3 Mistakes Coaches Make With Their Signature System … and what to do instead
Here’s how to create a Signature System that gets people excited to work with you!
Most coaches do have a Signature System. But very few have one that actually helps sell their program.
That’s a missed opportunity. Because a strong Signature System makes people feel hopeful and excited about working with you… before you’ve ever had a conversation with them.
I’m going to show you how to do that in this post.
But first, I want to walk you through the 3 biggest mistakes I see health and wellness professionals make with their Signature System so you don’t fall into the same trap.
If you’re more of a visual learner, I also recorded a video about this when I was in France recently. I break down the 3 mistakes and also show you a real example of a Signature System that absolutely nails it.
Now let’s get to those mistakes…
Mistake #1: Thinking your program is your Signature System
This is the most common trap I see.
Coaches are often told to give people a “roadmap” — something that walks people through the actual steps of their program.
But a roadmap doesn’t create desire. In fact, it can often make the process sound more like work!
Instead, think of your Signature System as a marketing message, not your program outline.
Your program is how you deliver results.
Your Signature System is how you communicate the promise of those results in a way that sparks anticipation.
Let’s look at an example:
“Assess → Plan → Implement” is not a Signature System. It’s more like a project plan.
Instead, you want your Signature System to feel more like a magic wand — something that makes people think, “Finally… this might be the thing that actually works.”
(I’ll show you how in a moment.)
Mistake #2: Making it too complicated
Another mistake is trying to cram everything you do into your Signature System. You end up with a six- or seven-step monster that overwhelms people before they’ve even booked a call.
Instead, try to stay in the sweet spot, which is three steps.
Three steps feels complete but doable. It’s enough to give people a clear path from where they are now to where they want to be.
And when people can actually see that path in a way that excites them and doesn’t feel overwhelming, they feel confident you can help them. That’s what turns curiosity into commitment.
Now let’s talk about the third mistake. This one costs coaches the most sales.
Mistake #3: Making your Signature System sound informational instead of transformational
Even a clear, 3-step system will fall flat if it has steps that sound like this:
test
plan
assess
evaluate
adjust
These are boxes to check. They’re tasks. And people don’t buy a list of tasks. They buy transformation.
Your Signature System should make the results feel inevitable, not like work.
And you do that by creating steps that feel transformational the moment someone reads them.
How to create a powerful Signature System
Once you avoid the pitfalls above, building a strong Signature System becomes a lot easier. All it takes is a little shift in thinking.
Here some great thought starters to help you craft your 3 steps:
How can you remove an obstacle that has blocked their progress?
How can you make the process feel easier and more doable?
Can you relieve a frustration they’ve been carrying for years?
Can you turn a limiting belief into a new possibility?
How can you make the result feel inevitable?
If your steps hit even one of these, you’re already on your way to crafting a Signature System that feels empowering instead of procedural.
If you want to see this in practice, I walk through an example in the video version of this post.
👉 You can watch the example here.
If you’d be interested in a workshop where I walk through how to build a Signature System that actually holds attention and helps you get more clients, let me know in the comments. If there’s enough interest, I’ll put something together.
Be well…
Nicole
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