Leads, leads, leads …
Time is a precious commodity. We all want more of it. We don’t like to waste it. And according to Happy Sexy Millionaire, the entrepreneur Steven Bartlett believes that time and consistency are the two key ingredients to achieving success.
Time, however, takes on a whole new meaning when you are an entrepreneur. Especially when you are an entrepreneur. Time is of the essence. Time is trying to fit in as much as possible.
Time is wishing there were more hours in the day to get through the every increasing to-do list. If you have the time - plenty of it - you can dedicate a generous portion of your day calling up prospective clients.
But what if you don’t have the luxury of time? What if you, like me, are in the throes of building a business and need to focus on doing the work for the clients you already have?
What if you don’t have the resources to employ someone to help you reach out to new customers?
How do you actually go about finding new business when you are just trying to keep you and your enterprise afloat?
Well, the good news is there are strategies out there…
If you’re thinking about becoming an entrepreneur, the most obvious step you can take is to make contact with your previous employer (and employees).
As long as bridges haven’t been burnt, then this particular strategy is one of the easiest ways to bring a client on board.
You already know each-other, they already know you can deliver results and (hopefully) they are confident enough to take a leap of faith in your talents and abilities when you decide to go it alone. My very first client was a referral from a previous employer and although there is some comfort in familiarity, I also knew I had to prove my worth from the get-go. I’m pleased to say that our working relationship is going from strength to strength. And long may that continue.
You also need to put yourself out there.
One of the first things I did when I set up my business was to research and join online networking groups. Although I didn’t get leads straight away, it was a useful experience because it was the beginning of my learning how to pitch to potential clients.
These groups however, consist of mainly start-ups, most of whom do not have access to funding and aren’t in a position to invest in their company yet.
Nevertheless, several connections had been made and there is always a chance that these connections will refer me to friends and family when the opportunity arises in the future.
Probably one of the most effective ways to utilise your time during the day is to attend networking events in the evening. I’m going to talk about these in a separate blog though as they are worth discussing in greater detail. Watch this space…
I keep saying this and I can’t say it enough: try and mix up your work routine by regularly basing yourself in coffee shops and communal work spaces. Not only will it keep you sane, you just never know, a chance meeting might lead to a lead…
In the meantime, make social media work for you - whether that’s a paid ad or campaign.
If you utilise these platforms effectively, it can help boost awareness to your business, increase your following and help to generate interest. Of course, different strategies work for different industries, but the key is to post consistently. Additionally, case studies are one of the most effective ways to illustrate how you’ve helped another business to successfully increase their profits. Ditto blogs. I received several leads after posting my first blog on LinkedIn, for example.
Finally, spread the word about your business to family and friends - you never know what might come of it and who you might meet.
Remember, they have networks too and your best friend who knows so and so, (who knows so and so) might just be looking for and in need of your wonderful skills.
