Are you looking to create an unforgettable brand? One that attracts clients that basically sell themselves? Well let me introduce Sabah... She is the Founder of Brands That Sell, she is a coach, 2 time TEDx speaker, best selling author, and on a mission to help coaches scale their business past 6 figures. Known for her branding work, she has helped passionate business owners clarify their message and story to attract more clients and gain authority by organic marketing strategies. Sabah’s work has been featured on publications such as NBC, ABC, CBS, and FOX News. She helps her clients to stand out amongst the noise with here programs and coaching.... Here are 3 Takeaways that You can implement after listening to this episode: 1. How to get more attention from the clients you LOVE 2. The Mindset behind having a premium high-ticket program 3. How to Create effective and captivating content!
Sabah Ali is the Founder of Brands That Sell, she is a coach, 2 time TEDx speaker, best selling author, and on a mission to help coaches scale their business past 6 figures.
Known for her branding work, she has helped passionate business owners clarify their message and story to attract more clients and gain authority by organic marketing strategies.
Sabah’s work has been featured on publications such as NBC, ABC, CBS, and FOX News.
Join her Challenge For Free: https://bit.ly/nextclientchallenge
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realsabahali/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesabahali/
Website: http://sabahaliconsulting.com/
This show is for coaches and entrepreneurs who want to powerfully connect with their ideal clients to create transformation in the world.
By listening to this show you'll gain insights and tactics to connect with your future clients, and learn how to serve them at a higher level.
We're going to be talking about the strategies and techniques that coaches and entrepreneurs are using to create powerful connections to themselves, to clients, to collaborators, and to their future coaches.
We dig deep into what's really working, and what is NOT! We don't shy away from expressing big goals, and big fears. Allowing you to come away from the listening experience with new insights and new tactics to create clients for your business.
To find more connection in your life and business go to
www.facebook.com/groups/quantumconnectors
Michael Rosenberg 0:01
So welcome to the entrepreneurs connection show. I am so excited to have Sabah Ali here on the show. And without further ado, I'm going to just kind of pass it over to you to share a little bit about your story, how you got started, what you're doing now, how you help clients and pass it over to you.
Sabah Ali 0:27
For sure. Well, first of all, thank you so much for having me, Michael. I'm doing interviews is by far my favorite thing to do. So I appreciate you bringing me on. But yeah, so Oh, take it away back to my story, how I kind of got started. So I always love to go back to kind of my college years. So when I was 19. That's actually what I first got into like this crazy field of like entrepreneurship. Right. So in college, I actually met one of my mentors, who came and spoke at my university. So I graduated from Iowa State, born and raised from Iowa. Now I'm here in South Florida. But I was a intern for one of my mentors. I met there. And he was an entrepreneur, he had an agency and basically, I just started to work alongside his company and search learned a lot about like branding, marketing and PR. And as I was doing the asset, I started to work with like highly influential people in the space, right? Like people like john Lee Dumas, Jeff Hoffman and Kevin Harrington. And I started to document and share my story online, right, like I started to post. I would like blog, I would be, you know, going in, like skipping classes, right? skipping college classes, or going to like red carpet premieres. And people were like, Oh, my gosh, like, What is she doing? Right? So I started to build up this audience and this persona online. And back then I didn't really realize I was building a brand. But I was building a brand as I was doing that. So what happened was people started to follow me, I started to build up an audience. And back then I wasn't necessarily like selling a product. I was basically just having fun creating content. And that's when I realized I was like, Okay, I have this audience now. Why not actually like create something to sell and see, like, what happens? Like how can I actually amplify my brand a lot more to actually share my story. So that's what I actually actually have right here. When I wrote my first book. It's called enrolling in confidence how to live life in college. So back then I was in college. So it was directed towards college students, wrote and published the book in 30 days launch on Amazon and hit bestseller. And that was the first product that I sold online, which really positioned me as a credible figure, because that book allowed me to get featured on like media stations, I got the opportunity to speak on stages. And that's when people actually start to come to me, asking for an open, write asking for help in May creating content online, how to share your story, how to build up an audience, how to get featured how to, you know, get more attention on what you're doing. So that's when I really got into my coaching business. Right. And I started my business when I was still in college last year. So now, you know, primarily what I do. It's been about three years ago now. And since I've been doing it full time since graduation, I coach it right. So I'm a business and branding coach, where I work with other online entrepreneurs, coaches, consultants, business owners, people that either have a high ticket offer, or they want to create one. And they want to primarily use their own selves, their personal brand, to market organically and to land clients. So here I am now, you know, after like five years of, you know, kind of getting into the online space, creating content for a few years, having fun making connections, and you know, building my own business.
