15 ways to get clients as a mentor
No, you don't have to use social media if you don't want to.
You know that feeling when you're starting a business, and suddenly you're hit with the "Oh crap, how do I actually get clients?" panic?
Yeah, been there.
When I first dipped my toes into the online business world a decade ago, social media wasn't the beast it is today. Digital marketing was this wild west of building relationships, trying to get noticed, and creating content that actually meant something. Both online and offline.
It was like learning a whole new language – figuring out how to connect with people I'd probably never meet face-to-face, in places I'd never even visited.
Fast forward to now, and wow, things have changed. We're all juggling this tightrope act between making some noise online and doing the slow, steady work of building a business people actually trust.
Because here's the thing – at the end of the day, we all want to build something real. Something that's true to who we are, has substance to it, and doesn't make us feel like we need a shower after promoting it.
It's not always the quickest route but is it worth it when you see those genuine connections form and your business starts to really mean something to people.
When it comes to marketing, using social media is certainly one option. But it’s not the only option. There are plenty of other things you can try.
Maybe you don’t want to use social media, because:
– You find it exhausting, draining, or distracting.
– You’re concerned about privacy or ethical factors.
– It’s just not your favourite place to hang out and spend your precious time.
– Or you’ve noticed that social media marketing doesn’t seem very effective for your particular personality, type of business, or clientele.
And so, you want to find some marketing approaches that don’t require social media.
Your wish is granted!
Here’s a list of 15 marketing ideas that don’t involve social media, some of which I have learned from and borrowed from Alexandra Franzen, plus my own experiences.
If you see any that jump out at you (“Ooh, that seems cool, I could try that”), write them down, and then do them.
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1. Do the Give, Ask, Receive technique.
The concept is really simple. Every workday:
– First, give.
– This means, do something generous for someone in your community with no expectations and no strings attached. You can do an act of generosity for anyone. A friend, colleague, client, customer, even a complete stranger.
– For example, post a 5-star review about a friend’s book or podcast. Introduce a colleague to someone they ought to meet and make a helpful connection. Nominate a colleague for an award. Share a music playlist with your customers to brighten their day. It can be something very small and quick that doesn’t take much time. Big generosity in a tiny package.
– Start your day by doing something generous. Give first.
– Once you’ve done that, then ask. Reach out to someone and make a request or proposition. Ask for something you want.
– Ask someone to hire you. Ask someone to check out your website. Ask someone to feature your product in their shop. Ask someone to interview you for their publication. Ask for something small or ask for the moon.
– If you’re courageous enough to ask, there’s always a chance they will say, “Yes.”
– Then, repeat. Do the Give, Ask, Receive method every day. Try doing it for 10, 20, or 30 days in a row. Watch what happens.
If you’re someone who gets really nervous and insecure about asking, by giving first, it helps to erase some of those icky, anxious feelings. You can ask with confidence, because you know, “I’m not a grabby, greedy person. I’m a generous person. I can give–and ask–every day. Both.”
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2. Start a newsletter and send it out consistently.
You can use your newsletter to share advice, tips, music playlists, worksheets, checklists, recipes, inspirational stories, whatever your potential clients/customers would enjoy most. Of course, share info about your products/services, too.
Your newsletter can be long, short, weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly—whatever style and frequency makes sense for you and your readership.
Most marketing specialists would advise you to send out your newsletter very frequently, but personally I disagree. I vote: send it out when you have something inspiring, beautiful, or helpful to share. Quality over quantity.
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3. Start a podcast.
Use this to build an enthusiastic audience of listeners/fans/potential clients.
You don’t necessarily have to release a brand new episode every single week. If that sounds too exhausting, you could release your show just once or twice a year.
For instance, you could release 8 episodes all at once, and call it the Spring Season. Then, several months later, release another 8 episodes and that’s the Fall Season.
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4. Pitch yourself to the media (podcasts, radio, TV, etc). Get booked for appearances. Use this as a way to promote your mission and business.
