are challenged to follow through, coaching services would supplement what you already do perhaps?
Hi Betsy,
That’s true. A coach of any kind makes us accountable. And I wonder too, if we’re paying money to someone to guide us if we don’t take our endeavor a bit more seriously. And like you said, a coach or consultant might help us finish what we start.
Hi Betsy and Barbara,
This was my thought – really with any kind of coaching – being held accountable for what I say I want to do (and then doing it!) and getting another perspective on things that might be too close for us to view it impartially.
I also think it really depends on what you want to do with your blog. If I were just blogging for the hell of it (and I’ve been doing that for over 8 years) then, no. I wouldn’t need a coach or a consultant for that.
But taking a blog/business public requires knowledge that I don’t have. Will I learn it eventually? Probably, but if it’s not my main field of expertise and my blog is more of a vehicle for my services, then I have no problem with hiring someone to guide me in the right direction. I will have to do the legwork myself, of course (i.e.: commenting, advertising, etc.), but having someone not attached to the outcome give me a perspective I don’t have, I consider that a wonderful investment of my money to help grow my business.
🙂 Wonderful topic for discussion!
Hi Lisa,
That’s true. What we want to do with our blog or where we want our blog to take us, would make a difference on whether we’d consider hiring a coach or consultant. Like you said, another person gives us another perspective, and it’s often one we’ve not thought of.
Hi Barb! LOL, you mean you AREN’T a blog coach? You do give a ton of great info away – I for one appreciate that! I’d hire you or a “coachy type” to design and set up a blog for me but as far as writing and going forward with it, I’m ok as long as I stick with what (little) I know how to do.
As for coaching in general, I’m getting into just that – in the natural health/nutrition area. After 30 plus years of doing research, reading, cooking and testing recipes and already helping people, I’m bumping it up a notch with certification. I look forward to it! 🙂
hugs
suZen
Thank you Suzen,
You raise a good point. For some bloggers, there are only certain areas they would want help. Like for you, designing and set up, whereas, you feel comfortable with the writing part. I’m thinking that’s where a more specialized niche would come into play.
You’re full of surprises. I knew you were heading in a different direction with your blog, but wasn’t aware you’ll be getting certified as a coach/consultant in the natural health/nutrition field. How exciting! Please keep me posted on your progress.
And you know, I will you all the best. 🙂
I can think of a lot of instances where having a blog coach or consultant could save a lot of time and wasted effort. For my personal blog, I didn’t have the money or the desire to spend money to learn, so I am self taught and it did take a considerable amount of time and mistakes to get where I am.
On the other hand, for some of the professional blogs/sites I’ve worked on, I’ve had the benefit of watching what a professional coach/consultant can do and they can deliver the equivalent of a month or two of fumbling and searching around in one hour.
If you don’t have the time and you do have the money, hiring outside help to give you a jump start is a great option. I am not a coach now but in the future I might go down the path of paid consultation work. Of course, I’m happy to help when I can for free but if somebody wants a guarantee of having my ear and advice, I think it’s fair to charge.
Hi Tracy,
Definitely. If we were able to find a coach we could trust, and who we know has the experience, paying them to get us a jump start could save us tons of time.
Like you, I am also self taught and learned from my mistakes. Although learning blogging that way can make it slower, when all is said and done, we also end up with more compassion for others who are in our shoes who may be willing to pay for help.
Hi Barbara – I had to go away and think about this. I have used a business coach before – she charged several thousand upfront and basically she sucked. I should have asked for a refund but I couldn’t be bothered with the hassle at the time.
But, there are good coaches out there, who really do care what they’re doing and genuinely want to help you – folk like Davina Haisell and Tom Volkar, for example.
Initially, I was going to suggest that you might do blog consulting for existing businesses who want to start a blog but a lot of folk are doing that already and I think you’d be wiser offering something that your existing audience needs.
When I started blogging, I would have paid for some guidance. When you start something totally new like blogging, it’s not just about learning what to do but knowing what you need to do and how all the pieces fit together. I found it all so difficult to learn. Simple things like installing wordpress and changing the header were totally beyond me.
The trouble is, in the beginning it’s difficult to know who to trust, or who to ask for help. And I think you’re in a perfect position for that, as you have an audience who already know and trust you. Aside from the technical things, you could give them a head start on building a community and how to write posts that encourage discussion etc.
Hi Cath,
Thank you for sharing your experience with a business coach. Although they’re not all bad, what you said is a good reminder we do need to be careful before we start shelling out money.
