How to Get Your First Client with 27 Simple Steps

Beyond producing a product, the first step in starting any business is locating that first customer. And saying it is a lot easier than doing it.

Many startups fail to get off the ground because all of the planning and product development is overshadowed by the requirement to make money.

Convincing that first client to part with their cash appears to be a lot more difficult than you anticipated, and you're not sure what you're doing wrong.

This tutorial is for you if you're having trouble finding clients and need some suggestions. These are useful guidelines for everyone who aspires to be a competent salesperson, but they're especially vital when it comes to closing the first deal. Get clients now with the amazing tips given below.

27 Simple Steps to Keep In Mind

1. Get to know your Market

Knowing your market is the first step in gaining clients. Conduct the essential research to gain a thorough understanding of your business and what potential customers are seeking in terms of service or products. It doesn't matter how skilled a salesperson you are if you aren't selling the proper goods.

Examine the competition carefully and identify what you can provide to fill a niche and outperform your rivals. Accept the possibility that your original product isn't good enough and needs to be improved. Continue to study and concentrate on meeting the demands of your clientele.

Quick tip: If you need assistance studying your target market, contact your local Small Business Development Center. For this type of research, they have access to a wealth of resources.

2. Establish a web presence

It's nearly impossible to gain your first client these days without a solid web presence. You must have a professional-looking website as well as social media pages where potential clients can interact with you. Clients require a means to learn more about you and contact you on their own.

Quick tip: Pixpa, which is a simple yet professional website design platforms, will help you get a good website up and operating in no time.

3. Make use of social media

In today's world, few marketing channels are more significant than social networking. You're missing out on a lot of opportunities to obtain leads and land the first client if you're not using Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram to promote your brand and connect with potential clients.

Create or join a social media community center on a topic important to your business, and use it to interact with and create trust with potential clients.

Quick tip: Focus on engagement as a quick piece of advice. If you offer hair care products, for example, ask members of a hair care Facebook group for their favorite hair care recommendations and share your own.

Also Read: Top 10 Social Media Project Management Tools

4. Establish a network

Nothing beats networking when it comes to getting new clients. This necessitates a move beyond social media. Attend industry-related events, such as seminars and conferences, and meet as many people as possible. Too many people rely solely on the internet when it comes to determining where to obtain clients.

Promote oneself with confidence and even bravado. Find a means to get live person-to-person encounters, even if it's challenging in a post-pandemic environment.

Quick tip: Always follow up with someone after networking, and don't wait too long. If you wait a few months before contacting them again, they will most likely forget who you are and you will have wasted your chance.

5. Make use of inbound marketing techniques

To boost brand knowledge and visibility, use inbound marketing or pull marketing to attract prospects to your site.

You can accomplish this by creating keyword-rich material in your sector of interest that adheres to search engine optimization (SEO) best practices, or by cross-promoting with a relevant website.

Quick tip: Blog entries or YouTube videos that provide valuable information to potential clients are examples of content you might utilize for this campaign. If you sell hair care products, for example, you could make a series of films with hair care suggestions.

6. It's Just like owning a pet

It's all about managing relationships and getting personal with individuals when it comes to finding clients. Once you've found someone interested in your company, build a relationship with them and learn about their needs.

Become invested in resolving their issue. Identify any flaws you can solve and display subject authority while maintaining a friendly demeanor and a helping attitude.

This raises the likelihood that that first client will pull the trigger and buy from you by increasing their trust in you and their demand for the goods.

Quick tip: Keep track of each prospect's demands and other relevant information so you're ready for future interactions. They'll be impressed that you remembered them, and they'll be more likely to trust you as a result.

7. Demonstrate your worth

In client marketing, trust is crucial, but you must also demonstrate the value of your product. Demonstrate how your product will assist your clients in achieving their objectives.

Show that you care about your customers and anticipate their demands. Use the information you've gathered from your talks with them to create a tailored pitch that addresses all of their indicated demands.

