How To Keep In Touch: Tips To Nurture Coaching Clients And Prospects
- Dumitru Matei
- May 22
- 5 min read
In coaching, connection is everything. But staying meaningfully engaged with clients, prospects and followers requires intentional outreach that reflects each individual’s needs, communication style and stage of journey. This not only strengthens trust, but also keeps a coach’s services top of mind, reinforcing their value and opening doors to long-term growth and referrals.
Below, 18 members of Forbes Coaches Council explore some effective strategies they use to stay in regular touch with their clients. Read on to learn what they do to stay connected and how these efforts benefit their coaching practices.
1. Send Handwritten Cards For Key Milestones
As a former fundraiser deeply committed to relationship building, “snail mail” is indispensable to my coaching practice. Clients, industry colleagues and referral partners receive cards for their birthdays, anniversaries and other key milestones. Sending handwritten cards has allowed me to truly remain top of mind and stand out in a sea of coaches. - Dr. Kyle Elliott, MPA, CHES, CaffeinatedKyle.com
2. Find And Share Bite-Sized, Relevant Insights
Be a resource. Our clients are busy executives. I make a point to find relevant, bite-sized and actionable insights to share. It may be about their industry or leadership practices or even something I know will brighten their day. The other key: I don’t do it too often! The last thing I want to do is add to their to-do list. I stay top of mind and relevant, which is a benefit to my practice. - Kathleen Woodhouse, Nova Leadership
3. Tailor Methods For Different Learning Styles
Since there are multiple learning styles, there is no one way to stay top of mind with everyone. I remain visible in inboxes via email, community engagement in my group, and on social media through posting and live shows. I strongly recommend that entrepreneurs build email nurture sequences for both clients and prospects. The world moves fast, and it’s important to stay top of mind. - Laura DeCarlo, Career Directors International
4. Engage Regularly On LinkedIn
I stay connected by regularly engaging on LinkedIn—sharing content, commenting thoughtfully and starting conversations. It helps me stay visible, show my expertise and build genuine relationships. This consistent presence keeps my network warm and often leads to new client inquiries or collaboration opportunities. - Jaide Massin, Soar Executive Coaching LLC
5. Keep Clients And Prospects Engaged With Challenges
I send out quarterly “reset challenges”—small, game-inspired prompts for reflection and action. It keeps clients and prospects engaged between sessions, reinforces a growth mindset and builds a dynamic, loyal community around my coaching practice. - Anna Boltenko, RE.SET Coaching and Mentoring
6. Encourage Feedback On Your Content
Once a month, my clients receive a personal email with my Forbes Council article. I encourage feedback to add value to the content shared. With my psychology background, my information usually brings a different perspective and awareness not considered. Being consistent on LinkedIn with content brings me prospects and many followers. - Melinda Fouts, Ph.D., Success Starts With You
7. Use A Dedicated Online Community Platform
I stay in regular touch with clients, prospects and followers through a dedicated online community platform. This allows me to share valuable resources, offer support and foster ongoing engagement. It helps me stay aligned with their goals, strengthen relationships and provide real-time insights, which ultimately enhances my coaching practice. - Christine Daniels, Christine Daniels LLC
8. Call Without An Agenda
I regularly call clients and prospects just to check in—no sales pitch, no agenda. It’s a genuine way to show I care about them as people, not just as business contacts. This builds deeper trust, strengthens relationships and keeps my coaching practice rooted in real connection and authenticity. - Diana Lowe, Blue Light Leadership
9. Deliver Insights And Encouragement Regularly
I contact clients, prospects and followers by sending a monthly “Leadership Love Letter” email series. This powerful, heart-centered touchpoint delivers inspiration, encouragement, lessons learned, actionable wisdom and a personal message from me to their inbox. - Dr. Jennifer Bryant, Reaching From Within, An Empowerment Journey LLC
10. Take A Multichannel Approach
Staying connected with clients, prospects and followers requires a multichannel approach. A strong LinkedIn content strategy, personalized email newsletters, live webinars or Q&A sessions, community building, speaking engagements, podcasts and interactive workshops and/or masterclasses will all help build relationships, establish credibility and drive long-term success. - Maryam Daryabegi, Innovation Bazar
11. Share Articles On Topics Of Interest
I do a lot of business reading and will frequently shoot an article on a topic of interest to a current or former client, or even a prospect. Not only is it a way of staying in touch, but it also enhances professional credibility and reinforces that I keep up to date in my field. The caution is to make sure you are accurately “curating” what you send to whom to ensure the content is relevant. - Kathy Bernhard, KFB Leadership Solutions
12. Elevate Your Clients’ Voices
I stay connected by consistently elevating my clients’ voices—featuring their work in my books, podcasts and magazine. This not only highlights their expertise and passions, but also builds trust, strengthens relationships and expands their reach. It fosters a thriving network that supports their growth and reflects the heart of my coaching practice. - Dr. Sharon H. Porter, Vision & Purpose LifeStyle Magazine and Media
13. Schedule Check-In Times With Key Clients
Staying in touch takes intention. While this is about business, in coaching it is also about genuine connection. I make it a point to schedule time on the calendar to remind me to check in with key clients. In the meeting invite to myself, I put in key notes about what I want to remember, or something I want to share when we have the next check-in. I also use broad platforms like podcasts, LinkedIn and this council. - Denise Russo, School of Thoughts Publishing
14. Make Space For Informal Moments
I stay connected through personal messages, regular check-ins and spontaneous coffee catch-ups—often just to listen. These informal moments create space for real connection, trust and reflection. They help me understand what truly matters and think along in a way that feels natural, supportive and tailored to each person. - Stephan Lendi, Newbury Media & Communications GmbH
15. Offer Real-Time, Open-Door Access
I use a Substack newsletter with live chat to stay connected, plus a 24/7 “Ask Me Anything” hashtag thread (#AMA) for followers who want real-time access. Long-term clients have open-door ad hoc call access, and I regularly pose sharp, useful questions to both clients and prospects to keep the dialogue honest and relevant. It’s not drip marketing—it’s a living, breathing conversation. - Alla Adam, Adam Impact Institute
16. Leverage Insights Into A Micro-Content Strategy
I send “Question of the Month” emails—sharing one provocative question that sparked insight in recent client work. This micro-content strategy has tripled my engagement rates compared to traditional newsletters. The magic isn’t in broadcasting wisdom—it’s in creating thinking partnerships where readers solve their own challenges using my frameworks as catalysts. - Nirmal Chhabria
17. Hold Events On Key Topics And Ideas
On a weekly basis, I have an all-hands meeting and speaker-led session on key topics, ideas, tactics and insights that usually has no guests other than my clients and a known speaker or author. This is not required, but it provides continuity to the thought process I want most of them to have as they attack their most important issues, the job market and the keys to building their brand. - John M. O’Connor, Career Pro Inc.
18. Allow For A Natural Ebb And Flow
Relationships can naturally ebb and flow. We shouldn’t force things. I can’t stand it when people make me feel obligated. I don’t ever want to build resentment from someone or create codependency. My goal is genuine connection; don’t ever take advantage; make impact. If it’s meant to be, it will last. Some are a season; some aren’t. No traps, and be a thoughtful person. - Kinga Vajda, Execute Your Intentions, LLC