Isn’t it amazing when we look back to those early days and realize what someone who had experience could have taught us? Like you, changing my header was foreign to me, as was most stuff behind the scenes. In fact, at times I was petrified when it was time to hit “Update”. Yikes!!!
At this point in time, blog consulting is not something I’m considering, however, I won’t close the door on it. One never knows what the future will hold. 🙂
Thanks for the mention, Cath. I’m in good company there, alongside Tom 🙂
Barbara, I don’t think I’d hire a blog coach, because quite frankly I wouldn’t hire any other kind of coach! I think coaching can be of enormous benefit to those who choose that path. Me? I need someone alongside me, a confidant, a mentor, someone who is as personally and emotionally invested in the journey as I am. Heck, I would be those things for anyone who asks it of me. It’s the least I can do. Yup, it’s the journey that counts; outcomes can take care of themselves. 🙂
Hi Tony,
Like you, I’ve never thought of hiring a coach either, although I’ve read stories of coaches, consultants, etc have been a tremendous help to others. At times I wonder if I’d be further ahead in life if I had, but like you, I’m enjoying the journey; hard knocks and all. 8)
Barbra,
I have never hired or used a coach. Don’t plan on hiring a blog coach.
Several years ago my wife ran a restaurant and her corporate office hired a coaching company to “coach” all of the managers. It was shall I say interesting be around her on coaching days.
Hi Bruce,
Oh boy. I can imagine your wife must have had some mighty interesting stories about being coached. And I’m guessing those who were coaching had no experience in managing a restaurant on a day to day basis, either. It just doesn’t work the same way in real life as it says it SHOULD in “the book”, does it? 😉
Hi Barbara,
The question that is most important is WHY would someone hire a blogging coach?
People hire consultants/coaches because they want to grow their business but they aren’t sure how to do it. They have exhausted all the growth efforts of their own and they are looking for a new perspective. A consultant can come in and see what the business owner can’t. It can also be a matter of expertise. Maybe the business owner wants to launch a new service/product and isn’t sure the best way to go about doing it. So he/she hires a consultant to help, direct, and maybe even implement the process.
I can see blog coaching being the same way. Maybe a company wants to start blogging as part of their marketing tactics – to connect with their clients better, but they don’t know how to go about doing it and getting the word out. I can see where they would hire a blogging coach to design, implement, and manage it for them.
Coaching isn’t for everyone for sure. And I’m not saying that you, personally should start coaching unless that is something you want to do. I think it’s awesome that you are offering your expertise for free. 🙂
Thank you Heather,
That’s very true. In business, we’re often so close to the situation, we don’t see the areas where we need improvement, nor are we always willing to admit we need help. An unbiased view point can open doors to all kinds of possibilities. And, like you said, with blogs, some companies may have no clue how to even start one but yet they know it could be a huge benefit.
Hi Barbara
I came to blogging knowing something about SEO, the importance of domain name, html, CSS etc I also knew that WordPress appeared to be taking over the world so it was easy for me to decide to use WordPress and buy a good (for SEO) domain name.
From there I was able to learn from the info out there on the web.
People who helped most…
John Hoff for technical info and WordPress security.
Barbara S for how to reply to comments and become part of the blogging community.
Also had great advice from the people over at Elegant Themes.
Summary – I didn’t need a blogging coach but an absolute beginner may well benefit.
Hi Keith,
I think it makes a difference if we know at least a little about the blogging process before we start. I didn’t, but since I love to learn, as much as I beat my head against the wall, the learning process became part of the blogging journey.
That said, I with you and see how a blog coach could help a new blogger IF they know blogging is something they truly want to pursue.
If you are a beginner, new to blogging, new to seo, new to social media and whatever else comes to mind, the word I would use versus coach would be mentor. In the beginning, blogs can be intimidating and someone that is there to just guide you through the land mines is wonderful.
If you have some experience, use of fellow bloggers and/or a mentor is absolutely being given a life preserver in some cases.
Hi Linda,
That’s very true. Having a mentor to be able to turn to would be a HUGE benefit to a new blogger. In fact, I remember awhile back landing on a site that was trying to do just that – matching up a new blogger to a mentoring older blogger. I don’t know if the idea ended up taking off, but when I saw what they were doing, I thought it was a great idea.
Hi Barb.
