Coach Pony

Are you struggling to get referrals or with organic growth?Before you spend money on ads (which new coaches shouldn’t do unless you like setting money on fire), listen to today’s episode.My guest built a highly successful digital marketing firm the old fashioned way–through referrals and word of mouth.Before she made millions and built a team, Rita Barry was a solo business owner trying to grow.We want to know, how did you build that?Rita founded her company, a boutique digital marketing optimization consultancy based in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, in 2009. Rita Barry & Co. is a relationship-driven company that partners closely with select 6 to 8 figure female-led businesses to help them grow with data-driven Facebook advertising and marketing optimization.Listen to the full episode to hear about:Why Rita knew she needed to tangibly connect with potential clientsHow she handpicked masterminds and events to attend to nurture relationshipsHow Rita maintains the relationships she’s built through networkingRita’s top three tips for coach/consultantsTo learn more about Rita Barry:RitaBarry.coInstagram: @ritabarrycoConnect with Rita on LinkedInFacebook: @ritabarrycoTo learn more about Christie Mims: Coach PonyInstagram @christiecoachponyBuild A Real BusinessIf you have some chocolate worth reviewing on the show, we are easily bribed! Email us at hello@coachpony.com with your recommendation or if you want to send us something to try! 

There are lots of ways to do courses, but if you’ve been thinking about offering a DIY-style option, this episode is for you.Today, we’re sitting down to pick Laura Belgray’s brain about her program, Inbox Hero, that brought in over six figures the very first time she launched it.We definitely want to know: How did you build that?We’ll find out how she developed the course, why she went DIY, and how she made her launch such a wild success.Laura Belgray, founder of Talking Shrimp®, is a copywriting expert who helps entrepreneurs find the perfect words to express and sell what they do in a way that gets them paid to be themselves. Through her work with hundreds of clients (including online biggies like Marie Forleo and Amy Porterfield) she’s seen firsthand that putting “you” into your copy and all through your business is pure magic for getting people to love you up, share your ideas, and happily click your Buy button.Listen to the full episode to hear about:How Laura built on a format she already knew resonated with her audienceWhy she thinks in terms of value and results when setting pricingWhere Laura spent the most money and time to get the course to marketWhy there is has been a no-refund policy on Inbox Hero from day oneLaura’s top advice for growing and building trust with your email listTo learn more about Laura Belgray:Talking ShrimpFREE: 33 Non-Sucky Subject LinesTo learn more about Christie Mims: Coach PonyInstagram @christiecoachponyBuild A Real BusinessIf you have some chocolate worth reviewing on the show, we are easily bribed! Email us at hello@coachpony.com with your recommendation or if you want to send us something to try! 

So far this season, we’ve talked to big name coaches about how they built wildly successful programs, conferences, and podcasts in their businesses.But it’s not just the big name coaches that are doing really interesting work.Coaches all over the world, in businesses big and small and new and old, are building cool and life-changing things for their clients and their businesses every single day.And in this episode, I want to highlight their stories.So we invited our amazing community of coaches to tell us how you built something successful in your business and to share your wisdom with us. And wow, you guys responded.So today, it’s time to ask six members of the Coach Pony community, how did you build that?Kay Kirkman is a career coach and host of The Genx Career Show podcast. Ann Sutton helps mid-career professionals regain the confidence, optimism, and momentum they need to land work they love so that they have the freedom to create the life they want. Irene Alexander is a University Professor of Christian marriage, ICF Certified Relationship Coach, and the Founder of Adored for Life Marriage Coaching. Annie Das is a writer and dating coach for millennial women. She helps women grow their dating confidence and self love so that they can attract high quality partners. Laëtitia Gnago is the founder of Aligned Corporate Experiences. She is a Talent Experience Enhancement Strategist and Alignment Success Architect. Rob Southgate (MBA) is founder of ThePodcastProfs and Southgate Media Group. Listen to the full episode to hear about:How Kay uses surveys to answer her audience’s burning questions on her podcastThree key things Ann did to build a killer lead magnetHow Irene used a pre-launch to build her waitlist as she developed her VIP programHow Annie turned an article she was scared to write into one that’s been seen by hundreds of thousands of people and boosted her businessHow Laëtitia created a tool kit for navigating unhealthy workplaces from her own experiencesHow Rob lands guests for his podcast and even turns them into clientsTo learn more about Kay Kirkman:Your GenX CareerConnect with Kay on LinkedInTo learn more about Ann Sutton:Ann Sutton CoachingFacebook: Career Success StrategiesTo learn more about Irene Alexander:Adored for LifeTo learn more about Annie Das:Annie Das CoachingInstagram: @AnnieDasCoachingPinterest: @AnnieDasCoachingTo learn more about Laëtitia Gnago:Aligned Corporate ExperiencesConnect with Laëtitia on LinkedInTo learn more about Rob Southgate:The Podcast ProfsConnect with Rob on LinkedInTo learn more about Christie Mims:Coach PonyInstagram @christiecoachponyBuild A Real BusinessIf you have some chocolate worth reviewing on the show, we are easily bribed! Email us at hello@coachpony.com with your recommendation or if you want to send us something to try! 

