Self-employed entrepreneurs: 10 easy ways to find customers fast
You've just started up as an auto-entrepreneur and you're wondering how to find your first customers quickly?
Don't worry, you're not alone. It's the number one challenge for all new entrepreneurs.
Fortunately, there are proven methods for building up a customer base in record time, even when you're starting from scratch.
From targeted prospecting techniques to building an effective marketing strategy and optimizing your online presence.
In this article, we'll explore 10 concrete, easy-to-implement tips to boost your auto-entrepreneur business and never run out of customers again.
Ready to move up a gear? Let's get started!
10 self-employed prospecting methods to find customers fast
- Precisely target your ideal customers and tailor your offer
- Be visible online with an optimized website and an active presence on social networks
- Develop your professional network to generate opportunities
Identify your ideal target and its needs
Before you start looking for customers, it's essential to precisely define your typical customer. Who are the people or companies likely to need your services? What are their characteristics (age, profession, location, budget...)?
Once you've identified your target, put yourself in their shoes to understand their problems and expectations. What are the challenges they face on a daily basis? How can your offer respond to them in a relevant way?
By adapting your positioning and communication to these elements, you'll significantly increase your chances of convincing your prospects. Don't hesitate to create personas to embody your typical customers.
Create a professional, optimized website
In the digital age, having a website is essential for any self-employed entrepreneur. It's your online showcase, accessible 24 hours a day.
Make sure your site has a streamlined design that showcases your expertise and achievements (portfolio). The content should be clear and impactful. Include customer testimonials to reassure your visitors.
On the technical side, optimize your site's Search Engine Optimization (SEO) by working on relevant keywords, tags and page structure. A well-positioned site on search engines guarantees qualified traffic. According to Google, SEO is essential for improving a website's visibility.
Be active on relevant social networks
Social networks bring together millions of users, including your future customers. But not all networks are created equal. Choose the ones where your target is most present:
- LinkedIn for B2B customers
- Instagram if you offer visual services (graphic design, photography...)
- Facebook to reach the general public...
The important thing is to be active by regularly publishing interesting content: advice, inspiration, news about your business... Establish a dialogue with your community by replying to comments. Identify influencers in your sector and interact with them to gain visibility.
We've also created an article to share methods for generating leads.
Develop your professional network
Word-of-mouth is still the best way to recruit customers, so look after your professional network. Take part in networking events (conferences, trade shows...) to meet people from your ecosystem. Carry business cards with you at all times.
Also join specialized groups on social networks and online forums. Be active in discussions to demonstrate your expertise and build relationships.
Finally, don't hesitate to propose partnerships to colleagues whose business is complementary to yours. A business introducer can boost your sales.
Best practices for effective networking
Here are a few tips to optimize your networking:
- Set yourself specific objectives for each event (meet 5 new people, get 2 appointments...).
- Prepare your pitch to present yourself effectively in just a few minutes
- Think win-win: seek to bring value to your contacts too
- Follow up after each meeting to maintain the bond
🚩MANUAL CHECK - Add other networking tips relevant to the self-employed entrepreneur's profile.
References: https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/7451184?hl=en
Effective sales techniques for auto-entrepreneurs
- Stand out from the crowd with a unique, impactful value proposition
- Prepare a convincing pitch and use it everywhere (website, profiles, appointments)
- Dare to prospect corporate decision-makers directly by phone, email or even directly on LinkedIn by personalizing your prospecting messages. Here are some examples of Linkedin prospecting messages you can use.
Carefully crafting your value proposition
A powerful value proposition is the key to convincing your prospects to use your services. Your objective is to show what differentiates you from your competitors.
Highlight your differentiating assets
Identify your unique strengths: your specialized expertise, your responsiveness, the quality of your customer service, your competitive rates... Highlight them in your communications.
Proving concrete benefits for the customer
Don't just list your skills. Explain the concrete benefits for your customers: time savings, peace of mind, return on investment... Use anonymized case studies.
Offer attractive package deals
Make it easy for customers to take the plunge by proposing packaged offers with clear pricing. For example: a trial service, a "discovery" pack, an "all-inclusive" formula... The customer needs to understand at a glance what you're offering.
How to pitch your business
Whether you're writing or speaking, you need to be able to present your business in a concise, punchy way. This is your best weapon for making an impression and arousing interest.
Prepare a concise, impactful pitch
Summarize your value proposition in a few key sentences. Practice delivering your pitch in under 2 minutes. Be precise, concrete and enthusiastic. Show your added value without drowning your interlocutor in too much information.
Practise using it orally and in writing
Your pitch should become a reflex, whatever the situation: trade show, network meeting, impromptu exchange... Practice regularly to feel at ease. Prepare written versions for your media: website, social networking profiles, sales literature...
