Question: What is one approach I can take to getting my first customers?
Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
"Go against the grain and defy expectations. Selling is the transfer of trust, so instead of relying on a sales pitch you're comfortable with, focus first on building a relationship with the potential customer. Once you've earned their trust, you've also earned their ear. At that point, you can begin to educate them on recognizing the superior value of your product."
@wmathews1981
Leverage Your Network
"Tap into your immediate network and determine who might be a good fit for your product or service. It's best to focus on the lowest hanging fruit in the beginning, and to boot, they're also more likely to recommend your company to their networks. You already have established trust with your network, so leverage that."
@DarrahB
Build a "Relationship Map"
"Build a relationship map that matches your strongest relationships to where the strongest need for your product/service is. When I first started my company, I created one and found a partner who had the introduction to the client but not the resources to do the work. We partnered, and The Leading Niche was founded. To this day, I continuously update my relationship map, which leads to new opportunities."
@TamaraNall
Add Calls to Action
"After establishing a marketing plan, you will begin to execute multiple strategies each day. It is not enough to just write a blog. After it's written, you must add in a call to action that clearly states how clients can work with you (i.e. "Sign up for my..."). Make this a part of all your speeches and networking actions as well."
@nicolemunoz
Use Free Trials
"Free trials are a great way to market, since they attract new customers and garner good reviews and testimonials. They also allow you to get more feedback on new products and then make improvements where needed. By offering free trials, you can show them the value of what you have to offer and convert them into paying returning customers later."
@collabz
Amplify and Nurture Your Network
"A lot of successful company leaders have networks that can provide business and referrals. You can have a great idea and a great business structure, but if you do not have contacts that might be interested in helping you, it’s impossible to succeed. So attend networking events, join organizations, form partnerships and watch your network grow."
@aatanacio
Speak at an Event
"My first clients came from offering to speak for free or hosting a workshop at business events that I knew my ideal clients would be attending. I started off on a local level, and then I was given bigger opportunities that got me in front of more people. That's how I got my budding business off the ground."
@nataliemacneil