You can start with smaller platforms (your friend’s podcast), get some practice, and then gradually work your way up to bigger platforms (national TV).
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5. Talk to strangers.
A few weeks ago a private client of mine reminded me that 10 years ago when I lived in Byron Bay in Australia, she had reached out to me. On a visit to the once-delightfully-alternative-seaside hub, she suggested meeting for coffee.
It was her birthday and I made her gf banana and carrot muffins and we chatted and shared a few moments over the strong dopamine-raising bursts of caffeine that only Australians seem to make.
Years later she hired me and she has been my client for over a year.
You just never know. That quiet person on the plane or at the store could be a journalist, or a potential client, or someone who is looking for the exact product you provide. Perhaps God (or the Universe, or whichever term you prefer) put your paths together for a reason.
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6. Print a bunch of business cards or postcards describing your work. Sprinkle them all around town.
Community bulletin boards, coffee shops, bookstores, the gym, yoga studio, etc.
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7. Give a big stack of business cards to your friends and family members, too.
Tell them, “Please keep these in your purse/bag/car. Just in case. If you happen to meet someone who needs what I offer, give them my card. Thank you!”
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8. Teach a free class in your community (or online) to connect with potential clients and give them a small sample of your skills.
After the free class ends, invite them to continue learning by hiring you/enrolling/purchasing your book/etc.
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9. Write articles/essays/blog posts on your site—and for other publications, too.
People might discover your work that way.
I got some of my very first clients from an article I wrote for TinyBuddha on self-responsibility and self-forgiveness. How cool is that?
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10. Introduce yourself to fellow business owners who might be able to refer clients to you—and vice versa.
For instance, if you offer wellness coaching and personal training services, introduce yourself to a local physician. When she has clients who want to get healthier and improve their physical fitness, she can refer those clients to you. (And you can refer clients to her.)
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11. Gently remind your friends, family and clients that you love and appreciate word-of-mouth referrals. Encourage them to send new clients your way.
People often get busy and forgetful. Sometimes, they just need a tiny nudge to remind them to do this.
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12. Circle back to previous clients and customers via email. Say hi. See if they’d like to hire you/purchase from you again.
You might be surprised. Often, people would love to work with you again; they just need a little nudge and reminder to actually do it.
Email, text, call, or send a quick audio or video message to check in and see if they’d like to work with you again.
I recently emailed 6 potential clients to invite them to work with me her again. Everyone, except for 1, said yes. I don’t always follow up with people like that. But I am glad I did.
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13. Go above and beyond for your clients and customers.
Add special touches that make people flip out with excitement, so they rave about you to all of their friends.
For example: a soothing aromatherapy face towel to wipe down after yoga class. A personal email to check in and make sure they’re delighted, instead of just an automated reply.
Figure out “a little something extra” that costs very little (or nothing at all) that makes people super happy. And then, they will rave about you to their friends.
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14. Do a “30 in 30” challenge.
Make a list of 30 people you know. Any people.
Your list can be a combination of friends, family members, current clients, past clients, colleagues, classmates, teachers, mentors, acquaintances, local business owners, anyone at all.
Challenge yourself to contact 30 people over the course of 30 days.
Send a personal email to each person, one at a time. Or send a text, send an audio message, arrange a meeting, reach out however you want.
Reach out to each person. Say hello, introduce (or reintroduce) yourself, and then briefly let them know what you’re offering right now: personal training services, fertility mentoring, organic beauty sessions, whatever you sell.
Ask them to consider hiring you/purchasing your work. Or ask them to spread the word about what you’re offering.
Let’s say, for example, I’m a financial planning mentor, and I want to find some new clients. I’m going to write to my friend Isiah. My email could be something like this:
Isiah,
Happy New Year! I hope you’re healthy and doing well. I heard a rumor you moved to London and bought a house. That’s wonderful news! Please send me a photo of your new place and give me an update on how you’re doing these days.
