Something I have noticed stopping OBMs from taking the next step in their career towards becoming a COO is they feel they have enough experience. Which is super valid. They might have 1 or 2 current clients but they're not at their full capacity and don't yet have a wide variety of experience and application of their skills. So I wanted to share eight different ways that you can play with to find more suitable clients for OBMs.
And the first one is easy low-hanging fruit. It's networking events. Attending industry events and conferences is a great way to meet potential clients and make connections, bring business cards and be prepared to talk about your services. You can build relationships quickly in person, in this kind of environment, and that goes a long way.
The second way is through referrals. Don't be afraid to ask your current clients for referrals or even other service providers that you have already worked beside for existing clients as they have experienced working beside you, which in turn improves your credibility. They may know of someone who could benefit from your services already, or if they know you have more capacity, they may like to increase your hours too. The third way is through social media and content marketing. So try a new social platform that you're not already on, like LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter or even TikTok to connect with potential clients and showcase your expertise. Create and share valuable content such as blog posts or podcasts to showcase your knowledge, and your authority in the industry, and attract potential clients. Make sure to show your face. We wanna see the person behind the brand. We are potentially building a relationship with you and want to know who you are, not your logo or avatar.
Tip number four is some cold outreach. This is probably the hardest because you need to stand out from the crowd without sounding like a sleazy salesman. Consider reaching out to the CEO of companies that you think would be great to work with and that you think could benefit from your services, even if you don't have a personal connection yet. Just be sure to customize your outreach messaging and even try getting an address and sending them something in the post to grab their attention. Take a thorough look at who they are, what they do, and what they like and enjoy to make it very personalised and surprising (in a good way) to receive. In your first correspondence, make it clear how you can add value to their business. But ask permission before going into further details or before launching into your pitch and asking anything from them. Especially if you can get them to make the next step like booking a call with you or sending you a DM as a thank you. This builds trust and warms them up as a strong lead if they give you permission to proceed further.
Number five is through freelance job boards. Look for job postings on a freelance job board like Upwork, fiver or freelancer.com. And these platforms can be competitive, but they are also a good way for new clients to be able to find you again. Ensure you have a picture of yourself on your profile.
Tip number six is through local business associations. You can join local business associations like Toastmasters or Chambers of Commerce to connect with other business owners in your area. Number seven is using collaborations. Consider collaborating with other service providers or agencies to offer a packaged deal to clients.
And number eight is public speaking offering to speak at events or conferences related to your area of expertise. This can help you help establish yourself as an authority and attract new clients.
So if you are struggling to find new OBM clients, you can check out my free Ebook "The OBMs Guide to Finding New Clients" here.
Perhaps you are even considering upskilling into the COO industry. If you are interested in upskilling and looking for support and mentorship in this area, then I know the perfect person for you. Oh wait, it's me. Check out my work with me page here. I'm available for one-on-one coaching or small group coaching through my digital COO accelerator program, which is there to help you increase your confidence, grow your skills, and become indispensable to your team.
Until next time. Have a productive day.
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