Selling Coaching, Courses and Training with Melissa Bolton -

How does branding can play a role to help creators sell more effectively and more effectively? After many years of running successful ventures and consulting dozens of others, Melissa Bolton had a idea: In order to successfully sell, you first need to understand what you're about and who your customer is. Then it's simply a matter of aligning the message with both. The results show she was right and her vast client base of successful clients attest. She shares what designers should know about branding, and how helped take her coaching and training to the next level.

 At the age of 23, you were generating 7-figure revenue. By 27, you had earned Vice President status in a Fortune 500 financial company. Today you're a highly sought-out Brand Therapist - a specialty you've trademarked and made your own. Let us know how your amazing experience began, and then what your biggest takeaways have been thus far.

I've never treated customers as a prospective customer, or thought of them as a potential opportunity. They're real people with genuine needs, desires, and wants. Your job is to determine the way you assist them. This answer feels like it should be longer, however, it's really just that simple be kind to people, treat them as you would like to be treated, take note, then assist.

 Do you have a bit more about the role of a brand psychotherapist as well as your unique archetypal approach?

I've always been fascinated by behavioral science and psychology However, I've never wanted to be a traditional therapist. In my free time I would read up on psychological principles and patterns of behavior particularly in the area of decision-making. I began applying these ideas to my branding work and the results were nothing short of magical. Being a person who is a believer in individuality, I'm big on creating 'titles' to represent your professional identity. "Brand Therapist" seemed like a perfect title.

I created the brand archetype course back in the year 2010. At the time, there wasn't a similar course on the market. The use of archetypes was commonplace to promote brands, but a course was not yet out there. The concept is to use the scientifically proven principles and apply them to purchasing behaviors. It is possible to doubt the behavior however patterns are difficult to disprove. Archetypes illustrate patterns of behaviour and allow you to tailor your thoughts as well as your style services to the people who require the most.

 In your research, you realized that most businesses and entrepreneurs did not succeed because they neglected branding, and instead focused on marketing. What are some easy actions creators could take to create a brand that is authentic?

It's not possible to be able to market something if do not know who you are, what it is you're selling and who your most ideal clients are, or what you're really selling. What I mean by that is that we're not really selling products or services. We're selling solutions; We're selling people a better version of their own. Being able to understand and communicate the core of your company's brand and reflect the message throughout your activities is crucial to the growth of any brand.

You offer a number of useful, free instruments to your potential clients including your free Brand archetype questionnaire and report. What impact have these resources had on your business and how should creators incorporate freebies into their marketing efforts?

The free quiz has had a huge influence. It took me a long time to learn not only the right questions and how to solicit the best answers. More than a million people have taken the quiz over the years. It's still awe-inspiring for me. However, it's extremely informative and deep. I can understand the appeal. It's been helpful to so many. It has helped me expand my email list as well as expand options to meet the needs of my clients also.

It is suggested to create the freebies you want to distribute that match the style you prefer. As a teacher, I am a Luminary (archetype) educator I enjoy studying and sharing my knowledge, so for me, a game makes sense. The offer could look like another thing. It may be a template of a white or black paper, an ebook or some graphics or other downloadable material. Be sure to get something in return, one of the most sought-after is your email address. You can unsubscribe at any time if the content doesn't suit them.

 As someone with several years of consulting experience What advice do you provide to creators that might want to offer coaching services?

Oh , I've got a lot of advice on this one:

• Don't give your time away for free. It's fine to have a free consultation to find out if you're the right suitable candidate, but be sure you don't divulge excessively. You should have some questions you want to ask before you make the phone meeting. Make sure to stay within the allotted time. Leave them intrigued and wanting to know more.
• Establish boundaries and adhere to them. There will be people who will attempt to take advantage of you. If they want or need more, they'll take your time and money. If they don't, then they aren't a good steward of your time, and you ought to go on with your life. Simple as that.
• I'm focused on working with your ideal clients. Use your intuition. If you think a client does not seem to be a suitable fit for you the first time you speak with them, they probably aren't. Do not ever attempt to justify your prices or convince them to cooperate with you. People who are right for you are happy to collaborate with you , and eager to trade their cash to give you their time.

 With regards to branding, what role should social media play and which kinds of content are the most effective for you as a creator?

Social media to me is to be more of a component of marketing more than branding. Personally, I like Pinterest in comparison to other platforms. There's less chatter , and there's more focused. People take the time to organize and curate. It's highly intentional. I like that. It also lets me see what else people save. Those are unique features in comparison to Facebook and Instagram. I would suggest logging onto one of the platforms with the highest number of followers. Look at your website visitor statistics to determine the source of your traffic from, and then spending your time and effort on the places you have those.

 What tools have proven to be most effective in developing and marketing your services?

One of the most helpful tools is actually a feature, not a tool.

Review reviews are extremely helpful when it comes to selling. Social proof carries immense value as people want to know what they're in for when investing into an item. Hearing genuine feedback from someone other than the seller (the vendor) can be quite effective.

Also, I use coupons frequently to satisfy various needs. The possibility of customizing coupons has been a huge benefit. My customers love when I make them an individual code with their name or their business name. It's fun, plus it adds a touch of professionalism.

I could not love the "Courses" feature any more. This is my absolute favorite online tool and makes it so easy to create and develop courses. I've not even made use of all of the options, like quizzes or video and I'm eager to try them all. I launched my courses within the last month and have already had a lot of happy students.

 How has helped you advertise and sell your product on the internet?

I had been selling digital downloads on a regular basis on my site prior to the GDPR came into force. Being a US-based company I found it frustrating and confusing and time consuming to try to understand the newly implemented tax situation which is why I stopped selling downloads completely. After I discovered they took care of all aspects tax-related for myself. I was instantly intrigued. This has helped me make a profit of tens of thousands dollars worth of digital items without losing rest over VAT concerns.

The name itself is growing in popularity and recognition. Because their name instills trust, customers know that they are able to buy with confidence.