Have you ever wished you could peek behind the curtain to see how someone else runs their business, then steal their golden ideas? (Come on. Of course you have!)
Today I’m granting your wish and giving you a secret look behind the scenes of my business. I’m going to share with you my exact process for booking new clients, so you can use it, too!
When you streamline your business, you can save hours of headaches each week. So if you struggle with chaos, too much to do, and reinventing the wheel in your business, you won’t want to miss this. I even have a cheat sheet to help you out.
Click here to tweet about today’s video.
I created a checklist to help you create effective systems for booking clients in your business.
My Personal Recommendation for YouSteal This! New Client Intake SystemIn the comments below, I want to hear from you. Tell me…
1. What is one insight you had from watching this video?
2. Do you have any special tips or tricks for streamlining your new client process?
Thanks for watching. If you enjoyed this video, please share it with your friends.
Jenny,
Thank you so much for putting up this video and allowing ME the opportunity to steal this wonderful process of yours. 🙂
These simple tools really do save time, yet I did not even once consider getting an online scheduler. thank you so much for pointing out how easy and extremely time saving it is. I am not at the point where I need one, yet I am preparing to roll out a program this summer and I think this would be a great tool. You have saved this superhero the trouble of learning through error (at least with this one thing) 😉
S
You’re so welcome, Sandy! I’m thrilled that you found it helpful. It’s crazy-amazing how much time an online scheduler can save. Those email back-and-forth scheduling things drive me crazy!
Wow, Jenny – Love you new hair:)
I do have a booking system, but I never thought to put it on my website. So that’s definitely on my list of things to do.
Love having you in my inbox every week:)
x
Happy to hear you already have an online scheduler, Sidsel. Yes–get it on your website!
I love that you allow me to grace your inbox each week. Thank you!
Sidsei, I was going to say the same thing! It’s so obvious but so genius! 🙂
Jenny,
I love how you share, share, share!! I am definitely going to check out the online scheduler. Since I am in the beginning stages of business building, I’ve started creating a website on Wix, since the basic model is free. And then I can go from there.
I have a wordpress blog, but now I’m looking for a more attractive landing spot for prospects.
Cindy
Aw, thank you, Cindy! That means so much to me. I really do try to share with you as much as I can that will help your business soar!
Hey Jenny – love the video. I use TimeTrade and have been using it to automate prospect calls for years. But people hardly ever make the decision to hire right on the phone–I send the materials after so they can gather it and then usually collect payment at the first meeting. I guess I need some more sales training!
Learning to sell while also remaining respectful and authentic is a skill to master, as we certainly don’t want to force someone into something they don’t need. Simultaneously, we want to make sure they know all that we can really do for them!
It took me awhile to hone my consult process, Mindy. Keep working it and you’ll find your groove.
Jenny Shih rocks 😉 Love that you reveal your goodies go behind the curtains.
Sharing this with all my clients 🙂
I love you for that, Michelle! Thank you!
wow! Jenny, this is fabulous information. Since I am just starting out with you and on line as well, I find this infor invaluable.
You truly ARE my inspiration. When I grow up…I want to be you…xo Susan
Glad it helps, Susan! And thanks for your kind words. It’s superheroes like you and everyone else that keep me doing what I do. Thanks for being my inspiration to keep moving forward!
Well, Jenny:
In addition to the amazing stuff you’ve already taught me….
(as described in your *amazing* video today — seriously, who gives away all that ….seriously! You are so giving!)
I have an ongoing love affair with google mail and their add ons:
-canned responses is a godsend
-boomerang is the boom-a-bomb
And I also love maximizing autoresponder sequences.
Here is the real-deal: setting this stuff all up takes some time in advance, but it is SO worth it in the long haul.
Busy people need solid + simple solutions so they can go out and live their lives and have FUN!
xo
A
Totally agree, Aimee!
I LOVE GMail’s canned responses and Boomerang.
Yes, it does take time to set up but it saves so much time in the long run.
Thanks for sharing your tips here!
I MUST look these up! I have no idea what they are but think they could be just the thing to help me!
Jenny, I can’t thank you enough for being so generous in sharing this information! I have now watched/read 5 of your posts in a row. Each has been just as valuable as the last.
Great job!!!
Thanks!
Sara
Thanks for saying so, Sara! Glad they’ve been helpful to you!
