On Getting Clients
I’ve gotten a bunch of questions around getting clients in the beginning, so I’m going to condense those all down into this question…
If you were starting from scratch again, how would you get good clients?
Here’s what I would do, in this order.
Niche / Decide who I wanted to help - but don’t get paralyzed by picking the “perfect” niche or you’ll never pick anything. Just pick something for now. You’ll refine it later once you know more.
Set up a mailing list to give the people in #1 free info - I use MailChimp. That’s what you’re reading now. There’s a discount through QBO ProAdvisor. Write daily / weekly / monthly, whatever feels right for you. Don’t overthink it. Just start.
Invite people onto the mail list (via LinkedIn/Twitter/IG, online communities, in person). Keep writing things that will help them. Remember that what’s obvious to you is not at all obvious to them.
Create a lead magnet - What’s a lead magnet, you ask? (this will get more people on your list…which they’ll want to stay on because you’re being very helpful…for FREE)
Create a website - 1-page is enough, 4 pages max. Talk about the people in #1’s problems NOT how great you are and how much you love accounting (okay but seriously, how awesome is accounting?). List your prices on your website.
Make scheduling time with you easy - I use Calendly for this (there’s a free version, but don’t be cheap and wait too long for the paid version if you need it)
Use #2 to tell the people in #1 that they can set up time with you to get more info via #6 - this could be a free 15 minutes, discovery call, strategy session, whatever
The cherry on top…
Invest in Sales training.
Did anyone ever teach you sales?
Me either.
(Though I did do a weekend of door-to-door sales for an ex-boyfriend who did one of those college painting businesses. I knocked on doors in February in Chicago asking people if they needed their house painted. They didn’t. Also, I did not marry that guy, but I digress…)
I joined Nikki Rausch’s Sales Maven Society for about 6 months and it was well worth the money. She has so much helpful content available in there. Not sponsored, no kickbacks for signing up, I just loved it. Tell her I say hi.
(Note - Nikki’s marketing leans feminine, but there were men in the group when I was in it. It really is for everyone.)
Hope this helps…
Talk soon,
Erica
Behind-the-scenes in my business this week:
I’m trying to fill 1-3 client openings for onboarding in October-ish due to the lost Tier 1 client I mentioned last week, so I’m back in sales mode too. But if I’m being honest, since taking sales training, I don’t hate it and it doesn’t make me panic. Dare I say, it’s kind of fun—like a game.
Everyone, look at the accountant not hating sales!
I’m definitely not scrambling or desperate (seriously), but do have 30 minutes blocked on my calendar every week now to work through my sales plan, which includes things like reaching out to quality referral sources, reaching out to my waitlist, prepping my Calendly for strategy sessions (which I’ll open up to my mailing list soon).
No Work Wednesday today include a lunch date with the husband…who’s never made me knock on strangers’ doors in February.
Money back guarantee, if you get in there and don’t see the value. No questions asked.
More details in the link above.