This isn’t going to be the typical advice on how to get clients. We are once again going to explore outside of the box . This is going to offer an alternative to the standard lists. Many times when you read posts on how to get clients, the writer offers a prescriptive step-by-step how-to. And it always comes with the promise that if you just follow the steps in order you are guaranteed to get clients. Which is always nice to hear. We want guaranteed success. But what if I told you that you don’t need to follow a step-by-step how-to, that you can get clients in other ways? This is good news because when the step-by-step guide doesn’t work for you, there are alternatives.
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you purchase using one of these links, I make a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps me keeps things free for you, and who doesn’t love free stuff. For more information, see my disclosures.
I am not saying that these ideas never work. But when they are presented as the only way to get clients, then if they don’t work for you it is discouraging and you feel like your business will never succeed. This post is just to offer more ideas or alternative ideas to what you normally hear.
The Typical Advice to Get Clients
The standard advice usually given to get clients is to build your online platform, go to networking events, get online reviews, offer discounts, and more. All of these are important but they aren’t the only way to build your business.
Finding the Method that Fits Your Personality
If you are going to market your business well, you need to find a method that fits your personality. I am not an extrovert. My personality type is more ambivert, so I am a mix of introvert and extrovert. But I lean more to the introvert side. So cold calling or going to networking events would not fit my personality at all. More than likely these methods would be a waste of time and money because I wouldn’t be very good at them.
If a certain method is so far outside of your personality then give yourself permission to not do it. But don’t let fear hold you back. If you are just afraid then try it. You may surprise yourself!
Honestly, I have a hard time asking people to like my pages or connect on social media. But this is only outside of my comfort zone, not a complete waste of time because it doesn’t fit with my personality. So I decided to start asking. You know what, most people want to be invited to connect. The response is only positive. So be sure to connect with me on social media: Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
If you need more help with marketing, I highly recommend these two books Building a Story Brand and Marketing Made Simple.
5 Ways to Get Clients
1. Existing Network
Think about your friends, former colleagues, and people you know. This is a great place to start getting clients and spreading the word about your business. Most people, there are always exceptions, want to help you succeed. So tell your friends to tell their friends about your business.
The benefit of using your existing network is that you know these people. You know their personalities. And you know how they work. You also know if there is someone that you would never work with. So you aren’t entering a client contract cold and you can write a proposal that is very specific to your client and their style.
All of my clients have come from my existing network. They are people that I’ve worked with in the past. Or people that I’ve known. And they are people that I was referred to by friends.
This also weeds out the potentially bad clients. The people in your network will also be picky about the people they refer to you because they don’t want to get the reputation of suggesting bad clients either.
2. Content Marketing
I know this is a popular buzz word when it comes to marketing. And it is often found on the how-tos mentioned above. But it is still a great way to market. Essentially, you are writing about what you know and offering your knowledge and expertise. Think of it as giving advice to a friend.
Blogging isn’t the only way to do content marketing. You can write articles for magazines, or other blogs with a large audiences. Or post frequently on social media.
You could even start a podcast or Youtube channel or both and share what you know. This can be a really great way to market your business. People are always searching for how-to do…whatever. If you can be the answer to their question, you will be the person called when they are ready to hire.
If you are ready to start a podcast, check out my link below. I looked at a number of podcast services and picked Buzzsprout. If you use my link, you can start for free and when you upgrade you will receive a $20 Amazon gift card and so will I (bonus all around).
3. LinkedIn
This is an often overlooked social media platform. But the focus is business, so if you are starting a business this is a great place to post your content. It doesn’t get lost in the noise of all the other content flooding the other platforms. Businesses are looking for potential hires on this site too.
All the cold inquiries I’ve received (so I don’t know these people and they weren’t referred to me) came through LinkedIn. And I don’t even post on there. I have a completed profile and I keep it up to date but that is all I do.
I know another small business owner who only uses LinkedIn to talk about his business. He doesn’t use any other social media site. And he doesn’t need to. He gets a lot of traction with just LinkedIn.
4. Freelance Websites
There are a number of websites that offer freelance services. The site acts as an agency between the client and the contractor. Websites like Fiverr, Upwork, or Freelancer offer a place for you to market your business to clients that are looking to hire someone for a particular task.
When I started out, I did start building a profile on Upwork. But I decided that I didn’t want to focus on marketing my business this way. Let me know in the comments below, if you’ve had success with these sites.
5. Specific Targeted Marketing
This involves finding specific groups and offering your services to them. For example, if you want to build websites. Doctors would be a great group to focus on. They would be able to afford you, but they don’t have the time to build it themselves. Plus you can easily find their office information online and see if they have a current website. Don’t just send a salesy postcard. Write a thoughtful letter, include some of your ideas, and ask for some time to discuss further.
Conclusion
The number one question when you are starting a business is, How will I get clients? When I started my virtual assistant business, this was the number one question looming in my mind and the source of most of my stress. I have used my existing network, and I am able to define success on my own terms. You can too.
Let me know if the comments below what has worked for you. Have you tried any of the methods mentioned above? Or is there something else that worked for you?
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