First customers

[jackleon]

What has people's experience been like with getting that first elusive customer?

How do you make sure its not tumbleweed on the launch day or that you get some sales before the cashflow runs out ?

It would be great to heard some stories and hard truths before I jump into the scary world of running a business.

 

[ctrlbrk]

getting that first elusive customer?

My take is that it's mostly about visibility. It is also about your product or service of course, but it is not unheard of that skilled marketers/sales people can "sell ice to an eskimo".

Ensure that you are prepared to learn about marketing principles and draft your marketing strategy.

Failing that, hire a professional marketer, whom you have thoroughly researched.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

My take is that it's mostly about visibility. It is also about your product or service of course, but it is not unheard of that skilled marketers/sales people can "sell ice to an eskimo".

That's nothing I could sell pasty's to the Cornish!

 

[Shopclicks]

What has people's experience been like with getting that first elusive customer?

What's the product or sector?

 

[fisicx]

I found a niche where customers were already looking for what I sell.

But as already suggested, it’s about being visible. You are there when they search on Google, when someone browses social media, when they read blogs or visit forums or look on freelancer sites.

Or you could just pay for leads.

 

[jackleon]

What's the product or sector?

I tried business consultancy in the software development market, total fail - lost a ton of money - long story - I’d write about it but it’d be pretty short. Went in unprepared, didn’t know squat about selling, things went south.

I am now thinking of starting an insurance company. I have an idea which I’m trying to break down into something small that I can test in the market.

 

[jackleon]

I found a niche where customers were already looking for what I sell.

But as already suggested, it’s about being visible. You are there when they search on Google, when someone browses social media, when they read blogs or visit forums or look on freelancer sites.

Or you could just pay for leads.

That sounds great, I’m just so overwhelmed with how saturated everything is. At the moment I’m just floating from one idea to the next without being able to decide where to focus my energies!

 

[jackleon]

My take is that it's mostly about visibility. It is also about your product or service of course, but it is not unheard of that skilled marketers/sales people can "sell ice to an eskimo".

Ensure that you are prepared to learn about marketing principles and draft your marketing strategy.

Failing that, hire a professional marketer, whom you have thoroughly researched.

Makes sense. I thought I understood marketing but I came up very short of the mark. I think next time I’d pay someone.

 

[fisicx]

That sounds great, I’m just so overwhelmed with how saturated everything is. At the moment I’m just floating from one idea to the next without being able to decide where to focus my energies!

There are loads of niches still ripe for exploitation. One huge growth area is plugins, extensions and add ons for popular website platforms.

There was a recent thread here about an alternative to linnworks. There are always questions about simple CRM packages.

You find the gaps by doing research. Hang around the support sites to see what people are asking about.

Or set up a wheelie bin cleaning service. This is incredibly popular and you can pick up a ton of new customers with little effort.

 

[Shopclicks]

I am now thinking of starting an insurance company. I have an idea which I’m trying to break down into something small that I can test in the market.

An insurance broker? You can get feedback on your idea here if you want specific advice.

 

[Mark T Jones]

My first customer helped me to set up my first business.

As others have said, it really does depend where you are starting from, but whichever, work you do on a proper marketing plan will pay dividends

 

[Mark T Jones]

That sounds great, I’m just so overwhelmed with how saturated everything is. At the moment I’m just floating from one idea to the next without being able to decide where to focus my energies!

Saturated markets are for those who don't understand niches.

You don't need to be the biggest, or even the best, you need to resonate in your niche

 

[Gyumri]

At the moment I’m just floating from one idea to the next without being able to decide where to focus my energies!

That's the best place to start from, as necessity is the mother of invention.

 

[Paul FilmMaker]

I went into the most competitive space imaginable, video production. My competition is agencies, big video production houses, small / mid-sized players and 28,000 film students who offer to do stuff for free every year.

I won my first customer many years ago and have held onto them even today. Being video production, we use video on social to attract businesses who want to sell more using video.

What does this look like?

Well, this is an example of a social post which generated a customer. The French CEO of a UK SME saw it, didn't comment or like it, but instead called me directly and told me he wanted to buy from me: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/paul...-u?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

He didn't even look at my website, instead called me up, brought me into a meeting at his health club (a very, very fancy one) and asked me how much. I told him, he bought for his business and then became a repeat customer as he was delighted with the result.

 

[Socio South West]

That's nothing I could sell pasty's to the Cornish!

Can you persuade them to put the jam and cream the right way on their scones though ??? ?

 

[ethical PR]

I tried business consultancy in the software development market, total fail - lost a ton of money - long story - I’d write about it but it’d be pretty short. Went in unprepared, didn’t know squat about selling, things went south.

I am now thinking of starting an insurance company. I have an idea which I’m trying to break down into something small that I can test in the market.

have you developed a business plan and marketing plan?