Michael Rosenberg 3:49
Wow, what an amazing story. And I loved what you were sharing. And I am question popped up in my mind, like towards the end of your share when you were talking about, like, who you serve, and it's people who either have like this high ticket offering, or they want to make one. And my question is, why should someone have a high ticket program? Or like, like, why is that desirable? or Why do you look for those people?
Sabah Ali 4:24
Yeah, so I love this question, because let me kind of go into backstory of how I how I got into high ticket. So of course, when I first got started coaching, I would be, you know, selling like low offers like $97 100 $500. And of course back then my goal like any other coach and consultant right now is hitting that 10 k month and scaling to six figures. And you know, I didn't have an audience of like hundreds of 1000s of people, right, so I had to get like, you know, a good handful of clients per month in order to hit that goal. So for Like I had no idea how to like run an online business, right. So what I did was I started to work with a coach. And that was a really big investment that I made back then. And the first thing that he told me, he was like, you need to like raise your prices. And you need to create an offer for one that provides more value for your ideal client. But it's also easier for you to fulfill and handle because you are working with less clients. So once I understood the concept of like high ticket, and like people, people have their own variations when it comes to high ticket. For me, it's anything that's like more than more than like 2000 is considered high ticket. And that's like, that's what I really realized for when it's like, it's easier to sell it because you are attracting people that are super committed and changing the problem that they're in. And number two, it is so much easier to hit your goals as well. So, you know, nowadays, I find that my ideal clients, they they understand the concept of a high ticket buyer, I still come across people that are charging hourly. And they're their minds are kind of blown when I start to explain the concept of high ticket, because like for them, it just makes more sense and building a business around that type of model.
Michael Rosenberg 6:15
Yeah, I love that answer of just being able to have more, more revenue, better fulfillment, and also less fulfillment at the same time. So that's really powerful. And I'd love for you to share a little bit about so now we know where you're at, like where you are currently, I want to take a little journey, a little adventure into the future. And where do you see your business going? In a year from now?
Sabah Ali 6:49
Yeah, so in a year from now, my coaching business is going to be at seven figures. Right. So right now, it's multiple, six figures working on the back end right now. So like, my main goal is to continue to serve my my clients that really need help when it comes to knowing how to powerfully utilize themselves through marketing. Because like, at the end of the day, I see so many people online that are really, really, really good at what they do. They just are having such a hard time like marketing and selling themselves. Like that's it. Right. So like when I see that it kind of reminded me of when like I first started, like I was really good at what I did, I knew like what I was doing, I just didn't understand the concept of like, doing high ticket and selling. So for me, obviously, you know, getting more clients, but like getting to that figure seven figure run rate within my business. And that requires me to like continue building up my team, which is what I'm doing right now really exciting hiring. And just getting to a point where for me, I can really be that CEO, and really just focus on like the friend and in serving my clients and coaching them to get better, better results. And then on top of that for me, which I actually don't not many people notice about me and I'd actually mentioned this, for the first few years when I was working with my mentor like a for like a year and a half All I did was help put on events, and like mastermind, so I would be in charge for like 30 to $50,000 events. So for me, I that's actually something that I want to do. And I moved to South Florida here in the Miami Boca area about nine months ago, of course, right when the pandemic happened. So I wasn't able to start to do networking events and put on events, but that's something I really want to get into here in the next year, as well.
Michael Rosenberg 8:47
Cool. Yeah. Oh, wow. And then what will be what will be available to you like what what becomes possible once you do hit that seven or seven figure run rate, and are helping clients more powerfully have grown your team out a little bit? And are having you know, hopefully, eventually in next year, sometime where hopefully a year from now we're able to run events and things like that, but like what becomes available in your life not just in your business?
