Where to look for Clients?

So you've started a Business, but don't know where to find Clients? In this Post, I'll explain different places to look! First, lets start off with the Sales Side of things where you're finding contacts to cold call/email.

Sales

Search Directories
• Search for websites that provide listings of companies by state and city.
• Use industry-specific directories or platforms that specialize in that service.

Examples: Angie's List, Better Business Bureau, Merchant Circle, Super Pages, Yellowpages, Yelp

Professional Networks
Platforms like Linkedin can help you connect with professionals and companies in your industry.

Local Business Listings
Check local business directories or chambers of commerce for companies in your area.
* Use Yelp to look for local business listings, as well as anywhere. Just type in the zip code and it will find companies for you.

Industry Associations
Explore associations related to your industry. Many industries have organizations that provide directories of people who work for different companies, sponsors, Certification Programs, and plenty of other Resources.

Example 1: If you are in the Garbage Truck Industry, there's an organization called Swana. Swana is an organization for Garbage Collector companies, where you can connect with other individuals in the Truck Collection Industry. etc..

Example 2: If you own a trucking company, the American Trucking Association would be helpful for your industry.

Visit the official websites of companies to find contact details

Rely on websites like Rocket Reach
Rocket Reach reveals emails of important people within organizations. They don’t always list it on their websites. There's a 5 email month free plan, they have paid plans as well. Rocket Reach is incredibly detailed, you can find their Email, Phone, Competitors, Keywords, Revenue, Employees, website and even when they were established.
* You can also send emails through the program as well.

Great, now that I have contacts, now what do I do?

Create a Spreadsheet! Make it like this.

Name of Company

• Contact Name

• Phone Number

• Email

• Location, Town, City, etc
  

Once you have contacts, you can start reaching out to them!

Now we can get down to the Marketing Aspect of things! Make sure to use this Spreadsheet for the contacts you make through the Marketing side of things too! The Marketing aspect is all about potential clients and people finding you.

Marketing

Networking
Go to local networking events in your area, sites like Facebook, or Meetup may have Networking events posted on there.

Go Door to Door
Hand out your business card to local shops and Industrial Parks.

Craft Shows, Trade Fairs & Expos
This one will cost you some money as most events charge a vendor fee. Become a Vendor fee at fairs and expos in order to get your name out there and potentially get clients. Just make sure your industry aligns with what the fair is about. Example: You wouldn't go to an Arts & Craft fair if you sell Trucks, it's not the right audience!

TIP: You can find out about local events by using Facebook, Meetup and Instagram.

Word of Mouth & Referrals
Tell your Friends, Family, Associates, Previous coworkers that you're looking for clients! I used to work for a company where their clients were mostly from Word of Mouth and Referrals! You can also give a discount for your service or product if someone gets you a new client/customer.

Social Media
Make Video Posts and Flyers about your organization and what product or services you sell.

Pay Per Click Advertising
Use Sites like Google Ads, Bing Ads, Instagram Ads and Facebook Advertising to let people know about your brand.