How to Get Coaching Clients Without Fancy Funnels: Practical Business Tips for Coaches

“If you treat coaching like a hobby, it’s only ever going to be your hobby. If you don’t have clients, working on your business is your nine-to-five.” — Marc Mawhinney

In this episode of CoachConnect, Dr. Diego Salinas and Mark, host of the Natural Born Coaches podcast and founder of the Coaching Jungle community, dig into what it actually takes to get coaching clients and build a sustainable practice without expensive funnels or complex tech.

Mark opens with his origin story. After a decade building a successful real estate business in Canada, everything collapsed. As a result, he was helped back to his feet by a coach and mentor, and that front-row seat to the power of coaching changed the direction of his career entirely.

He unpacks the most common traps new coaches fall into. Perfectionism, productive procrastination, and the false assumption that launching a website means clients will come rushing in. Furthermore, he explains why most coaches dramatically underestimate how much time goes into finding clients versus actually coaching them.

Together, Diego and Mark explore the importance of niching down authentically, not chasing the hottest market, but finding the people you genuinely want to serve. They also discuss why packages always outperform hourly sessions, how to build consistency without burning out, and why failing forward is not just inevitable but necessary.

Marc Mawhinney – Host of Natural Born Coaches & Founder of The Coaching Jungle

Background

Mark’s path to coaching started with a decade in real estate in Canada. After building a thriving business that eventually collapsed, he was supported back to his feet by a coach and mentor. By March 2014, he had planted his flag in the coaching world, and he hasn’t looked back since.

Natural Born Coaches Podcast

Mark is the host of the Natural Born Coaches podcast, one of the most prolific coaching podcasts in the industry with over 900 episodes released. The show covers practical strategies for coaches at every stage of building their business. Additionally, Mark has been a speaker at events like Social Media Marketing World and has contributed to Entrepreneur.com.

The Coaching Jungle

Mark also runs The Coaching Jungle, a Facebook community of almost 30,000 coaches. It is one of the largest peer communities in the coaching industry, designed to help coaches connect, learn, and grow their practices.

His Approach

Since 2014, Mark has worked exclusively with coaches, helping them get clients, find their niche, and build businesses that actually work in the real world. His approach is practical, no-fluff, and grounded in over a decade of boots-on-the-ground experience.

Dr. Diego Salinas is the host of CoachConnect.

Dr. Diego Salinas is a neuroscientist, physician, and health coach. He is passionate about helping coaches grow their impact in the health and wellness space.

As the co-founder of Vibly, he equips coaches with the tools and support to build thriving practices and create lasting change.

Blending medical expertise with coaching experience, Dr. Salinas specializes in behavior change, mental well-being, and the role of coaching in healthcare. On CoachConnect, he explores the strategies and successes of top coaches, sharing actionable insights. A strong advocate for coaching in healthcare, he speaks at industry events and works to make quality coaching more accessible.

CoachConnect with Dr. Diego Salinas is a podcast for coaches looking to grow their impact, refine their strategies, and navigate the evolving world of health and wellness coaching.

Dr. Diego Salinas has a question for coaches and coaching industry leaders: “What makes coaching a powerful force for change?” In this podcast series, he sits down with top coaching professionals to uncover their insights, strategies, and personal journeys.

Each episode of CoachConnect delivers real-world strategies, success stories, and expert perspectives on coaching, mental well-being, and business growth, helping coaches at all levels unlock their full potential.