Watch this to get your first client

Ali Abdaal · · 22 min

Ali Abdaal interviews six entrepreneurs about how they landed their first paying clients, finding that warm introductions and existing networks matter far more than cold outreach or ads.

Watch the episode 22 min · YouTube

The gist

  1. Your first client almost always comes from your existing network or friends of friends, not from strangers or advertising.
  2. Try asking contacts a simple question: do you know anyone who needs this service, and would they like a free audit or consultation?

What they recommend · 1 pick

"This in our Lifestyle Business Academy is what we call the magic question: 'Do you know anyone who happens to need X? I'm offering a free audit, a free consultation, a free coac..."

Ali, This Week in Startups, Chris and Tom agree on 25 things

See what they all use, in their own words. Paid ads are left out.

See what they all swear by Or pick your own people

Also mentioned

0:30 Lifestyle Business Academy · "We've got this online business school called the Lifestyle Business Academy where we help normal people..."
2:05 Gallup StrengthsFinder · "I had done a lot of free trials without you know just doing the team dynamics and the team coachings and..."
8:19 Slack · "I was a part of a women's professional network and there was a Slack community where folks posted in there..."
11:55 Upwork · "Then I did Upwork in the pandemic. There was a boom of people looking for marketing agencies. A lot of..."

What do Ali and experts like them all swear by?

25 things in common

See