Small But Mighty: 7 Tiny-Audience Hacks to Start Booking Coaching Clients Now
Let’s bust a big ol’ myth:
You don’t need a massive Instagram following, 1,000 email subscribers, or a perfectly polished website to start signing clients.
Spoiler alert: You can start getting paying clients right now, even if your “audience” is just your mom, your cousin Sarah, and your neighbor who still thinks you sell essential oils.
Take my client Jenny, for example. She doesn’t have an email list, and she actually stopped posting on social media altogether because it drained her energy (and spoiler #2: it wasn’t bringing her clients anyway).
Instead, she got scrappy.
Jenny focused on the people she already knew, used a few simple strategies like the ones I’m about to share, and shifted her mindset.
Every time Jenny connected with someone and shared what she does, it came from a genuine and excited place of service, not icky pressure. She viewed everyone she came into contact with as either a client, collaborator, or a connector. And she started getting word of mouth referrals.
And it worked.
So today, I’m handing you 7 low-pressure, high-converting, totally-doable hacks to help you start booking clients, even if it currently feels like you’ve been shouting into the void.
1. The “Warm Circle” Reach-Out
Forget strangers on the internet. Start with your inner circle: the people who already know you and believe in you.
Pull 20–30 names from your phone, inbox, or personal FB.
Send a short, non-weird message like:
“Hey [Name], how are you? I’d love to hear what you’ve been up to! As for me, I’m starting my wellness coaching biz and I help [ideal client] with [awesome result]. I’ve got space for 2–3 clients, know anyone who might need that? Would love an intro.”
That’s it. No pitch decks. No stress. Just connection.
Try this ChatGPT prompt:
“Write me a friendly, non-salesy message I can send to friends or family to let them know I’m starting my wellness coaching business and ask if they know anyone who could use support with [insert result]. Keep it short, warm, and not pushy.”
2. The “3 Conversations” Rule
You don’t need to post more. You need to talk to more actual humans.
Set a goal to start 2 conversations per day this week. Text, email, Messenger, owl post, whatever works.
Catch up, share something helpful, and if it feels right, mention your coaching work.
14 convos by the end of the week = warm leads without ever logging into Instagram.
Try this ChatGPT prompt:
“Give me 5 short, casual conversation starters I can use to check in with people in my network that naturally lead to talking about my wellness coaching without sounding awkward or salesy.”
3. The “Mini-Workshop” Invite
Host a quickie 30 - 45 minute Zoom session for 3 – 5 people (friends or friends-of-friends).
Pick a juicy topic your ideal client actually cares about, like:
“3 Ways for Corporate Women to Beat Afternoon Energy Slumps” or “The Morning Routine That Balances Your Mood All Day”
Share useful tips. Then casually drop:
“If you’d like help putting this into action, I’ve got 2 coaching spots open. Want to chat?”
Simple. Not sleazy. Kinda fun, actually.
Try this ChatGPT prompt:
“Give me 3 compelling mini-workshop topic ideas for a 30-minute Zoom session for [insert your ideal client] that would help them with [insert specific result or struggle]. Make sure it solves a specific problem they want to solve. Include a catchy title and 3 bullet points I could teach.”
4. The “Ask for 3” Referral Hack
If you’ve supported someone before - even casually - circle back and reconnect.
Remind them what you do, and then ask:
“Hey, I’m growing my coaching practice and I’ve got space for a couple of new clients. Who are 3 people you know who’d love support with [insert result]?”
Simple. Clear. And way more effective than hoping strangers magically find you online.
Try this ChatGPT prompt:
“Write me a short, friendly referral request I can send to someone I’ve helped before (formally or informally), asking if they know 3 people who might want help with [insert result]. Make it confident and friendly but not pushy.”
5. The “1 Helpful Post” Test
No biz IG? No problem. Post on your personal FB or LinkedIn instead.
Choose 1 specific problem your ideal client has, give a quick win, and end with:
“Want personal help with this? DM me the word COACH.”
That one post can do more than 20 random ones—and it feels way more aligned than doing another awkward pointing Reel.
Try this ChatGPT prompt:
“You are an expect at creating engaging IG posts (or insert platform of choice). Write a social media post for [insert platform] that helps [ideal client] solve [specific problem], gives 1 actionable tip, and ends with a casual CTA like ‘DM me the word COACH if you want help.’ Make it sound like me: fun, clear, and not salesy.”
6. The “Survey-to-Strategy Call” Hack
Want a super simple way to figure out what your ideal clients are actually struggling with and book calls at the same time?
Create a short survey (3–8 questions max) asking about their biggest challenges, goals, and obstacles.
When you share the survey, be clear about who it’s for and why you’re sending it.
Be sure to add a little incentive: let them know the first 3–10 people (choose a specific number) to complete it will snag a free strategy call (ideally give the call a name that’s related to their challenge, such as a free Menopause Relief Jumpstart Call) where you’ll help them tackle one specific piece of their challenge.
On that call, you’ll give them real value, build trust, and - if it feels like a fit - invite them into a 3-session coaching package to go deeper.
Market research. Connection. Client conversion. All in one simple step.
Try this ChatGPT prompt:
“Write 5 short, clear survey questions I can ask my ideal clients about their biggest challenges, goals, or frustrations with [insert challenge]. Then write a short social media post I can use to promote the survey, explaining who it’s for, why I’m sending it, and that the first [X number] of people who complete it will get a free strategy call. Finally, draft a thank-you message I can send to participants, offering the free call and naturally positioning a 3-session coaching package if it’s a good fit.”
*Note: this may be too many tasks to ask for in 1 prompt, so you may need to break it up into 1 task at a time and keep prompting it until you get what you need.
7. The “Borrowed Audience” Boost
Look around—who already serves your ideal clients? A yoga teacher? A therapist friend? That cool gal with a big FB group?
Offer to do a free mini-training, Q&A call, or tip-packed email to their list.
You show up with value, they get content, and you get access to a warm, pre-trusted audience.
Everybody wins (cue the confetti).
Try this ChatGPT prompt:
“Write a pitch email I can send to someone who has an audience of [ideal client] asking if I can do a free mini-training or Q&A session for their group. Keep it friendly, genuine, and focused on how it benefits their audience.”
Real Talk Wrap-Up
You don’t need a ring light, a content calendar, or a 4-figure follower count to get your first paying clients.
You just need a few solid strategies, a smidge of courage, and a little faith in yourself (and this list).
So don’t try to be everywhere. Just be real. Pick 1 - 2 of these ideas and actually do them this week.
Because real connections turn into real conversations, and those are what turn into real clients.
Tiny audience. Big results. Let’s go!
Before You Go…A Word About Visibility & “Salesy” Fears
If “putting yourself out there” feels like crawling into a spotlight in your undies…yeah, I get it.
Most newbie coaches feel weird selling at first. You don’t want to bug people, seem pushy, or become that person.
But listen: visibility is not about shouting “BUY MY THING!” at strangers.
It’s about connecting authentically to the people who are literally searching for the kind of support you offer.
You’re not selling. You’re serving.
You’re not convincing. You’re connecting.
And when you make it about them—their goals, their struggles, their dreams—selling becomes something you look forward to (no, really).
Try this ChatGPT prompt:
“Help me reframe my fear of visibility and sounding salesy as a wellness coach. Write a short pep talk I can read to remind myself that selling is helping.”
And to dig deeper into the fear of Visibility, check out my blog, "Putting Yourself Out There: Overcoming Your Online Visibility Fears.” Mindset shift #5 is my favorite…tag me on IG and let me know yours.
