I trained to teach Hypnobirthing but still had no clue...
I felt lost, confused and a bit thick to be honest. It was January 2015 and I’d returned home from my Hypnobirthing teacher training. I’d enjoyed the time doing something that felt for me and I’d loved meeting the other people on the course BUT I had no idea how I could translate what I’d learnt to a course for expectant parents.
I felt I had BIG gaps in knowledge.
I wondered whether it was just me that felt that way.
Was I overthinking it?
Was I stupid?
Quite frankly the Hypnosis for birth stuff went completely over my head and then the other stuff just didn’t sit right with me. I felt like I was going to give clients fear of intervention. Quite frankly, I knew that if I delivered the course in the way I’d been trained it would have felt back to front and I’d be so worried I’d bore them to death because it was like I was going to have to talk at them for 12 hours.
A few months went by...
7 ways to get more reviews in your Hypnobirthing business
Reviews and testimonials are hugely valuable to Hypnobirthing businesses. Potential clients subconsciously look for that social proof that others have made the decision that they are about to make and been happy with it. Positive reviews and testimonials enhance your reputation and build credibility.
So, how can you get more of these even if you haven’t taught tonnes of clients?
1 Ask your friends to share their experiences of Hypnobirthing
In your early days of teaching Hypnobirthing, right before you’ve even taught clients of your own, consider asking people that you know for any positive statements about hypnobirthing that you can use in your marketing. Your friend, Sophie saying “Hypnobirthing made such a difference to my birth. I went from…” is a fantastic quote to share even if you didn’t personally teach Sophie. She’s raving about Hypnobirthing and you are offering Hypnobirthing.
2 Use those messages
Once you...
Teaching Hypnobirthing like a pro! Even when it’s your first time
The other day I was chatting to Michelle Yeates from Hypnobirthing Journey live on Instagram. We were chatting about her experience of becoming a Hypnobirthing Teacher via our Instructor training. (You can watch it here) In the live video she mentioned that during her first ever group Hypnobirthing course, none of her clients had a clue it was her first time.
It got me thinking about how we can worry so much that our early clients might find out that we are a beginner. I certainly worried about this in my early days too. So, I’m here to explain how you can to start like a pro too, even when you feel very much a beginner.
But firstly, please hear me when I say it is ok to be a beginner. Every expert out there starts as a beginner.
When I think back to my very first Hypnobirthing clients 9 years ago, they got the BEST service as I had so much more time and attention to give. I threw my all into preparing, because everything was new. So, please know that...
Beyond the basics: Hypnobirthing VS Antenatal classes
Being pregnant transports you to a whole new world of options, decisions and things to potentially buy. You have EVERYBODY telling you what you should and shouldn’t do.
There’ll be Betty telling you to not bother preparing for you baby’s birth. Bobbi will tell you that you can never prepare enough. Bea will tell you to do an antenatal course and Barbara will disagree, saying you’d be crazy not to do Hypnobirthing.
Eh?! Are Hypnobirthing and antenatal courses different? Surely, they all cover what happens in labour and when to call the midwife, is that not all you need?
Well, actually they are very different. But I can completely understand why you might think they are the same with all that talk of feeling prepared for baby’s birth.
I’ve been a Hypnobirthing Teacher for 9 years and many of my Hypnobirthing clients did an antenatal course PLUS they did Hypnobirthing with me. So many of the Hypnobirthing instructors that...
7 Extra Courses You Could Offer as a Hypnobirthing Teacher
As a Hypnobirthing teacher, I loved offering full Hypnobirthing courses both via group courses and one to ones. There’s nothing like the connection you get with your clients, working with them in this way, right? It was where the bulk of my income came from too.
I also loved having the option of offering other types of sessions too. Having that freedom and flexibility in my business, (especially being a busy mum) was important to me. Plus, I’m someone that does like variety and that’s what this freedom gave me: the ability to try new things and keep things varied.
People often ask me what other things, in addition to full Hypnobirthing courses you could offer as a Hypnobirthing teacher so I thought I’d compile my suggestions here…
Pregnancy Relaxation
Run weekly or one-off sessions for pregnant women focused on the relaxation elements of a Hypnobirthing course.
