Guys, I'll be giving you some pointers on how to get your first clients or new clients. I'll be sharing my own experience on how i was able to get my own first client when I was starting my business.
So back in those days when I was a copyrighter, I was doing copywriting, I would do what I called "cold calling". I remember getting a small yellow paper, whereby all I was just doing was to keep dialing and calling business owners, telling them you need some work, some improvement in your ads, give me some money and I will do it better job for you. I was just trying to get myself in the game. Actually this might work occasionally for some people but in the long run is not sustainable and a very difficult way to get a client because you might have no credibility and nobody that might vouch for you.
So when you don't have a portfolio, a lot of success stories, and testimony of people after experience your service or product, in that kind of situation what do you do? I'll be breaking it down for you guys into two different strategies which usually work for me:
1. Is what I call "do it on a performance basis"
Let's assume that you're good at what to do, that you have the skills, you know what you do perfectly. For instance when you approach a potential client and say give me some money let me do something for you and in the end you might get certain results, is quite not a confident approach. Rather than look at it this way, if you approach the client and say "I looked at your business and I realize you have some problem, what if I can help you and fix this or that and when you get the results you pay me and if you don't get any result, then you don't pay me".
So I remember when I was starting my business, I usually do this kind of stuff as a copywriter, I will do business solutions and if they don't get results they don't pay me, but if they get results, I get paid. This helps me a lot in building a good portfolio and that's a great offer most businessmen can never refuse.
Most times or occasionally my solution might work for the prospect and I may not get paid, but I was happy because I was able to get my feet in the door, I was in the game which was the most important thing for me then. The experience that I gain from doing that is something that I have to keep to myself. On the other hand, there are also clients who paid me even beyond what I expected after getting the results I promised. So this is just a simple move that you can practice. Go into the business space approach a prospect or client tell him or her that "I want to help you grow your business, I will do this(Your value) and if it doesn't work out you don't pay me simple and of it does you pay me" as simple as ABC.
I remember some scenarios in the past whereby even before I was hired I had already done the work and I'll just go to the owner of the business showing him or her the work and either get a positive outcome or in negative outcome, but either way I'm good because I'm acquiring a lot of experience in the business space.
To leave you with my thoughts, learn to add value first to people. You might definitely get scammed, and you might definitely not get paid but what I learned is to add value to people as a result you will be able to gain a lot of experience but in some cases, you might get paid that's how you get your first client.
2. Is what I call "piggyback on someone who already has the client that you want"
For example let's look at the real estate space, let's say we have two real estate agents and one is specializing in the residential space while the other is specialized in the commercial space both these real estate agents can work together to share customers, to share resources and share ideas for the greater good.
Let's look at another scenario, you are a chef, a baker who bakes wedding cakes for instance and you're looking for a way to piggyback on someone who already has the client you need. You will want to look or go to the priest, pastor or imam in your vicinity or environment and you make a deal with them that offer both them and you value. Most individuals or couples planning to get wedded will need a baker for them to bake their wedding cake. The Priest, pastor or imam is in the best position to refer couples who come to them for counseling to patronise your business in return you could give them 20% or is the stipend of whatsoever amount you make from the deal. This is called piggyback on the priest, pastor or imam you picking for your business as a Baker.
Conclusion
So these two strategies are what you can utilize if you are trying to get your first client or trying to get a new client. Always have in mind that your first clients might not actually be your ideal and best client ever, so you should always be prepared for any possible outcome and the main goal is for you to be able to get into the game, which involves: Building a portfolio, getting different clients, gaining experience and getting better at what to do.
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