I am overwhelmed with gratitude that you would share the behind the scenes systems of your business with us. Thank you! Not only did you put together a great video explaining it all, but you even gifted us with a downloadable cheat sheet! Brillant! 🙂
So happy you love the cheat sheet, Beatriz! Doing what I can to help you change the world!
Thanks for this, I like the tip to schedule an hour or two to put the system in place. It’ll save so much time down the line.
Yes– schedule that time to get it done! One of the most challenging parts is making the time to put the systems into place. Looks like you’ve got that covered now. Yipee!
Totally loved this blogpost Jenny. So helpful – love the cheat sheet! thank you!!! gry
You’re welcome!
Hi Jenny, thank you for sharing this amazing material.
It helped me with creating my new website.
Anyway, I think those online schedulers are really great tool. It could be used within any campaign.
Thank you for tip again and great luck to you for sharing so many useful things.
Happy to hear my tips have been helpful to you, Miro!
Hi Jenny,
Loved your video – so “simple and easy” and great tips for the business.
Thank you!
I love the instant scheduler. As I was creating my website I thought it would be great if the calendar appointment can be automated and then Voula! you tell me about it! thank you so much.
You’re welcome Lidia! I’m so glad you found what you needed.
I LOVE the online scheduler so much. Makes everyone’s life easier!
Hi jenny!!! its really a pleasure to read you and write you… please forvige mi english but Im from Mexico so I dont practice so often. But the thing is that im really interested in social media and coaching im opening my services in my country so reading you has given me so good ideas that i improve in my job thanks for all the advice. I really want to be a good coach and help others with the thing im learning. it will be really awesome if we can chat someday on skype or have some lines in a email. Thank you for everything and hope to see more of you soon.
A really good friend from Mexico City
Excellent advice and approach Jenny. I’ve implemented something similar (although using vCita for scheduling, so far I’ve loved it!). I’ve seen, and experienced the questions in two ways: one done the way you do it, with the follow up questions done after scheduling. The other, with an opt in, then questionnaire, that is competed prior to scheduling. Thoughts? I set up a system for a client using the second approach (especially important for her because people had not completed the questions beforehand).
Thoughts?
For the first 18 months in business here at jennyshih.com, I sent the questions after the free consult was scheduled. I wanted to consult with people even if they turned out not to be the perfect client. Because all of those discussions helped me see who I was attracting and ways to improve my website/coaching copy to articulate my ideal client.
After I was swimming in clients and had a steady stream coming in the door (and was solid with my copy), I moved to an application process. Now if someone wants to work with me they need to fill out their information first before they can schedule a consult. I do this because after having worked with so many people at this point, I can easily spot the perfect clients based on their info.
However, I always suggest to my clients that if they’re still relatively new, getting on the phone for a consult even with non-ideal clients is valuable. Hence in the process above, schedule consult then send questions.
Thanks for sharing that order…I have had many big name models and know they use your approach, which makes sense when you are “swimming in clients.” I appreciate the confirmation that I’m on the right track for where I am at the moment.
To swimming in clients! And making a kick-a$$ difference in the world.
Oh, I loved vCita so much I became an affiliate, something I don’t do very often. I got turned off by the constant affiliate stuff early in my journey to learn about this online stuff!
Yesssss, online scheduling has changed my life! I use ScheduleOnce and LOVE it – it integrates right with my google calendar, so I never have to go in and manually update my availability. Awesome!
Jenny – what invoicing system do you use for clients?
For the longest time I manually invoiced clients using paypal. Works just fine. I recently got a merchant account and signed up for Premium Web Cart. I now use that to invoice clients but PP is fine. The main reason for adding the merchant acct and PWC was because it integrates better with the membership software for Get Your First 1000 Subscribers. Otherwise, I’d still just use PP.
Hi Jenny, I let people pay through my acuity before they can even make the appointment. It looks like you don’t use this feature of Acuity and I am wondering why and if you think the PWC mentioned above is better.
This came up when I also noticed your Buy Now tips– which would skip the Acuity sign up. Any thoughts? Could I attach the acuity link to the Buy Now comment and do it that way with as much impact?
Thank you for all of this. These little details often get in my way.
You can absolutely do it through Acuity. At that time, it just wasn’t the approach I chose to take. (And Acuity has gotten way better since then, too, with even easier payment + scheduling).
I no longer recommend PWC, so using payment though Acuity (and I’m guessing PayPal) is perfect.
Thanks so much for the quick reply. Yes, Acuity does sent them to Paypal, and I get to skip a step.
