Paid directories
The most expensive acquisition in this table, and the least defensible: you are renting placement next to competitors on price and reviews.
Cost to acquire$200–$600
Close rate
Not published for this channel. Treat the cost figure as the only measured part.
Per client, and highly variable by platform. Est · Estimate
Where it fails
Builds no asset. The day you stop paying, the flow stops, and you have no list, no audience and no referral base to fall back on.
Timing and fit
- Time before reliable flowHorizonImmediate, and it stops when you stop paying
- Best suited toBest forCoaches without an audience who need volume now
8 channels cost less than this one: Referrals, LinkedIn, Instagram, Google and Microsoft Ads, YouTube, Podcast appearances, Meta Ads, Cold email. Cost is not the only axis, but it is the one most easily ignored when a channel feels productive.
Against every other channel
- ReferralsEvery niche, at every stageCost$0–$50Close rate40–70%
- LinkedInBusiness, executive, leadership and career coachingCost$50–$200Close rate—
- InstagramLife, health, relationship and wellness coachingCost$50–$200Close rate—
- Google and Microsoft AdsExecutive and B2B niches with real search intentCost$65–$150Close rate14–18%
- YouTubeThought leadership, executive and high-ticket coachingCost$50–$200Close rate—
- Podcast appearancesCoaches with a specific, articulable point of viewCost$100–$300Close rate30–50%
- Meta AdsConsumer niches with a strong lead magnetCost$30–$80Close rate—
- Cold emailHyper-personalised B2B outreach onlyCost$50–$300Close rate0–1%