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1. Pick a niche that you love and get really clear who you want to work and what they struggle with and clearly communicate it in a way that others know exactly who you help and how you help them. When I started my business I would introduce myself as a business coach, and back in 2007 most people didn’t know what a business coach was and they would ask me “what sport”. It took me almost two years to realized that I had to get clearer in who my dream clients are and in my messaging and when I started telling people that I helped ambitious heart-centered service-based entrepreneurs who wanted to create profitable businesses, by deepening their brand foundation and increasing their visibility, it finally clicked and I started getting referrals and connecting with the right type of client.
2. Create a Personal Brand and Show up as yourself. Don’t watch what other people are doing. When I first started my business I joke that “I felt like a little girl playing dress-up in her mom’s closet.” I would show up to networking events and meetings wearing business suits, carrying a leather-bound legal pad to take notes and I felt so awkward and uncomfortable. I was completely out of alignment with myself and out of character but it’s what I saw other business coaches doing and I thought that I had to show up that way as well.
I see it with almost every entrepreneur at some point as they start their business, and it’s a major form of impostor syndrome. When I started showing up as myself and dressing more like myself, I finally felt comfortable. The best part was that I was showing up as my unique authentic self, not like what I thought I was “supposed” to be. During that time I realized how important it was to BE YOU! That is what really connects you with dream clients. You don’t have to pretend to be something you’re not, your dream clients will resonate with you…. your personality, your stories, your quirks because they will feel truly connected to you, your brand, and your business.
3. Share your mission, purpose and values in your business. It’s so important to have a purpose-driven business, especially with how much our world has changed over the past few year. Your clients want to know what you stand for, what your values are, and why you do the work that you do.
I’ve made it my personal mission to empower ambitious heart-centered service-based entrepreneurs to gain confidence and clarity in their personal brand and business by sharing their authentic stories so they can attract their ideal clients and stand out online.
I learned early on that when we stand in our true power and allow ourselves to show up as our authentic true selves we’re able to make an impact in the world and create a business and life that we love. My vision has always been to support big-hearted entrepreneurs in creating a revenue-generating business that creates a ripple effect for generations to come. I started my business because I knew I wanted more in my life, I wanted to be able to make a huge impact and be a part of the change. Knowing I’m creating a legacy that would make my mom and kids proud is what keeps me going.
Share your brand values. I think the best way for any of us to demonstrate our brand values is by showing up as ourselves and not being afraid to share our thoughts and our opinions. Share your values on your website, in your blog posts, when you create videos, lead workshops, and in your newsletter. What you stand for and value should show up consistently in everything you do.
My goal is to have my online community feel like they know me so well that when we’re able to meet in person (which hopefully we can start doing again later this year) we don’t skip a beat and they’ll feel like they already know me, and the only thing they might think is that they thought I would be taller. But never doubt that they know who I am as a person. This will help you attract your dream clients and repel the clients that are not the right fit to work within your business.
4. Create and have one signature 1:1 offer for your business that is the main thing you talk about and lead your clients towards. So often I see new coaches start their business with multiple offers or they create unique packages for each client and it makes it hard to market and scale your business. Instead craft a framework for how you work with clients through your signature offer and use that to create content, coach your clients and scale your business. This takes all the guesswork out as you market your business and it’s super clear with your messaging exactly how you support your clients, and makes it an easy yes to working with you.
5. Share a story in everything that you do. The easiest way to create a strong connection with your dream clients and to grow your personal brand and business is to build a strong connection by sharing a story in everything that you do. Jerome Bruner recently said that people are 22 times more likely to remember a fact when it has been wrapped in a story. So when you’re recording a video, writing a blog post, speaking on stage, or showing up on a podcast you want to be memorable. Find a way to share a story about yourself, your clients, or something you’ve heard to pull your dream clients in so that they can see themselves in the story and take them on a journey with you.
There is a ton of competition out there in every industry. The one thing that we each have going for us, that no one else has, is our story. We must share our unique life story, experiences, skills, stance, values & purpose as part of our brand story so that others can get to know us and we can start building on the know, like, and trust factor. When we share from our heart and our life experiences it makes it easy to attract our dream clients and repels the people that are not the right fit for our brand and business.
As a mother, wife, connector, and dream builder, I’m Darlene Hawley, the founder of DarleneHawley.com and an Executive Leadership & Businesss Coach dedicated to empowering leaders like you.
My passion lies in helping ambitious professionals cultivate their unique leadership style while crafting an authentic and impactful personal brand. Through my coaching, we’ll work together to build a solid foundation that not only inspires your team but also drives results and growth within your organization.
Since 2007, I have been committed to guiding leaders and entrepreneurs in launching and scaling their businesses with confidence and clarity.
Today, I focus on supporting women in reaching their leadership goals and living their dream lives—all while balancing the joys of raising my family and creating meaningful memories each day.
Together, we’ll transform your challenges into opportunities, allowing you to lead with authenticity and inspire those around you.