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Landed my first offline client!

by Steve L
15 replies
Thanks to all warriors for their support and being so helpful!

Client paid me $100 upfront on a $350 job. I've only spent a couple hours on the project so far, and only have a couple hours of work left to do.

He says if this goes well, he knows other business owners that are interested

Here's to a decent 2009? haha

Cheers,
Steve
#client #landed #offline
  • Profile picture of the author DotComBum
    Congrats, that's a great start, wish you have much success in your venture!
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  • Profile picture of the author edhan
    Congratulations! This is a good start for your future business.

    Yes, I do agree that you should ask for testimonial. This will enhance your chance of getting more new clients.

    Remember to do the same for future clients.

    In business, don't re-invent but replicate the success. So, I believe you will have more business coming your way.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve L
    thanks everybody! always great encouragement when i drop in here...

    yes i have a website already... TrueWebPresence Inc.

    i do plan on asking for a testimonial. not just a normal testimonial either... VIDEO testimonial
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  • Profile picture of the author pj413
    Originally Posted by Steve Longoria View Post

    Thanks to all warriors for their support and being so helpful!

    Client paid me $100 upfront on a $350 job. I've only spent a couple hours on the project so far, and only have a couple hours of work left to do.

    He says if this goes well, he knows other business owners that are interested

    Here's to a decent 2009? haha

    Cheers,
    Steve
    Congratulations Steve, all you need to do now rinse and repeat and you'll have more clients than you can handle. Just remember to stay organized when work really starts flowing in.
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  • Profile picture of the author GoGetta
    Congrats Steve, Momentum is the key! If you want more, the best time to get em is now!

    GoGetta
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    • Profile picture of the author stayfocused
      Congrats. The first client is always the most exciting.

      I checked out your site and I have one suggestion. This is just from my experience.

      I would change it to a free 15 minute consultation. You want to let your future customers know that your time is valuable. And it is.

      I have found that by offering a 15 minute free consultation the clients come to the table a lot more organized. It is always easier to figure out what they want and offer a custom solution if they have taken the time to think about what they want before you sit down.

      I even send my potential clients a short questionaire they need to fill out before the "free" 15 minute consultation. It helps speed things up.

      Most of the consultations run well past 15 minutes but only if I think that the person is serious about what we are talking about and I think I have a good chance to land a client.

      I can usually tell when someone is just jerking me around and trying to get some free info. IF that happens, since I only offered a free 15 minute consultation I am free to cut it off at 15 minutes.

      Just a suggestion. Your time is valuable and if you get that point across it will help.

      Congrats!
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      • Profile picture of the author Steve L
        Originally Posted by stayfocused View Post

        Congrats. The first client is always the most exciting.

        I checked out your site and I have one suggestion. This is just from my experience.

        I would change it to a free 15 minute consultation. You want to let your future customers know that your time is valuable. And it is.

        I have found that by offering a 15 minute free consultation the clients come to the table a lot more organized. It is always easier to figure out what they want and offer a custom solution if they have taken the time to think about what they want before you sit down.

        I even send my potential clients a short questionaire they need to fill out before the "free" 15 minute consultation. It helps speed things up.

        Most of the consultations run well past 15 minutes but only if I think that the person is serious about what we are talking about and I think I have a good chance to land a client.

        I can usually tell when someone is just jerking me around and trying to get some free info. IF that happens, since I only offered a free 15 minute consultation I am free to cut it off at 15 minutes.

        Just a suggestion. Your time is valuable and if you get that point across it will help.

        Congrats!
        thanks a bunch for the suggestion. i'll probably try that out.
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  • Profile picture of the author David
    congrats!...
    I know how I felt with my first kill

    What is the guy (or woman?) paying you for, SEO for his small business?

    You didn't post what the job was... if it is SEO, here's what I did to leverage my first kill (SEO is a contact sport btw) into my second, third etc:

    as soon as the company ranks in Google, do a screen shot of the serps, highlight the listings you got the company (on the front page of Google), print that out and hand it to the next prospect.

