3 Ways to Stand Out Online as a Mindfulness Teacher
Here's one of the most common concerns I hear from mindfulness teachers who are trying to grow their online presence and impact more lives:
"There's already so much mindfulness and meditation content online...so many people already teaching mindfulness. How am I going to be able to stand out?"
The short answer is this:
While there may be a lot of people out there doing what you're doing - or even if there's only a handful - no one is able to deliver your wisdom, services, or skills in the same way as you! You are your unique. Your message, your story, and your offerings are absolutely needed in this world!
So if you're ready to have people reaching out to you instead of trying to figure out how to get more clients, here are 3 actionable tips to help you stand out and boost your credibility.
#1: Don’t be afraid to niche down
This is the most foundational concept in effective marketing. When you try to reach everyone, your message is too diluted to have a true impact on anyone specifically.
Trying to bring mindfulness as a panacea to everyone is not going to have nearly the same impact as when you focus on a specific subset of people. These should be people who have something in common and whom you resonate with.
Once you pick your niche, own it. Commit yourself to being the mindfulness guide for these people. The more you work with them, the better you'll understand them. The more you listen to their needs, pains, and challenges, the better you can serve them. You’ll also learn how to communicate with them in a way that empowers them to work with you.
You'll instantly feel more meaning and connection because you can picture them in your mind. These people are no longer just some strangers in the cyber world - they are kindred spirits whom you genuinely want to help.
There’s nothing like the inner fuel of knowing there's people who will benefit from your skills to keep you sharing your gifts - even in times when it feels like nobody is listening to you.
Rather than being a mindfulness teacher, become a mindfulness teacher for (your people).
Maybe this means being a mindfulness trainer in the workplace for tech companies in Silicon Valley. Or a mindfulness expert for first-time moms who practice yoga. Or perhaps a mindfulness coach for stressed out female lawyers in the Chicago area.
Whoever you most want to help - because you understand their struggle - that’s who you should focus on. If you’re not sure how to pick your niche and want some more specific tips, check out How to Choose Your Niche Within Mindfulness So You Can Reach More People.
#2: Have a client-facing website and profile
This is something I mentioned in the recent LinkedIn training webinar I hosted, but it applies to every aspect of your marketing. If you’re not speaking to your people directly, you’re just another mindfulness teacher in their eyes.
Now don't get me wrong: that doesn’t make your offerings any less amazing or valuable! But it also doesn’t build the connection that people need before they’ll spend their precious time or money to learn more or work with you.
You know that the people you’re wanting to help are busy...that's one of the reasons mindfulness can help them be more present. :-) So what's it going to take for them stop and actually read your profile, website, or social media post? Seeing that you offer something that could help them!
This means talking to them in a way that shows that you understand their concerns, struggles, and challenges. As a mindfulness copywriter, this is where I see so many mindfulness teachers not fully leveraging their websites or profiles to their potential - the wording is just too generic. It doesn't address a specific pain point or struggle they're having that mindfulness can help them with!
If you want to make an impact on people, your words must have an impact on them first. Before you can help them transform their lives, you have to draw them in so they will want to work with you in the first place!
So how can you do that more effectively?
✔ Make your content about them - not about you.
Yes this includes your LinkedIn bio...it's not meant to be a resume. Count the "I" vs "You" in your marketing content, website, and social media profiles.
✔ Put yourself in their shoes.
What objections or limiting beliefs do they have about spending their time or money on a mindfulness class, program, or 1:1 session? Address these directly in your copy so they know you understand. Plus you help them save time so they can get to working with you faster!
✔ Use keyword search tools.
Figure out what they’re asking about. Then write your profile and website content so that it answers these questions for them. You can find some keyword search tools in my blog post How to Get Ideas for Your Next Blog, Social Media or Newsletter.
✔ Answer at least these 3 questions in your profile and on your website.
Who do you help?
How do you help them?
What’s the ultimate transformation they will experience AFTER working with you?
#3: Do what others are afraid to do - and what you enjoy!
In life - and in business - most people choose the easy path. This is completely understandable. Our brains are wired to avoid getting out of the comfort zone. But often this stops us from taking chances on ourselves...from taking actions that could transform more lives!
Oftentimes, it’s only when someone challenges us that we finally take the leap.
Now pause. Think about this in terms of the people you want to reach. They also need to feel empowered enough that they can make a change in the first place and then be invited to do so!
Taking calculated risks is rewarded because only a small fraction of people are willing to push past their doubts and fears and take the harder actions that have a bigger impact.
Have you always wanted to write a book about mindfulness or how it relates to your personal story? Do you enjoy sharing your thoughts and wisdom on video? Do you love recording guided meditations? Have you always wanted to share your knowledge on stage?
All of these things take time and dedication. They also require skill and strategy to most effectively reach more people through them. But if you’re committed to the people you’re serving (because you love your niche :-)), it’ll be much easier to push past the discomfort and do these things.
When you do any of these activities because you enjoy the process and as a means to help your target audience, you stand out. You start establishing yourself as the go-to expert in your field and gaining a following organically.
Here are some ideas you can challenge yourself to try:
- Share your meditations on Insight Timer or another meditation app.
This helps you grow brand awareness and connects you with people who you know are already interested in mindfulness. Make sure you link back to your website or to a lead magnet you’ve created to get your new fans on your email list.
- Create a YouTube channel or other video-sharing account.
Start recording short videos about mindfulness specifically for your niche market or provide guided meditations. Again, make sure you encourage them to visit your website if they’d like help bringing more mindfulness into their life.
- Sign up to speak at a Ted/TedX conference or a wellness conference in your area.
Get a video of your talk and share it online. The exposure you gain will definitely help you gain credibility as an expert in your niche. Plus imagine all the contacts and new people you’ll meet!
- Create a free event/webinar for your ideal clients using LinkedIn.
Learn more about how to create an event on LinkedIn and use to attract more of your target audience: How to Use LinkedIn to Get More Mindfulness Clients.
Do it for the people you want to help
I invite you to commit to doing something out of your comfort zone in your business in the next week. Don't do it for you. Do it for the people you want to help.
Yes it might be hard to get vulnerable and share your story. Or perhaps you’re worried that investing in learning a new skill or in other business resources might not bring immediate rewards. But ultimately if you know that you’re not just doing it for yourself, it's worth it. And that’s how you get to grow your impact and leave your legacy on this world.
So don’t be afraid to put yourself out there kind soul. The world needs your message!
I'm here to support you along the way. If you want to make the most of your mindful marketing, there's plenty of free resources here to help you get started today.