I notice that you can also send your pre-work through Acuity. I get them to sign my payment and refund policy before they can finish paying, but I don’t send them my pre-work. I do that separately. Should I also take advantage of that ability?
Thank you for your amazing insights and generosity with your information!
I love that you’re thinking it through AND know that you don’t need to worry too much about doing it this way or that way. Simply having a set process is what matters most. Whether you use Acuity for all of it or not, that’s totally an individual choice and what works for you and your clients. You can’t go wrong!
THANKS!!!! So appreciate all of this. And your quick responses. One day soon I hope to have enough business to “qualify” for some of your great classes. You sure you don’t want to do something for the just getting started, less than $3k/month people so we can skip some time wasting, stupid steps? 🙂
You hit me right when I have “respond to blog comments” on my calendar, so it’s perfect timing.
No way, you’re in the perfect place for Make It Work Online! makeitworkonline.com
It’s for women who are just starting out and need hep with these steps (not stupid!).
I have another program for people at $3k/mo and beyond, but for those just getting started, MIWO is the ticket!
Check it out and apply. There’s no cost or obligation to apply, and we use the application process as a chance to make sure you are a good fit (so you can make the most of your investment). Someone as curious and committed as you will do stellar!
Thanks, Jenny! You’re so generous with your free (extremely useful) advice. It’s so valuable I really do feel like I’m stealing it! Looking forward to implementing a scheduling system in my brand new coaching business. I can already see how it will save me tons of time! Thank you thank you!
You’re welcome!!
Thanks so much for your transparency. I just completed Bschool and am in major implementation mode. It’s so inspiring to see your work and your site PLUS the bonus of getting your tips makes me breathe a bit easier. Thank you!!!
I hope to take your program by next year.
xo
Elena
You’re welcome, Elena! So happy it helped!!
You are SO the best! After getting overwhelmed with the myriad of newsletters out there I’ve narrowed them down to next to nothing. You are one of the few I keep because you’ve helped me enormously already. I just got my online scheduler set up so when I go on vacation at the end of the month I’ll be all set!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Excellent! You’ll love having it and your clients will too!
Jenny, that was super helpful. Thank you! I will use this system. Just starting out and figuring out how to lay out my website and get everything going properly. So, this video was right on time for me. Thank you again!
So happy to help, Sherri! Enjoy your new system!
Hey Jenny, I recent;y started using Schedule Once since it has website integration and also can include the pre-consult questionnaire, this way it’s all in one shot and straight to my calendar! I’m happy with it so far, only thing is these people often never make it to email list … any ideas? After they book their appointment, they are directed to an opt-in page
I’m not familiar with Schedule Once, so I can’t really help you with that. Sorry!
do you have any blogs or tips on creating opt ins. I am looking at the content its the wording and call to action. I know it all takes practice.. somewhere to begin?
I don’t currently have any blogs on that topic, though I do cover it in depth in my program, Get Your First 1000 Subscribers. http://get1000subscribers.com
You’ll want your opt-in to be very specific to solving a problem that your target client faces. For a great title, you can also use blog post titles. Jon Morrow has a great free download here: http://boostblogtraffic.com/headline-hacks/ Although the titles are designed for blog posts, they’re also perfect for opt-ins.
Do you find that people try to abuse the free consultation signup and request more than one free appt, possibly even filling your calendar with free requests?
I have never had that experience. I trust and have found that people are kind, respectful, and thoughtful. Once and awhile people will skip their appointment and never tell me, but that’s fine. It’s bound to happen on occasion. I don’t make a big deal of it.
Hi Jenny,
I just found this post of yours – thank you so much for that list!
I see you invoice before you send information about the payment/refund policy and wondered if you recommend the same thing (invoice before before getting the coaching agreement back with the signature from the client) for life coaching.
Thanks,
Eva
That might be something to speak with a lawyer about for your situation. I usually do the payment + legal contracts at the same time, but again, that’s a question for a lawyer. 🙂
Thanks Jenny! I had moved away from using a pre-consult questionnaire, but you’ve inspired me to add it back in. It can only help 🙂
Hi! For some reason, I cannot see your video, it just is a white space, no video is there. any ideas?
Thank you so much for letting me know, Anne! Our recent website upgrade broke our YouTube links, and we’re slowly working our way through fixing them. I’m so glad you said something. When you see others, just holler! We hope to get them all fixed in the next few weeks. Thanks again, and it’s ready for you now!