How did you get YOUR 1st client?

Hey I'm in the same field as you man hopefully there will be some awesome content to take and apply

A bum broke a side window on my car and I called a windshield repair guy. He came to my office and wouldn't take a credit card, so he drove me to the bank. We chatted about advertising and I sold him there. One of those just reach out and grab it moments. True story but I don't recommend breaking your windows to get a first client.

offline internet marketing clients? you mean get them by offline but provide online services to them right?

I am equally new in the IM business, and although I have not landed that new client, I know I will eventualy. Try responding to emails, you will land your first.

I got my first online client on an internet marketing forum like WF which was about a research thing. And I got my first offline client recently by only email which was about a mobile website design.

It is certain that the first one is always the most difficult to get, but I believe if you keep working on it, you will eventually get yours too.

The biggest problem most have online is trying to be looked upon as a seller of product,companies, or services. 95% of the people trying to make money online is failing. They need help and so help them and quit trying to sell them something. If you help them in what they need there is your first client. Stop the Get Rich Selling and just help them out on what they need. If you need some leads check my signature. If you need more help contact me in skype at Free Skype calls and cheap calls to phones - Skype. MY user name is physical2006.

some of my clients only responding my email, and the other doesnt do anything..
i guess i need to start working hard more than now..

My first client (is to this day) my biggest client. It was a high-profile, national chain account. BIG. With that said, I had worked in marketing/advertising/PR for over 12 years, and did a ton of new business pitches with Fortune 500 companies prior to going out and starting my own company. Honestly, none of that matters other than it made me realize that pitching big accounts is just as easy as pitching small accounts (the plumbers of the world).

In fact, it took me one month, and five meetings to land my first plumber and only two weeks to land this BIG account. Why? Less competition. I'm in Dallas, and there is insane competition for local services to small businesses here. Every client I have, I ask them to fwd me all of the sales pitches they get from other services and it's unreal the volume I receive each day.

So why even bother with small accounts if big accounts are so easy? Good question. It depends on your goals. Big companies aren't hard to get, but there is a large time commitment. The director or marketing has to get things approved by by their boss, the VP of operations, etc. It's a pain. I'm lazy. I like the smaller accounts because I have full control over how their campaigns go. I don't let them pick out keywords for SEO campaigns or have much input at all. Sounds arrogant, but it is self preservation. My goal is to make the phone ring for them. If I let them give me a list of industry specific keywords, that only they know, or a bunch of branding keywords that don't make the phone ring (like "dallas plumbing")...I will be out of a check really soon.

My best advice is to work hard to get that first client and then ask/demand referrals. Referrals are the lifeblood of your offline efforts. All business owners have a network of friends that can refer you. Ask. For. Referrals. Always.

So has anyone gotten their first client, or had much success just by email?

Wow, my very first client...2004, my first year trying offline services. I ran into a guy that was starting a lawn care and landscaping business and needed clients. I told him that for a price I could get him enough clients to fill his week. I set up a squeeze page with an info form to collect the leads and then gave him a few for nothing. He called them. He got contracts for all 6 that I gave him. I then asked him what the remaining 109 were worth..I think he almost had a heart attack. Today he is one of the largest lawn care and landscape businesses in the area and I still give him leads. Sweet, simple and effective.

One day, out of curiosity, I built a lead generation website. People started to respond
by email and not knowing what to do with those leads, I just forwarded them to a local
mortgage company. The rest is a history :-)

That day, I officially became a lead generation company...


Thomas


PS. In my opinion, there is no better way to establish yourself than creating a "test" campaign
and "deliver" before you even talk to anybody. And it doesn't really matter, if you do it yourself
or hire someone to do it for you.

Hey, Its really a cool experience sharing thread. It is really memorable how i've got client at first. It was possible because of my friends. I did my level best and also got good results. Finally, it just boost up my small IM business with more number of clients. Thats really a memorable moment Cool