Frequently Asked Questions for Coaches
Table of Contents
Account & Verification
What are the steps to register for an account?
To register with Leadership Coach Directory:
- Click “Register.” You’ll find the “Register” link at the top of any page on our website.
- Create Your Account. Enter your full name and email address, choose a username and password, and accept our terms and conditions. Then click the “Create Account” button.
- Credential Verification. Our team will verify your active ICF credential and membership within 24 hours.
- Select Your Membership Plan. Once verified, you’ll choose your membership payment plan. Both options offer the same great benefits – simply choose the plan that works best for you.
- Build Your Profile. Our quick and secure profile-building tool will guide you through the process. You can highlight your coaching expertise, communication style, rates, hours, certifications, contact information, and so much more to attract the right clients.
If you need assistance at any step, our support team is ready to help.
Does Leadership Coach Directory charge a commission?
No. Leadership Coach Directory never charges a commission on any client leads you receive through the platform. Your membership fee covers your listing and full access to incoming client opportunities. We believe in supporting your coaching practice without taking a percentage of your hard-earned revenue.
Do you only accept/list leadership coaches?
Yes. Leadership Coach Directory is dedicated to listing coaches who work within a leadership context. This includes coaches specializing in executive coaching, team and group coaching, career coaching, health and wellness coaching as it relates to leadership performance, internal or corporate coaches, and life vision and enhancement coaching for leaders.
All coaches must hold an active ICF credential and demonstrate a focus on leadership development in their practice. Learn more about our coaching categories.
How do you verify coaches?
Our team manually verifies every coach’s active ICF credential and membership directly with the International Coaching Federation (ICF). This ensures that all coaches listed on Leadership Coach Directory maintain current accreditation and uphold the highest professional standards in the coaching industry.
How do you limit active accounts to 10%?
Our team routinely monitors the total number of active ICF certifications worldwide and calculates 10% of that number to determine our membership cap. Once our membership reaches this threshold, we close new registrations to maintain our exclusivity.
If a current member chooses not to renew their membership or allows their ICF certification to expire, a spot becomes available. We then accept new coaches from our waiting list on a first-come, first-served basis.
What do I do if I can’t log in?
If you’ve forgotten your password, click the “Forgot Password” link on the Sign In page to reset it. If you’re still having trouble logging in, please contact our team immediately. You can reach us using the contact form on our Contact Us page or by emailing us directly at su*****@**********************ry.com. We’re here to help resolve any login issues quickly.
Memberships
Is a membership required to make a listing?
Yes. An active membership is required to create and maintain a listing on Leadership Coach Directory. Your membership gives you full access to build a detailed profile, appear in client search results, and benefit from our marketing, SEO optimization, and visibility initiatives. Without an active membership, your profile will not be visible on the directory.
Is there a difference between the annual membership and the monthly membership?
Leadership Coach Directory offers a single, premium membership with two different payments plans. Both payment plans provide the same great benefits, as all memberships are locked-in for 12 months. Here’s how the two options differ:
- Annual Payment Plan: Pay for the full year upfront at a steep discount compared to monthly payments. Annual payment plan members are also prioritized when we reach our membership cap, ensuring your continued access to the platform.
- Monthly Payment Plan: Pay your annual membership in monthly installments for added financial flexibility. This plan is locked in for a 12-month commitment.
Regardless of which payment plan you choose, your membership is active for the full year and routinely monitored to ensure your ICF credential remains current.
Why do you only offer annual memberships?
We only offer annual memberships because, like all client lead generation platforms, it can take time to build visibility and attract the right clients. Coaching engagements often involve a longer decision-making process, and it may take several months to acquire a new client. An annual membership ensures you have consistent exposure over time to maximize your opportunities and grow your coaching business effectively.
How do I switch or cancel my membership?
To request a membership cancellation or discuss switching your payment plan, simply contact us using the form on our Contact Us page or email us directly at su*****@**********************ry.com. Please note:
- All memberships are annual, locked in for 12 months, and are non-refundable regardless of when a cancellation request is made.
- We will ensure your membership is not renewed after the 12-month period if you choose to cancel.
- If you prefer, we can also delete your account and profile entirely upon request. However, per our terms and conditions, annual memberships remain non-refundable.
Our memberships are structured annually because, as with all client lead generation and coaching partnerships, it can take several months to acquire a new client. This annual commitment ensures you have ample time to build visibility and attract the right opportunities.
What happens if my ICF certification expires during my membership?
If your ICF certification expires during your membership, we follow ICF’s standard 60-day grace period to allow time for renewal. Your profile will remain active during this period.
However, if your certification is not renewed within the 60-day grace period, we will deactivate your profile listing without any refund of membership dues. You will still be able to log into your account, but your listing will no longer appear within our directory, will not be searchable by clients, and any direct links to your listing page will return a 404 error.
Because we limit our membership to no more than 10% of all active ICF credentialed coaches, if your accreditation expires, you will lose your membership status and must rejoin again.
If you’ve renewed your credential, email us using the Contact Us page or directly at su*****@**********************ry.com. We will re-verify your status, then either reinstate your membership or place you on the waiting list.