Have you wondered what it takes to start a membership site or community?Today, our guests, Erica Cordae and India Jackson, have done just that. In 2018, they founded Pause on the Play®, a community hub of professionals and entrepreneurs connecting at the intersection of values and visibility. We'll dive into how they got started and how they grew their membership business into an inclusive community committed to guiding individuals in the process of defining their values, diversifying their networks, and disrupting systems of oppression.As an athlete, photographer, and creative consultant to personal brands, India Jackson spent the first decade of her career watching as talented professionals were forced to adopt identities that were sellable but not authentic. Watching the market flooded with an intense focus on follower count and crafted personas, she committed to taking a more aligned approach to influence-building.Erica Courdae is a trusted advisor to entrepreneurs and executive teams committed to shifting focus, power, and resources in order to create more equity in their business and the world. She believes imperfect action is necessary to create meaningful social change and helps public figures engage in the work without fear of judgment.Listen to the full episode to hear about:What Erica says many entrepreneurs get wrong when they build to fill a needWhy their launch goals for the community didn’t have any numbers attachedHow Erica and India went about building a community with safety and transparency as top prioritiesWhat money investments they made to get the community up and running, and what they’ve added and changed since (so what it cost to get started!) Their top three tips for starting a coaching membership or communityTo learn more about Erica Courdae and India Jackson:Pause on the PlayInstagram: @PauseonthePlay Connect with Erica on LinkedInConnect with India on LinkedInTo learn more about Christie Mims: Coach PonyInstagram @christiecoachponyBuild A Real BusinessIf you have some chocolate worth reviewing on the show, we are easily bribed! Email us at hello@coachpony.com with your recommendation or if you want to send us something to try! 

Jason Gracia founded Swyft Sites to be an all-in-one done for your website builder that grows your coaching  business on autopilot.And it has exploded into a seven-figure business.So of course, we want to know, how did you build that?We'll dive into how he built such a niche service business, and why niching help him hit seven figures, Jason Gracia is an author, consultant, and founder of Swyft Sites, the all-in-one, done-for-you website solution for coaches.Listen to the full episode to hear about:Why a tight niche created more opportunities for bigger successHow Jason leaned into his network and offered value to expand his reachHow he built a signature talk to pitch groups of potential clientsWhy he needed to change his money mindset in order to grow the businessWhat he would change about his early client relationshipsTo learn more about Jason Gracia:SwyftSites.comTo learn more about Christie Mims: Coach PonyInstagram @christiecoachponyBuild A Real BusinessIf you have some chocolate worth reviewing on the show, we are easily bribed! Email us at hello@coachpony.com with your recommendation or if you want to send us something to try! 

John Lee Dumas has built one of the all time, top podcasts for business owners and has not only made over $20 million from his podcast, but he's also dominated his market.Obviously we want to know, how did you build that?We’ll chat about how and why he started the podcast, what his goals were at the beginning and how he grew his platform into what it is today.John Lee Dumas is the founder and host of Entrepreneurs On Fire, an award-winning podcast where he interviews inspiring entrepreneurs to help you along your entrepreneurial journey. He has interviewed over 3,000 incredible entrepreneurs, including Tony Robbins, Seth Godin, Gary Vaynerchuk, Barbara Corcoran, Tim Ferriss, and many more. He is also the author of The Common Path to Uncommon Success.Listen to the full episode to hear about:The strategy John used to access his guests’ audiences and grow his platformHow he used his email list to support the showWhere he wishes he spent less time and effort in the beginning and what hustle paid offJohn’s top three rules for starting a successful podcast in 2022To learn more about John Lee Dumas:Entrepreneurs On FireThe Common Path to Uncommon SuccessTo learn more about Christie Mims: Coach PonyInstagram @christiecoachponyBuild A Real BusinessIf you have some chocolate worth reviewing on the show, we are easily bribed! Email us at hello@coachpony.com with your recommendation or if you want to send us something to try!

Have you thought about starting a podcast to build a network and market your coaching business?With over 10 million downloads under her belt, Emily Thompson, co-founder and host of the Being Boss podcast has all the info you need and then some on running a podcast, and the amazing community and business opportunities that have come from it.And of course we’re going to take it back to the beginning and ask Emily, how did you build that?Emily Thompson is the co-founder and host of Being Boss, a resource, podcast, and community for creative entrepreneurs.For over a decade Emily has worked closely with creatives to help them make money doing work they love, with a focus on building online business models and growing creative businesses. She’s also the co-author of Being Boss: Take Control of Your Work and Live Life on Your Own Terms.Listen to the full episode to hear about:How a podcast presented an ideal opportunity to collaborate on something fun, with marketing and networking as the side goalsThe milestones that really mattered and why they weren’t tied to downloadsHow Emily and her co-host built the foundations for growth of the podcastWhere she’s happy they spent their money, and the investment she regretsWhy you’ve got to nail your niche to get on the charts, and what new coaches should do TODAY to get started!To learn more about Emily Thompson:Being BossInstagram: @BeingBossClubBeing Boss: Take Control of Your Work and Live Life on Your Own TermsTo learn more about Christie Mims: Coach PonyInstagram @christiecoachponyBuild A Real Business

