I am a Certified Social Media Manager, Strategist, International Keynote Speaker, Organic Specialist and Agile marketer! Blogging is my creative outlet. Running, hiking and skiing are how I recharge. You’ll recognize me on stage and online by my always present orange glasses, a nod to my Dutch heritage.
How exciting! Finding and serving your first client is special.
How do you know if you are ready to be a social media manager?
Have you
✓ educated yourself?
✓ researched the social media marketing industry?
✓ polished your social media management skills?
✓ practiced on friends and family or during an internship?
If your answer is ‘yes' to most or all of these questions you are ready to jump in and get paid for social media management!
Wait!
How do you intend to find that first client?
Do you have a plan of attack?
No fear!
We are here to help guide you.
In this article, you will find real-life examples of tried and true ways social media managers have found their first client.
For ease-of-use and easy reference, we have grouped these tips into four sections.
Use these examples to come up with your own strategy for finding that first client. Pick the ideas that match your style, your business, and your comfort level. Start implementing these ideas until you find something that works for you and your geographical location – as in, see what works – and rinse and repeat to build your business and add one new client at a time.
It is always easier to reach out to people you know to start a conversation about your business.
Here are ways to reach out to people you already know, or are familiar with, using the internet.
Warm online connections include people you or your friends and family are currently connected to. Reach out to your current connections on
You can use private messages to start conversations about your new venture. We advise you not to lead with a sales pitch! Instead, start a simple conversation – and research what each person does and likes before you start that conversation. Asking questions is a great way to start a conversation; one way to be effective is to read someone's bio and to pick something in the bio to ask about. People love talking about themselves! All of these platforms have been used to land a first client by other social media managers! One might work better for you than another; we say give each of these a try.
Next up are your options for using the internet to find your first client through cold connecting. This list includes social media groups, job boards, online research and email marketing.
Whatever you do, please don't spam groups with desperate pleas for work. Instead, start by answering questions, give support, look around, and start developing personal relationships with other members. Taking the conversation to a private platform to grow those relationships is step 2 of this process before asking about job opportunities and available projects.
The next group of places to find your first client consists of search sites and job board sites. Again, these have all been reported as places where social media managers have found their first (paying) client.
This includes:
We have reports of people making good money through these sites listed above, yet other people report that the type of clients they found on these sites were not the quality clients they wanted. Whatever it is you are looking for in a client, getting that first client might be more important than the quality of that said client. As always, this is a personal choice.
Last but not least, here are more ideas on how you can use the internet to connect with that first client! These are tried and true ways to find your first client; if it has worked once before, why couldn't it work for you?
What better way to showcase who you are than by meeting in real life! The ‘know, like and trust factor' goes a long way when looking for that first someone to give you a break and hire you. Starting with someone you already know is ideal. Do stay professional and always draw up a contract, even when working with these warm connections.
Warm connections can help you land your first client; these are people who you already know. This list consists of people in your inner circle.
If these warm connections can't hire you, ask these ‘warm connections' for introductions to people who would use your services as a social media manager. Make sure your request is made in a professional way and that you have a clear way of tracking your referrals.
Everywhere you go there are opportunities to connect with people and have conversations. Each of these connections could alter the course of your life. Below, find ways social media managers we know have found their first client. You never know who you'll meet and where and what they can offer you! Be open to connect everywhere and anywhere and to start that conversation!
There are lots of ways to find your first client. Some people will use the same platform, networking event or method to find more clients once they find their first client. Other people will use multiple methods at once until they land their first client. Whichever way you do it, be sure to have
Good luck, be sure to leave a comment below if you have a super way to land a first client as we want to know!
I am a Certified Social Media Manager, Strategist, International Keynote Speaker, Organic Specialist and Agile marketer! Blogging is my creative outlet. Running, hiking and skiing are how I recharge. You'll recognize me on stage and online by my always present orange glasses, a nod to my Dutch heritage.
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I am a Certified Social Media Manager, Strategist, International Keynote Speaker, Organic Specialist and Agile marketer! Blogging is my creative outlet. Running, hiking and skiing are how I recharge. You’ll recognize me on stage and online by my always present orange glasses, a nod to my Dutch heritage.