This is a loaded question. A really good one. I read yours and several other blogs regularly, buy ebooks and subscribe here and there online to get tips and thoughts and ideas. I also take classes online to better learn the underworkings of all-things-blogging. Those are short-term investments with various instructors and classmates who share what and how they are learning. I share what I know for free as well — my painting tutorials on forums, on my new blog, and in the Digital Painting Magazine.
I had a highly-respected business coach once who told me if I didn’t do what he suggested don’t ask the same question again. I suppose he was right — but that approach didn’t work for me. It kind of shied me away from coaches. Even though I love to learn.
I have a blogging instructor whom I’ve asked to retain, just to ask her my sticky geeky questions in or out of class. She answers them for free. Bless her… But she’s hard to get hold of and I hate taking advantage of her.
Would I hire you? Depends on the arrangement — you’d certainly share space at the top of the list. But could I even afford you? Hmmm…..
I haven’t done much but ramble — I’m sorry. I’ll think about this some more, but in the meantime, why not bundle some informational posts together into an ebook? I know I’d buy that in a hurry. 🙂
Barb
Thank you Barb,
I’m actually shocked a coach would tell you that – “if I didn’t do what he suggested don’t ask the same question again.” That approach wouldn’t work for me, either.
It sounds like you’re covering all of your bases with the classes you’re taking online. Like you, I enjoy hearing a multitude of ideas and then picking out the ones that work best for me.
Blog coaching or consulting for me? That’s not something I’m considering. Right now my plate is a little too full.
An ebook? I do have an idea for one currently marinating. I’ll be writing about it in the not too distant future. Stay tuned. 🙂
I’ve never used a blog coach. I am one of those ridiculously independent people who loves the challenge of struggling through and learning as I go. I’m a real proponent of trial and error learning. But, on the other hand…
I do some blog coaching and have helped a number of people set up and start a blog. People who don’t have the talent or skill for finding the information they need fast, can often use a coach to send them in the right direction. A coach get them up and published much more quickly than they could on their own.
I am currently engaged in helping a professional comedian set up a blog. She hasn’t got the time to research the how-tos of blogging, promotion and networking. After a series of interviews and questions I assisted her in choosing her domain name, domain host and WordPress Theme. I make myself available to answer her questions and help her grow in her expertise as a blogger.
In addition I introduced her to the notion of promotion and presented her with various proven ways in which she can promote her blog.
Nothing I do is aimed at removing her individual approach to blogging. In fact it’s my job to facilitate her blog to showcase her individuality in the best ways possible.
She does her own blogging. I just standby to help her with the technical aspects. For her a blog coach is a real help. After all her blog is suppose to help her career, not be her career.
Hi Joella,
Haha! We must be blogging sisters as I’m the same way – learn by trial and error. I don’t know about you, but when I learn that way, it sticks.
How exciting that you’re coaching others about blogging. Like you said, it helps those who don’t understand or don’t want to take the time to learn the behind the scenes stuff, but yet like to write; do the actual blogging.
I like how you put that, “her blog is suppose to help her career, not be her career.”
I agree Barbara, learning by trial and error is the ultimate “hands-on” when it comes to information retention. Your brain is more engaged as you research and struggle to grasp and master a new concept or skill.
Yup not everyone wants a blog to be such a big part of their life. Especially when it’s a business blog. It’s there to enhance that business or career, not take over their lives.
When I began my first blog and realized I could reach out to the world and have it reach back, I enjoyed the process of learning more about blogging bit by bit. As I move into leveraging a site and intellectual property into monetization, I wish I knew more.
Hi Lori,
You’re right. When we start blogging, if we’re willing to reach out for help, others will reach back and help us. Blogosphere is pretty awesome that way.
I think a blog coach could work for businesses, not so much for personal bloggers.
Hi Vered,
I agree. Personal bloggers may not feel the need to have that jump start like those who are in business.
Hi Barbara,
Interesting…I think you would make an excellent blogging coach..
I didn’t use a blogging coach, but I *did* have excellent mentors within the community who have encouraged and supported me along the way. My blog, and my business, has grown because of their input.
I am a life coach/motivational speaker. There are many people who would not consider a life coach, or any coach, and I understand. There are some who would like to move ahead in certain areas and are unsure how, or who need extra motivation/inspiration..and I provide that.
In my personal life, I am fortunate to have had mentors in many areas in life who teach me as I go..and I provide the same to all who ask that of me..I think it’s sharing Energy. My business is unrelated to that…my business is taking it a step farther and giving you specialized undivided custom attention in large quantities of time. I tend to be an adventurous jumper type, so I think I would completely overwhelm a life coach…I did win a work coach session with Karl at Work Happy Now..and *that* was marvelous..he gave me some insights and I used his knowledge to move forward with a few projects..
