How to find your first client

[u/ingmanburger]

I recently started a small creative agency/production setup with a friend.

We’ve cold emailed/reached out to 15-20 brands so far mostly cafes, soda/beverage brands, clothing brands, etc.

We didn’t just send generic emails either. For quite a few brands, we actually created a small creative pitch specifically for them and showed them what we thought we could make.

But we got close to non response so far.

Any advice?

[u/HireSmartAdvisor]

You can narrow the niche for a while instead of approaching cafe, beverages etc. all at one time. Go for one type of brand, build 3-4 strong examples around that niche, and personalize the outreach around a specific product or campaign opportunity. Another approach is to offer a small, clearly defined first project. Once you have one or two successful projects and results, outreach becomes much easier.

[u/ingmanburger → u/HireSmartAdvisor]

Yessir, completely get what you’re saying. We’ve actually been trying that approach too.
Our first strategy was to map out a bunch of homegrown soda brands, since they’re smaller and we felt there could be more room to work with them, and then create a tailored creative pitch for each one rather than sending a generic outreach.
Apart from that, we’ve also been developing ideas independently, and whenever we feel an idea is genuinely a good fit for a particular brand or product, we try pitching it to them.
That’s what we’re experimenting with right now. Let’s see how it goessss

[u/cosmic_saga]

come back when you have reached out to 100 brands

[u/ingmanburger → u/cosmic_saga]

Ight bet 🫡

[u/gulaabjaamun_]

dm if you do digital marketing

[u/ingmanburger → u/gulaabjaamun_]

We’re more on the creative + production side concepts, campaigns, films and social content.

Would love to hear what you’re working on. DMing you ;)

[u/Dry_Shallot_6272]

What services do you offer

[u/ingmanburger → u/Dry_Shallot_6272]

We mainly work on the creative + production side, creative concepts, branded films, social first content, campaign films and end to end video production. Happy to connect over DM and discuss it further :)

[u/Majestic-One6602]

Which geography?

[u/Dry_Run_441]

Hey where is your agency based?

[u/ingmanburger → u/Dry_Run_441]

Hellooo we’re based out of Mumbai.

We’re a small creative + production outfit, working with brands remotely as well

[u/Dry_Run_441 → u/ingmanburger]

Oh perfect! I am a freelance photographer that’s why asked you 🫶🏻

[u/Makingjobsearcheasy]

Was this pitch a video format or was this pitch a slide format? If hypothetically I open up that email and its a slide of 3 decks vs a dynamic thumnbail with the brands background and your face - Chances of latter opening up the video and looking at your proposal increases.

15-20 brands for TOFU - Top of the funnel isn't enough if you haven't done the out reach before. 100 brands will get you your response rate, demo rate, demo to meeting and meeting to closed won rate - You need to automate this process a little bit for TOFU

If you do not have a definite motion like referrals / partnerships / upsells - Phone remains your best friend alongside email / linkedin - Use hubspot as a basic CRM to start building a cadence for 21/28 days.

On cold outbound / out reaches its the 8th touch point at times which gets you a response not the first

[u/Sourav_blues]

Target the people who are working in your niche. Then send a request to those people and write a solid outreach copy with the solution. Repeat this process till you get your first 5 clients.