How to reliably get new clients
Cold emails to get new clients
Follow ups to get replies
Link building emails
Partner with influencers
Graceful apologies
Pitch journalists
Onboard new users
Ask for donations
Ask for referrals
How to ask a LinkedIn contact for an intro (even if you don’t know them well)
❶Congrats on 5 years with Revolve!
❷I saw you’re connected with Reneta Singer, Marketing Director at Compfy. I’m looking to connect to see if I can help her ads convert better, any chance you can pass along a message? I’d really appreciate it.
❸Hey Renata,
It’s Vianna from Eminent. I’m in touch with a FB ads specialist who saw your ads and has a few ideas about its copy and targeting - would you like to connect?
❹I’m connected with a lot of folks in the SaaS space so if you need an intro, I’m happy to return the favor.
❶Review their LinkedIn profile and provide a positive comment about a recent detail to open the conversation.
❷In a non-salesy way, mention how you can help their LinkedIn contact.
❸Ask them if they can pass along a prewritten message, which sounds like less of an ask than them having to write an introduction on your behalf.
❹Mention which professional networks you’re a part of and let them know you’re willing to return the favor.
How to ask someone you know professionally for a referral
❶Really digging your new social content! The right micro influencers deliver crazy engagement without eating up a lot of budget.
Update from my side: I have an opening for a new client.
❷If you know someone who’s keen to ramp up their signup rates and trial to paid conversions, can you do me a big favor and pass along this message? (Feel free to edit anything.)
❸Hey,
I heard that you’re looking to really step up your signups and trial upgrades. I know someone who recently worked with Leafy and helped them hit $100k MRR. Let me know if you’d like to connect with her.
❹Thank you, I really appreciate it.
❺I’m in contact with a lot of SaaS folks so if I can be of any help to you, please let me know as well.
❶Provide a positive comment about something they’re doing work-wise or in their personal life to open the conversation.
❷Ask them if they know anyone who may be interested in achieving a key result your services deliver. Don’t sound too salesy when describing these key results; you don’t have to hard pitch someone you already know and they wouldn’t want you to hard pitch their contact either.
❸Provide them a prewritten message to make it easier for them to refer you. This also lets you control how your services are presented to their contact.
❹Express your thanks ahead of time.
❷Let them know you’re open to returning the favor.
How to ask your email contacts for referrals
Lali Acharya here.
❶Personal update from me: I left my job at Accenture recently and I’m now parlaying my experience with enterprise customers to help SaaS startups land these mythical creatures. :)
❷If you know a startup who’s looking to really step up their MRR, can you pass along this message?
❸Hey,
I heard that you’re looking to acquire more enterprise customers. I know someone who worked with Accenture closing million-dollar contracts. If you’d like to connect with her for a brainstorm, let me know.
❹Thank you, I really appreciate it.
❺As my thank you for your help, I’m happy to hop on a 30-min brainstorm with you where we can strategize about any area of your work or business. Just let me know. :)
❶Provide an update about your work and briefly describe what you’re doing now (do not sound salesy).
❷Ask if your contact knows anyone who’s looking to achieve a key result your services help with.
❸Provide a pre-written message to make it easier for them to refer you.
❹Simply express thanks to let them know you appreciate their help.
❺If you can, also offer to jump on a 30-min consulting call with them to share insights and strategies related to your services and expertise. While most of your contacts may not take you up on the offer, this shows them you’re willing to help them in return.
Besides tapping into your network, you can also proactively reach out to your ideal clients.
How to ask a friend for an intro
❶How’s it going?
❷Wondering if you can do me a big favor.
❸Would you mind passing a message along to your LinkedIn contact, Carol Singer from Revive? I have an opening for a new client soon and I think I can really help her create some high converting content for her website. Here’s a message you can pass along.
Hey Carol,
It’s Ellu, how are you? I’m in touch with a really good writer Vik and he has a few conversion focused content ideas for your website. Would you like to connect?
❹Thanks, I really appreciate it. Next drinks are on me - just let me know when. :)
❶Since you're writing to a friend, a casual greeting works fine.
❷Simply ask if they can do you a favor.
❸ Mention which one of their contacts you’d like to connect with and briefly explain in a non-salesy way how you can help them.
❹Express your thanks and offer to treat your friend to something they like.
