Where to find your first client
Photo by Attila Lisinszky on Unsplash
When I first started out in my business I was the do-er of all things. I wrote this newsletter, built a website, posted on all the social media channels, published a weekly podcast, dabbled in YouTube.
It’s what I think so many people do in the early days of ‘putting yourself out there’.
This way of sharing content had lots of benefits. For example, it helped me develop and get comfortable in sharing my message in different formats, in figuring out what my business was all about, what I was actually offering, and in getting over the icky hurdle of wondering what my friends and family thought about what I was doing.
The one benefit it didn’t have was attracting clients!
Now, with hindsight, my perspective on this has shifted so much so that I don’t even really like talking about ‘attracting clients’. To me, it implies a false pretence that if you are able to get all of your ducks in a row over here, then clients will inevitably find you.
When really, there is a lot more too it than that when the exchange is built on a relationship rather than a transaction of someone simply buying your stuff.
I tend to work with people who are (probably not) coincidentally quite like me! And for me, relationships are so important. It’s important for me to know that I can genuinely help a person with the challenge they are bringing to me, and it’s important for them to know that I’m the sort of person they want to work with. 😻
Which brings us back to the subject line of this piece around finding your first client…
In the beginning of your business, there is very likely an existing relationship in your life that might in fact become your first client. There is probably someone who already knows you and would want to work with you, if you let them know that you can help with a challenge they are facing. Or, if it’s not them then they may know someone. I’m reminded of that six degrees of separation statistic that I’ve heard is a lot less now due to social media. 🧐
I realise that reaching out to someone you know to ask them to be a 'client' can feel like a BIG first step, but it doesn’t need to be. They don’t need to be a paying client - you might want to gift them the session as you are starting out, or you might ask for a testimonial or some feedback in exchange. And there is so much flexibility in what and how you offer it. You might tell them that you're still figuring things out and want to get their opinion on what you're doing.
But rather than keep busy behind the scenes working on all the things that are designed for people at a distance, I think it's really key to find at least a few people closer to home already.
I’d love to know what you think and what your own experience of this is? Do you have a different experience from what I’ve shared, or do you recognise yourself in the keeping busy? If you’d like a framework to support you in taking small, consistent steps to getting your first client then download your free Regenerative Business Starter Kit here.