Selling Coaching and Courses as well as Coaching with Melissa Bolton -

What is the role of branding in helping creators sell smarter and more effectively? After many years of running successful ventures and consulting dozens of other companies, Melissa Bolton had a intuition: to sell effectively, you first need to understand what you're about and what your target market is. Then it's simply an issue of aligning your message to both. The results show she was right and her vast list of clients who have achieved success can attest to. She shares what designers must know about branding, and how she helped her coach and courses up a notch.

 When you turned 23, you were producing 7-figure sales. By 27, you had earned vice president status at a Fortune 500 financial company. You're now a sought-after Brand Therapist - a specialty that you've registered and created your own. We'd love to hear how your incredible journey began and what the most important lessons you've taken away so far.

I've never treated customers like a prospect or viewed them as an opportunity. These are real people with genuine needs, desires and desires. It's up to you how you help them. This answer feels like it should be longer, but really, that's it; treat people as you'd want to be treated, be attentive, and finally help.

 Can you share a bit more about the function of a brand therapy and the archetypal approach?

I've always had an interest in the field of psychology and behavioral science, but I never wanted to work as a traditional psychotherapist. In my free time I read a lot about psychology principles and behavior patterns, especially in decision making. I applied these principles to my branding efforts and the result was absolutely amazing. As someone who believes in individuality, I'm big on creating 'titles' that reflect your professional image. "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. Archetypes were being used in branding, but an actual course was not out there. The idea is to take the established scientific theories and apply them to buying behavior. It is possible to doubt the behavior but the patterns are impossible to deny. Archetypes show patterns of behavior and make it easy to tailor your thoughts as well as your style products to those who need the most.

 In your research You realized that the majority of entrepreneurs and creators did not succeed because they neglected branding, and instead focused on marketing. What are some easy steps creators can take to develop an authentic brand image?

You can't well market something if you don't know who your customers are, what products you offer or who your best customers are, or even what it is you're really selling. What I mean by that is, we're never really selling products or services. The only thing we're selling is solutions. offering people an improved version of their own. Understanding and being able to communicate the core of your brand and carry the message throughout your activities is essential to the success of any brand.

You provide a range of helpful, no-cost instruments to your potential clients, most notably your complimentary Brand archetype questionnaire and analysis. How have these sources have had on your company and how should creators incorporate promotional offers into their marketing campaigns?

The test for free has made an enormous effect. I have spent a lot of time learning not only the right questions however, but also how for the most accurate results. Over a million people have taken the test throughout the years. This is still amazing for me. But it's highly insightful and deep. I get the attraction. It's been helpful to so many. It's allowed me to grow my mailing list and expand offerings to my ideal clients as well.

It is suggested to create giveaways that are in line with your own style. As the Luminary (archetype) teacher I enjoy learning and sharing that information, therefore for me, a game is a good idea. The offer could look like something else. It could be a template, a white paper, an ebook or some other downloadable content. Make sure that you receive some kind of reward, with one of the most sought-after is your email address. They can always unsubscribe if they don't like the contents.

 As someone with several years of experience as a consultant What suggestions would you provide to creators that consider offering coaching services?

Ah, I've got lots of advice on this one:

• Don't give your time away for free. A free consultation is fine to find out if you're the right suitable candidate, but be sure you don't give away to much. It's best to have several questions that you want to ask before you make the phone meeting. Be sure to adhere to the scheduled time. Keep them interested and wanting to know more.
• Set boundaries, and then adhere to the rules. There will be people who will attempt to get more. If they want or need more then they will pay for your time. If they do not, they're not respecting your time, so you need to move on. It's that simple.
• It is my goal to work only with your ideal clients. Be a good judge of your own. If you think a client does not seem to be a suitable fit for you from the very first moment you meet to them, then they probably aren't. Do not ever attempt to justify your prices or convince them to join your team. The right people are likely to be thrilled to work with you , and eager to exchange their money in exchange for their time.

 In terms of branding, what is the role social media play and which kind of content has been the most effective for you as a creator?

Social media to me is more a part of marketing than of branding. Personally, I prefer Pinterest in comparison to other platforms. There's less chatter , and there's more focused. It's a time for people to organize and curate. This is a deliberate process. I love that. Plus, I can look up what others save. They are unique when compared to Facebook as well as Instagram. I would suggest logging onto an account on which you've got the largest following, looking at your statistics on visitors to your website to see which sources your visitors are coming from and spending your time and energy in those places.

 What tools have proven to be the most useful in creating and selling your products?

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

Reviews are very helpful when it comes to selling. Social proof is extremely valuable as people want to know exactly what they're getting before investing their money into the purchase of something. Hearing genuine feedback from someone other than the seller (the vendor) can be quite impressive.

In addition, I make use of coupons frequently to satisfy various needs. The ability to customize codes has been amazing. My customers love that I can create them a personalized code using their name or their business name. It's fun, plus it adds a touch of professionalism.

I could not love the "Courses" feature even more. It's my favorite online tool that makes it easy to develop and design courses. I haven't even taken advantage of all of the options such as quizzes and video and can't wait to get them. I launched my courses in the past month, and have already had a lot of very satisfied students.

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

I sold digital downloads regularly on my site prior to the GDPR went into effect. As a company based in the United States, I felt it was frustrating, confusing, overwhelming, and time consuming to try to navigate the recently adopted tax law, so I just paused selling downloads completely. After I discovered they dealt with all matters VAT taxes for me. I was instantly intrigued. Having has allowed me to make a profit of tens of thousands dollars of digital products without losing a wink of rest over VAT concerns.

Additionally, the brand is growing in its popularity and recognition. Since their name inspires confidence, buyers know they can purchase without worry.