How much would you sacrifice for a 30-minute meeting that could change your business?
Yesterday, I went into town for a short meeting with a potential client. That meeting cost me four hours of my time and considerable childcare headaches. (My father-in-law is very ill, my husband is abroad taking care of him, and my reality right now is solo parenting. Overwhelming doesn’t even begin to describe it.)
So was the meeting worth it? Absolutely.
We bonded over burgers, industry war wounds, and commonalities. We didn’t talk sales. We just talked business, life, and shared insights. And by the end? They knew, liked, and trusted me.
Why did they meet me in the first place? They already had 12 meetings in their 48 hours in London – so why did they make time for me, the only ‘service provider’ on their agenda?
Because someone told them they had to meet me. Word of mouth. A referral.
This didn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of years of consistently investing in building my network – before I needed it.
Which brings me to the ONE question I get asked all the time:
“How do you FIND clients?”
And the answer? I didn’t find them. They found ME.
Let me explain…
Your First Clients Are Already in Your Network
Too many brilliant, experienced women delay their business dreams because they think they need a perfect website, branding, or a polished offer before landing their first client. That’s false.
Your first clients aren’t strangers. They’re already in your world—you just haven’t tapped into them yet.
You don’t need a huge audience—you need the right conversations with the right people. You need to let it be known what you do and have engaging conversations with those who can help.
Quote of the Week
“Your network is your net worth.”
Porter Gale
The Hidden Cost of Waiting for an Audience
If you’re waiting to launch until you have a website, a polished brand, 10k followers, or whatever excuse you’ve convinced yourself is necessary, here’s what’s actually happening:
✔ You’re avoiding direct conversations. (Because selling feels uncomfortable.)
✔ You’re delaying your income. (Clients don’t care about your logo.)
✔ You’re making business harder than it needs to be. (Most clients come from referrals, not Instagram.)
Let me be brutally honest: If you want to build a business, get used to feeling uncomfortable.
I’ve worked with countless entrepreneurs who spent months “getting ready” when their first few clients were just one email, phone call, or DM away.
Let’s fix that today.
How You can Get Clients from Your Existing Network
Before you think, “But I don’t know anyone who would hire me,”—STOP.
You might not know people who would hire you directly—but you absolutely know people who know people who would.
So, get out of your comfort zone and start putting in the reps.
Your warm network includes:
- Former colleagues
- Industry connections
- Past and present clients
- Friends & family who know your skills
And before you assume they don’t need your services, remember: They may know someone who does.
When you need an emergency plumber, you hit your WhatsApp contacts first, right?
Someone, somewhere, is hitting their WhatsApp and asking if anyone knows someone like YOU—but they’ll only know you exist if you make it known.
How to Tap Into Your Existing Network (without the ICK):
- Make a List of 30 People Who Already Know You
- Who do you know in your industry?
- Who have you worked with in the past?
- Who always asks you for advice?
2. Send a Personal Message (Not a Sales Pitch)
- Reach out to let them know what you’re doing.
- Ask if they know anyone who might need your help.
- Example message:
“Hey [Name], I wanted to share something exciting—I’ve started offering [service] to help [specific problem]. If you know anyone who might need this, I’d love an intro! No pressure at all, just putting it out there.”
3. Follow Up! (Most Sales Happen in the Follow-Up)
- People are busy. If they don’t respond, it’s not a no – it’s a not right now.
- Check in two weeks later with a quick message:
“Hey [Name], just following up! No worries if now isn’t the right time, but I’d love to help if you or anyone in your network could benefit.”
How to Leverage LinkedIn for Cold Outreach (Without Feeling Spammy)
LinkedIn is the best platform for networking—but most people get cold outreach completely wrong because they pitch too soon instead of building rapport first.
I’ve personally landed multiple high-paying clients from LinkedIn. Some of them paid me six figures in revenue. And how did I find them? I did my homework and reached out—COLD.