Thank you Joy,
I know what you’re saying. When others give their input, it helps us to look at the larger picture and move forward faster.
Your career as a life coach and motivational speaker sounds fascinating. I’m guessing your clients are quite pleased having your undivided attention and guidance.
Congrats on winning your work coaching session with Karl. I’m familiar with his blog and like how he carved out the “work happy” niche.
Barbara,
“Personally, even though some think I would be a good blog coach, that which I know can be found on this blog.” 🙂 I’ve mentioned this to you, using the term “coach” rather loosely. A consultant is more along the lines of what you are already doing. A consultant shares their knowledge and gives advice. A coach draws the information out of you; info that is not always obvious because we’re so close to ourselves.
Betsy and Tracy hit the nail on the head by mentioning accountability and saving time. I would hire a blogging consultant if it were in my budget. I agree, there is a LOT of information to be found here on your blog and on the Internet. What isn’t as easily accessible online is the information we each have about ourselves; info that we haven’t even touched yet.
I’m a coach and I’ve also worked with a coach. During session I write so much down and insights are many. It is a step up from brainstorming with friends as there are sometimes certain “hooks” and expectations between friends that aren’t there when working with a coach.
Hi Davina,
*smiles*. Yes, you and I have had this conversation before so you know where I’m coming from.
I agree. Those who do use coaches realize how by doing so, they’re going to save time, plus be accountable to someone else – someone they’re paying. Whereas, like you said, if we’re only talking to, or brainstorming with a friend, we’re under no obligation nor financial commitment.
Barbara,
I wouldn’t ever hire a blogging coach or a life coach.
Everybody should be their own coach. Yes, some people are expert on some subjects and their knowledge could useful to our own development. But the way that that knowledge might be applied to our own special situation, is something that only we can define.
All the best,
Boris
Hi Boris,
I hear what you’re saying. Many do believe we are our own coaches since we know ourselves better than others. That said, there’s are also those who feel a coach is/was able to uncover aspects of their personalities which they failed to see.
I liked Davina’s distinctions that she noted about the difference between a consultant and coach. Davina is my coach right now as I work through getting unstuck with my healing process – She’s great and she is drawing out what is already there and reflecting.
Now if IT Girl decided not to help me with my blog, I would need another IT person to continue blogging, and a consultant (which I read lots and lots of your material in archives) in order to continue.
I want to keep growing and learning as a blogger and I do not want to be left behind like an old stick in the mud.
I would need a consultant because I would need to earn money to pay the consultant!
I used a very powerful coaching company to attempt to re-establish my career and did their course work, but I had the wrong consultant and found the process too impersonal – I feel in hindsight that was a loss of money – a big loss and was not helpful.
Lots to consider from your great questions.
Hi Patricia,
Thank you for sharing your experience with coach Davina. By her helping to speed up your healing process, that does make for a great investment considering how important our health is.
Hopefully you won’t have to worry about the IT girl quitting and you can continue to share you words of wisdom.
I would never hire a blog coach. Learning on your own is the best way of doing it. Also, there is so much information online that you can pretty much teach yourself how to build a rocket ship if you wanted to.
Hi Anthony,
Isn’t that the truth? Online we can find how to do anything, including like you said, building a rocket ship. And when it comes to blogging information, there is tons of it out there.
I do not think I would hire a blogging coach, as there is so much information available for free. In fact, if I simply applied what I know I should be doing, we would be rocking! 😀
Hi Colleen,
Your comment made me laugh. It’s so true. In our travels through blogosphere we can pick up so much information, but, the key is applying it all. 🙂
I say why not? You will attract the clients who resonate with you and are aligned to your messages.
I didn’t pay for a blogging coach when I first started but I sure paid a lot of money to learn internet marketing in general. I also experience a lot of benefit in hiring life coaches when I was working through my own personal issues. I found out that I would not have had so much clarity because my coach can point out issues that I would have otherwise overlooked. I believe in investing in myself. I don’t see it as an expense; but more like an investment.
Hi Evelyn,
That’s a great way to look at hiring life coaches or consultants to help us improve our lives. I agree with what you said, it is an investment in us and not necessarily an expense. Great observation!
I think you have a ton of experience to share, and experience is the short-cut … and time is money.
I think you found a perfect way to turn your experience and passion into value in the market.
