As the owner of a client driven business, it’s you’re job is to meet people… particularly other business owners.

Here’s why…

Anything that puts you in contact with business owners gives you a chance of getting hired… even if you don’t pitch your services right away. An introduction today might turn into an extra income stream a few months later.

So start thinking of creative ways you can meet other business owners. After you’ve gotten to know them better, you can explain how your services might help them…. as a friend.

This is your best chance to get more business.

The next step is to go out and meet other business owners. And it’s perfectly normal to have questions when you’re getting started.

How is it done? Where do you find business owners? And what the heck do I say to them once we do meet?

How you meet each client is different. But there are some techniques that have been proven work over time. But for these techniques to work, you’ve got to be willing to try first.

1.) The easiest way to get started from zero is to talk to people and business owners you already know. Ok, this one is sort of a cop-out answer, but seriously it’s a smart place to start.

Ask everyone you talk to who they know that might benefit from your services because referrals are the easiest people to convert to paying clients.

If you take away one point from this course, it should be this: Referrals are the easiest people to convert into paying clients. Yeah, they’re really that important for your business.

Make it part of your daily mantra to systematically ask from every living breathing person you know for referrals when you’re starting out. (Trust me, it will get easier and a lot more fun after a couple paychecks.)

2.) Go to business networking meetings and any meetings and groups where business owners congregate.

Getting involved with a charity or two that has a lot of business owners can make these owners more interested in trying to help you in your business. (It might make you feel good too.)

At business networking meetings learn to ask questions and listen.

3.) Speak at as many business group events as you can.

Being the speaker for a business networking group gives you instant credibility and business owners will usually come up and talk to you even if you’ve given a mediocre presentation. I see it happen at every conference or meetup I’ve ever attended.

A smart place to start speaking publicly is the local Chamber of Commerce. Nothing but owners there. Also, try your local MeetUp.com to get comfortable speaking in front of a group.

Next email, we’ll tackle some ways you can use e-mail and the telephone to introduce potential clients to your services.

Until then, strike up some casual banter with a business owner in your area. It just might pay off for you later.