Here’s how to do it right:
Step 1: Find the Right People in Your Network
- Use LinkedIn’s search filters to find people in your industry, past colleagues, or ideal clients.
- Look at 2nd-degree connections—these are people one connection away from someone you know.
- Check their activity—do they post often? Do they engage with content similar to yours? Active users are more likely to respond.
Step 2: Find the Common Points
- Look for mutual connections. If you have a mutual contact, that’s your warm introduction angle.
- Check their LinkedIn profile for common industries, experiences, or career transitions that overlap with yours.
- Reference a shared alma mater, professional certification, or event if applicable. The key here is to think of common points as HUMANS rather than professionals. Do you come from the same town? Share the same hobbies?
Step 3: Engage Before You DM (Optional But Helpful)
- Comment on their posts. Show up before you slide into their DMs.
- React to their content. Meaningful comments help you get on their radar.
- If they’ve engaged with your content, that’s your opening!
Step 4: Send a Cold DM (That Feels Warm)
💡 Cold DM Example:
“Hey [Name], I saw your post about [topic] and really resonated with it. I actually help [ideal clients] with [specific problem] and would love to connect. No pitch—just thought our work aligns!”
💡 Mutual Connection Example:
“Hey [Name], I noticed we’re both connected to [Mutual Contact]! I’ve been working on [topic] and thought it’d be great to connect since we’re in similar circles.”
💡 Industry Commonality Example:
“Hey [Name], I saw that you transitioned from [industry] to [industry]—I did the same! Always great to connect with others making similar moves.”
Step 5: Transition to a Conversation
Once they respond, ask a question about their work and invite them to a call.
🚀 “Would you have time for a quick call so I can learn what your biggest focus is right now?”
🚀 “I have nothing to sell, just genuinely curious to hear your story.”
From here, keep the conversation natural and see if a call or collaboration makes sense.
I’m going to be BRUTALLY honest with you. I never do Step 3 (engaging before DMing). I always jump straight to Step 4.
Am I nuts? No. I have a system that makes my outreach laser-focused (think sniper, not machine gun). I ONLYapproach: ✔ People with a strong overlap in my area of focus
✔ People who share many mutual connections
✔ People who would benefit from my knowledge (which I would freely give them)
✔ People who have a clear need for my services
Did I master this overnight? No. It took me years of trial and error.
But here’s the point: The sooner you start, the sooner you learn how to do this well.
Your First Clients Are Closer Than You Think
Your next paying client isn’t a stranger. They’re already in your network—you just haven’t asked yet.
Action Steps:
- Make a list of 30 people in your network.
- Send 5 messages this week
- Optimize your social media profile for clarity.
- Start conversations, not sales pitches.
- As much as possible, meet people IN PERSON*
- Use LinkedIn cold outreach the right way.
*The harder this is for you to do, the more important it is that you do it.
Remember: You don’t need a big audience – just the right conversations.
This Week’s Action Plan: Your Networking Homework
Want to land your next client?
This week, take action with one of these steps:
If You Use Social Media (LinkedIn, Instagram, etc.):
✔ Update your profile – Make sure your bio clearly states who you help and how.
✔ Engage with 5 new people – Comment on their posts before DMing.
✔ Send 5 personalized messages – Use the templates above to start real conversations. ✔ Follow up on past conversations – Most sales happen in the follow-up!
If You DON’T Use Social Media:
✔ Make a list of 10 people you already know who could introduce you to potential clients. ✔ Send a warm email – Reach out to let them know what you’re doing and who you help. ✔ Attend one networking event – Look for industry meetups, business mixers, or virtual networking calls.
✔ Schedule 1 in-person meeting – The harder this feels for you, the more important it is that you do it.
✔ Ask for referrals – Contact past colleagues or clients to see if they know someone who needs your help.
Pick at least one action from the list above and commit to doing it this week.
The fastest way to get clients is to start talking to people.
See you next Wednesday.
