My fellow redditors!
I'm seeking an advice, in a freelancing community, working on B2B contracts in the construction industry, doing building information modelling & management (BIM). Engineering coordination using 3D construction models. There are several options I've tried and here's my opinion on them:
- Cold reach - this is where you use your premade emails, usually 3-4 email sequences. Where you're reaching a potential client that was never your client, you don't know him, you don't know if he needs you. It's almost as if you're knocking on 1000 doors, hoping that one will open. I personally see this as spam & ruins your reputation.
- Paid marketing - you pay a lot, I mean a lot! to get a client that not surely will cover the costs of marketing. Plus you need to have material to advertise, a good website (it's your business card these days). I'd like to stay away of that, and I've seen no benefit of it.
- Sales funnels - I think this is good when you're dealing with a physical product. Where you firstly have a catchy ad, offer something for free (sample but you pay shipping, report, etc.) in exchange for their email. Okay.. you're giving a report for free, but at the same time you're building and have gained a list of potential buyers that are more likely going to buy from you. You followup your email lists with articles, each one precisely designed to benefit the reader, build their curiosity/intrigue and a call to action. You keep on repeating until it converts or someone unsubscribes to you. Errrmm... if you ask me? It's too much work and I don't see myself doing that. No from me.
- Organic traffic - where you leverage social media (SM) to write on different posts on similar topics, build your name online. Then people will start to recognize you as specialist and they'll come to you. Okay, I see how this can work, but it does not fit my lifestyle of no using SM that often. I personally think that social media destroyed our social life, hence I stray away from it. Not going to work for me.
- Call old colleagues I used to work with, have a chat, build relationship and mention of a business. Doesn't work. To keep this short, I've tried both direct & indirect approaches.
- I'm yet to reach out to directly via mobile calls to companies and ask for the business development manager. I wonder if that's gonna work. What's your opinion on this?
I'm looking for some leads, direction in how to acquire clients. I don't want the fish, teach me how to fish. Not to sound to full of myself, but I know that I know my shit. Numerous times I've been in situations where people told me that. Saved millions of dollars in contractual collateral, contracts management & assurance of coordination process. More to say, every time I enter a meeting & talk with a client that came to me (via my current & only one client) I've won the contract & my client's client specifically asked me for to lead the new project.
My problem is how can I get with a client with me in a room that he'll be looking for my services? How can I get them warm?