Building a successful online coaching business leveraging Facebook groups or platforms like Circle involves a strategic approach. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you turn your online community into a multi-six-figure revenue stream.

As a coach, you know how challenging it is to grow a profitable coaching business.

There’s huge noise 7 competition online.

Standing out is different.

Bad coaches scam many people

What will help you stand out from your competition &grow your business is a strong community

If you already have one or planning to build one, and are struggling to generate sales then this article is right for you.

Why building an engaged community is important?

1. Close human connection: In the age of AI what’s going to be more important is close human connection. People are bombarded with information. Being in a community of like-minded people gives them the motivation to execute the information.

2. Client retention: able to sell your multiple offers to your clients especially if you have a paid community. You can prelaunch your new offers to your community and take feedback before the public launch.

3. Build trust: even if they can’t buy from you immediately. You’ll stay on the top of their minds whenever they decide to purchase.

4. Collaboration opportunities:

5. Better client understanding:

6. Monetization opportunities:

What is a community funnel?

As you can see in the image, the first step to building a profitable community funnel is to have a community/group. Your community can be anything built on platforms like Facebook (FB groups), Skool, Circle, etc.

Then you need to grow your community

Ways to grow your community

If you are struggling to grow your community then you can use multiple ways.

If your community size is small then it is better to stick to 1-2 mentors than use all at once since it would be overwhelming

1. Social media: You can turn your social media followers into community members by consistently promoting your community through your content. Post content e.g. stories, videos showing how beneficial your community is. also show testimonials from existing members who are benefitting from your community.

2. Partnerships: Partnerships are a great way to grow your community. You can collaborate with your indirect competitors who share the same audience as you. The right partnership can add many ideal clients to your community.

3. Facebook ads: Running FB ad campaigns 1-2 times every 6 months is a Use this only when you have added at least 100 members and you have built an engaged community.

4. Blog traffic:

The next step in building the community funnel is to set up a backend authority system.

How to setup backend authority system?

This starts with building a lead magnet aka a free entry offer that gets interested people added to your email list. 

People who join your list are interested in what you offer since anybody can follow you on social media (e.g. bots).

Also, social media isn’t safe to hold your audience.

Accounts get banned and hacked. Algorithms change. So, having your email list will set your business up for long-term success.

You can’t get it wrong here since you have to pay for email marketing software. So, you need to build your email list the right way.

If you create generic lead magnets, you will get a generic audience who will not buy from you. This means more expenses and zero returns for you. 

But having a hyper-relevant lead magnet will solve that issue.

If you don’t have your lead magnet built, then you can choose any of the below formats:

1. Ebook/checklist/cheatsheet

2. Quiz

3. Video Series

4. 3-7 day email course

But if you already have it then analyze your current sales funnel and identify any gaps or areas of improvement.

By aligning your funnel with your ideal client’s needs and desires, you can turn it into a powerful conversion tool to convert your social media followers & blog readers into email subscribers.

The traffic in this phase would be coming from your social media channels, search engines(your blog), and online communities.

After people have downloaded your lead magnet, they will become your qualified leads. 

But you don’t stop there.

Go a step further to create another hyper-targeted lead magnet that’ll generate their interest in your high-ticket paid offers.

This lead magnet will be highly relevant to your paid offer. The purpose behind doing this is to shorten your sales cycle.

People who download this are your highly qualified leads.

Then they will be given an option to book their strategy call (paid is better) and/or an offer to purchase your low-ticket offer that you already have.

Once they enter this funnel, they’ll start receiving emails.

Your email list is a goldmine of untapped potential. 

If you haven’t already done so, revamp your email marketing strategy to effectively engage and nurture your subscribers.

Top coaches/creators make at least 50% of their revenue from their email list.

Depending on your list audience, you can make multi 6-7 fig/year from just your email list too.

There are endless ways to create email automation & sales campaigns that pull in big numbers.

I. Autoresponders

Autoresponders are automated email sequences that deliver timely and personalized messages to your subscribers. 

To get more & consistent sales from your email list, you can set various autoresponders, such as Welcome series, Abandon cart series, Post-purchase series, Customer retargeting, Onboarding series, Offboarding series, Winback series, Automated webinar series, etc.

II. Campaigns

Email sales campaigns are one-time email series that you send to your list, on some special occasion. These can be Re-engagement series, Product launch series, Live webinar series, Holiday Series, etc.

By delivering valuable emails every single week, sharing success stories, and showcasing the unique benefits of your program, you can build trust and establish your expertise. 

Your goal here would be to convert subscribers into eager clients who can’t wait to enroll in your paid program.

By segmenting your list based on their interests, engagement level, and stage in the buyer’s journey, you can create tailored experiences that resonate with each individual, increasing the likelihood of purchase. To generate more sales from your email list, you should also conduct regular tests & experiments.

Apart from that, you can also set up a chatbot/DM & SMS automation system to maintain multiple touchpoints of contact with your audience/prospects.

This backend authority system will take your audience from being strangers to your clients

Ways to increase community engagement

But just having a community isn’t enough.

Although many already have groups they aren’t serving the right purpose,

Due to harsh algorithmic changes, the reach mostly remains low

Even large group owners aren’t able to make a good amount of sales because they aren’t leveraging it to the fullest.

Unfortunately, many groups are turning into spam. Where all types of people come to the group just to promote themselves. It’s a total nuisance. There’s no sense of relationship or understanding.

If you don’t have an engaged community then it’s of no use. But you still have time if you want to reap the rewards.

