How to Create a Market Dominating Position (MDP) That Attracts Clients and Increases Your Coaching Revenue

Most business coaches talk about standing out.

But few know how to truly dominate their market.

That’s where the concept of a Market Dominating Position (MDP) comes in—a strategy Karl Bryan explores in detail in Episode 297 of Business Coaching Secrets. If you’re tired of competing on price, struggling to differentiate, or wondering why prospects ghost you after the call… this post is for you.

Let’s break it down.

What Is a Market Dominating Position?

A Market Dominating Position is not just a catchy phrase or clever tagline.

It’s the strategic advantage you build by solving your ideal client’s biggest, most urgent problem—in a way that your competitors don’t.

Karl explains it perfectly:

“If a parent’s #1 concern is getting their child into first grade with second-grade-level reading, writing, and arithmetic… an Accelerated Learning Center isn’t just different—it’s dominant.”

If you’re a coach and you don’t have an MDP, you’re probably:

• Competing on price

• Relying on word of mouth

• Struggling to scale

• Blending in instead of standing out

How an MDP Is Different from a USP

A Unique Selling Proposition (USP) answers:
“What makes you different?”

An MDP answers:
“What makes you the obvious choice for your ideal client’s #1 problem?”

If you only have a USP, you’re still in a crowded category. An MDP lets you own your category.

Examples of Market Dominating Positions

Let’s explore what this looks like in action:

1. Business Coach Specializing in Trades

• USP: “I help trades businesses grow.”

• MDP: “I help plumbers double their profit in 12 months without adding new clients or working longer hours.”

Why it works: It speaks directly to a common, painful bottleneck for trades business owners—burnout and low margins.

2. Daycare Center

• USP: “Affordable care in a great location.”

• MDP: “Daily video access so parents can see their kids live, plus accelerated learning that gets them a grade ahead by first grade.”

Why it works: It hits the emotional drivers (guilt, fear, ambition) and reframes the value beyond cost and convenience.

3. Marketing Consultant

• USP: “We do digital marketing.”

• MDP: “We guarantee a 3X ROI in 90 days—or you don’t pay.”

Why it works: It flips the risk and speaks directly to the business owner’s real concern—profit, not just presence.

Action Steps to Develop Your Own MDP

If you’re ready to become the only logical choice for your clients, follow these steps:

Step 1: Identify Your Ideal Client

Who is your coaching offer really for? Not “small business owners.” Be specific. Think: chiropractors, e-comm store owners, gym owners, etc.

Step 2: Isolate Their Biggest Pain Point

Ask:

• What keeps them up at night?

• What are they Googling in frustration?

• What makes them feel embarrassed, overwhelmed, or stuck?

Pro Tip: Talk to 10 past or current clients. Look for patterns in what they say—not just what you think.

Step 3: Craft a Solution That Hits Hard

Now build your MDP around that problem.

Use this formula:

“I help [who] get [specific result] without [painful tradeoff].”

Examples:

• “I help restaurant owners increase profit by $10K/month without raising prices or cutting staff.”

• “I help photographers double bookings in 90 days without spending a cent on ads.”

Step 4: Validate It

Test your MDP in conversations, emails, social media bios, and sales calls. If people lean in, say “tell me more,” or ask how it works… you’re onto something.

Step 5: Systematize It

Once your MDP works, build your brand, funnel, and offer delivery around it. Make it the foundation of your marketing, your messaging, and even your pricing.

Why an MDP Is a Game-Changer for Coaches

An MDP gives you:

• A reason to charge more

• A way to close faster

• A brand people remember

• The foundation for scalable systems and referral engines

• And eventually… a business that’s valuable and sellable

Final Thoughts

If you want to move from “just another coach” to someone who dominates your niche, your next step isn’t more leads—it’s building a Market Dominating Position that speaks to the one thing your ideal client can’t stop thinking about.

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