Ep. 091: 5 Lesser-Known Ways to Get Clients
A lot of my clients are introverts and those who feel super awkward about being more visible online. I can assure you, this is the norm, not the exception. And as someone who preaches simplicity, sustainability, and working with your personal capacity of time & energy, I want to help you get more clients in alignment with that. The 5 things I mention in today's episode aren't a secret, they just aren't as "sexy" as Reels or starting a podcast. But they are perfect for introverts and those who have zero desire to become "Internet-famous."
LINKS & RESOURCES MENTIONED TODAY:
Your Rebellious Success: https://erikatebbensconsulting.com/rebellious-success
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Welcome back to the salat sister podcast. If you are an introvert or you tend to get socially awkward or you get really nervous about being more visible, but you know, that visibility is important and it's important part of marketing. And you've heard me talk about it before. Um, but you're like, Oh my gosh, I just, some of these things, like, I just really, I don't want to do them Erica, but I'm, I'm not really sure.
What I can do what I should do instead. Then this is absolutely the episode for you because the five things I am mentioning today are five things that pretty much anyone can do. And you know, you're not relying on having to do things that I hear all the time from people that they don't want to do, like Instagram reels or starting a podcast or hosting like.
Big huge webinar, right? Like maybe it's, you know, sometimes people are like, I used to straight up. Don't want to do those things. And other times it's like, no, I, I would love to, I just do not have the bandwidth for it right now. So I need alternatives if I want to keep growing my business. And I think that the things I'm going to mention do not get talked about enough because they're just not as sexy.
Right. They're just, um, and you know, you'll, you'll see what I'm talking about as I get into it, but. They're just not like, I feel like they're not things that, uh, people could like monetize to talk about, um, as easily, or they wouldn't be like as catchy. And so we just don't talk about them enough and that is a real bummer because these are great ways to get more clients, uh, Figure out, you know, new connections that can really grow into just like good supportive business relationships and also into really cool collaborations.
And, um, they're great ways to just get your name out there and get known as the expert that you are and, um, have people referring others to you. So the first one I want to talk about are paid communities. So these would be like a membership, like a standalone membership that you join that generally has a monthly fee, or they could be a group that is attached to a paid program that you did like a paid program or, um, uh, like a paid course that also came with, let's say like a free, um, Facebook groups, Slack group, uh, or.
You know, uh, like, uh, mighty networks, portal member, volt portal, and anything like that, where you're still in community with those people. And I know that there's a lot of talk out there about free Facebook groups. Like, especially if you are in a, B to B business and, you know, in a free Facebook group and like posting and blah, blah, blah.
Like there's, there's so much out there that is about that. But when you are in a paid community, especially if you are B2B, but I would say this also works for B to C as well, but you're already in community with people who are they're making business investments, right. They, they are treating their business in such a way so far that they are.
Making investments to learn and grow. So a lot of times in, whereas like in free Facebook communities, and I know there are, there are some good. Like free communities out there, but a lot of times, like people just join and they can kind of be like a shit show. Right. They can kind of just be a mess of people just like pitching constantly or like the like fake pitching.
I know, you know what I'm talking about, where it's like, Oh, I'm gonna like have this, you know, 80 paragraph story that is really just like a sneaky pitch into the thing that I want to sell you. Right. But I, so I feel like that is kind of already gone, like when you're in a, when you're in a paid community that, that like veneer that like fake the facade of like, Oh, I'm just like here to serve or whatever.
Like, it's, it's kind of not there because you, everyone is there, even though some people might be in that community because, um, like, especially if it's a membership, if. If they have intentionally joined because they're like, I want to be networking with people. Um, at the very least they are willing to invest and be with other people who are investing.
And I have just noticed for myself that like once that like facade is dropped and like people are just in a community together, uh, people can actually, like, I feel like you make more. Like real valuable actual connections with people because people are being more themselves anyways. And they're already being a little bit vulnerable by being in a place where it's like, Oh, I'm here because I want to learn.
I want to learn from other people I'm already recognizing that I need help with something. And so that's why I'm here. So w when I say that, like, I don't mean. Be the gross person. Who's just like pitching and all of that within the paid community. But I mean actually utilizing the other, like the space of the paid community to make real connections.
With people, like almost as if you would, if you were in the real world and you were out and about, and you were mingling with people, um, but just in the, in the context of that paid community as well, I know for me, um, currently at the time of recording this, I am in Rachel Rogers. We should all be millionaires club and I've actually made some really amazing.
Connections in that group, both just like pure friendships. Um, people who've, I've hired people. Who've hired me, people I've collaborated with to do cool things like, um, clubhouse talks and things like that. So that is really fun. Uh, and same thing, you know, with your course group. Uh, the nice thing about that is usually you don't have like an ongoing, um, payment that you have to make on like a membership.
Like once you've paid for the course, you're just in that group. But I definitely know a lot of people who, you know, even just like, I know the B-School group doesn't exist anymore, but I'm friends with several people who, um, For years were like they had taken B school years ago and then we're in that community and like ended up getting.
