Congratulations! You have decided to launch a coaching program online so that you can extend your reach and impact more lives.

Are you certain you’re giving your audience what they truly want? Have you worked out all the potential snags in your program before going public?

Before you dive in and aimlessly launch your program, it’s best to do your homework, first. Otherwise, you may fall into the trap of launching prematurely.

Do the research, so you know what your audience wants.

One of the biggest mistakes I see is coaches launching their group programs without truly understanding what their audience wants.

Get feedback from a trusted source. It may seem simple, but when we’re so close to our service, we may not recognize what others notice as gaps. Involve others who you respect and who are involved in your industry. Get their feedback on your program so you’re sure your program is hitting that sweet spot for your audience.

Prospective clients aren’t going to spend money on what they need. They are going to put their dollars on what they want. People buy from a place of pain, so give your audience what they want according to what their emotions are based on. They will realize once they’ve made the purchase that the bonus you’re giving them is what they actually need.

Use social media to your advantage. OK, lurking online seems kind of creepy, right? Well, sometimes it’s necessary in order to get the answers you’re looking for in order to please your audience. Jump on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and observe the conversations of people who are in your target market. Why just observe? People are more candid and transparent in their daily conversations, than if approached with a survey or if asked to participate in a focus group.

Test, test and test! Pilot your program before going public.

If you remove the bugs from your program before launching it, you’ll sail into it with confidence while positioning yourself as professional with your audience.

Test the technical details of your program. Again, you know your service so well, that perhaps you’ve overlooked certain technical details in setting up your program. You may want to ask the same person who offered you feedback on your program material to go through the technical, step-by-step process you created. This allows you to make the necessary tweaks that could otherwise cause you to lose sales if not set up clearly and properly.

Features versus benefits – emotionally connect with your audience. People want answers to their problems. They want to buy what will solve their issues and they want to know that you have that answer. Prior to your program launch, enlist your trusted source to test the clarity of your marketing message. This ensures that you’re reaching out to your audience by tapping into their emotions, rather than focusing first on the features of your program.

Taking the time and essential steps to prepare for a program launch is crucial in order to convert prospects to clients. What are some other ways you prepare for your online coaching program launches?