Fast Cash vs. Slow Growth: Why direct outreach beats waiting for customers

Hello and welcome to the podcast. Today we're going to juggle some ideas around outreach. Now for those of you who are new to the podcast, outreach just means any activity that you do to obviously reach out to potential customers. For some of you who have gotten into business in the last maybe 1520 years, a lot of you have grown up around this idea of inbound marketing LED strategies. So the whole idea that you sit down behind the keyboard, you put up content and because of that, people are going to see the wonderful things you do and then make their way towards you.

Now that is not a bad way to conduct business at all and it works. In fact, I have a podcast and I've been using the podcast to generate business. So it works. However, inbound LED forms of marketing and business growth are medium to long term strategies. They're not the kind of thing that can bring you business. Be quick. In other words, if you need money now, starting a podcast, starting a newsletter, what else? Starting an Instagram handle,

those are not the kind of things that are going to bring you money sharp, sharp. So if you need cash like now, you need cash like yesterday, you actually are going to have to do outreach. Outreach, like I said, anything you do where you are the instigator, you are taking the initiative and you are taking a very direct approach and reaching out to people to say, you know, do you have a need for my product or my service?

So that is what outreach means essentially. Now, once in a while I come over here and we look at examples of outreach that people have done and for the benefit of us all, we will, you know, discuss and see how this person could have done things better, you know, iron, sharpen iron. So as usual, today's episode is because I received a bit of outreach and I think there are a couple of things that the guy could have done better.

Now, for those of you who are used to the WhatsApp episodes, I'm very sorry. Yes, this is also another WhatsApp episode. But you know, this one would get small, small difference. And then apart from that, let's remember that people are discovering the podcast, you know, new every single day. So it might be a little boring for you, but for these people, it's it's brand new. So let's just get straight in. Speaking of those of you just discovering the podcast, my name is Tavishima Ayede.

I'm a former lawyer turn business consultant and almost every day I come over here on the podcast and we share some business goodness. What I do is I try to solve business problems and I'm trying to share my knowledge so that all of us collectively can get better when it comes to figuring out who our ideal customers are, chasing after them, building relationships with them, trying to get repeat business from them, and then trying to get them to introduce other customers to us as well.

So all around business growth. That's what this podcast is about. Now if you'd love to connect with me, maybe because you have problems with your outreach or you have one or two questions you want to ask, that's not a problem. You can call, send me a text message or a WhatsApp message on 08064662140. OK with answering questions for free. But if you're looking for free advice, just let me know in the very first message and I will answer one question only.

Then after that, if you want us to go more in depth, we have to sit down and book a proper consulting session. But don't worry, don't be afraid. The number is 08064662140. Reach out. Let's let's have a chat. I'm not going to collect money from you, at least not yet. I might eventually, but now don't worry for that first question, it's not going to be a problem. So this is outreach that I received for those of you who are long term listeners.

As I start reading, you begin to see some of the some of the folly. So this guy sent me a message. The guy says I help photographers. First of all, the guy no grease. It's kind of rude. Now that nature we did so form some kind of greeting, you know. Good morning, good afternoon. Hello Bros. Good morning, Sir. Chief, how you doing? You know something Shah anything but some kind greeting cause Niger we did so his message just read.

I help photographers turn their work into portfolio websites, clients can view anytime. Can I show you a quick example? So I repeat, that was the guy's message. I help photographers turn their work into simple portfolio websites, clients can view anytime. Can I show you a quick example? Now it's obvious why this guy sent me a message. Now, even though I used to be a lawyer and now I'm a business consultant, for a while I was in the event space, wedding photography and the video.

Now, even though I have tried to destroy all my profiles because I've taken down Facebook, I've taken down Instagram, I've taken down everything. I don't think you can delete Google pages. I don't know if you can do that. So there's still a Google My Business page available that has my photography. I don't know if some of our video that's my brother and I, I was up there. So for those of you who are curious, you know who hear me talking about my photography days and you wonder is this guy telling the truth?

