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 years of running successful businesses and working with dozens of other people, Melissa Bolton had a hunch: To sell successfully the first step is be aware of who you are and what your target market is. Then it's simply a matter of aligning the message with both. The results show she was right and her vast client base of successful clients confirm. She discusses what creatives should know about branding, and what she did to help take her coaching and courses to the next level.

 At the age of 23, you had a 7-figure income. At 27, you achieved Vice President status in an Fortune 500 financial company. Today you're a highly sought-out Brand Therapist - a specialty you've trademarked and made your unique. Tell us how this amazing adventure began and the most important lessons you've taken away thus far.

I've never treated a customer like a prospect or viewed them as an possibility. They're real people with real needs, goals, and wants. The opportunity lies in what you do to help them. This answer feels like it could be longer however, it's really just that simple Treat people the way you'd prefer to be treated. be attentive, and finally help.

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

I've always had an interest in behavioral science and psychology however I've never planned to work as a traditional psychotherapist. While I was at home, I read a lot about the psychology of behavior and its principles particularly in the area of decision-making. I started applying these concepts to my branding work and the result was almost magical. Since I believe in the individualism of each person, I am keen on creating titles to represent your professional identity. "Brand Therapist" was a great choice.

I constructed the brand archetype course back in the year 2010. The time was when there was no such course available. The use of archetypes was commonplace for branding purposes, however the course wasn't yet out there. The idea is to take the proven scientific principles and apply them to buying behavior. You can doubt behaviors however patterns are difficult to deny. Archetypes reveal patterns in behavior , and help you to cater your words as well as your style offerings to those who need them most.

 In your research it was clear that many creators and business owners failed because they ignored branding and were focusing on marketing. What are some easy actions creators could take to create a brand that is authentic?

You can't effectively market something if do not know who you are, what it is you're selling, who your ideal customers are, or what you're actually selling. What I mean by that is that, in reality, we're not selling anything or any service. The only thing we're selling is solutions. selling people a higher version of themselves. The ability to comprehend and communicate the core of your brand and carry it throughout all you do is crucial to the growth of any brand.

You offer a number of insightful, free resources to potential customers including your free brand archetype test and report. What impact have these resources had on your business and what should creatives do to incorporate the freebies in their marketing strategies?

The free quiz has had a huge impact. I have spent a lot of time learning not only the right questions however, but also how for the most accurate answers. More than a million people have taken the quiz over the years. This is still amazing to me. But it's highly insightful and deep. I understand the allure. It's been useful to so many. It's helped me grow my email list as well as expand offerings to my ideal clients as well.

It is suggested to create giveaways that are in line with your personal style. Being an Luminary (archetype) teacher I love taking my time and learning, and then sharing the knowledge. For me, a game is a good idea. If you're like me, the quiz might be another thing. It could be a template, a white paper, an ebook, or some graphics or other downloadable content. Make sure that you receive some kind of reward, with which is most well-known being your email address. They can always unsubscribe if the content doesn't suit them.

 As someone with several years of experience as a consultant What advice do you give to creators who might want to offer the services of coaching?

Oh I have lots of suggestions on this issue:

• Don't give your time away for free. A free consultation is fine to determine if you're a good fit, but ensure that you don't offer to much. It's best to have a handful of questions you'd like to discuss prior to the appointment. Make sure to stay within the time limit. Keep them interested and wanting more.
• Set boundaries, and then follow these boundaries and stick to. Everyone will try to get more from you. If someone wants or needs more, they'll take your time and money. If not, they don't respect your time, and you ought to go on with your life. Simple as that.
• I'm focused on working with your ideal clients. Use your intuition. If you think a client isn't a good fit from the very first moment you meet with them, then they probably aren't. Don't ever try to justify your prices or convince them to join your team. They are likely to be thrilled to work together and will be eager to give up their money in exchange to give you their time.

 With regards to branding, what is the role social media be playing and what kind of content has been the most effective for you as an artist?

Social media to me is to be more of a component of marketing more than branding. Personally, I like Pinterest in comparison to other platforms. There's less chatter , and there's more focus. People take the time to sort and arrange. This is a deliberate process. It's a nice thing to see. Plus, I can see what else people are saving. They are unique as compared to Facebook as well as Instagram. I recommend going to an account on which you've got the most followers, and looking at your website visitor statistics to find out the source of your traffic from, and then spending your time and effort on those places.

 What tools have proven to be the most beneficial in creating and promoting your service?

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

Reviews can be very beneficial in selling. Social proof has immense importance as people want to know the risks involved when investing in something. Receiving honest feedback from someone other that you (the buyer) is pretty impressive.

Additionally, I utilize coupons all the time due to various reasons. The ability to customize coupons has been a huge benefit. My customers love that I can create them customized codes using their names or business name. It's entertaining, and it adds a touch of professionalism.

I can't get enough of's "Courses" feature even more. This is my absolute favorite online tool and makes it so easy to develop and design courses. It's not even taking advantage of all of the options including quizzes, video or quizzes, and I can't wait. My courses were launched within the last month and have already had a lot of very satisfied students.

 What have you done to help advertise and sell your product online?

I was selling digital downloads frequently through my site until GDPR took effect. Since I am a U.S.-based business, I was frustrated and confusing and time consuming to try to navigate the recently adopted tax law, so I just paused selling downloads in total. Then I found and saw they took care of all aspects VAT taxes for me. I was immediately intrigued. Having has allowed me to sell tens of thousands of dollars worth of digital goods without losing sleep over VAT issues.

The name itself is growing in popularity and recognition. Because their name instills confidence, buyers know they are able to buy with confidence.