Quick tip: Make a presentation specifically for that customer that addresses all of the issues expressed during past contacts.

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8. Take a consultative approach to your strategy.

Instead of approaching the potential client as a salesperson, approach them as a consultant. Instead of selling a product, your purpose should be to assist the client in solving a problem. First and foremost, be open and listen.

Customize solutions to the client's needs and show flexibility in response to what the client says. Rather than sticking to a script, think of new ways to solve problems.

Quick tip: Pay more attention to what you're hearing than what you're saying. You're not trying to persuade the customer to buy your goods; instead, you're attempting to establish that you're someone they can trust with their money.

9. Be open and honest.

Because trust is built on transparency, be open with your client about what you can deliver, and don't overpromise.

Ensure that contractual and payment terms are clear you can do everything right with a customer until it's time to pay, and if they discover that you weren't forthright about price and terms, you risk losing the trust you've earned.

Quick tip: If you can't meet a customer's requirement, tell them upfront or offer an alternative solution. Don't make a promise to fix it in the hopes that you'll figure it out later.

10. Don't be frightened to change your mind.

Yes, you want that first client desperately, but that doesn't mean you should do things that aren't in the best interests of your company. Don't let a lack of commitment waste your time with prospects.

Thank them for their time and go on to the next prospect if they want to chat to you all the time but you can't get them to move ahead.

Quick tip: Give yourself a strict deadline, then thank the consumer for their time and move on. Always keep in mind that your time is more valuable than any single prospect. Move on to the next one because there will be more.

11. Don't be afraid to let your customer go

Don't waste time trying to keep a client who's not willing to follow through and buy from you. People will take advantage of your good nature, so don't get hurt when customers don't value you or your product as much as you do.

Quick tip: Thank them for their interest and tell them that you wish the best for the future, but move on if they're not serious about buying. Don't let them control you with excuses and promises without actual commitment.

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12. Establishing contracts and payment terms

This should be one of your primary goals in working with potential clients; establish contract terms or other responsibilities at the outset of any sales cycle.

This will prevent misunderstandings and allow you to avoid wasting time with people who aren't serious.

Quick tip: If you're not able to establish a contract or payment terms, then thank them for their interest and move on. Remember that it's your responsibility as the business owner to set clear boundaries early on so nothing gets out of hand later on.

13. Maintain professionalism throughout all contact

While trust is crucial in building relationships, personal feelings are irrelevant when conducting business. Remain professional at all times don't let things like rudeness or poor manners derail what you're trying to do, even if the customer is the one at fault.

Quick tip: Don't get into an argument even if they insult you. It's inevitable that some people simply won't respect you no matter how professional you are, so thank them for their time and move on as quickly as possible.

Remember that there's a difference between tough customers and those who behave like children; only engage the former.

14. Acknowledge what your potential client has to offer

Suppliers should be more than willing to compliment those they're selling to; this makes the customer feel more involved and respected and encourages them to give back (and buy) in return.

Quick tip: It's never about whether or not they like you – it's about whether or not they trust you with their money! You don't have to "beg" for a; if the rapport is right, they'll buy from you eventually.

15. Don't be distracted by potential customers

There's nothing wrong with letting people know that you can provide what they need, but don't waste your time chasing dead ends just because they acted interested at the start.

There are plenty of other prospects out there who will value your business more than this one does.

Quick tip: If they make excuses or are rude to you, then thank them for their time and move on. Remember that not every deal is meant to happen; sometimes it takes a little bit longer for things to work out if you want them to anyway.

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16. Keep an open mind toward potential clients  

People tend to gravitate toward those who they feel understand them, so your business will be more memorable if you talk to the customer from their perspective.

Quick tip: Think about what frustrates them when searching for a supplier and mention how they'll benefit from working with you in return.

Depending on the situation, it might even help to pretend that you're the client and ask yourself how receptive you would be.

17. Ask your customers how satisfied they are

This doesn't just allow them to express problems or concerns; it also establishes whether or not people trust your company enough to provide feedback.