We will keep your profile information on file to make reactivation easier should a spot become available in the future.
Why do you limit memberships to 10% of active ICF certifications worldwide?
We limit our memberships to no more than 10% of all active ICF-certified coaches worldwide to maintain the highest standards of quality, exclusivity, and client trust. This ensures that:
- Clients aren’t overwhelmed. With fewer profiles to sort through, clients can find the right coach more easily and confidently.
- You stand out. As part of an exclusive top-tier group, your profile receives greater visibility and credibility.
- Our platform remains premium. By keeping membership limited, we uphold our promise to connect clients only with the top segment of active, certified coaches.
This approach benefits both coaches and clients, creating a focused, high-value environment for successful coaching engagements.
How do I join the waiting list when memberships have reached a cap?
If our membership has reached its cap, you can still join our waiting list by following these steps:
- Go through the standard account registration process on our website.
- Complete the ICF verification process by submitting your active credential details.
- Instead of seeing a membership purchasing option, you will see an option to join the waiting list.
Our waiting list operates on a first come, first served basis. As soon as a spot becomes available, we will contact the next coach in line to complete their membership purchase and profile setup.
I am close to getting my ACC. Is there a waiting list I can join?
Congratulations on taking the time and putting in the dedication it takes to earn your ICF ACC! We would love to have you join our premium membership once your certification is complete.
Currently, we don’t have a separate waiting list for ACC candidates. However, we encourage you to contact us through our Contact Us page or email us directly with your expected date of ACC certification. Our team will note your anticipated completion date and reach out to you after that time to invite you to join our waiting list or offer you an open spot if one is available.
Search & Clients
How do client leads find me in the directory?
At Leadership Coach Directory, we’ve built our platform with discoverability and client acquisition in mind. Clients find you through:
- Search and Filters. Executives, HR leaders, and professionals can browse the directory using filters such as coaching specialty, certification level, communication style, and more, making it easy to match with coaches like you.
- Strategic SEO and Back-Linking. Your profile benefits from increased SEO authority and visibility through strategic back-linking to your personal website, LinkedIn, and social media platforms. Our investment in organic search optimization ensures that clients actively seeking world-class leadership coaches can find us, and you, more easily.
- Targeted Advertising Campaigns. We run paid search and advertising campaigns aimed specifically at executives, HR leaders, and corporate decision-makers, driving a steady stream of high-quality client traffic to the platform.
- LinkedIn Marketing Strategy. We actively promote our coaches on LinkedIn to elevate your professional visibility. This includes announcing your membership on our official page, publishing your personalized Coach Spotlight article, and engaging with your own LinkedIn content to expand your reach and credibility within our network of HR leaders, executives, and professionals.
- Visibility Boost Upgrades. To further increase your exposure, you can activate optional upgrades anytime during your membership:
- Search Results Boost: Places your profile at the top of relevant search results for 3 days.
- Featured Coach Upgrade: Highlights your profile with a “Featured” flag for 30 days, adds you to a special featured-only search filter, and includes you in the scrolling Featured Coaches module on the homepage.
- Homepage Showcase: Premium placement in a rotating carousel prominently displayed on our homepage for 30 days, complete with a large photo and write-up.
All these features work together to maximize your visibility, enhance your credibility, and attract new coaching opportunities to grow your practice.
How do clients contact me?
Clients can contact you directly through your profile on Leadership Coach Directory. Your profile includes your preferred contact methods, such as email, phone, website, or LinkedIn, based on the information you provide. When a client is interested in working with you, they can reach out using these details to schedule an introductory call, request more information, or begin the coaching engagement process.
We do not act as a middleman or use additional messaging software. We believe in removing as many barriers as possible so clients can start building the coaching relationship with you right away.
Coach Profiles
How do I create a great coach profile?
Creating a strong coach profile is essential to attract the right clients. Here are our top suggestions:
Write a Clear Headline
- Keep it simple and include your full name and a short phrase about your specialty, style, or experience.
- For example, “Jane Doe – Helping You Navigate the C-Suite”; or “John Smith – Guidance for Enterprise Transformation.”
Craft a Compelling Description
- Clearly describe your coaching experience, areas of expertise, and the types of clients you work with.
- Highlight your specialties such as executive coaching, team and group coaching, career development, health and wellness within leadership, or life vision coaching.
Share your coaching philosophy and what clients can expect when working with you. - Include links to other media that showcase your expertise, such as your personal website, blog, podcasts, YouTube videos, published articles, or LinkedIn profile to build trust and credibility.
- Use keywords throughout your description that reflect your coaching services and specialties to increase discoverability in client searches.
Choose High-Quality Photos
- Use a clear, professional headshot as your main profile photo.
- Consider adding additional images that reflect your coaching environment, speaking engagements, or leadership workshops to give clients a better sense of your style and personality.
Provide Clear Contact Information
- Make it easy for clients to reach you by including your preferred contact methods, such as email, phone number, website, or LinkedIn.
