For the new service based, solo business owner, the biggest challenge they are most likely to face in their business is getting clients. Without clients, you do not have a business. Getting clear about your ideal client will make it much easier for you to identify where you can find them. It will also make it so much easier when you are writing your marketing copy. You will be able to write copy that speaks directly to them.
Some people are a bit hesitant to narrow their ideal client down, but by not doing so, it dilutes your message. Ever heard of the saying, jack of all trades, master of none? Well, that's a bit what it is like if you don't have a specific client group that you are targeting. Trying to speak to any and everyone is not as easy as you may think. By narrowing your focus, it means that you can talk with authority about a specific problem (or problems) that you solve.
If you're starting out in business and haven't got a clue as to where you will find your clients, your clients could be everywhere and identifying the places they are likely to be, means that you can go and meet them, get to know them and develop know like and trust.
To help you kick start finding clients for your business, here are 16 things that you can do to find them:-
- Speak to family and friends, let them know about your business and ask if they need your services or to put you in touch with anyone they know that does
- Speak to colleagues and former colleagues and do the same as above
- Speak to people at your gym, church, mosque, hairdressers, the school playground, in the supermarket queue, have conversations that enable you to identify whether they will benefit from your services
- Follow up with people who have expressed an interest in your services. Invite them to have a consultation/discovery call or whatever name you give it
- Get speaking engagements that enable you to speak in front of your ideal clients
- Increase your attendance at social events
- Check meetup.com for networking events where your clients are likely to be
- Check Eventbrite for networking events where your clients are likely to be
- Identify and attend industry specific events
- If your client group are companies, connect with budget holders and decision makers on LinkedIn and engage with them
- Engage with your client group on social media
- Write blogs and at the end of your blog, invite people to have a consultation, clarity call, exploration session, or whatever you call it
- Do Facebook live videos or recorded videos addressing a specific issue your client group faces. At the end, invite them to have a consultation/clarity call/exploration session.
- Do a webinar and invite participants to have a consultation with you
- Do a promotional offer
- Identify collaborators who also serve your client group (e.g. when I started my business I made an arrangement with a women’s gym that they promote my services to their members and anyone who comes to me from them gets a discount and anyone that goes to them from me, gets a free class)
These are just a few suggestions, there are many more. If you’ve got any more to add to the list, please add them in the comments below.
If you're starting a business, or have been in business less than 3 years and are struggling because you’re not getting clients and you’re not making money, join my Micro Business Academy and give your business the kick start that it needs.
For 6 months you will have my guidance and support so that you are clear on every aspect of what you need to do to make your business a success. And not only that, challenging you and holding you accountable so that you take focused, consistent action and actually make it happen. Find out more and secure your place on The Micro Business Academy here.