13 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
13 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

How did you get your first offline client? Share your story.

by hlstew
11 replies
Hi Offliners,

I asked this in a skype chat this evening and thought it would be fun to ask here. Would you be willing to share the story of how you got your first offline client?

Was it scary? Did you go in looking for business? or were you just chatting? A referral maybe?

What did you feel like when you started talking to or approached a potential client for the first time?

How did you decide on exactly what to sell?

Or anything else you would like to tell us.

Thanks for the input,
Heather
#client #first customer #first deal #offline #share #story
  • Profile picture of the author braincandy7
    I checked online to see which shops, cafes and bars close to me did not have a website or at least had a rubbish one then I walked into their showroom and asked to speak to the owner or manager.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5361562].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author DNChamp
    I got mine from my wife. She did the website and I sold them on the idea of SEO since they were paying a lot in adwords. Within 2 months all keywords were within page 2-4 and now all 19 are page 1-2.....so far so good and now im trying to expand in many ways to do this many times over with smaller local businesses.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5361580].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Magnum1
    I got my first paid offline client from Craigslist. I answered an ad under the "Gigs" section looking for someone to Improve their search rankings and set up a Facebook Fan Page.

    Before answering this ad, I did one job (Local search/Google Places)for a local offline business for free in exchange for referrals. I used the great results they got from my services as a testimonial that helped me seal the deal with the Craigslist client. This way I had something to show if asked for references.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5362972].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Michael William
    My first offline client was a lens manufacturer who needed a web site and I used to mow his lawn as a kid and he knew I was into all this "computer stuff". Lately I use a combination of email and cold voice mail marketing to find leads and outsource both.
    Signature
    Mobile Commando Membership: - Make Your Fortune Selling Mobile Websites, Desktop Websites, and Google Places Optimization
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5364487].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author emmanuel7
    My son and I are both entrepreneurs and own "brick & mortar biz". Both our experience in marketing is extensive and watching businesses doing all wrong made us sick. Throwing money at what is dead (Yellow pages for ex.) and other marketing moves copied from their competition or neighbour without strategy or thinking further if it was the right thing to do. We call this copying competition: "marketing inceste"!
    One day we decide to go ahead and start a biz to bring help. Within a month, without biz cards or website we landed one of the largest land developer in Canada (It is a big place!!). Why? We know marketing, understand customers and talked "turkey" to the CEO. The language he understands. Whatever your client sell -jumbo jets or washing machines or land- the ONLY thing he wants to hear is about the LEADS he is getting and HOW TO convert these leads into paying clients. That's the bottom line. The rest is literature and useful only for bankruptcies!!.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5364499].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Kunle Olomofe
    Can't really remember the entire process, it was over half a decade ago sometime in 2006, but it was definitely a referral from a computer retailer friend of mine who knew someone who was leaving his day job to really kick off his own business using the web, needed a web site and I was recommended cos I'd been putting out my tentacles on that issue

    It was also my first bad experience with an offline client by the way... learned a lot of what not to do with or say to offline prospects and clients from the process
    Signature
    Celebrity Marketing Formula - How To Quickly Become A Celebrated Authority In ANY Industry/Niche... Coming Soon.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5364561].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author HypeText
      Originally Posted by Kunle Olomofe View Post

      Can't really remember the entire process, it was over half a decade ago sometime in 2006, but it was definitely a referral from a computer retailer friend of mine who knew someone who was leaving his day job to really kick off his own business using the web, needed a web site and I was recommended cos I'd been putting out my tentacles on that issue

      It was also my first bad experience with an offline client by the way... learned a lot of what not to do with or say to offline prospects and clients from the process
      I dont think I have ever heard someone use the phrase "half a decade ago"

      Thats only 5 years! lol
      Signature
      (916) 520-HYPE (4973)
      Local & Mobile Marketing Solutions
      $0 Setup & $99/mnth Private Label Reseller Accts
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5369145].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ryanmckinney
    I had an old friend call me, who remembered I was into IM and knew about SEO and things of the nature. We hadn't talked in years, but he runs a company now and was pegged to find a new SEO type guy. So, he called me to ask me questions that I should ask the SEO salesman.

    So I prepped him well. Then he called me back saying "these guys could not answer any of the questions you gave me, thanks for the heads up"

    To which I replied, "I have started my own SEO business, if you want I could do it for you guys"

    My offline business was started.

    It was just pure luck I had decided to start an offline business and a friend reaches out to ask me questions who hasn't talked to me in over a year at least. I saw it as an omen, and I have not looked back!

    Ryan
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5364617].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author marketman007
    First client my brother and I have build my whole digital agency from the results of this client , who is almost one of my best case studies .

    How it happened, was he payed $3k for a web designer. The project never got done, so I spoke to them to move it along. Then I thought I could do a better job after I stumbled across the IM world. Lots of pain and tears, as there was not much education and hype about marketing to businesses. I am surprised to see that 2 years later, there is a section on this in the forum. I am back in the forum now, as I have some time up my hands between projects and I thought to see what is happening. Man the forum has changed a lot.

    This site now has about 25 page 1 ranks and contributes to about $200k in sales per year. I feel very proud that I have done this for his business and as you can see, it’s a great case study.

    This is the second version of the site installingsecurity.com

    Anything more that you would like to know?
    Signature

    Interested in boosting your Online Marketing Presence? I can show you HOW.
    About Me | Our Team | SEO | Webb Apps | Internet Venture Technology

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5369086].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author hlstew
    These stories are great so far! I am seeing something of a trend in most of them that there was some kind of personal connection first. Keep em coming! Thanks! Heather
    Signature
    Got a PULSE? YOU can earn Passive Income - Learn How Free at MoneyMindFlow.com
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5369134].message }}

Trending Topics