Sabah Ali 9:18
Yeah, so in my own life, it gives me the opportunity to have freedom and to travel. And so for me like growing up like I was pretty I was in like an average type of like family, you know, we weren't poor we weren't rich, like you know, like, by no means Where are we struggling, but I never really had the opportunity to like travel. Like I would always see people like in high school and like in college like traveling like abroad and doing all these different things and I just never had access to do that. So for me, it gives me time and it gives me like obviously money and freedom to be able to do that. For me like this. This is just like a big part of me also, like I love to speak which is funny because growing up, I used to be really shy really introverted, I really stumbled over my word. So when I got into speaking, I just fell in love with it. Right. So now, when I get to that point, which is gonna be really soon, I want to travel and I want to speak at other events, and really help people also understand one type of identity that they have to create, to really bring their dreams into reality. Because of course, when I'm marketing, like, I positioned myself as a business coach, right. But more than anything, I really working with my clients up here and how they're showing, as as that leader,
Michael Rosenberg 10:44
yeah, for anyone that's not watching the video. When she says up here, she's pointing to her head. Yeah.
Unknown Speaker 10:50
Yeah.
Michael Rosenberg 10:52
Yeah. Okay. That's amazing. And, like, okay, so you said that you used to trip over your words. And then at some point you, there's so many juicy things that you talked about just then that you shared? I'm like, Oh, I want to ask you a question about this, or about this. But I there was something you said about identity. And I think that that's going to be really valuable for all the listeners, because that's something that everyone is constantly working on to kind of shift their identity. Could you expand upon? How identity plays a role in your business? And then also, in the business of your clients?
Sabah Ali 11:30
Yes, absolutely. So what
Michael Rosenberg 11:31
is identity? If you can define it to that'd be great.
Sabah Ali 11:35
Yeah, so identity is basically the type of person that someone wants to transform and, and I'm using this more as an adjective, because in marketing and like, that's, that's how you're using, that's a form of identity and even for yourself, so I'll kind of break it down into two. And this is like how I actually explain it to my clients. And also like when I speak on stages, so for one like branding on its own, it's like the feeling and the experience that you're creating for your audience. Right. And within branding, there's brand identity, which is basically like the foundation of branding. Now, for an example, I kind of like to put it into perspective of like a brand people like really know. So like the luxury brands out there like Louis Vuitton, like Rolex, even like Nike, like for Louie Vuitton, and like Rolex, they're like luxury brands, right? Their products are like 1000s, and 1000s, and 1000s of dollars, right? And I like to ask myself, like, Okay, why are people actually buying these products? And is it because of like, the material The bag is made out of? Or like the material or like the metal? The the watch is made out of? The answer is no, right? People aren't necessarily buying into like the material they're buying into identity and status, Louis Vuitton and Rolex, they created this form of, like, a luxurious identity, that when people buy into these products, they immediately level up their status, they feel like a whole different person, they walk a different way, they talk like a different way, and they carry themselves a different way. Right? So same thing goes with coaching, when you're selling your product, so many people focus so much on like the logistics of the product. This is my six week sales course, you're gonna get video lessons, and like a guide and weekly coaching calls. That's all great, but what people really want is like, do it. Like they want the lifestyle you're living. And a lot of people they miss on that identity, right? Like people buy into me because I have confidence and clarity and what I want in my business and my life and time, money and freedom, right? And most people, they just have no idea how to do that for themselves. And so when you really focus on what type of identity am I creating, for my audience? Who do they want to become? You can start channeling that through your marketing, right? Are you going to show up as that confident leader? Are you going to show up more as a friendly figure? Are you going to show up more as like a family person and we're families a big part of your your lifestyle. So you channel that through your marketing. And so that kind of focuses on like the business aspect and what I teach my clients, and then for me, and my identity, what I always love to say is who you are right now is not capable of reaching your next goal. Right? So who I am right now is not capable of reaching my seven figure goal. Otherwise, I would have done it already. Right. So now I have to write an entire list of all the traits I have to become in order to get to that next level. So most of the time, people don't even know what that looks like. So taking the time to actually make that list allows you to start to take those actions every day to start start to become that new person. And then
Michael Rosenberg 15:03
yeah, could you give us a few examples of what you mean when you say that, like, for yourself, even if you feel comfortable sharing, like what traits? You're right.
