in this one a cold dm turned into her first paying client.

2 minute read time

Today’s issue: She talks to people and somehow gets her first online client from a generic cold DM.

Getting that first online client is BRUTAL. Let me tell you about this week.

For the past month, I practiced Noah Kagans book. Every idea I had flopped. The book saved my mind but I couldn’t pass GO on his business plan let alone a paying client.

So half burned out and increasingly feeling defeated, I took some time to relax. I ended up on a call with Peter to talk about a sick response he had to one of my newsletters and get to know him.

Instead Peter threw me a lifeline: "Talk to people you've helped in the past."

Long story short: I failed tragically. The thing about having friends in business, they have problems over over head. Hindsight I could have learned but instead guided them to people I thought could help or kept mental notes for "someday."

You know that feeling when you’re testing an idea and you feel like YOU must be the problem. Yeah, it’s not only you.

Then came a cold DM — the kind you delete on autopilot. A generic sales pitch asking if I planned to monetize my newsletter.

It wasn’t the first time I got some version of this DM but I was in a crap mood and answered with the truth:

I have no clue what I am doing. My goal is simply to share my journey, in hopes it connects with someone who feels alone.

Somehow we end up talking about him and his business goals. Then an idea came to mind and I made a spur of the moment pitch video voice note (so professional):

“If I can get you a few leads in 2 weeks with your personal brand without sounding sales, would you pay me? And what do you think a fair price would be?”

Before you scream, “Noah Kagans book says get upfront payment!” Here’s the thing, I haven’t done lead gen in 2 years. My approach will combine online connection building with strategies X creators have used on me that worked in the past.

Exhibit A:

Still playing with Google Trends to find the perfect approach, but hey, there's hope!

While I dream about immediate income, I won’t take money for something unproven. It’s a personal choice. If it works for him, I will ask for payment upfront next time.

And he said YES!

[cue happy tears fully equipped with snot and bloodshot eyes.]

After a year of testing ideas with zero "yesses," this was huge. It reminded me of a line in Jakob Greenfield's article"Talk to People” – "you're usually just a dozen or so conversations away from a breakthrough.”

Not exactly like those posts that talk about how easy business is and how you can make money in X amount of days.

In fact, even in Kagans book, he says it might take a few weeks. JS

My first client came from a casual conversation, desire to help, and I guess a lil serendipity?

Bottomline: Talking to people leads to unexpected wins.

Question of the week:

What conversations are you having that don’t come with an agenda? Business aside, how are you helping them?

cool stuff

1. X Post of the week.

   Only took 7+ years. Finally sold a Notion template I made for the first time.

   — Ben Lang (@benln)
   1:38 PM • Apr 8, 2024

2. Article of the week: Jakob Greenfelds Talk to People

3. Book passage of the week