Twice this week people taken huge steps forward to launch their online programs.

One has 6 discovery calls setup to talk to people about her program. Another is just about to launch his first pilot group in a brand new niche with 6 clients.

As someone who helps professionals turn their expertise into income, these moments never get old.

But here's what everyone worries about: "How do I actually find my first clients?"

Let me save you months of confusion. Getting your first 10 clients isn't about complicated funnels or viral content. It's about three simple things - and you're probably already doing one of them without realizing it.

Here's your no-nonsense roadmap to landing those first crucial clients:

1. Get Laser-Focused on Your Niche

The fastest way to stay broke? Try to help everyone.

I learned this the hard way. The secret to attracting clients is brutal clarity on:

• Who exactly needs your help
• What specific transformation you provide

Use this simple framework:
"I help [specific type of person] to [achieve specific outcome]"

Compare these:
❌ "I help people with productivity" (yawn)
✅ "I help marketing managers eliminate overwhelm and reclaim 10 hours per week" (now we're talking)

Stop right now and write yours. Don't perfect it - just get it down.

2. Show Up Consistently in One Place

When I first started this I thought I had to be everywhere. I panicked about the time it would take.

Here's what I've found - you don't need to be everywhere. You need to be valuable somewhere.

Pick ONE platform that matches your natural style:

• Love explaining things? Start a YouTube channel
• Enjoy deep conversations? Launch a podcast
• Natural writer? Focus on LinkedIn or blogging

Whatever you choose, create content that:

• Solves real problems your people face
• Shows your unique perspective
• Proves your expertise through actionable advice
• Shares transformation stories (even small wins matter)

Then you need an email list to be building over time to flag the content that you're creating.

3. Start Conversations (This Is What You're Already Doing)

Here's another shocker!

Your first 10 clients will come from people you already know or their referrals. Not from perfect marketing campaigns.

When someone asks what you're working on, simply say:
"I've started helping [type of person] with [specific challenge]."

That's it. No pitch. No pressure. Just sharing what you're up to.

This works because:

• It feels natural and authentic
• People love making connections
• Word of mouth is still the best marketing

Your first clients don't need you to have a perfect website or thousands of followers. They just need to believe you can solve their problem.

If you're actively looking for clients you can extend it to 'do you know anyone who needs that kind of help?' Your friends want to help you! They also have friends. You'd be amazed at how many people will come to you this way.

Then, once you've helped a few people you have the testimonials to show that you can do this thing and you're off!

This is how a scalable and extremely profitable course business starts.

Your Next Steps

Do these three things today:

1. Write your "I help..." statement
2. Pick your content platform and create something valuable
3. Tell three people about what you're building

Want to see exactly how I built a profitable online business using these principles (while keeping my day job)?

I've created a free training that walks through my complete process and how 2 busy professionals generated $13k from their first ever course launches having never built or sold a course before.

You can get it in my free community here geni.us/launchlab

Remember: Your first 10 clients come from clarity, consistency, and conversations. Keep it simple, take action, and trust the process.

Standing with you

Simon

The Raw Leader