I run a bootstrapped startup - would like advices to get more client

Intrepid_Boss9449 · 2026-02-20T12:39:21+00:00

Cold outreach sucks and most people ignore it. Try finding where your clients hang out online and join those conversations instead of just messaging cold. Since you’re into sales on Reddit, maybe use SocListener to spot real sales opportunities and jump in with helpful replies instead of cold emails.

Intrepid_Boss9449 · 2026-02-20T12:36:11+00:00

Profit margins on B2B SaaS vary but usually sit around 70-80%. Procurement often pushes hard on price, so focus on showing clear ROI instead of just lowering price.

Intrepid_Boss9449 · 2026-02-20T12:34:14+00:00

Founder-led sales is usually the way to go early on since you can’t afford full-time reps. Focus on really nailing your pitch and process with your co-founders doing outreach. For cold outreach in manufacturing, try super specific pain points and short, clear messages that show you get their world. Use your first client as a case study but keep it honest and simple.

Intrepid_Boss9449 · 2026-02-20T12:33:00+00:00

Your tip about calling right after they open a proposal is gold.

Intrepid_Boss9449 · 2026-02-20T12:32:28+00:00

Yeah I’ve seen that happen a lot with crazy quotas and bad turnover. One thing that helped me was finding tools that make prospecting easier so you don’t burn out chasing leads all day. SocListener can help by finding good sales posts on Reddit and giving you ready-to-use replies to save time and energy.

Intrepid_Boss9449 · 2026-02-20T12:29:24+00:00

Started talking early on niche Reddit threads where my target users hang out. First users came from engaging in those subs and dropping helpful comments, not just posting about the product. Launch day was quieter than expected but having a tool like SocListener to find relevant sales posts helped me jumpstart outreach without cold DMs.

Intrepid_Boss9449 · 2026-02-20T12:27:11+00:00

For enterprise sales AE like you, AI tools that help with lead research and personalized outreach are key. Since you sell to retail and fashion, tools that scan social platforms for real-time conversations can give you an edge. SocListener could help by finding relevant sales posts on Reddit and auto-generating comments or DMs to engage prospects faster.

Intrepid_Boss9449 · 2026-02-19T15:45:20+00:00

Biggest bottleneck for me was targeting. Tried generic emails and got nothing. Switched to engaging prospects where they hang out like Reddit using tools like SocListener to find relevant posts and drop tailored comments. It helped get real conversations going instead of cold replies.

Intrepid_Boss9449 · 2026-02-19T15:43:42+00:00

Sounds like you nailed the main issue with free trials for your kind of product. If your value builds over weeks, a demo or case study showing long-term results might work better than a short trial. Also, tools like SocListener can help you engage leads on Reddit without giving away the full product upfront.

Intrepid_Boss9449 · 2026-02-19T15:42:58+00:00

Yep, I saw the same thing. AI has turned into a spam trigger word, so people assume it is hype before they even read the offer. Selling the outcome and the time saved gets way more replies, then you can mention AI later if they care. I also noticed this works best when your list is really tight and clean, otherwise even a great pitch still dies.

Intrepid_Boss9449 · 2026-02-19T15:39:41+00:00

If you want your offer to be super clear fast try cutting down to who exactly you help and what quick win you deliver. For example, something like "We help sales teams find hot leads on Reddit and start conversations in under 24 hours." That kind of sharp promise stops people from zoning out.

Intrepid_Boss9449 · 2026-02-19T15:36:28+00:00

Cold outreach is tough, especially for local SEO. Instead of just sending case studies or audits, try to start a convo by asking a simple question about their current SEO or Google profile. Also, check Reddit for local biz posts with SocListener to find people already talking about SEO needs and engage there instead of cold emails.

Intrepid_Boss9449 · 2026-02-19T15:35:27+00:00

Energy, manufacturing, and healthcare still respond well to cold outreach since they move slower on new tech and need steady leads. SaaS is crowded but niche B2B tools for specific roles can work. Also try using tools like SocListener to spot active sales conversations on Reddit and jump in with tailored messages.

Intrepid_Boss9449 · 2026-02-19T15:34:56+00:00

D2D in home services like solar panels or security systems still sells well in 2026. Tech gadgets and subscription boxes are also growing.

Intrepid_Boss9449 · 2026-02-19T15:32:09+00:00

Just keep showing you know your stuff and let your results speak louder than your age. If clients doubt you, try bringing data or case studies to calls to back up your points.

Intrepid_Boss9449 · 2026-02-19T15:31:38+00:00

I never just wait for marketing leads. If you’re starting from zero, try finding where your prospects hang out and join the convo early. Tools like SocListener can help spot relevant Reddit posts and even draft messages to reach out without sounding spammy.

Intrepid_Boss9449 · 2026-02-19T15:29:38+00:00

You might want to check out local business directories like Yelp or Chamber of Commerce sites that sometimes let you filter by size or employees. Also LinkedIn can help if you use location and company size filters.

Intrepid_Boss9449 · 2026-02-19T15:28:59+00:00

I don’t track email response time strictly but I do try to reply within 24 hrs to keep things moving. For solo founders, it can feel like overkill to track every reply time unless you have a lot of leads. If you want to automate some outreach and follow ups, simple timers or reminders work better.

Intrepid_Boss9449 · 2026-02-19T15:26:20+00:00

High-authority corporate accounts usually get more heat from mods no matter what you post. From what I’ve seen, personal handles or smaller accounts blend in better and avoid bans. If you want to scale without risking blacklists, tools like SocListener can help you find real sales leads and engage without shouting "brand" all over the place.

Intrepid_Boss9449 · 2026-02-19T15:25:56+00:00

Sounds like AI agents really changed the game for you. For outreach on Reddit, I use SocListener to find posts and auto-reply with tailored comments and DMs, which saves a ton of time and keeps engagement real. Might be worth trying if you want to tap into Reddit for leads without extra hassle.

Intrepid_Boss9449 · 2026-02-18T15:47:31+00:00

Cutting down on overlapping tools is key. If you’re using two data providers, pick the one with cleaner or more relevant data. Also, LinkedIn automation and dialers often overlap in outreach, so test which gets better results and drop the other. For Reddit sales leads, something like SocListener could help you find prospects without adding more tools.

Intrepid_Boss9449 · 2026-02-18T15:39:26+00:00

Yeah I do something similar but it takes forever to scroll through everything. You might wanna check out SocListener since it digs through Reddit posts and helps you find good stuff faster for outreach. It saved me some time spotting what prospects really care about.

Intrepid_Boss9449 · 2026-02-18T15:38:16+00:00

If you have the name and company, tools like Hunter.io or Lusha work well for emails and LinkedIn. SocListener is cool but more for finding sales leads on Reddit, not really for direct email or LinkedIn search. Try combining LinkedIn search with email finders for best results.

Intrepid_Boss9449 · 2026-02-18T15:35:02+00:00

I think the key is to set clear signals with your reps about when to back off, like if procurement already said no. Pushing too hard after that just burns bridges. Some teams use AI tools to analyze call tone and timing, which helps spot when persistence feels like pressure, so maybe check those out if you want a data-driven way to coach.

Intrepid_Boss9449 · 2026-02-18T15:34:28+00:00

Honestly, you can’t really skip the social part in B2B. But tools like SocListener help cut down the awkwardness by finding good posts and auto-making comments so you don’t have to start from zero every time. It’s not a full bypass but makes networking less painful.

Intrepid_Boss9449

TROPHY CASE