You could start the session with some calm...
3 Unexpected perks of Being a Hypnobirthing Teacher
Winter 2014 I nervously decided to take the plunge and train as a Hypnobirthing teacher. So around this time every year I can’t help but reflect on my years of being self-employed.
Now, just like many others who decide to follow their passions, there was tonnes of fear and doubt. I had no blumming clue how I’d make a business out of Hypnobirthing.
"All I knew was I LOVED talking about it and women needed it"
Plus, I needed a more flexible way of working with 2 under 2 and dreams of having more kids.
In almost 9 years there’s been some obvious benefits of being a self-employed Hypnobirthing teacher, like the ripples of the impact on other families and being able to work flexibly around my own family. My goodness though, there’s been some perks that I never imagined when I first took the plunge.
So here are my 3 incredible unexpected perks of teaching Hypnobirthing…
Friendships
If I’m honest...
The trick you are missing to get repeat Hypnobirthing bookings
Did you know that during my fourth pregnancy, after 5 years of teaching Hypnobirthing and 3 incredible births utilising Hypnobirthing, I did a Hypnobirthing course myself?
Now, it might seem a bit strange a Hypnobirthing teacher and a fourth time Hypnobirther having a Hypnobirthing session with a Hypnobirthing teacher. I know what you’re thinking…
Didn’t you already know it all already?
Was there really anything else to gain?
Yes, I was knowledgeable, but Hypnobirthing is more than simply knowledge. It’s also tools to trigger a sense of calm, distraction techniques, comfort measures etc.
Yes, I knew these techniques like the back of my hand.
Knowing these techniques and practicing them is two VERY different things!
Having a session with a teacher gave us some accountability. It marked the start of us prioritising taking the time to practice and making the techniques part of our own lives again. Without this...
5 Lessons About Getting Hypnobirthing Bookings, Learnt From Moving House
That’s right, I’m selling my house at the moment and finding a new home to buy. Yes, I spend around 4 hours a day on Rightmove (no joke!) Why is that site soooo addictive?!
In this house moving fiasco there have been so many things that remind me of important lessons I’ve had over the years about running a Hypnobirthing business.
So if you want some solid gold Hypnobirthing business tips, read on…
- People buy from people. Yep, I know the houses that we view don’t come with their current owner (thank goodness) and yet whether I like and trust them matters.
When the owner is warm, friendly and honest I tend to like the house more and feel more confident about dealing with them should we want to put an offer in. If this is important in buying homes, just think how important it is in selling services ie selling your Hypnobirthing courses.
When we allow people to get to know us a little, they feel like they know us, they trust us...
Women, the world sees your business as a hobby
They ask how your LITTLE business is going.
When times are harder in life or business, they suggest you give your business up. I wonder if they’d do the same if it was a job for someone else?
They ask you what you are going to do with all your extra time now that little ____ is at preschool.
They see the investments that you make in your business such as additional learning, coaching, and support as a personal indulgence.
Any of this sound familiar?
I’ve certainly experienced this in my almost 9 years in business.
Now, in my early days of business I kind of thought that once my business proved itself to be a success, more people would take it seriously. Whilst, this is partly true there is still a huge difference in how people speak to my husband about his business as opposed to mine.
My youngest child recently started primary school. It’s the first time ever I don’t have children at home Monday to Friday 9-3....
If you want to take your Hypnobirthing business to a new level this year, building community is a powerful way to do so. Many local and globally successful businesses utilise community building as part of their strategy such as Peloton, Harley Davidson and Medela.
Have you thought about this in your own Birth and baby business or the business you dream of building?
Seriously, it is easier than you imagine, plus it offers you and your business so many benefits. That is why it is utilised by many multi-million-pound businesses.
Building community as a business involves creating a network of loyal and engaged clients who come together over something that they have in common. In your case this would be pregnancy, love of Hypnobirthing and maybe even early motherhood (allowing your clients to be engaged after they’ve taken your course and had their babies). This allows your clients to feel part of it with a real sense of belonging and loyalty to...