Channels that work at the start
- Your network: former colleagues, clients, suppliers, friends who run businesses.
- Direct outreach to a short, targeted list: 20 businesses you can describe precisely.
- Local visits for local businesses: a short demo on your phone is often more convincing than an email.
- Professional groups and associations in your target sector.
- Referrals from your pilot clients.
A sample message
Hello [name], I noticed [a specific observation about their business]. I help [type of business] [concrete result] with [service]. For example, [short proof or pilot result]. Would a 15-minute call next week be useful? If not, no problem at all.
Track everything
Use a simple prospect tracker: name, channel, date of contact, reply, next action and status. Review it every week. Expect to contact around 50 to 100 well-chosen prospects to win your first 10 clients, depending on your sector.
Follow up politely
Most replies come after the second or third message. Follow up after a few days, add something useful each time, and stop after three attempts.
Your action for today
Build a list of 20 precise prospects in the prospect tracker template and send your first five personalised messages.
Questions
Should I post on social media?
Yes, as support: it builds trust when prospects look you up. But direct outreach brings the first clients faster.
What if nobody replies?
Check the target and the message. A vague message gets no replies; a specific observation usually does.