Evan Marc Katz has been called a “personal trainer for smart, strong, successful women. How did he come to dominate the date coaching industry?On this season of the Coach Pony Podcast, I'm sitting down with successful business owners to ask them, how did you build that? Today I’m diving in with Evan to talk about how he built his business - featuring millions of blog readers and podcast listeners - and especially about his massively successful program, Love U.With over 13,000 women completing the Love U program, it’s not an understatement to say that Evan knows how to build a great online course!But how did he start? Where did he get the idea to create it? And what did he spend to build it?  Listen to the full episode to hear about:How Evan refined his coaching program from mailing CDs to live group coaching to a DIY programWhy he doesn’t set revenue goalsWhy the program has evolved away from DIY into a high-touch, year-long experienceBreaking down the original production process and costs for Love UWhy you shouldn’t let fear of copycats keep you from releasing your courseTo learn more about Evan Marc Katz:EvanMarcKatz.comLove UFacebook: @EvanMarcKatzFanTo learn more about Christie Mims:Coach PonyInstagram @christiecoachponyBuild A Real BusinessResources:Do What You Love, the Money Will Follow: Discovering Your Right Livelihood, Marsha SinetarRelated:Coach Pony S02E08: The One Where I Got Paid $7000 to Build an Online Course from a Random IdeaIf you have some chocolate worth reviewing on the show, we are easily bribed!Email us at hello@coachpony.com with your recommendation or if you want to send us something to try!

As one of the founders and current President of the board for the Maine Women’s Conference, Jodi Flynn has taken the conference from just an idea to a successful nonprofit focusing on supporting women across the state. So how did she do it?On this season of the Coach Pony Podcast, I'm sitting down with successful business owners to ask them, how did you build that? And today I’ll dig in with Jodi about how it all started, how she grew the conference, what she’s learned, and what you should know if you’re thinking about hosting and building a successful conference.Jodi Flynn of Women Taking the Lead is an Executive Leadership Coach, Podcaster, Author, Speaker, and Workshop Facilitator. Women leaders hire Jodi to develop the skills they need to thrive in senior leadership. She is the host of the critically acclaimed Women Taking the Lead podcast, and an Amazon bestselling author with her book, Accomplished: How to Go from Dreaming to Doing. Listen to the full episode to hear about:How the dynamics and challenges of becoming a nonprofit impacted the timeline from the idea to the first conferenceWhat taking the event online in 2021 did for their margins and attendanceWhy they chose not to max out the capacity of the venue for the sake of growthJodi’s top three pieces of advice for coaches who want to host eventsTo learn more about Jodi Flynn:Women Taking the LeadThe Maine Women’s ConferenceFacebook: @WomenTakingTheLeadTwitter: @JodiMFlynnInstagram:@JodiMFlynnConnect with Jodi on LinkedInWomen Taking the Lead PodcastAccomplished: How to Go from Dreaming to DoingTo learn more about Christie Mims: Coach PonyInstagram @christiecoachponyBuild A Real BusinessIf you have some chocolate worth reviewing on the show, we are easily bribed! You can send it to us at: Christie Mims, 3630 High Street, #19286, Oakland, CA 94619

It can seem like celebrity entrepreneurs won the jackpot, but there's more to the story. Behind the blockbuster coaching programs, offers, and live events are stories of careful development, fixed mistakes, and strategy.On this season of the Coach Pony Podcast, I'm sitting down with successful business owners to ask them, how do you build that?I'll talk to a wide range of coaches and leaders, digging into how it all started, what they learned, and what you should know if you want to play a similar game.And to start us off, we’re actually going to be talking about something I built. Today I’m joined by a very special member of Team Pony, or CMO, CFO, and my husband, Suhaib Abdali who is going to interview me about Build A Real Business.Build A Real Business is a seven-figure program that I built that helps new life coaches learn how to build their own business full of happy, paying clients.So, how did I build that?Listen to the full episode to hear about:Why I believe in running your program live, as you build it for the first timeWhy my initial goals for Build A Real Business were about content and people, not revenue targetsWhere I invested money and time, and why it’s better to start on a shoestringMy three top tips for building your own online coaching programTo learn more about Christie Mims:Coach PonyInstagram @christiecoachponyBuild A Real BusinessResources:Coach Pony Podcast: The One Where I Started a Group Coaching Program That Eventually Grew to 500 PeopleIf you have some chocolate worth reviewing on the show, we are easily bribed!You can send it to us at: Christie Mims, 3630 High Street, #19286, Oakland, CA 94619