    Nothing like having a prop, something tangible/ visceral to hand a prospect.

    With Google that are results and excuses

    You might want to try johnson boxes for your testimonials.
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    David Bruce Jr of Frederick Web Promotions
    Lawyer Local SEO - |

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    • Profile picture of the author Steve L
      Originally Posted by David View Post

      congrats!...
      I know how I felt with my first kill

      What is the guy (or woman?) paying you for, SEO for his small business?

      You didn't post what the job was... if it is SEO, here's what I did to leverage my first kill (SEO is a contact sport btw) into my second, third etc:

      as soon as the company ranks in Google, do a screen shot of the serps, highlight the listings you got the company (on the front page of Google), print that out and hand it to the next prospect.

      Nothing like having a prop, something tangible/ visceral to hand a prospect.

      With Google that are results and excuses

      You might want to try johnson boxes for your testimonials.
      haha, i like the way your mind works! thanks!
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      • Profile picture of the author David
        Originally Posted by Steve Longoria View Post

        haha, i like the way your mind works! thanks!
        There's another good reason to use a print out of the current serps:

        The Google algo gives new submissions 'extra credit'
        it's called QDF (or something to that effect) querry deserves freshness

        in other words a recently indexed listing will 'temporarily' rank higher at first, then degrade to where it 'really ranks'

        You wanna strike while the iron is hot!

        Also... if you used SB to rank... those SB listings will degrade rather quickly
        (that does NOT mean they aren't still doing you some good)

        What I'm suggesting is you do a screen shot JUST AS SOON as your ranking shows up.

        ===

        Also a friend of mine with a MBA told me that big companies will not hire you unless and until they believe you're capable of eating your own young.

        I started billing myself as the Apex Predator.
        Resistance is Futile... all will be assimilated.
        There is ONE silverback, everybody else is prey
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        Lawyer Local SEO - |

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    • Profile picture of the author Steve L
      Originally Posted by David View Post

      congrats!...
      I know how I felt with my first kill

      What is the guy (or woman?) paying you for, SEO for his small business?

      You didn't post what the job was...
      It is for a 3 page website, and Google Indexing/hopeful high ranking. Another $50 to setup a small adword campaign (i've already been tracking his competitors in adwords for free. Right now I said it would be a recurring $50/mos for me to manage the adwords campaign.

      Pricing may be on the low side still, but the way I see it is I'm getting paid to build my portfolio and hopefully gain testimonials.

      Steve
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      • Profile picture of the author David
        Originally Posted by Steve Longoria View Post

        It is for a 3 page website, and Google Indexing/hopeful high ranking. Another $50 to setup a small adword campaign (i've already been tracking his competitors in adwords for free. Right now I said it would be a recurring $50/mos for me to manage the adwords campaign.

        Pricing may be on the low side still, but the way I see it is I'm getting paid to build my portfolio and hopefully gain testimonials.

        Steve
        Hey don't worry about the pricing being low... look at my WF blog, I was homeless, didn't even have a computer, had to use the public library for my first kill.

        I did exactly what you're doing... had to have a portfolio FIRST or else no one would take me seriously.. I didn't even have a car!
        I rode my bicycle to my first 5 clients doorstep.

        Now clients come to me:
        Google this:
        Maryland Internet Advertising
        Local Google Advertising

        There is #1 and there is whining, whimpering and sniveling...
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        Lawyer Local SEO - |

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        • Profile picture of the author Steve L
          Originally Posted by David View Post

          Hey don't worry about the pricing being low... look at my WF blog, I was homeless, didn't even have a computer, had to use the public library for my first kill.

          I did exactly what you're doing... had to have a portfolio FIRST or else no one would take me seriously.. I didn't even have a car!
          I rode my bicycle to my first 5 clients doorstep.

          Now clients come to me:
          Google this:
          Maryland Internet Advertising
          Local Google Advertising

          There is #1 and there is whining, whimpering and sniveling...
          haha, wow quite the story. i'm going to send you a pm
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          How To Design A Website That Converts!
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