Um, referrals and new business and everything, and, uh, made really cool connections with just other, uh, students that had gone through that. Um, through that course, through that program, uh, number two is digital networking. So a few months ago, my friend, Lindsey, who, um, is you can find her at mind money balance.
She's super awesome. And, uh, she had, she was doing these digital speed networking events that were really, really cool. They were only an hour. Uh, there was a spreadsheet that, where everyone put like their name, their contact info, any of their social handles like their website and then a little blurb about like what they do and who they serve.
And if they had any. Like special promos or anything that were happening. So everyone had two minutes to talk about themselves and who they serve and to, um, give a little pitch and then everyone had access to that document. So you could follow up with people after who, if you were like, Oh my gosh, that person was super interesting.
Like I want to check them out. You could do that. Um, and I actually did that. Uh, I reached out to several people after and I was like, Hey, like, let's do a coffee chat, which I'll be talking more about in a moment, but it was a great way to leverage that one event into more ongoing connections. And, uh, it would be easy enough.
Like you could just set one up yourself and she kind of just made it open. To anyone. So it wasn't for people in any specific type of industry or anything. And there was like a cap on how many people could attend. Um, but it was fun because it was like half the people did their there. Um, Their intro about themselves and their pitch.
And they took a little break and we like mingled and ask questions. And then we did the second half of people, and then we had time to like mingle and ask questions and it was so fun. And I actually made some really cool connections with amazing people who now, like, I consider them, I'm like, Oh, they're like my friend on Instagram.
Or, you know, like now I know they listened to this podcast or, you know, we, we chat back and forth in the DMS and stuff like that. So. If you don't know of anyone doing one, you could always just set up your own. And even though, you know, it's at the time of recording, this COVID is still a thing, but a lot of, um, former like in-person meetups or organizations that did, um, networking have moved to online.
And so at least the nice thing about this is like, The way that a lot of them have, uh, structured. Now, I obviously can't speak to all of them, but they've done it in a way where, you know, if you're doing breakout sessions or things like that, it's a little less overwhelming than being in like a, like a bar or like a conference room or, you know, a restaurant wherever it, where you're like, just kind of.
Awkwardly standing around. That was just like how a lot of, um, more like traditional, um, in-person networking events always were, unless they had like really good organizers. Um, so yeah, so I would say, you know, any type of digital, digital networking that is more like restricted to a certain amount of people so that it's not, it's not overwhelming, super rad.
Um, number three. So this could be a free group or a paid group. But anything that's like a hobby or like a general interest of yours. If you're in a group, be a Facebook group or maybe like a Guild or anything like that, um, this may be less like, uh, like it, it may have like a lower score sort of, um, what's the word I'm looking for?
Like, excuse me, you might not get as many. Leads all the time from this, because it's not directly, uh, like people in there aren't necessarily all looking for, like, in my case, like business advice, right. Or like sales and marketing strategy or business coaching or, or anything like that. However, the nice thing about being in those communities is that.
You already speak the language and the lingo of that community. So if I like, I like to knit and I'm in a group on Facebook that is, um, it's like for people who, uh, like are into true crime and into knitting, right? So there's already those overlaps there and I'm in there. And when. Uh, you know, a lot of the people who are in there have their own like fiber related business and there could be other people in there who are, um, also like, you know, have their own separate side business.
Right. So it's not that it's necessarily going, like business stuff is going to come up a lot. But it can be the kind of thing where if I see someone ask a question, I can step in and be helpful and utilize my knowledge and my experience to help them. And then they, and you know, same thing. Like if it's somebody you follow on Instagram, that's in that world or whatever.
Like one of my current clients is somebody from that world and who I had never, ever, ever in my wildest dreams imagined that she. Would hire me. Um, but it was just like, I was in the community and, you know, just being helpful and just being myself. And then she actually reached out to me. So it's just that kind of awareness of people, knowing that that is what you do because somebody in that group, like people in that group might not necessarily need you, but if they know you do that thing, then it's helpful on the flip side, like.
With roller Derby. I have a client right now who is in that world and because we sort of speak the same lingo, like there's a billion people out there who could come in and out a billion, that's a stretch, but there's a lot of people out there who could help her with her business goals. And, you know, and I have no doubt that they would be able to help her really, really, really well.
With, uh, with the program that she sells and, you know, selling it and marketing it and growing her business and all of that. But the fact that me and this client speak the same lingo because her product also serves the Rowley, the roller Derby community. It it's like a bridge that helps her too. Trust me more right to trust that I know that I like really get it.
Like I get not just like what she's trying to do, but who she's trying to serve. So as I sat, like, this is again, I don't want, you know, but I would hope nobody would assume that what I'm trying to say is like, if you're into cross-stitch and you're in a cross stitch group, that again, you're like, Spamming people are sliding into the DMS or making like weird pitchy posts.
