As a Hypnobirthing Teacher Trainer and a business strategist, here are the 3 things I would never advise you to do as a Hypnobirthing Teacher…

1. Follow tonnes of other businesses like yours on social media

Ok, I know when we first start our training it can be so tempting to follow ever other Hypnobirthing business that pops up on our social media scroll for inspiration and ideas. I totally understand this, it was me too.

However, what can happen is that we follow so many businesses similar to us that when we go on social media it feels like we are just one of so many samey businesses. Mindset wise, this can have a negative impact. It can lead to comparisonitus, feelings of ‘why would anyone pick me?’ and feeling like it’s one big echo chamber. When the reality is for so the vast majority of pregnant women, their newsfeeds are NOT like yours and actually they most likely have very few voices talking about empowering birth.

What to do instead…

Carefully decide...

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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.

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I felt I had BIG gaps in knowledge.

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I wondered whether it was just me that felt that way.

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Was I overthinking it?

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Was I stupid?

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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.

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A few months went by and I finally got my first client. It was a couple that I used to work wit...

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 have taught a client or two, you are likely to get infor...

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 there are huge benefit...

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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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 I train have this experience too with the women the...

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.

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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.

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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…

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Pregnancy Relaxation

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Run weekly or one-off sessions for pregnant women focused on the relaxation elements of a Hypnobirthing course.

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You could start the session with some calm breathing and then welcome them with introductions. Next, enjoy...

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?

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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 the tools just wouldn’t be tools.

Yes, I had ...

 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?!

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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.

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So if you want some solid gold Hypnobirthing business tips, read on…

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1. 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 and as a result feel more comfortable committing
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