Hi J.D.,
Yes. Time is money. That’s one thing we learned when we become self employed. Often it’s better to hire someone who is experienced in an aspect of a job (i.e. a subcontractor) vs trying to do it ourselves by trial and error and risk losing money.
I wouldn’t go for a blogging coach. However, I would like to follow and learn from the experiences of blogging pros and any advice that’s shared free on their blogs – such as yours 🙂
Hi Ajith,
I believe what you said echos what many others feel as well. With so much information on the web, paying for blogging advice may not appear to be a wise investment.
Barbara,
I think you could find work as a blog coach in one of two areas. The first would be as a coach for corporate bloggers. The second would be as an MMO blogger coach. For the most part, other people who launch blogs aren’t going to seek professional help through a paid channel. They will want everything for free.
Businesses are willing to pay for an experienced blogger to setup and maintain a blog that helps them get more organic search engine traffic. I have seen this firsthand.
Then there are the people who want to build niche blogs and MFA blogs to make a little passive income. Those people are always in need of help because it is way harder to be good at it than you would expect.
Hi Kathy,
That’s a good point. We’re more likely to see a corporation or small business hiring a blog coach or consultant, whereas bloggers themselves, know they can gather the information they need to blog by just searching online. Plus, they may not have a budget for paid help.
There are so many coaches coming out of the wood-work right now….for just about everything you can think of.
And what are their qualifications, exactly? I know that with some, there has at least been some certification/training with some kind of 6-12 month program, of some kind.
But with others, you just have to send in your money, watch some DVD’s, and POOF! You’re a “Certified” Coach.
Or in other cases, you just have to call yourself a “Coach”, and that’s good enough.
And as for the money they’re asking…..SHEESH!!! $100 an hour isn’t unusual.
That’s more than some trained psychologists, who have decades of experience in counselling and therapy.
That’s also more than a Senior Engineer in charge of a nuclear reactor, who’s responsible for public safety and who could go to JAIL if they screw up and people get hurt.
So…my short answer is “No”, I would not hire a coach.
Hi Friar,
That’s true. If we search, we can find coaches for nearly everything imaginable.
Yes. Some coaches are offering their service at a high price. For some clients it appears to be a good investment, but just like anything we purchase, it does become “buyer beware” as I’m sure there are a few “snake oil” coaches out there, too.
P.S. Thank you for your SHORT answer. 8)
Interesting to note that many of the men on here are adamant about not using coaching for any reason. I wonder what that says about how we ask for help (DO we ask for help and if so, in what situations?) in our culture. While I’m pretty smart and can pick up a lot on my own, there are things just out of my realm of knowledge – SEO and marketing, for example. You have to know what you don’t know, you know? 🙂
I love reasearch – could spend all day online reading this or that, taking notes, learning. But when it comes to putting it into action, that’s where I used to stumble. And that is also where a coach really made a difference in my life. She showed me how to bring that information out of my head and into physical reality and I owe her a debt of gratitude for where I am today. For me, a coach has been invaluable.
I am so appreciative of those who feel called to serve by sites like this and many others. The wealth of knowledge is amazing and it serves to empower others as well. Thank you so much, Barbara, for all you do here. It’s definitely one of my “go-to” sites every day.
You’re welcome Lisa,
Great observation. Now that you mention it, I see that too; most guys are saying “NO” to coaching. Hmmm. Might that be fodder for a blog post? I think, maybe. 🙂
I’m happy you shared your experience with a coach. By the sounds of it, your investment was well worth it.
Thank you for your kind words. I truly appreciate it.
Okay, normally, I don’t flog my own blog…but here’s a post I wrote a few months ago, about all the many MANY coaches out there…
http://deepfriar.wordpress.com/2010/02/22/a-twitters-guide-to-selecting-the-right-coach-for-you/
Hi again Friar,
I remember that post, and reread it again. Not only was it a superb read, so were the comments. 🙂
Hi Barbara .. I wouldn’t have started a blog without a group of us combining to work together .. and look what I would have missed!
If someone has a ready-made product, or business, then I believe help with starting a blog would make sense – based on the business .. and then advice to develop it out.
I now have an idea of where I want to go with my blog and I would definitely ask for your help, as I trust you to work with me to develop out the concept/s. I need the technical headstart or continuation. However unfortunately for the time being I’m time straightened .. who knows it may come through!
I’d love to have someone to work with .. and learn at the same time ..
Thanks – love your posts .. Hilary
Thank you Hilary,
How fortunate you were to start blogging the same time as others. I’m sure being able to work together made some of those bumps in the road a little less rough.
