Selling Coaching and Courses with Melissa Bolton -

How does branding can play a role in helping creators sell smarter and better? After many years of running successful ventures and consulting dozens of other companies, Melissa Bolton had a hunch: To sell successfully it is essential to understand who you are as well as who your client is. Then it's simply a matter of aligning the message to both. Turns out she was right, as her extensive network of accomplished clients can confirm. She shares what designers should be aware of when it comes to branding and how helped take her coaching and courses up a notch.

 By age 23 you had a 7-figure income. When you were 27, you earned the status of vice-president at the Fortune 500 financial company. You're now a sought-after Brand Therapist - a specialty that you've registered and created your own. Let us know how your amazing adventure began and you've learned from it thus far.

I've never treated a customer as a prospective customer, or thought of them as a potential possibility. They are real people who have actual needs, objectives and desires. It's up to you what you do to help them. This answer feels like it should be longer, but really, that's it; treat people as you'd want to be treated, take note, then assist.

 Can you share an explanation of the function of a brand therapist and your signature archetype-based approach?

I've always been fascinated by the field of psychology and behavioral science, but I never wanted to become a traditional therapist. When I had time off, I read a lot about psychological principles and patterns of behavior, especially in decision making. I began applying these ideas to my branding efforts and the outcome was nothing short of magical. As someone who believes in individuality, I'm keen on creating titles for your professional self. "Brand Therapist" seemed like a perfect title.

I constructed the brand archetype course back in the year 2010. In the beginning, there was nothing like it on the market. Archetypes were being used for branding purposes, however the course wasn't yet out there. It is the idea to apply the proven scientific principles and apply them to buying behaviour. It is possible to doubt the behavior, but patterns are hard to deny. Archetypes show patterns of behavior and make it easy to tailor your thoughts or style and offerings to those who need them most.

 In your research You realized that the majority of entrepreneurs and creators failed because they ignored branding and were focusing on advertising. What are the actions creators could take to develop an authentic brand image?

It's not possible to well market something if you do not know who you are, what it is you're selling, who your ideal customers are, or even what it is you're actually selling. What I mean by that is that we're not really selling products or services. We're selling solutions. selling people a better version of them. Understanding and being able to define the essence of your brand and carry it throughout all you do is crucial to the growth of any company.

You offer a number of helpful, no-cost resources to potential customers which includes your no-cost brand archetype test and analysis. How have these sources been for your company? And what should creatives do to incorporate freebies into their marketing efforts?

The quiz for free has made tremendous influence. It took me a long time to learn not only what to ask however, but also how for the most accurate answers. More than a million people took the test throughout the years. It's still awe-inspiring for me. But it's highly insightful and deep. I understand the allure. I'm happy to see it has been beneficial to many. It has helped me expand my email list as well as expand offerings to my ideal clients as well.

I suggest creating giveaways that are in line with your own style. As a teacher, I am a Luminary (archetype) educator I love taking my time and learning, and then sharing the knowledge, so for me, taking a test makes sense. The freebie might look like some other thing. It might be a design of a white or black document, an ebook or some graphics or other downloadable information. Make sure that you receive some kind of reward, with the most popular being their email address. They can always unsubscribe if they aren't happy with the content.

 As someone with several years of consulting experience What suggestions would you provide to creators that are thinking of offering coach services?

Oh I have lots of tips on this topic:

• Don't give your time away for free. Free consultations are a good way to find out if you're the right suitable candidate, but be sure you don't divulge too much. It's better to prepare some questions you want to ask before you make the phone meeting. Try to stick to the allotted time. Leave them intrigued and wanting more.
• Establish boundaries and follow them. Everyone will try to get more. If someone is looking for or wants more, they'll pay for your time. If not, they don't respect your time, so you need to move on. That's it.
• It is my goal to work only with clients you would like to work with. Be a good judge of your own. If you believe that a customer doesn't seem like a great fit at from the very first moment you meet with them, they probably aren't. Never try to convince people of your costs or try to convince people to work with you. They will be happy to work with you and excited to give up their money in exchange in exchange for their time.

 When it comes to branding, what role should social media have and what types of content have been the most effective for you as a creator?

Social media to me is as more of a marketing tool than of branding. Personally, I prefer Pinterest in comparison to other platforms. There's less chatter and greater focus. It's a time for people to curate and organize. It's highly intentional. It's a nice thing to see. It also lets me see what else people are saving. These are distinct features in comparison to Facebook as well as Instagram. I recommend going to a platform where you have the largest following, looking at the statistics of your site's visitors to find out which sources your visitors are coming from, then focusing your time and energy in these places.

 Which of the tools has been the most useful in creating and marketing your services?

One of the best resources is actually a feature, not a tool.

Reviews are very helpful when it comes to selling. Social proof has immense importance as people want to know what they're in for before investing their money into an item. Hearing genuine feedback from someone other than the seller (the buyer) is quite effective.

Additionally, I utilize coupon codes all the time due to various reasons. The possibility of customizing codes has been fantastic. People love it whenever I create a personalized code using their name or their business name. It's fun, plus it has an air of professionalism to it.

I couldn't love 's "Courses" feature any more. This is my absolute favorite online tool and makes it so easy to develop and design courses. I haven't even taken advantage of the many features including quizzes, video or quizzes and can't wait to get them. I started my classes in the past month, and already have lots of happy students.

 What have you done to help market and sell your products online?

I was selling digital downloads frequently on my site prior to the GDPR went into effect. Since I am a U.S.-based business, I felt it was frustrating and confusing and tiring to attempt to understand the newly adopted tax law and I decided to stop selling downloads completely. After I discovered that they handled all things VAT taxes for me. I was immediately intrigued. This has helped me sell thousands of dollars of digital products without losing any sleep over VAT issues.

The name itself has been growing in recognition and the amount of attention it receives. Since their name inspires confidence, buyers know they can buy without worry.