Still trying to get that very first client, any suggestions??

by navarr
18 replies
My offline consulting business is ready to take off, I am planning on offering several services to local businesses but I still need to get that very first client from hell!

Any suggestions on how to get my first client?
#client #suggestions
  • Profile picture of the author StarkContrast
    What have you done thus far? Have you done any telemarketing, emails, lead captures, anything?

    You say it's ready to take off. What does that mean exactly? Are you ready to launch it or do you see something that would indicate people are ready to use you?
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  • Profile picture of the author Syimen
    Originally Posted by navarr View Post

    My offline consulting business is ready to take off, I am planning on offering several services to local businesses but I still need to get that very first client from hell!

    Any suggestions on how to get my first client?
    What have you been doing to get your very first client from hell?
    And what do you know about your market?
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  • Profile picture of the author P1
    Why would you want a client from hell? that's not a good thing lol
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    • Profile picture of the author navarr
      lol, over the last 2 days I have done this, I sent about 40 emails that i'll follow up with a call, and I did about 80 cold calls with 0 success, most of the time I wouldn't even finish speaking when the manager would be like "no were not interested" so Im thinking about not cold calling anymore because I cant even explain the whole thing to them when theyre already saying no.

      So I'm thinking about what would be the best way to approach them, what method have you guys had success with? email? direct mail? cold visit?

      thanks
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  • Profile picture of the author Tiduslite8
    I just saw the following thread and made a post in regards to the op.

    http://www.warriorforum.com/offline-...-work-you.html
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    • Profile picture of the author navarr
      thanks! ill def check it out
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  • Profile picture of the author Jagged
    The easiest way to land your first client is to chit chat with local businesses that you already do business with....your barber, your auto repair shop, your dentist, your pet groomer and so on....if you already have a repore with them it's much easier to talk to them. Work it casually into the conversation...

    "I see you have a website...hows that working for you?"

    "I see you don't have a website.....mind if I ask why?"

    "I was looking for your business online to check on your business hours, maybe grab a coupon...but I couldn't find it..."

    Once you get one talking and you get a feel for what their needs are....say...."I can help you with that....It's what I do...(web design, local seo, video marketing...what ever it is you offer...) Hand them a card if you have one handy....."We should have coffee one morning and I can show you how we can fix things"...

    Once you start talking your comfort level will level off....and the next one will be that much easier.....after you talk to a few that you are comfortable with and kind of fine tune your pitch....try approaching businesses you have no prior dealings with...

    Remember...once the clients start coming in....try for referrals.

    Good luck,
    ~Ken
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve Wise
    That's great advice Ken, people buy off people and in particular people they like. And as you pointed out selling is all about asking questions.
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  • Profile picture of the author BarbaraP
    Navarr, Jagged advice super. I dropped into a place for lunch the other day, owner there, asked about his online mrktg, he thought he had a website --- domain expired -- and found out his daughter's an attorney specializing in niche area. She's not online either. Came home, researched a bit on both, am writing pitch to them today. Also, offer free workshop to smaller local chambers, most members still using YP and don't use local search, chambers always need good info for members and speakers, teach and then offer to "help" with free personal consultation to get in door for package pitch.
    Also you may want to target a few, send them a letter with what you found online (they're invisible) make an offer to get them seen, then your "cold call" is teaching them something they need to know. They'll see you took some of your time and you actually want to help. Nothing irritated me more when I owned storefront than ad sales reps coming in who hadn't even bothered to look us up online. Cheers to your success!
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    • Profile picture of the author navarr
      great tips and suggestions everyone, keep them coming!
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    • Originally Posted by BarbaraP View Post

      Navarr, Jagged advice super. I dropped into a place for lunch the other day, owner there, asked about his online mrktg, he thought he had a website --- domain expired -- and found out his daughter's an attorney specializing in niche area. She's not online either. Came home, researched a bit on both, am writing pitch to them today. Also, offer free workshop to smaller local chambers, most members still using YP and don't use local search, chambers always need good info for members and speakers, teach and then offer to "help" with free personal consultation to get in door for package pitch.
      Also you may want to target a few, send them a letter with what you found online (they're invisible) make an offer to get them seen, then your "cold call" is teaching them something they need to know. They'll see you took some of your time and you actually want to help. Nothing irritated me more when I owned storefront than ad sales reps coming in who hadn't even bothered to look us up online. Cheers to your success!
      I really hear that about YP - we have 2 phone books in my area...dex and another...and you can't find a thing - I express that frustration in talking to people.They can usually relate.
      It's kind of cocky, but I ask the prospective client if he could show me his listing in YP -
      and they sometimes can't find it! (I know it's in here SOMEWHERE! )
      They warm up to a new idea quickly after that...
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  • Profile picture of the author solton
    Hi,