Sabah Ali 15:15
Yeah, so I always love to be super transparent about what's going on with me and my business. So for me, personally, I like I love the front end, I love marketing, I love sales. And I always hated numbers, I hated back in operations, I had systems. So for me, I'm in this in this stage of really building all of that out, right as I scale, I need to have a strong system and foundation and team to to do that. So right now I'm hiring, and I'm building out systems, which is causing a lot of resistance and overwhelm. So for me, I'm like in that state of like, Oh my gosh, it's like overwhelming, and I don't want to do it, right. However, like, the new tray, I need to need to have it is like I actually have this written down, and I recite it every day is my business thrives and multiplies, because I am in a state of flow as a wealthy woman, right, because if you're overwhelmed, you're not in a state of flow. Right. But if you're in that state of flow, it allows you to do that action, but also not be in this state of like, Oh my gosh, I've never done this before, so everything's gonna fall apart. So going from overwhelm to like, flow. Right. So that's like one big thing that's going on me right now. Because it's something that's new. And everyone's gonna feel that sort of resistance when you are stepping into into that new, like, leadership role.
Michael Rosenberg 16:41
And so just so I want to make sure I heard you correctly. So something one thing that you're working on, is that the person you are today is not naturally inclined to love creating systems and on for the back end fulfillment of your business. But that so and you get, you get feelings of overwhelm, when that comes when like you consider or your current state thinks about doing those actions that will result in that. But then you're creating this new experience where you are a person, you are a powerful woman in a state of flow consistently.
Sabah Ali 17:27
Yeah, and what that allows me to do when I am in that state of mind, is actually write out every single thing I have to accomplish in order to do this task. Right? Because typically, like that's why people are always in that state of overwhelm, because they have like, million things they have to do. And they just never really like organize delegate put times and dates and deadlines to it to actually get a diner. But yeah, like, it's, I always, like new levels, new devils. Um, you're all, quote, creating a new version of yourself.
Michael Rosenberg 18:03
Yeah, I'm so good. And so talking about some of like, all the actions that need to be done, I think this state of overwhelm actually hits like every level of entrepreneur, or every level of coach where it's like, oh, I need to do this thing. I need to like reach out to people. And then it's like, oh, I need to fulfill. And it's like, at every level, there's this like state of overwhelm, before you somehow get things organized and do the important tasks with your clients. What are some of the most important tasks that you have them focus on in order to get that visibility and get that brand growth and create that brand that sells?
Sabah Ali 18:47
Mm hmm. For sure. So Oh, my gosh, there's a long list of things. Ball kind of narrowed it down to like the top three. So like, the most important thing, and this is literally like the foundation of how I build a business. And what I teach my clients is content. So content, not necessarily to sell somebody but content to build trust with your audience. Every time you're creating a piece of content, you're either educating your inspiring or you're informing your audience about what you do and how you can help them. Right. So like nowadays, like people are creating content every single day. And what I realized over time is like, contests are great, but what makes like good pieces of content versus like, not good pieces of content is really understanding understanding where your ideal client is in their points. Right. So now for me, if I'm creating a piece of content and not generating new leads, I'm like, looking at that content piece. I'm like, okay, like, What's wrong with it? Where did I fall off? Like, why isn't it working? So that way, when I continue to create content, it's not doing the same thing. That's not working. All right. So that's the same thing that I teach my clients don't just continue to create content that's not working, you have to adjust and change and see what's different. Number two, a great way to build your audience is doing just what we're doing right now, doing interviews with other people, whether that's podcast shows, in Facebook groups. So one good thing that I teach my clients is actually getting featured on media publications, online publications, TV shows. And that's something that I did early on when when I wrote my book was getting featured and a lot of different publications. And like the publication itself, yes, it's going to bring you followers, but more than ever, it's how you're using those features within your marketing and how you're positioning yourself as a credible figure. So you really do become, you know, that brand that people actually want to buy into. And so that's number two. And then number three, it's like, the simplest thing is just having conversations with your ideal client. So many people will think they need a fancy website, a fancy funnel, they need to get to a certain point until they're ready to sell. That's not the case at all whatsoever. Like you can have literally 100 followers and get like a five k client, which is actually what one of my clients have done with themselves is they had like 100 followers on Instagram, they start to create content, start to have conversations and like just like that, they found a client in their immediate network. So like, if you're not having conversations with your ideal client, that's probably why you're struggling in your business to actually reach like the revenue goals that you want to be.