Not that at all. It's just that by the nature of you being in that community and having that, like those shared commonalities and that shared language that it can actually. Uh, help people in that group. If they know that that's the thing you do, then when it comes up that somebody is looking for that thing or, you know, looking for that help or whatever, then you could be there to help.
So similarly, you know, if you were in a group or something and you help people with their SEO and somebody mentions like, you know, I don't know, they hate using like social media for their business and they don't know what to do. And like, Whatever, you know, you could always be like, Oh, do you know about SEO?
Like, do you want to have a conversation about it? Let's have a coffee chat again. I'll mention coffee chats in a minute, but that is just, it's one. It's one place where it's, uh, it's less, it's far less expected, but it's really cool when it, when it actually leads to, um, like a cool connection for you, with somebody, uh, from, in that business community that then you are in that, um, General interests community of yours that you could also serve with your business.
Um, and number four is virtual coworking, um, or in person coworking when it is available again. So, um, my friend, Claire of conquer your content, she does a weekly, uh, networking for a few hours, like every Wednesday afternoon. And it's really cool because it's just basically holding space for people. And she, since she helps people with content, it's like a content coworking space.
So you have dedicated time every week, if you need help and you want to be really consistent with your content, you could show up and do that there. You also do not have to work on your content there. If you just want to be in community with people and cross off your to-do list, then you can do that as well.
But it's really cool cause you're in a small intimate community, so it's easier to get to know the people there. And again, the people there might not, um, Ever hire you directly, but now they know who you are and they may refer other people to you going forward. And also for whoever's hosting it, then everyone knows that you, that that's like the thing that you do.
And that can be, you know, that's like really good for just letting more people know that that is a thing that you do, that you are. A go-to person for that thing. So even if you don't know of anyone that does a virtual coworking, kind of like the, you know, the virtual networking, I would say set one up yourself, right.
Even if it's once a month that you are going to do that, or I know people who maybe you're like, well, I don't want to do coworking, but I want to do this other thing. Um, I've had a client before who she was like, I think I might just do like. Uh, once a month, like work on your business financials, like in community, because that is her area of expertise.
And it's often a thing that people really, um, you know, push down on their to-do list and they don't get around to doing it. So she was like, if I could just make this container. And just remind people, Hey, I have this thing. Then they would know they have a set time and day, every month they can come and work on it and be supported and that it's, you know, open to new people so they can invite other people if they want to.
That is just a really, really cool way to, again, you know, you're not, it's not like pitchy, it's not pushy. It's not awkward. It's not any of those things. It's but it is. Allowing more people to be served by you in a unique way and know more about who you are and what you do. And lastly is coffee chats. So next week's episode is going to be all about coffee chats because I have a lot to say on this and how to use them for good and how sometimes people use them for evil and how we're going to avoid that.
Um, But yeah, but coffee chats are essentially, you know, back in pre COVID times. Uh, often they were literally getting together for coffee with people, um, which when I first moved from New York to Michigan, I actually like right before, uh, the COVID lockdown. I had done a few coffee chats with really amazing people.
Like in person, it was so fun and I was so excited and then shut down happen. And I've been doing all the rest of mine online, but the beauty of, you know, the digital era and things like zoom and, and Google meet and all of that is that it's so easy to do virtual coffee chats with people anywhere I'm everywhere.
And these do not have to be really long. They don't have to be super involved. They don't have to be high stress or high pressure. In fact, they really shouldn't be at all. And it can be a great way where you just, one on one are connecting with somebody and seeing, you know, Hey, like who, you know, who you like, who are you?
Uh, who do you serve? How do you help them? Um, you know, who can I like connect you with? Are you. You know, taking on more clients or, you know, do you even take clients like, do you maybe have a group program or a course that you offer that I could share with my audience? So that's just a really nice, low key way to have a conversation with somebody.
And really get to know them. And I've had all sorts of really cool opportunities come out of coffee chats as well. So yeah, those, those are the five things. So paid communities, um, digital, like virtual networking, uh, events, um, being in free or paid groups that center around, uh, like a hobby or a special interest of yours, uh, virtual coworking.
And coffee chats. So yeah, those, those are the five ways that you, especially if you're like, I don't want to be internet famous and I. Don't need or want to have a million followers. Like I just need made some really good organic connections to help me grow. Then I would advise, you know, thinking about, even if it's just one thinking about one of those, uh, and trying it out for a little bit and just seeing how it goes and then next week, be sure to tune back in.
For more, in-depth look into coffee chats. And if you love this, I would love it. If you would share it with a friend, especially if you are on Instagram, I love meeting my listeners or I love knowing who, uh, who is listening and maybe some takeaways that you had from it. If you want to tell me like, which one of these you're going to try first, or if you already do one of these and it works really well.
You can find me on Instagram at Erica turbans consulting. So go ahead, screenshot that you're listening to this post in your stories. Tag me, slide into my DMS. If you, if you want. I just really love to connect with my listeners and yeah. And be sure to share it out because if you got value from it, I'm sure other people will as well be sure to subscribe if you haven't already and as always happy selling.
