I Landed My First AI Client Without Cold Calling
I landed my first client in a way that sidestepped the usual grind of cold calling and emailing, and it’s working in my case. As in my previous posts, I documented that I delivered my first job for my first client last week. Cold calling? Honestly, I haven’t tried it yet; it feels daunting. I did send out cold emails, but got zero responses. (I might not have done it correctly). Instead, I took a different route: I posted an add, targeting a collaboration with IT and internet service providers who also do web design. Many of these businesses lack an AI or automation strategy, so I pitched myself as a partner to fill that gap. The result? Two companies are now working with me, and it’s paying off. One partner referred me to the medical insurance company, where I delivered my first project last week. It was a custom AI customer service agent for their website and sales portals. It handles inquiries, books meetings, and syncs leads with their CRM. They've asked me for a proposal to build a Virtual PA and an Inbound Voice AI for them, streamlining their director’s workflow and customer support. The other partner is actively marketing my AI solutions under their brand. When they land jobs, I handle the implementation. It was cool to see their ads promoting my services. This is to do with Automations, AI chatbots, voice agents, or task automation that integrate with their clients’ systems. It’s a win-win: they expand their offerings, and I focus on what I do best. So I hope that this will pay off. This approach has taught me that strategic partnerships can open doors faster than cold outreach. By aligning with businesses that complement my skills. I guess it's because I’m creating value and building trust. It’s early days, but the pipeline looks promising! What about you? I see many people on here push cold calling and sending emails. Does it work well? Have you tried unconventional ways to land clients? Or are you exploring partnerships in the AI space?