Michael Rosenberg 21:41
Hmm, I love that. That's exactly what I love talking about on this podcast. It's all about the conversations. Yes, I cannot agree more. And I think how you framed the, the creating the content was amazing, that it's all really to create that trust. And that brand of obviously, that people want to buy into kind of what you were talking about before, like the luxury brands, it's like, you just want someone like so when you're creating content when your clients are creating content are they creating? Is the goal to create content that you said it before? It inspires them? educates them? What was the third thing?
Sabah Ali 22:25
Yeah, so it's either you're inspiring, you're educating or you're informing them about?
Michael Rosenberg 22:31
Got it? And then all of the content is meant to drive conversations.
Sabah Ali 22:37
Correct? Yeah, yeah. And one powerful exercise that I do with my clients. And something that I do every so often, too, is like making a list of all your ideal clients beliefs that they have right now. And then making another list of the new beliefs that they have to have in order to come in and invest into you. So for an example, like one, one piece of content that she made recently was like, I can't remember like the entire step by step wording, but it was like, Are you tired of spending, like 1000s of dollars on courses that aren't working for you? Because that's like something my ideal clients are going through, they're spending money on courses, but it's not getting them anywhere. So I went through sharing my story about how I went through that phase. And it wasn't until I actually spent the 1000s of dollars, I went to clients to pay me, did I actually start to see those type of results, because it kind of comes down to like, law of reciprocity. And as you invest more into yourself, you learn those different levels, those new identities to actually attract those people to and then, you know, tying it into, like the new belief that I had now and continuing to invest into people. So I can learn and grow my business as well. So it's like that, where are they currently at? Typically, to what belief Do they really, really have to hold right now in order to invest? And that's like, the main thing, because if you're getting on calls with people, and they're not ready, then like, you know, most of the time they just ghost and you're never gonna hear them. So.
Michael Rosenberg 24:16
Yeah. So I want to make a little bit of a transition here, and I want to open it up a little bit more to you. And I'm curious about what is what is something that you wish someone had shared with you three years ago? That no one ever actually ended up telling you but you just kind of started to figure it out.
Sabah Ali 24:54
Yes, I love this question too. I wish someone would have told me That there is no golden strategy to build a successful business. At the end of the day, organic marketing works, doing a podcast works, running paid media works. Doing media features works. like doing YouTube works, doing Instagram works doing Facebook works. The struggle strategy on its own, it works. Right? The real thing is, is consistency doing that one strategy, right? Because what happens is, and this happened to me, of course, in the beginning is that cycle of Oh, I'm going to try this strategy for a few weeks, even for a few months, then when it doesn't work. Or maybe you're trying to do it on your own. And you don't have a proven step by step formula. Because you have that belief that investing in a coach is not for you right? Now. Then, of course, you're going to jump to the other thing, and start running ads and spend more money and get unqualified leads, and then they're not going to buy and then you're like, Okay, maybe I'll start a podcast because everyone's doing it. Right, that is kind of in that like, ever, never ending cycle of like never figuring it out. So eventually, what I learned after investing once again, a hundreds of 1000s of dollars on coaches, mentors and courses was honestly like people are like teaching you the same thing with their own framework and their own question, right. So like, there's 1000s of people that teach organic marketing, but I have my own process when it comes to like conversations, and branding. But like, if you're just not going to be consistent in the process, it's still not going to work for you. And so like, I'm also really clear when I market myself, and even on my sales calls, I'm like, okay, so it's obviously not a strategy that's holding you back, because you try these different things. So what really is it, you know, then nine out of 10 times, like, I think it's just like myself, right? Then it goes back to that identity that they have right now and the new identity that they have to create. So yeah, I just wish someone had told me that like, hey, any strategy will work. You just need to commit to one.
Michael Rosenberg 27:02
Yeah, I love that, too. So you have so much great gems to share. Is there anything that you wish you were able to share today? Or question you wish that I had asked? That you'd love to share about, because I really just want to hear what like what you're passionate about and, and what you would love to share? I just want to make sure that you're sharing it. That's what my goal is it for you to share. Like, whatever the thing that's most important for you to share.