So, before you think of turning your group members into clients you need to make sure you are building an engaged community. Because high engagement is what will fuel your business. 

You can use the following ways.

I. Get Clear with Your Audience

1. Understanding What Group Members Are Interested In

Understanding your audience is the cornerstone of creating valuable content and offers.

Observe which topics generate the most engagement and note the questions your members frequently ask.

Use polls and engagement metrics to identify hot topics.

E.g. if you run a fitness coaching group and notice high engagement on posts about meal planning, create more content, such as meal prep guides, live cooking sessions, or recipe exchanges.

2. Know What Your Audience Likes, Their Needs, and Their Pain Points

Conduct regular surveys and analyze comments to identify your audience’s preferences, needs, and challenges. This insight allows you to tailor your content and services to meet their specific needs.

E.g. if group members express struggles with maintaining workout routines, you could offer a “30-Day Fitness Challenge” to keep them motivated and accountable.

II. Get Clear with Your Goals

1. Determine Your Specific Goals

Define what you want to achieve with your group. Goals could include increasing engagement, growing your email list, encouraging user-generated content, or driving sales.

If your primary goal is to increase sales, create a strategy that includes promotional posts, testimonials, and limited-time offers.

2. Set Weekly & Monthly Goals

Break down your main objectives into smaller, manageable tasks. Set weekly and monthly targets to keep track of your progress.

E.g. if your goal is to grow your email list by 1,000 subscribers in three months, set a weekly target of 85 new subscribers and create specific actions to achieve this.

III. Craft a Content Strategy

1. Create a Full-Funnel Content Plan

Develop a content strategy that moves members through the sales funnel stages: awareness, interest, desire, and action.

For e.g:

1. To build awareness of your products & offers, share blog/group posts or videos on relevant topics.

2. To generate interest in your offers, offer free resources like eBooks or webinars.

3. To build desire, share client success stories/case studies and testimonials.

4. To make them take action, actively promote your coaching programs and courses.

2. Create a Content Calendar

Plan your content three months in advance to ensure consistency and relevance.

E.g. for Q3, you might schedule weekly live sessions, bi-weekly guest interviews, and monthly challenges.

3. Invite Guests for Interviews and Collaboration Posts

Collaborate with industry experts or influential members to provide fresh perspectives and valuable content.

E.g. if your group focuses on personal development, invite a well-known motivational speaker for a live Q&A session.

4. Plan Exclusive Content or Resources for Group Members

Offer unique content only available to group members to enhance their sense of community and value.

E.g. create a monthly “Members-Only Masterclass” that dives deep into specific topics.

IV. Create a Seamless Onboarding

1. Create a Welcome Post for New Members

Introduce new members to the group with a detailed welcome post. Explain what they can expect and guide them on the next steps.

Example: “Welcome to the group! Here’s how to get started: Check out our resource library, introduce yourself in this thread, and join our upcoming webinar.”

2. Encourage New Members to Introduce Themselves

Prompt new members to share their backgrounds, expertise, and goals to foster connections.

Example: “Tell us about yourself! What’s your biggest goal for joining this group?”

V. Power Up Engagement & Sales

1. Actively Participate in All Group Discussions

Be present and active in discussions to build rapport and trust with your members.

2. Let Group Members Post Knowledgeable Content

Encourage members to share their expertise, enhancing the group’s value and engagement.

3. Respond to All Comments

Try to respond to comments to show that you value member participation.

4. Encourage Group Members to Engage with Each Other

Foster a supportive community by encouraging members to interact and support each other.

5. Post Content That Builds Desire for Your Products/Services

Share valuable content that subtly highlights the benefits of your coaching services.

6. Conduct Polls & Ask Relevant Questions

Regularly use polls and questions to engage members and gather insights.

7. Organize Challenges, Contests, or Giveaways

Use these activities to drive engagement and collect email addresses.

8. Organize Webinars, Live Q&A Sessions, or Workshops

These can provide value and capture emails from attendees.

9. Offer Exclusive Content or Discounts to Active Members

Reward active participation to maintain high engagement levels.

10. Create a Reward System for Engagement

Use points or badges to motivate members to participate more actively.

VI. Gamify Engagement & Sales

1. Display a Leaderboard

Showcase top contributors to motivate engagement.

2. Encourage Content Creation Related to Your Products

Reward members who create content that promotes your services.

3. Offer Exclusive Perks to Active Members

Provide special benefits to members who reach certain milestones.

4. Collaborate with Influential Members

Leverage influential members to lead and promote gamification activities.

VII. Convert Group Members into Email Subscribers

1. Promote the Lead Magnet in the Group

Regularly mention your lead magnet in posts and welcome messages.

2. Include a Link to Your Email List in the Group Bio and Pinned Post

Make it easy for members to find and sign up for your email list.

3. Make Posts Specifically Promoting Your Email List

Highlight the benefits of subscribing and what they can expect.

VIII. Encourage Sharing of Your Lead Magnet

1. Incentivize Referrals

Offer rewards for members who share your lead magnet with their network.

2. Direct Message Invitations

Personally invite members to join your email list.

IX. Test & Optimize

1. Regularly Analyze Group Performance

Use insights to refine your strategies and improve engagement.

2. Use Group Insights

Track metrics to understand what works and adjust your tactics accordingly.

How much revenue you can generate?

Conclusion

By following these detailed steps, a coach can effectively build a thriving online community that supports its members and drives substantial revenue.

Consistency, engagement, and strategic planning are key to turning a Facebook group or Circle community into a multi-six-figure business.