Startup Selling Doesn’t Have to Be a Grind
No testimonials to put on your slide decks?
No one to vouch for your product?
Data all over the place, if any?
Selling something that’s unproven is an absolute grind.
As a startup, how do you convince anyone to buy your product when you have very little data to show people?
It’s just you and your word trying to get that first person or company to take a leap of faith.
It’s incredibly difficult for a new business. Perhaps not so much in B2C — with a bit of money you can pay for ads on Facebook or Instagram, but in B2B companies are expected to spend thousands of dollars on your product.
So what do you need at the very minimum?
A quality product
Without it, no one will pay. Inferior product/bad data will convince no one.
Market prioritization
Give yourself the best chance of closing business. This could mean going after smaller, performance-driven brands.
Entrepreneurship is defined by distractions.
There are so many things you could do. So many customers you could go after.
Narrowing your focus on the highest potential customer is key to gaining traction.
Focus 95% of your time on the right 10 people vs a little time on a hundred potential customers.
Follow up relentlessly
Be persistent and show up in people’s inboxes (without annoying them of leaving an unpleasant taste for you or your brand.)
Little by little, you’ll see a snowball effect and get your first big fish client.
Takes grit and many tries. Best to approach it with curiosity rather than anxiety.