If employees don't seem comfortable answering this question, try asking "What could we do better?" instead of "How was everything?"

Quick tip: Make sure employees understand that your goal is to improve the buying process, not just get compliments.

18. Don't give customers too many details unless they ask  

It's important to follow their lead when it comes to the conversation so that you can keep them interested in what you have to offer.

For example, don't go into detail about your delivery fees if they aren't curious about them because this will raise unnecessary questions for which you'll need to prepare an answer.

Quick tip: Stay on-topic by steering clear of certain specifics or other ideas that are likely to slow down the sales process. Avoid giving too much information because your conversation might reveal something you weren't prepared for.

19. Understand how your potential customers make decisions

If you know where they're coming from, then you'll be able to work with this information instead of against it. For example, if they're very thrifty on their behalf, then they might not see the value in your product no matter how low the price is.

Quick tip: There are dozens of people out there who are willing to pay top dollar for what you offer, so don't let these stubborn customers get you down!

They might just need extra time before deciding because it's different than anything they've done before, but that doesn't mean that they won't buy eventually.

20. Have an escape plan

If things aren't working out at any point during your sales presentation, thank them for their time instead of trying to push the sale.

This will let you save face and keep them from feeling pushed into a buying decision – which means that they may be more likely to contact you down the road if their circumstances change for the better.

Quick tip: Have an "escape plan" in place as part of your sales presentation by saying something like, "I know this might not be for everyone, but it would still be helpful if I knew what we could do differently to make it work."

Also Read: Top 6 White-Label Project Management Software You Need to Try

21. Don't make promises about price

Be honest; people appreciate that much more than false guarantees or last-minute changes.

Quick tip: If someone doesn't mention anything specific like a budget, then don't say anything like "We can make this work" because you don't want to raise their expectations and then let them down.

22. Aim for the sale at the end of your presentation

If you keep delaying it by talking about how great everything is, then people will start getting impatient and wonder why you're wasting their time like that.

Remember that the goal is to help them solve a problem or achieve something that they want, so that's what should be on their mind whenever they're listening to you talk!

Quick tip: To give yourself an edge over other people selling similar products, try to leave a little bit of mystery for whoever wants to question around after you've finished your sales pitch instead of continuing as if nothing has changed. They might ask about something that you didn't mention earlier or they might even ask to hear more about one of your products because it's the only one you talked about.

23. Don't be afraid to take a break

If someone is trying to make a buying decision and they don't seem like they're under the kind of pressure that would force them to do so, then taking a few minutes could dramatically improve their perspective on what you have to offer!

By stepping away from them for no longer than ten minutes, you'll give them enough time to review everything for themselves and come up with questions that you wouldn't otherwise know if this person was feeling pressured into an immediate decision.

Quick tip: To entice people who are still unsure about making a buying decision, try to be the first one who says something about getting back together in a couple of days.

This should give them enough time to think things over which will also help you come up with a better presentation because you'll have a better idea of what's going through their minds then.

24. Be patient  

It could take months before someone officially becomes your client, so don't get discouraged when it doesn't happen right away!

Remember that most people are either afraid or not ready yet; they're not specifically trying to block you from helping them even if this is how they might appear on the surface!

Quick tip: By asking them about their current situation, you'll be able to understand where they're coming from and why they might not be willing to buy anything yet.

Remember that people often need time to adjust to the idea of spending money on something before it can happen!

Check This: Top 6 Free Client Portal Software That You Must Try in 2023

25. Don't take anything personally

It's easy to get frustrated when someone doesn't seem to like your presentation or disappears without a reason, but most likely they just aren't ready for what you're offering and their rejection will help you figure out how to keep improving until you've finally got them hooked!

Your satisfaction needs to come from within instead of depending on other people because that's the only way that sales presentations will become easier for you over time.

Quick tip: To make more sales try getting referrals from people who already know about your products and who've gotten your contact information from people who trust them enough to be honest about you.