- Double-check that all contact information is current and spelled correctly to ensure no opportunities are missed.
Make Use of Our Detailed Search Categories
- Use every dropdown menu we offer to highlight your specialties, coaching styles, coaching categories, and other certifications.
A detailed, authentic, and professional profile helps you stand out and ensures clients feel confident reaching out to connect with you.
Can I change my profile after I’ve created it?
Yes. You can update your profile at any time by following these steps:
- Log in to your account.
- Go to My Account and click My Listing.
- Use any of the yellow Edit icons to make quick changes, or navigate to the upper right corner and click the yellow settings box with the spinning gear icon.
- A menu will appear – select “Edit” to open the main Profile Building tool.
- Make your updates and be sure to click the Save button when you’re finished.
Keeping your profile up to date ensures clients always see the most current and relevant information about your coaching services.
How do I share videos, podcasts, or other media on my profile?
You can showcase your videos, podcasts, and other media in two ways:
- Featured Video Field. Use the “Featured Video” field on your profile to embed a YouTube or Vimeo link. This ensures your most important video is prominently displayed and easy for clients to view.
- Direct Links in Your Description. You can also insert direct links to your podcasts, YouTube videos, or other media directly within your profile description for easy visibility and to provide additional resources for potential clients.
Please note that Leadership Coach Directory does not host videos or podcasts directly on our platform. This approach ensures that page load times remain fast and our search functionality operates smoothly for all users.
How do I see how many views my profile has received?
To check how many views your profile has received:
- Log in to your account.
- Go to My Account and click My Listing.
- Navigate to the upper right corner and click the yellow settings box with the spinning gear icon.
- A menu will appear – select “Statistics.”
This will show you the total number of visits your profile has received, helping you track your visibility and engagement over time.
Boosts & Upgrades
How do I purchase upgrades?
To purchase visibility upgrades:
- Log in to your account.
- Go to My Account and click My Listing.
- Navigate to the upper right corner and click the yellow settings box with the spinning gear icon.
- A menu will appear – click “Upgrades.”
Here, you can choose from our three powerful visibility upgrade options:
- Search Results Boost: Places your profile at the top of relevant search results for 3 days, increasing your immediate visibility to potential clients.
- Featured Coach Upgrade: Highlights your profile with a “Featured” flag for 30 days, adds you to a special featured-only search filter, and includes you in the scrolling Featured Coaches module on the homepage.
- Homepage Showcase: Gives your profile premium placement in a rotating carousel prominently displayed on our homepage for 30 days, complete with a large photo and write-up to attract maximum attention.
These upgrades are designed to enhance your visibility, attract more clicks, and connect you with more clients ready to work with a top-tier leadership coach like you.
How does the Coach Spotlight work?
As part of your premium membership, we’re thrilled to help grow your public coaching footprint by spotlighting your experiences in a featured blog post. Here’s how it works:
- Register for Membership. After you register, your ICF credential is verified, and you submit your membership payment, you will receive a welcome email from us.
- Complete the Q&A Form. This email will include a link to a form with questions designed to spark reflection, showcase your expertise, and give potential clients a feel for what it’s like to work with you. Take your time and feel free to answer as many questions as you like – the more detail you share, the more compelling your spotlight article will be.
- We Craft Your Spotlight. Our expert team will craft your responses into a polished Coach Q&A Spotlight article, keeping your voice front and center while lightly editing for clarity and style.
- You Get the Final Say. Once the draft is complete, we’ll notify you. At this stage, you may review the draft and make any edits you’d like.
- Publication and Promotion. Your spotlight article will be published on our website blog and promoted on our LinkedIn page to enhance your visibility with executives, HR leaders, and professionals seeking leadership coaches.
This is a great way to showcase your unique approach and connect with potential clients looking for exactly what you offer.
How do I redeem my lifetime membership to CoachDirectory.org?
After you purchase your membership with Leadership Coach Directory, we will send you a coupon code for a free lifetime membership on our sister site, CoachDirectory.org. To redeem it:
- Visit CoachDirectory.org and create an account.
- During registration, enter your coupon code to activate your free lifetime membership.
- Set up your profile – the setup process is very similar to Leadership Coach Directory and reuse your details.
Please note that CoachDirectory.org does not require ICF certification, and there is no verification waiting period. We recommend using the same or very similar content from your Leadership Coach Directory profile to save time and ensure brand consistency across both platforms.
How often will you engage with my LinkedIn posts?
After you purchase a membership, we will announce your membership on our LinkedIn page to introduce you to our growing professional network. To receive ongoing engagement, please make sure you Follow us on LinkedIn. Once you do, our team will:
- Like and comment on many of your posts to help increase your visibility and reach.
- Occasionally re-share your posts to our page to amplify your expertise to our audience.
Please note that in order to comply with LinkedIn’s terms of service and to maximize overall visibility for all our members, we cannot guarantee likes or comments on every post you share. Additionally, we re-share selectively to ensure our feed continues to highlight new coach membership announcements and Coach Spotlight articles.
Still Have Questions?
We’d love to hear from you! Email us using the provided form.