I'd be the guy they're whining us. He actually can go and Google, excuse me, Google Tamashima Ayede photographer. And then you see a bunch of my stuff on Google. So because this guy has seen my stuff, he assumes I'm still in the photography business. So first of all, we'll clap hand for the guy because number one, he's doing outreach. That's good. And by the way, you see how I say that if you're doing outreach, that is the way when like if you need money now, now,

now, now, now you need quick, quick cash. This is the kind of thing you do. So let's say this guy sends these kind of messages out to maybe like 100 people. You know, you never know, he might be lucky, but it's the kind of thing that by doing this now, cash can come like one Week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, one month. On the other hand, if you say, OK, let me get into business, let me launch Instagram page. Honestly speaking, that you launch your Instagram page today does not mean money will come next week.

Maybe sometimes I use too much grammar, but with this simple example, I hope you see what I'm saying. If you're finding a way to enter into your potential customers, DM with a drop message, say how far are you interested? How far are you interested? Eventually one person will say how much. That's what I mean by if you're looking for quick cash and you want more direct control over the kind of results that you receive, then outreach is what you should be trying to do.

Not content marketing, no content marketing, and not inbound marketing and not all these other kinds of things. So we'll clap out for the guy because he has taken the initiative. So we'll clap for him. Second thing is he has done some research because they want to go and search online. And because of that, we will clap for the guy as well because it's one problem that we have in this space where people just you know, they just shoot their shots, they try, they try their luck, just message anybody.

So because of that, we clap for the guy because at least he did some research to be sure that he's reaching out to photographers only. But therein lies the question is he will continue. So, and I told the guy, I said no thanks, I'm not interested. I stopped doing photography years ago. And then sometimes to kind of give these guys a taste of their medicine and I'll blast the guy back. I say I have a business podcast that can help you get better at your sales and marketing.

Would you like me to share the link with you? Let's see how I can help you grow your business as a photographer. Send the guy a message within the guy. Do the guy just ignore? Well, anyway, when I blast people like that, I'm just trying to pass across a hint that, you know, outreach can be done much more tastefully. And just like how you will not respond when somebody did do outreach to you, you might you should think of a more effective way of trying to do research,

excuse me, of trying to do outreach to people. So basically that's just the exchange. I just, you know, my phone and then my phone does went ping, ping. I checked in and somebody's like, hey, what's up? I'm a, I help photographers build websites so you can show your clients. Should I send you a sample? So that's it. Now, is that a good form of outreach? So or rather let's look at how we can do outreach much more effectively in case you're trying to do some kind moves like this guy.

So #1 research before you make the call. Research before you do the outreach. Research before you do DM. Now part of that research is not just you want to see who your potential customers are, but you have to be looking for signs that they are still in the market for what it is that you do. Now The thing is if this guy had looked at that Google profile, well, he would have seen that I never as like I have not updated that thing in like 1 decade, I

think like 10 years, no reach. So if you're in the business of making websites for people and stuff like that, it's not a sign that OK, maybe this business is dead. As per the guy never post for the last 10 years. Research your people but also be asking do they still does it look like they still have any for your product or your service. This one is not a matter of try your luck, it's a matter of putting the odds in your favor.

Like Brian Tracy likes to call it. We want to make sure that as we shoot our shot, we want to increase the likelihood that our shot would land in a place that is well, sure. It's not just about just firing anyhow, just the blanket, just just the fire. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. You want to know where you are aiming and then one is one. Well, so that's the focus. That's the goal. Doesn't look like these people still need have any for your product or service.

Obviously I don't. So next time you guys are trying to do this kind of outreach and checking people's social media, be checking the thing that made you reason. OK, this guy might be a good prospects, might be a good customer. This babe might be a good customer. Just check their profile again, small you don't have to do too much digging. Like in my own case, all they had to do was just look at the top most posts and then click on the date.

I said, ah, this guy never update for one decade and you can just assume that business is dead or you could have assumed that I have jackpot or you know, whatever, but I should not have been priority. Somebody who has not updated in 10 years is probably not the kind of person who is looking for your website design services. Then when you reach out to people because this guy went straight for the jugular, you know, should I show you sample?

