Break all the Business Rules...and Thrive?
Calling all Female Founders and Mindful Leaders: The rules don't apply for you because they were never meant to. You're a trailblazing change-maker who believes business is a vehicle for powerful good and world-changing ideas. Break the Business Rules to Thrive and join me in doing Business as Unusual | Kellie Adkins, Holistic Business Coach
The “Rules” of business-as-usual say…
Work long hours
Hustle harder than everyone
Be everywhere on the internet
Market with sleazy high pressure tactics
Launch shoddy programs …
Then upsell when they don’t deliver results (cue the “from 6-to-7 figures expert advice”)
Sacrifice your talents to “prove your worth”
Undercharge for your services to “stay competitive”
Undercharge because you’re a woman/minority/neurodivergent in business
I don’t want to live (or run my business by) those rules anymore.
There are more important things to prioritize than hustle culture.
Democracy is being threatened around the world.
AI is coming for our jobs and affecting our brains.
Racism is experiencing a global resurgence.
Misogyny seems to be the new(again) standard.
A history of violence against women is no longer a barrier to nomination (or election) to the highest levels of government in the United States.
No longer is it gauche to attack someone based on their beliefs, racial identity, or gender: online or in person.
Which is why NOW is not the time to play by the rules: their rules.
Now is the time to toss out the rule book and get rebellious.
Now is the time to be the change.
Mindful, yes.
Not quiet. Not demure.
Let’s ignore the rules and embrace business-as-Unusual.
Business as Unusual says…
Honor your body’s needs to build a business that doesn’t burn you out
Center in your strengths for optimal productivity and less overwhelm
Be intentional and strategic with your online presence
Market with trauma-informed, ethical approaches that honor agency
Craft thoughtful services and programs that demonstrate your expertise
Invite people into deeper work instead of chasing internet fame
Price to prosperity and sustainability not to fund a “4 hour work week”
Encourage referrals and repeat business through generosity and excellence
Own your place in the marketplace and name that privilege
Break all the Business-as-usual rules (they were never meant for you anyway)
Business as Unusual says your business (or mission-driven organization) is a vehicle for social good and commerce.
Business as Unusual says you get to decide how to structure your services, offers, and products.
Business as Unusual says Take. Up. Space. Especially in those spaces (IRL and in the digital sphere) where you, and those like you, are underrepresented.
Business as Unusual says toss the fear-based marketing and trigger-laden sales tactics: emphasize being of value and generating real connections with the people your business serves.
Business as Unusual says you don’t need to do what everyone else is doing. Write a book. Develop a Course. Lead a Retreat. Start a Podcast. Start a Revolution. You’re the boss for a reason :)
Business as Unusual says there is a season for everything. Honor your seasons.
Business as Unusual = Permission to break all the rules and to ….
⚡️ Expand your business for the greater good
⚡️ Place better boundaries to avoid burnout
⚡️ Cultivate the radical focus that elevates your influence
⚡️ Rise to your own, values-driven standards for success
⚡️ Break all the 'business rules' (except your own Rules for Business + Life Alignment)
If you identify as a Rebel with a Cause, I’d love to invite you into Third Jewel —a growth catalyst and leadership circle community to support your exponential expansion (WITHOUT sacrificing your values).
Join fellow Atypical Founders and Mindful Trailblazers who want to guide their next evolution with the power of intention, community, and strategic action to do more work that matters.
Third Jewel: a boutique leadership circle for female founders + mindful leaders
See you there,
Kellie
25 Creative Ways to Build Your Coaching and Healing Practice Without Relying on Social Media
Tired of the algorithms dividing you from your Ideal Clients? Long before social media, marketing your business took a different shape. Try these tried-and-true non-social media marketing tips to grow your business with Kellie Adkins of the Wisdom Method. Read more at www.KellieAdkins.com/blogs
Every business needs a way to reach potential customers.
Your marketing strategy needs to get your Coaching, Healing or Service-based Business in front of the people who want what you have—and who want it now.
Nowadays, most people think of social media as a viable way to market and grow their coaching, healing, or transformational service-based business.
But the truth is that relying on social media for clients isn’t tenable for most businesses because social media trends come and go.
Do you remember MySpace? Tumblr? Periscope? Google+? Yeah, me, too. But no one is using them now.
Social media platforms make their money by keeping people on the platform NOT by sending their users elsewhere (like your website services page).
There are creative and effective ways to market your coaching or healing practice that don’t require much social media.
While the market has shifted considerably in the direction of social proof for businesses, maintaining a strategy that works for you is key….but that doesn’t mean you have to jump on every trend bandwagon or go viral to get clients (and remember, there are other forms of social proof for your business. You’re getting testimonials, right?).
