We were lucky to catch up with Kevin Thibodeaux recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Kevin, thanks for joining us today. Getting that first client is always an exciting milestone. Can you talk to us about how you got your first customer who wasn’t a friend, family, or acquaintance?
I acquired my first client through a series of mass emails to friends and family, where I excitedly announced my new venture as a dating and relationship coach. In these emails, I solicited their help and encouraged them to refer individuals who might benefit from my services. The email message I shared with them went something like this:
“If you know someone I may be able to help who is ready to meet their forever love and invest in themselves, tell them Coach Kev’s got their back, and they don’t have to navigate the dating world alone. Please forward this email to them immediately!
Check out my brand new website and feel free to schedule a free 30-minute coaching session if you’d like to learn more about my coaching style and offerings.
Join the Date Smarter Community as a founding member and participate in the official launch on February 14th at 8pm CST / 6pm EST. Livestream Launch with Coach Kev!
Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook and like, comment, and share my content when you see it.”
Through this outreach, I eventually had someone contact me based on a referral from my friends and family network. This individual was interested in my coaching services and signed up for coaching, marking the beginning of my journey as a dating and relationship coach. What a relief! If I could get one client I would get more!
Kevin, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am Coach Kev, an experienced dating and relationship coach dedicated to helping individuals navigate the complexities of dating and forming meaningful connections. I specialize in guiding my clients through a transformative and client-driven process that empowers them to unlock their full potential, set goals, achieve desired outcomes, and manage personal change.
My journey into the realm of dating and relationship coaching was not my initial career path. I began my professional life as a business change consultant and entrepreneur, fully immersed in the corporate world, with my primary focus on building my career and financial stability. Like many others, I believed that I needed to establish financial security and career success before considering my personal life, specifically dating and relationships. However, as I entered my early thirties, I had a realization that there were other areas in my life that needed attention.
This epiphany came as I recognized that I lacked crucial skills in communication, emotional maturity, conflict resolution, and understanding love and relationships. I understood that, in order to have a healthy and committed relationship, I needed to work on myself first. I embarked on a journey of personal growth, seeking guidance from coaches, therapists, friends, mentors, and family, much like I had done in my business and professional career.
Through this transformative process, I not only developed myself but also uncovered my passion for helping others in their dating and relationship journeys. I discovered that personal growth and self-awareness are essential components of forming meaningful connections with others. As a result, I transitioned into the role of a dating and relationship coach.
Today, I take great pride in living my dream as a dating and relationship coach, where I support amazing individuals in visualizing their ideal futures, connecting with their true selves, and identifying what truly matters to them. My coaching approach, known as the “Date Smarter” process, revolves around discovery, awareness, and choice. Through this process, my clients are empowered to create and live more fulfilling lives, not just in their relationships but in every aspect of their personal development.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
To kickstart my business, I relied on the savings I had diligently amassed from my previous ventures in business management consulting and heavy civil construction, which totaled approximately $200,000. This financial foundation was a result of my prior successes, and I considered myself fortunate to have this resource at my disposal.
My decision to launch my business coincided with the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic when economic uncertainty led to a slowdown in spending across industries. Having this $200,000 at my disposal was essential as it enabled me to cover startup costs and sustain my business for the initial one to one-and-a-half years without a significant impact on my personal lifestyle.
I had envisioned that, within the first year of operation, my business would start generating substantial revenue, and I’d be well on my way to success. However, as any entrepreneur will tell you, things don’t always unfold exactly as planned. While I did manage to generate some revenue, it didn’t meet my initial expectations.
It was only when I decided to expand my reach and joined other coaching platforms, in addition to my own, that I saw a significant increase in monthly revenue. This diversification and outreach strategy allowed my business to grow and ultimately achieve sustainability, demonstrating that adaptability and resilience are key attributes in the entrepreneurial journey.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
Building an audience on social media was not a seamless journey for me. I initially approached it with reluctance, as I didn’t see myself as someone eager to be in the spotlight or a social media coach, which didn’t align with my core purpose. Nonetheless, I recognized the need for a consistent online presence, so I decided to take matters into my own hands.
I took small steps at the beginning, acknowledging that I needed to crawl before I could walk or run in the world of social media. With the help of the marketing company that created my website, I worked on establishing a brand identity and stuck to it rigorously in my social media presence. At the outset, I had minimal understanding of social media etiquette, hashtags, emoji use, and the like. Therefore, I kept things straightforward by primarily posting static content, which allowed me to dip my toes into the social media waters. I maintained this approach myself for about a year to learn and observe the results.
I started my social media journey on platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook. After that initial year of learning and establishing my digital presence, I set my sights on the next phase: creating videos, live streams, and reels. To accomplish this, I decided to enlist the help of a social media professional to assist in generating this more dynamic content. This step took me out of my comfort zone, but with time and practice, it became more manageable. I launched a weekly live stream called “Wednesday Wingman with Coach Kev” that covered tips on important dating and relationship topics. This live stream became an integral part of my social media strategy, allowing me to engage with my audience in real-time and provide valuable insights on subjects that matter to them.
The third phase of my social media evolution involved introducing a video series with a friend who is a therapist. Together, we launched “The Coach & The Therapist in Conversation,” a monthly discussion between two friends—a Dating & Relationship Coach (myself) and a Psychotherapist. We tackled topics related to dating and relationships, sharing our opinions, giving advice, and sometimes agreeing to disagree. This series encouraged substantial engagement and input from our viewers and guests. Presently, the video series is on hold due to our busy schedules, but we are considering resuming it when our availability aligns.
Throughout this process, building my social media following has been a steady grind. While my following remains relatively small at the moment, I acknowledge that you never know when it might reach a tipping point. Currently, I’ve decided to take a break from social media, as I’ve found that it hasn’t been a significant source of business for me. Surprisingly, my revenue has continued to grow despite this break.
My advice to those starting to build their social media presence is to recognize that it’s a journey, and it may not yield immediate results. Here are some key takeaways:
Start Simple: If you’re new to social media, begin with basic content that aligns with your brand identity. You can always diversify your content as you become more comfortable.
Consistency: Maintain a consistent posting schedule to keep your audience engaged.
Learn and Adapt: Be open to learning about the intricacies of social media and adapting your strategy as you go.
Collaborate: Collaborating with others, as I did with “The Coach & The Therapist in Conversation,” can bring fresh perspectives and help grow your audience.
Assess and Adjust: Periodically assess the impact of your social media efforts and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Patience: Building a substantial following takes time. Don’t be discouraged by slow initial progress.
Evaluate ROI: If you find that social media isn’t generating the results you expected, it’s okay to take a break or reassess your approach.
Remember that the path to social media success is unique for every individual or business. What’s most important is that your strategy aligns with your goals and allows you to reach your intended audience effectively.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://fromcasualtoserious.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fromcasualtoserious/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kevin.thibodeaux.14/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinthibodeaux/
Image Credits
LESLEY BOHM PHOTOGRAPHY