No, when you reach out, it's not at all. Should I show you sample? Like do you even know if they're interested? So first thing is figure out, are they interested? Ask about the need. Ask about pinpoints when you're doing your initial outreach. It is only when this thing checks out that you can now try and continue the conversation to say how far. Oh boy, may I show you sample? So you reach out, I'm in business, this is what I do,

blah blah blah. Is this a problem that you have had in your business? Have you had a problem closing any deals because you don't have a website? Ask first if somebody says no thank you, I already have a website, conversation ends this one you're asking and should I show you sample? Show me sample. How? How do you know I'm not sorted? How do you know? So when you reach out, first interest, need, pain points, problems, that's what you do on the initial outreach.

This is what I do, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Have you experienced this kind of problem before? Are you in the market for this kind of thing? You know, those, those that, that, that kind of levels. If the person says yes or I'm interested or whatever, then the competition, the conversation continues. So this call to action now, oh boy, how far may I show you sample now it's too early sample. No, that call to action is too early is too, you know, too forward.

Relax, sales is toasting. It's a conversation. We're taking things one step at a time. You didn't greet somebody, you just blast message. The person has not responded. You next thing should I show you sample like, well, what are you expecting? Somebody would say yes, show me sample for real. So this sample thing too early. What you do first is figure out if this person has a problem. If he said I have a problem, I've been having problems closing, stuff like that.

Next we'll be like, oh, OK, you try and schedule a meeting, book a meeting so that you and that guy can discuss. Let's discuss your needs. Let's see whether in fact a website is something that might help you out. Or let's explore what you've done before. Let's see how a website can help you better. Something, something, something, you know organize a meeting. When you organize a meeting and you people talk, it is there.

You now know which sample to show the guy. Like even this whole thing. Can I show you sample? Which sample will you show me? Will you show me a minimalist website? Because some people like websites busy. Will you show me a busy website? What if I'm a guy who's on the minim minimalist spectrum? Are you going to show me a website that prioritizes online booking? What if I'm the kind of guy who likes to be chatting with my customers in in DM first before we close the deal?

You understand website design, you know E plenty people have different needs. People have different preferences. Which sample you show me, you won't know until you have a conversation with me. It's the same thing. Whatever it is that you sell, you know, slow down, you're going to sample too quick. When you call, are they interested? OK, they're interested in meeting. Let's see what it is they're looking for. Then. You know, the kind of sample that you send them and the sample that you send them will what it will now make sense because you had a meeting.

So that's the way. But if you're like this guy, you've been doing outreach, Congrats, at least you're doing outreach. We'll clap for you. Congrats, but you're doing outreach. The main thing I'm trying to pass across is are you doing this outreach? Well, are you are you doing it well, apart from doing this kind of outreach, we're sending DM There's some physical things that you can do too. So this guy, is he visiting photo studios where he knows that these people don't have website because dropping in on,

you know, one-on-one, you can have some good conversations with somebody Or is he dropping Flyers in Co working spaces? Is it going to go working spaces and see where other photographers hang out so we can start having conversations with them? Is it attending photography or not art Hangouts, you know, So all this keyboard activity is good, right? Keyboard activity is very, very good. But the other things that we can try as well when the bottom line, what I'm just trying to say now is that let's just focus on doing our read write outreach, right?

Sorry, it's not about the message. It's not about I sent 100 messages last week, it's about I sent 100 messages last week. And I have a reasonable hope that, you know, out of the 100, maybe 80 of them will get read. Maybe 60 of them will be on point. Maybe I might be able to get a meeting from 50. Hopefully from the 50 that I'm able to get a meeting, maybe I might share samples with 30 from the samples that I share with 30.

Who knows, maybe I might end up designing 5 websites so it's not just sending messages for the sake of sending messages. We want to make sure that our outreach is effective. So that's it. And that's all for today. Remember, you can call send me a text message or a WhatsApp message on 08064662140. So if you're a web developer like this guy, I need some help with your outreach. Call me. Like I said, if you want free advice, I'm down 0806466 2140.

Just make sure you tell me in the first message in the first contact that you're looking for free business advice and then we'll schedule a call. But I will answer one question only and only one question. If you want us to do a deep dive into the state of your business and how you can improve your business outreach, we'll have to book a proper consultation. And don't worry, I have packages for people from big boy to middle class to a Nokia money,

everybody's covered. So that's it, That's all for today. Thank you very much for your time and attention, and I'll catch you all at the next episode.