As you progress, I’m betting you’ll be a whiz at learning new stuff. Just look how far you’ve come already. 🙂
Hi Barbara .. I couldn’t/wouldn’t have started without the group! Not known what to do or why etc etc – so thank goodness for some help and the idea in the first place.
Once I get myself in gear and without worrying about my Ma etc .. then I’m sure now I will be ok – but I have you to come back to!!
Also .. exactly – I’ve been very lucky and seem to have struck something .. that has a lot of potential for the future – both off line and online ..
Did you get my emails .. by chance? I’ve answered my own questions really .. but I sent them through for reference for us both .. really just wondering if you’d picked them up?
Have a great rest of the week .. Hilary
*smiles* Hilary,
As you were typing this comment, I was probably hitting send on an email to you. Yes. I did get them. Thank you.
You’ve raised another good point. Blogs can help us both online and off, just as you’ve discovered. We never know where a blog can take us, do we?
Happy rest of week to you too, Hilary. 🙂
Since I’m more of a casual blogger than career one, I would not consider hiring a coach. I may ask for advice, but that would be the extent of it. When it comes to who would hire a coach, my best answer is businesses and corporations.
Hi Carla,
I know what you’re saying. Most casual or personal bloggers wouldn’t have a need for a blog coach, but like you said, businesses or corporations could benefit from using one.
Hi Barbara,
I had to think about my answer on this for awhile. I have a great deal of respect for Consultants and Coaches in theory and used a very well respected Real Estate coach for four years to train, counsel and hold me accountable in that business. It was very expensive, however the investment paid off by my business being highly successful and on track at all times and highly focused. I honestly believe I probably owed my level of success to the motivation and constant accountability I got from coaching. When you know that phone is going to ring every week and you are going to be asked…Did you do it? You ARE more likely to get your goals done on time. Even if it was fifteen minutes before the phone rings! 🙂
On the flip side, I don’t trust a lot of the folks who hang a shingle on the door and suddenly call themselves a life coach with nothing to back it up. Friar is right. I am seeing a field that I respect being flooded with snake oil salesmen/women and that is a real concern. People are losing a lot of money and not getting the help they need. That is very sad.
That being said….yes. I have done and currently do consulting. I have been a small business consultant for many years helping small businesses find focus and clarity and create business and marketing plans to help them move forward. It has always saddened me to see people put their life’s dreams and work into their business and not have the tools and knowledge to make their dreams come true.
I bring to the table 30 years of business ownership, sales and marketing as my experience and qualification, so I am confident that I don’t fall into the shingle category.
In our web design business at Sirius Graphix, Blue Sun Studio, inc, we don’t make people pay extra for the consultations though. We feel its such an important part of building a website that its simply part of what we do.. After all, what good is having a website if you don’t have clarity, vision and the tools to know what to do with it? I would feel guilty charging people extra for that because if they chose not to have that discussion before building their website,( because they had to pay for it) they would really be hurting themselves in the long run and that’s not fair.
So MY short answer? (Teehee) It really, really depends. 🙂
Hi Wendi,
I thoroughly enjoyed your “short” answer as you hit on some very good points. There are many coaches and consultants entering the market, advertising how for just “x” number of dollars, they can change our life, help us to make big money, or whatever…., when in truth, THEY are the ones getting rich off of unsuspecting clients.
What I gathered from your comments is it’s a matter of finding and retaining the RIGHT coach or consultant. And just like when we fork out money for a product, it comes down to “buyer beware”.
I think blogging is different. Most of us are all in a way like entrepreneurs. We don’t spend money on stuff like coaching for blogging.
We can self-serve ourselves whatever we need to know by reading relevant blog posts and participating in forums. I personally read at lot at blogs like problogger when I need some help.
You know how everyone says it is their way of giving back to the world when they write a blog? I think the system for bloggers is to take useful advice and then give back useful advice (doesn’t matter what kind of advice it is).
But people will keep on becoming coaches and consultants, and people will always want help. Hopefully bloggers won’t ever end up paying coaches just to learn how to blog. This help is, and should be freely available.
Hi Thinsmek,
That’s true. Bloggers are very similar to entrepreneurs, especially if we want to make money with our blogs, or use our blog as a stepping stone to go elsewhere.
Even though blogging information can be found for free online, I can see how some are willing to pay to learn from a professional. Even though I’m self taught, I know I could have saved tons of time if I had consulted with a professional right from the get go.