I’m writing today with some happy news: I have just started my business mentoring services that I’ve been talking about all this time!
I’m offering:
– Tax preparation mentoring
– Financial planning mentoring
– And (my favourite) I’m offering a 30-day course that combines yoga, meditation, and mindset work with financial education. I teach you how to feel way less stressed about money, earn more, save more, and spend more intentionally.
If any of those services sound like something you need, you can go to my website to book an appointment or to enrol in the course. I’ll put links down below. Thank you.
Or if you happen to know someone who might want (or need) any of those things, feel free to share my info with them.
Thank you so much! I really appreciate your friendship and support.
Just like that! Keep your message brief and simple.
Contact 30 people over the course of 30 days, and I can almost guarantee that you will end up with more clients, more customers, and more money rolling in.
Even if you don’t get immediate sales, the good news is–now, 30 people know what you’re offering. You’re on their mind. They can start spreading the word and that’s a very good thing. No matter what: this is a positive step in the right direction. No matter what: you win.
This is exactly what I did 11 years ago when I decided to start my own business. I sat down in a coffee shop. I emailed everyone I knew, one by one. I let each person know what I was offering and how to hire me. This led to my first 5 paying clients. And then things kept rolling from there.
If you think, “But I don’t know 30 people! I don’t even know 3 people! I don’t know anybody! I am floating adrift in a void of nothingness!”…well, go through your phone or your inbox. You probably know more people than you think you do.
Doing a 30 in 30 challenge is not complicated, but it does take courage. You have to be brave enough to click “send.”
Your courage will be rewarded. This is one of the simplest, fastest ways to immediately bring more clients in the door. It’s something you can do at any time, whether you just started a business, or whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur with decades of experience. Do this anytime. You will always get results.
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15. Do a really good job.
The best “marketing plan” is to be really, really, really good at whatever you do.
Whatever you do–people will talk about you. People will rave about you to their friends. People will text their cousin and say, “You need to check this out.” Word will spread.
Over the next few years, instead of spending 10,000 hours posting things on social media and trying to find customers there, instead, use those 10,000 hours to gain mastery of your craft, hone your skills, and become excellent at whatever you do.
Stop doing shallow, unremarkable work and start doing, as author Cal Newport calls it, “deep work.” Your best and highest work.
Do this—and people will talk about you, recommend you, and send new clients your way.
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The Mentor Training enrolments close at the end of this week.
On Sunday the 25th of August at 8 pm UK time.
In TMT Leadership the last 2 months (April and May) are dedicated to helping you grow your business and get clients.
Want to know more? I'm all ears! 🐰 Ping me at studio@viendamaria.com -or- schedule a chat for some face-to-face time. Let's make sure you've got all the intel you need.
Vienda ♥
“Committing to showing up for weekly calls with our listening partners has enabled me to grow immensely, not just as a mentor but as a human being.
It has expanded my capacity to hold space for others while simultaneously expanding my capacity to receive, reminding me that I'm worthy of receiving (something I haven't found so natural in the past). There is an indescribable type of magic created when two humans create a safe container to simply share openly, hold each other and truly listen. There is great power in being heard, seen and witnessed in this way.
These containers have reminded me that showing up exactly as we are, however, that looks that day, is how we create the deepest connections. That it's safe to let go of the masks and be raw and vulnerable with others - if we can be brave enough to be just this, we can truly see each other.
It has been such an honour to walk this journey with many other women and to witness each other's growth, in Vienda's safe holding. Being in a beautiful, nurturing container and in the presence of such loving and compassionate energy has enabled me to step further into my own power. Each woman holds their unique gifts but all of us hold such similar core values and a passion to show up in this world at such a pivotal time on the planet. I really treasure the deep connections I've cultivated through the programme with women all across the world - connections that hold such a richness and aliveness, they go much further than within the course container itself.”
~ Aimee T