Can’t find your first client?
It can be tough without a case study or reputation.
Here are the three places I found my first clients that made me over $10,000 in revenue – and how you can use them to do the same.
#1 Network. Network. Network.
There is the phrase “Your net worth is your network” and it rings true here. If you don’t have a network, keep reading as the advice remains the same.
So how do you grow your network to get your first client?
TELL PEOPLE. Tell your mom, dad, friends, everyone!
My first paying client came from telling my apartment manager of all things.
I was talking to him about the new rental portal and I mentioned that I was starting something on the side. He said “Oh, my wife could use that kind of help!”
Total payout from telling a completely random person: $1,600.
Total payout from everyone I’ve told and connected with: $6937.50
No one knows what you are trying to do unless you tell them. Tell people what you are doing.
#2 Chat in Facebook Groups
Embrace the chaos that is Facebook. You can easily win your first client on Facebook.
Go on Facebook and find groups where people need your service – generally, these are “beginner groups”.
When they ask questions, answer them thoroughly. Like get really, really in the weeds.
If they ask how to target a keyword for their Shopify page, explain as much as you can. Invest 30-45 minutes into it. Give them an insanely detailed answer.
A word of advice, do NOT mention you offer it as a service. You will be kicked from the group. Volunteer the information freely and without strings attached.
And you know what? They (or someone else reading the question/answer) will think “Screw that. I have other stuff I need to do” or “That sounds really complicated”. Then they will write a comment saying “That sounds so hard to do! I sent you a message – will you help me do it?“
I spent about 5 hours doing this exact strategy, total revenue to date: $2,036.00.
#3 Try Cold Calling (It Works Wonders)
I can literally hear you thinking “Ugh, cold calls. I’m not doing that.”
I thought (and still do think) the same, but my average dollar value per cold call to get my first client: $23.62. That’s PER CALL.
Hang ups, no answers, gatekeepers, “Are you cold calling me?” questions. All of those, $23.62/rip.
And I wasn’t (and probably still am not) very good at them.
But $100 in estimated return for 4 calls. I’ll take that every day week.
Here is what I use:
“Hey! I’m Stefan and I do websites. Came across yours and think I can get more Google traffic to it. Is there any interest in seeing what I can do to help your business grow?”
Short. Sweet. Polite. That’s how I’d want a cold call. They can politely tell you no and you can move on.
Total return on cold calls to date: $3,000 – and I have a lead that, if it comes through, will boost this number past $7,000 or $55.12/rip.
For more cold call information, check out #3 on my reading list.
Total Revenue: $11,973.50
And my first payment was on October 20th, 2024. Revenue numbers as of May 2, 2025 so about 6 months and two weeks – or approximately $2,000 per month. If I can do it from scratch and make this work, so can you!
Ready to Build?
Everyone starts somewhere. I started Bootstrap Mode with no clients, no reputation – just hustle. Now it’s your turn. If you want more real-world tactics like these (no fluff, just stuff that works), join the Bootstrap Mode newsletter and get the next playbook sent straight to your inbox.