A question newer marketers always ask is “How do I get my first client?”
Here’s how I did it, and how a bunch of entrepreneurs that I’ve mentored got their start.
Let’s say you want to do SEO or PPC. It’s really hard to optimize a site for SEO or point paid ads to high converting landing pages if you don’t know how websites are built.
Start by building websites. If you know nothing about it, hit Youtube. Learn the basics and then start building fake websites.
I mean, real websites, but for fake clients.
Know your favorite restaurant? Pretend they were a client. Build them a website. Have a vision of your Dream 100 clients? Build fake websites for them.
Once you suck less, because you will suck (just embrace it), message business owners online or call them locally and just be honest.
“I do $500 websites for free.”
Their alarm bells are going to go off. 🚨
“Why free?”
“Because I’m new and want to build my experience and portfolio.”
If you set expectations:
- It’s not weird, and
- Many people will go out of their way to support you.
Do this long enough until you have a level of confidence, then change to from $500 websites for free to $1500 sites for $500.
Repeat, and build experience exchanging money for the design. Because once you exchange money, the expectations are greater. Learn that dance.
Now you’re a web designer! Yay!
If you want to take it further and start paid ads or SEO, do the same thing. Offer free for 3-6 months (excluding ad costs if you’re going that route) with an agreement that if they’re satisfied with progress that they then engage a retainer.
If you need resources on learning SEO, let me know. I have plenty for free.
My best selling book on SEO, Outrank, is available:
I also offer a free Facebook group with SEO tips:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/outrank