Your marketing strategy needs to get your business in front of the people who want what you have: and who want it now.
That doesn’t require a million followers on social media (or even 1,000). It does require some higher-order thinking, market research, and creativity. In other words: YOU GOT THIS, brilliant one!
When I first started a business in 2007, having a website was a novelty, and a social media presence wasn’t required.
But a business card? Absolutely.
Local networking events? You betcha.
Print advertising and PR: even better.
Back then I didn’t have the budget for glossy paid ads in the local style magazine.
I had to get creative!
Below are 25 things I did to market my Yoga Studio and Coaching Practice, that are as relevant now as they were back then. In fact, when I quit social media for a few years, I relied on these exact strategies to fill my calendar with long-term consulting gigs.
25 ways to attract clients without using social media:
Print business cards and give some to friends, family members, and colleagues. Ask them to keep a small stack in their car or purse and hand them out to people that might be a good fit for your services.
Host pop-up demonstrations or mini-classes in local parks, botanical gardens, downtown areas, or during large events (ask permission).
Collaborate with local partners, such as dance teachers or salons, to create joint events or performances.
Develop a signature workshop, training or course and deliver a free mini-course to local businesses or offices during lunch breaks.
Print glossy postcards or business-card size passes with your class schedule, website, and discount codes, and distribute them at local gyms, fitness centers, and coffee shops.
Offer referral fees or commissions to local health professionals or complementary service providers for sending clients your way.
Pitch your training, course, or programs to local colleges, vocational centers, or educational institutions to secure contract gigs.
Send personalized emails to people in your network and ask for referrals or introductions to potential clients.
Host seasonal special events and open houses or sample classes at your studio and offer exclusive membership packages.
Add your Training, Workshops, Courses or classes to Google and share them on local networking and events websites or print publications.
Advertise at local farmers' markets, craft fairs, or events that attract your ideal clients.
Join your local Chamber of Commerce, municipal business association, or business networking groups and share your elevator pitch during their monthly events.
Offer complimentary mini-sessions or exclusive discounts to local service providers that also serve your ideal clients (stylists, estheticians, etc.) in exchange for referrals.
Collaborate and co-promote with other practitioners or businesses in your niche or local area for special events.
Send thank-you postcards or free class cards to clients, friends, and colleagues to express appreciation and encourage repeat business.
Print mini-cards or flyers with your business information and a QR code to a complimentary download (valuable content) and distribute them locally.
Organize a charitable fundraising event or sponsor a charitable event in your community.
Order custom promotional items, such as water bottles, yoga mats, tote bags, or T-shirts, with your business name and website. Give them to friends and clients. Use them as raffle items or gifts during events. Sell them on your website.
Offer special packages and customized classes to members of local churches, community organizations, or neighborhood associations.
Teach a series class, signature workshop, or specialized training at a local church or community center and offer their members a special rate for private sessions.
Print neon flyers or posters with your business information and distribute them strategically in town and at events (ask permission).
Wear branded T-shirts or ask family and friends to do the same to raise awareness about your business.
Keep business cards handy for networking events or other opportunities to share your contact information or get one of these nifty cards.
Book a booth at local health, wellness, or education events in the area to showcase your business.
Order or make special swag that showcases your brand and advertises your business. Then hand out around town or at events. Examples: custom herbal tea sachets with handstamped tags, Wildflower seed paper business cards, Hand-stamped leather cards (upcycled leather, of course).
Ok, and because I can’t stop myself, here are 4 more ideas that do require social media, yet allow you to be more strategic in your use since content on these platforms performs well in driving traffic to your website and has a longer shelf life than Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok.
*Want even more? Here are 20 more marketing ideas to grow your coaching, healing or helping practice that don’t rely on social media.
For a “stress less” approach to social media marketing:
Start a YouTube channel and create content optimized for SEO (Search Engine Optimization) to drive traffic to your website.
Start a Substack, Vimeo, or Patreon account to monetize your content, then share bits of paid content to your social media channels to increase your subscriber base (pre-schedule the posts for even less stress).
Write and publish a book, e-book, audio book or podcast, sell it on Amazon, Etsy or your website. Promote it everywhere you go.
Craft a public talk or presentation. Contact local organizations to invite you to speak at their events. Promote your book and / or services when you do!
I’d love to know—what are some non-social media ways you attract clients?
If you liked this post and you want to learn more about scaling your business for more influence and ease, join me every week for LIVE workshops to make growing your business more fun (and less stressful).
With gratitude,
~Kellie Adkins
Business Alignment Coach + Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT)
Founder | Wisdom Method School of Yoga