This will lead to more sales if they have a way of reaching out to their friends because the only person you'll have to impress is them instead of someone else!

26. Be persistent

You can't change other people but you can always change yourself, so keep working on things that are within your control.

If you're not sure what's wrong with your presentation or how you can get better at selling, then ask for feedback from people who already bought something from you in the past or look into books that contain information about great sales techniques!

Quick tip: The best thing about getting better at sales is it also teaches other aspects of your life to improve, like your ability to understand other people's problems and stay focused on solving them instead of getting distracted by what might look like obstacles.

27. Keep track of your progress

Even though it can take months for someone to become a client, you still want to make sure that you're improving all the time!

Look back at old presentations and try to find different ways of doing things because this is how you'll keep learning more about what works and what doesn't work when it comes to generating leads through sales presentations.

Quick tip: If possible, get real testimonials from people who've already bought products from you because more recent ones will show that your business is continuing and growing while older ones might not give off the same impression!

ClientVenue: Your Gateway to Securing Your First Customers with Proven Strategies

ClientVenue emerges as a cutting-edge project management software, meticulously engineered for advertising agencies aiming to streamline client onboarding, project management, and billing processes.

Recognizing the pivotal role of first impressions, ClientVenue offers automated client onboarding features, ensuring a seamless and impressive introduction for clients right from their initial interaction.

Features of ClientVenue

1. Automated Client Onboarding

Designed by an agency for agencies, ClientVenue understands the critical importance of client onboarding. Its automated feature is crafted to provide a world-class onboarding experience, setting the stage for successful client relationships.

2. Professional Invoicing

With ClientVenue, agencies can generate professional-looking invoices, complete with their own branding. This integrated invoicing experience simplifies billing, whether it's recurring or one-time, through native integrations with top payment platforms.

3. Real-time Project Management

The platform allows for comprehensive project management, offering customizable views for effortless project planning and collaboration. It facilitates seamless coordination among internal and external teams, enabling agencies to concentrate on their most impactful work.

4. Dedicated Client Storage

ClientVenue provides a dedicated space for storing all client-related media and assets, ensuring all payment and invoicing processes are integrated within the client workspace for a streamlined experience.

5. Insightful Reporting

Agencies can access detailed reports on projects, teams, and employees through an easy-to-read dashboard. These insights allow for a comprehensive overview of project milestones, planning, budgeting, and time tracking, along with the ability to generate client-facing reports.

6. Customizable Platform

ClientVenue offers a white-label solution that allows agencies to customize the platform's look and feel to match their brand's design language, providing clients with a native brand experience.

7. Resource and Timesheet Management

The platform includes features for managing timesheets and resources directly from the agency dashboard, facilitating efficient stakeholder involvement without the need for constant follow-ups.

8. Agency-specific Features

Tailored specifically for advertising agencies, ClientVenue includes features that cater to agency workflows, such as profitability tracking at the project, people, and service levels, approval systems, custom client portals, team performance metrics, workload optimization, and revenue leakage detection.

ClientVenue is more than just a project management tool; it's a comprehensive solution for advertising agencies seeking to enhance efficiency, improve client relationships, and optimize profitability.

With its suite of specialized features, ClientVenue is poised to transform the way agencies manage projects, clients, and financials, enabling scalable growth and operational excellence.

Conclusion

Selling things to other people is a necessary part of life and one that can be done without too much effort as long as you're willing to keep learning and trying new things.

ClientVenue is an indispensable ally for businesses aiming to secure their first customer. It offers a suite of tools and strategies that cover every aspect of the client acquisition process, from market research and online presence to networking, inbound marketing, and relationship management.

With ClientVenue, businesses are well-equipped to overcome the challenges of attracting and retaining their initial clients, setting a strong foundation for future success.

I hope that this article was able to help you become more comfortable with the idea of sales presentations, but if there's anything else that I didn't cover then please let me know in the comments below!

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