Sabah Ali 27:37
For sure. Um, so I love this question, because I actually listened to a podcast where they asked this question to the guest. And I was actually this is like, a few weeks. So I was thinking about what I would answer. Someone asked me that. And I just couldn't like come up with anything. Like you did a great job answering or asking me questions. But I think for me, like, I'm pretty, like, I'm pretty open as it is. Like, you know, there's not really any secret when it comes to me and what I'm doing with my business. Like there's nothing that I necessarily like, wanted to really share, I guess the main thing, it really just does come down to like, everyone got to a certain place in their business and in their life, because they did have like a greater meaning and purpose to it. For me, like when I was in the beginning stages of starting my business and people kept telling me like, Oh, you need to find your passion and you need to find your why. And I just like didn't understand that concept. I'm like, What do you mean? Like find it like, What am I supposed to do to find it? Like, it's not like, I would literally sit there for hours and try and understand like my Why am I passionate like this doesn't make sense. And what I also didn't mention is I went through my fair share of like businesses that also didn't work, right. Like in the beginning, like I obviously I wrote a book that was a product but then I did like e commerce and drop shipping for a few months. I started a podcast, I started to monetize, I did an agency and all of those different things. I was trying to identify what I really enjoyed doing. Nowadays, since you know so many people flash their success of like money and like clients and cars and vacations and travel and they're like, Oh, you can do this too. I don't think people are actually taking the opportunity to find out what they truly love to do. For me, I found coaching and I love it because I love to see people transform it into that new that new individual. And I didn't like ecommerce because I was just behind the scenes right selling products. I didn't like agency work because once again, I was just doing work for people. But podcasting I love it but like I just really want to work with people like one on one and hands on. So yeah, like if you're listening to this or watching this right now, and maybe If you're just getting started in your business or you want to become an entrepreneur, I wouldn't rush it. Like, don't feel like you have to do coaching or you have to do agency or you have to speak on stages, like, test and try and see what works for you. And I think that's why it was also easy for me to get into my business because I took time and to create content to have fun and to network and really build good relationships with people. Uh
Michael Rosenberg 30:28
huh. That's such a beautiful answer. I honestly, it's such a beautiful answer, because I also done everything done all the different courses done all the different things. And it wasn't until like, I started doing like coaching, that for me personally, like, I just love working with people. I love working with people. And like I did the agency thing wasn't really my jam. Because again, like you said, it's just like, yeah, like, you're doing the work. And like, I don't know, it's fine. But yeah, really being connected with people and seeing their transformation is a magical experience. And for anyone listening, maybe it's not for you. Maybe that's not like the, the jam that you're in love with that you're passionate about that you're inspired by. And it's okay to not, it's okay to try things and not enjoy them as long as you become aware. And you're like, oh, like, this isn't the thing. Wow, what great data. It's just like you were talking about how about, I hope I'm pronouncing that correctly? Yes, there must be ruining it. I just thought about that. It's like, Oh, I hope I'm pronouncing it anyway. But it's just like you were talking about with content. It's like when you produce it, if it doesn't go right, or you're not getting the results you want. If you're not tweaking it, then you're going to get the same results. So thanks so much for being here. So I think that was a beautiful answer. I will end on that. And where can people find out about you? I know you have a top secret, amazing freebie to offer everyone as well. But where can people connect with you? How can they get in contact? How can they get a brand that sells?
Sabah Ali 32:19
Yeah, no, totally. So I'm really really active on social media as always, so you can find me on Facebook you know, first and last name, you can find me on Instagram at the Sabah Ali. Feel free to you know, send me a friend request can help me connect with me, send me a DM. If you feel like you really do need just like support and help when it comes to growing your coaching or your consulting business. Feel free to go to Sabah Ali consulting.com and just book a free strategy session with me. We'll just dive deep into your business where you're currently at your goals and see if brands that sell is a great fit for you. But yes, I do have a freebie. So this challenge I actually did with my private Facebook group about a month ago. So depending on when you're listening to this, it may be relevant, maybe not in terms of timing, but basically it's a land your next client and five days challenge. So it's structured out for you to land a high ticket client in real time within a five day timeframe. So technically now, since the live is done, it's pre recorded. So you could potentially land a high two client in one day if you watch all the recordings. But yeah, if you if you want to check that out. 100% completely free. I think Michael has the link. So yeah, feel free to check that out. And yeah, connect with me.
Michael Rosenberg 33:38
Well, thanks so much. Sabah, this has been amazing.