5 Steps to Your First Paying Client as a Heart-Centered Entrepreneur

“Where do I find clients for my business?”

Every new business owner asks this question at least once (or a hundred times). I know I did when I first started out!

There are so many ways to spend your time hustling instead of selling… an in the process, burning yourself out on tasks that don’t actually make money. Eek!

But the truth is, creating clients is actually pretty simple!

At its most basic, creating clients is about (1) sharing what you know and are passionate about, and (2) solving problems for people you care about (ie., your ideal client).

That’s it!

Let’s dive in ONE level deeper in today’s post, and cover the 5 steps to creating your first paying client as a new heart-centered entrepreneur:

Step 1. Show up and get visible

Start by getting visible on your platform of choice!

I honestly believe this can be any platform you choose, that best channels your gifts + your ideal client’s preferred learning style.

If you LIVE for writing, rock your blog!
If you LOVE creating videos, light up YouTube!
If you THRIVE in an audio format, create your amazing podcast!

It doesn’t really matter what format you choose, as long as you’re getting VISIBLE fairly regularly and speaking to your ideal customer.

Even if you’re not 100% clear yet on who your person is, make your best guess and SHOW UP for that person.

And be SURE you’re actually showing up and getting found.

If you’re focused on Instagram (like me!), add relevant hashtags to your content and engage with others to grow your reach.

If you’re running a blog, start creating pins and promoting it on Pinterest.

The important thing is to show up, and get seen by the right people!

Step 2. grow your tribe by sharing what you know

Now that you’re showing up on your platform of choice, SHARE what you know with confidence. Encourage, empower, educate, and entertain your ideal customer!

If you reach ONE person this way, you’ll reach a hundred (then a thousand, then ten thousand, and so on!)

You don’t have to be the best, smartest, or ONLY expert in your field. To the right person, you will be all those things!

So don’t overthink it — just show up and share what you’ve learned that you know your customer also needs to hear.

Catch my free workshop to learn a simple, heart-centered approach to connecting with your tribe using quick + easy video content: Catch the workshop on-demand!)

As you show up, and share what you know, your tribe will find you! As that begins to happen…

Step 3. Ask questions to understand your community’s needs

Ask questions of your growing audience to learn what they want, what they’re struggling with, and what they want to learn from you!

This helps you create even more targeted content that speaks to them where they’re at — so they KNOW they’re in the right place when they arrive on your blog, website, or profile.

AND it also informs the OFFER you will create (in Step 4).

Plus, it causes your audience’s ears to perk up, because suddenly you’re asking questions that show you’re clued into the problem they’re having.

It gets them wondering about what else is possible instead! They start thinking of you as someone who can help.

That leads us to Step 4...

Step 4. Create a simple offer to meet those needs

Over time, you’ll create multiple offers and a whole business model…

But don’t wait until you’ve got it all figured out to take action and start selling!

Start by creating one simple, straightforward, low-to-medium-cost offer to solve the most pressing problem your audience has right now.

If you’re a coach, this might be a single coaching session to help them move past imposter syndrome.
If you’re a designer, it might be a brand personality and color consultation to help your person figure out their brand colors.
If you’re a dance instructor, it might be a one-hour dance assessment and instruction session to give them 3 specific practices to improve their technique.

Keep it simple, make it clear exactly who it’s for, why they need it, and how their life will be different after experiencing the offer.

Give it a name, attach a price (don’t overthink these two things), and then dive into Step 5...

Step 5. Invite your most engaged community members to your paid offer!

You know those handful of people who are MOST engaged with your content so far?

The ones who have been liking or commenting on your free content? The ones who seem to really enjoy what you’re sharing and how you talk about the problems they have?

Create a short list of these people, create an early-bird offer or beta offer, and then reach out directly and INVITE those pre-clients to experience your new paid offer first.

Let your pre-client know you thought of them first and practically created this offer for them and people like them (because you did)!

Most people will be honored that you thought of them first, and appreciate the invitation!

Remember that this is a sincere, heartfelt invitation to experience something AMAZING, and to take action to reach their goal. What a beautiful gift!

Recap

To recap, here are the 5 steps to create your first paying client:

Show up and get visible in front of your customers
Share what you know and believe, to attract your tribe
Ask questions to understand your community’s needs
Create a simple offer to meet those needs
Invite your engaged community members to experience your offer!

**P.S. My free on-demand webinar walks you through these steps! So if you’re nodding you head because this is what you need right now, check out the workshop

Swipe my free

BRAND BLUEPRINT + 7-DAY EMAIL COURSE

Grab the Blueprint, find a cozy spot, and let’s build your stand-out brand together! Join my email list and get my Brand Blueprint + 7-day Email Course for free. (You can unsubscribe anytime, but I don’t think you’ll want to!)

Hi, I’m Ashley!

I’m all about growing your mission-driven business with heart and intention! If you’re ready to attract your tribe + dream clients to your biz, you’re in the right place! 🧡

meet ashley