    Check out Geoff's WSO here:

    http://www.warriorforum.com/warrior-...-hard-way.html

    I got this and will start using it this week...

    Best,

    Scott
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  • Profile picture of the author bluesteele
    Ken's response was dead on - my first clients were for sure family and friends & very much businesses that I had worked with or been customers of.

    After TONS of work, mailing, calling etc I turned on the biz dev part of my brain and began thinking of ppl I could partner and create mutual benefit.

    Think related industry professions. Think referral & recurring rev. The biggest part of the business I do is referred to me by ONE company. I help their customers be more successful in their business endeavors, and the referrer not only get kudos from his client, but they are a happier client. Not only that, he earns a nice recurring rev from all clients he sends my way.
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  • Profile picture of the author sdentrepreneur
    For people super brand new, I would go to a place nearby my house that I frequent. Offer to handle their Internet Marketing for free for 30 to 60 days. Get your feet wet, make sure you know what you are doing. Then after 60 days, show results, start billing client and he will become your best reference and most likely refer his other business owners to you.

    On a funny side not, my first client ever was a Restaurant in April 2008, I built him MySpace Pages, posted and added friends and then ran a small Google Adwords budget for $1,000 per month. I actually still see the guy and he buys me drinks...he couldn't afford me now...lol..
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    Learn Digital, Internet and Social Media Marketing For Your Business
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  • Profile picture of the author rotten72
    I bet they can hear your desperation on the phone. Check this thread out dude, it works for me http://www.warriorforum.com/offline-...d-clients.html

    By the way, avoid clients from hell. They SUCK!
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    • Profile picture of the author javarog
      I cut my teeth long ago selling on the streets or cold calling if you will, you guy's probably have seen the Pepsi Freeze machines around ( every Burger King has one) well before they had the machines we took to the streets cold calling every store , donut shop, deli and on and on. We were walking in and selling $24,000.00 systems to these guy's on a monthly up charge on product.

      So I have been reading all the threads here about telemarketing, cold calling, emailing and on and on. So I thought why knock my head against the wall using this type of marketing and I also thought that I can utilize my time better elsewhere ( I have a couple businesses already) .

      What I did was take a chapter out of my book of tricks and decided to nail this thing down so I thought,,, which person is in the eateries selling already and is trusted by and has the owners ear, so I figured out that its the guy's that go in every week and sells them food. Ok now I have that established I went over to our local food distributor walked in and asked to talk to a sales person,, one came out and we sat in his cubical for a while and I explained to him what I was doing, gave him a brochure and asked him how he would like a monthly residual income on the side, ok now you have to remember these guy's and gal's work off of commission so you can only guess what he said... I struck a deal with him and gave him a handful of brochures and I went on my way .

      That was yesterday, today I got 6 calls from the owners set up appointments for tomorrow,, did not spill the beans about anything except for telling them I have some great ways to bring in more customers.

      The thing I see here is to work smart and let someone already in the inside plant the seeds,, then watch em grow..
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      And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.

      Abraham Lincoln

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      • Profile picture of the author barry500
        Navarr

        your name is being quoted over on a thread I started ( under pressure now) re- cold calling etc -not sure if you are UK based - but if you are might be some fun working together.

        B

        http://www.warriorforum.com/offline-...-work-you.html
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        • Profile picture of the author navarr
          [QUOTE=barry500;4345270]Navarr

          your name is being quoted over on a thread I started ( under pressure now) re- cold calling etc -not sure if you are UK based - but if you are might be some fun working together.

          B

          barry500

          I actually checked out your thread and was really interested but unfortunately I am not based in the U.K, I am over here in the U.S, I don't know if you are considering on running a cold calling campaign for the U.S but if you do I def would like to work with you.

          thanks
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