Use it on your site, your profiles, in appointments
Your pitch is the common thread running through your communications. Use it consistently everywhere to anchor your image and positioning. It should be reflected on your website, your online profiles, your meetings... Your sales pitch will gain in impact.
Dare to prospect directly
When you're starting out in business, it's tempting to wait for customers to come to you. But successful self-employed entrepreneurs are often proactive: they look for prospects where they are: on the Internet.
Identifying the right contacts within the company
Target the companies and organizations that correspond to your core target. Within these structures, identify the decision-makers and influencers potentially interested in your services. LinkedIn is a good tool for this step.
Contact them by phone or email
Use direct channels such as the telephone or email to reach your targets. Prepare a sales pitch adapted to each profile. Take care with your messages to arouse interest without being intrusive. Track your contacts in a file and follow up after a few days.
Suggest an appointment or a trial
The aim of your prospecting is to obtain an appointment to present your offer in greater detail. You can also propose a test, such as a short, low-commitment service. This allows the prospect to evaluate you without risk.
By applying these sales techniques with rigor and regularity, you'll put all the chances on your side to get your auto-entrepreneur business off the ground. At the same time, think about developing a marketing strategy for long-term visibility.
Building an auto-entrepreneur marketing strategy
- Attract your first customers through your local network
- Boost your sales with limited-time offers
- Expand your business by collaborating with other professionals
Start with your inner circle
When starting out as an auto-entrepreneur, it's essential not to neglect your first circle of contacts. Friends, family and former colleagues can become your first customers, or recommend you to their friends and family.
Tell them about your new business with enthusiasm. Explain clearly what services or products you offer and how you can be of service to them. Don't hesitate to make them attractive introductory offers to encourage them to put their trust in you.
For example, you could offer them a preferential rate for a limited time, or a free extra service with every order. The aim is to turn them into satisfied customers who can then talk about you to others and recommend you.
Create time-limited offers
To attract new customers quickly, focus on scarcity by creating limited-time offers. The idea is to design attractive packages at reduced rates for the first X customers who contact you.
Communicate massively on these offers, highlighting the countdown. Use all your channels: social networks, emailing, website... Highlight the advantages for the customer: unbeatable price, limited quantities, free gift...
Once you've converted those first customers, do your utmost to keep them happy. A customer won over by a special offer and delighted with your work will become your best ambassador. Encourage them to talk about you, and thank them if they recommend you.
Working with other professionals
As an auto-entrepreneur, it's invaluable to forge links with other professionals in your field. You can team up with colleagues to offer complementary packages.
For example, if you're a graphic designer, you could team up with a web copywriter to offer a "visual identity + web content" package. This is a good way to offer a complete package and gain access to your partner's clientele.
You can also position yourself as a subcontractor for other companies on large-scale projects that you wouldn't be able to land on your own. It's an opportunity to showcase your know-how and potentially win back the customer.
Finally, the referral system also works between professionals. Let your colleagues know that you offer attractive commissions on the business they bring you. This will motivate them to tell their own customers about you.
Definition and advantages of auto-entrepreneur status
- Simplified system ideal for launching a business quickly
- Simplified administrative and accounting formalities
- Possibility of combining work with a salaried position
What is an auto-entrepreneur?
An auto-entrepreneur is an individual entrepreneur who benefits from a simplified system for setting up and running a business. This status, created in 2008, is designed to make it easier to start up a business, by reducing the administrative burden and offering an adapted method of calculating social security contributions.
To become an auto-entrepreneur, you don't need to have a minimum capital or open a business bank account. The formalities involved in setting up a business are reduced to a simple online declaration on the URSSAF website.
An advantageous contribution calculation method
One of the distinctive features of the auto-entrepreneur scheme is the way social security contributions are calculated. These are calculated on the basis of sales, at a flat rate that varies according to the activity carried out:
- 12.8% for merchandise sales activities
- 22% for craft and commercial services
- 22% for other BNC services
The advantage of this calculation method is that you only have to pay contributions when you generate sales. If no income is generated, no contributions are due.
The advantages of auto-entrepreneurship
The auto-entrepreneur system offers many advantages for those wishing to start their own business.
Streamlined administrative and accounting formalities
Compared with other legal forms, auto-entrepreneurship is distinguished by its simplified set-up and management formalities. You can set up your business entirely online, without having to go through the usual formalities involved in creating a company (drafting articles of association, publishing a legal notice, etc.).
From an accounting point of view, auto-entrepreneurs are not required to draw up a balance sheet or income statement. All they need to do is keep a book of receipts and chronologically record all payments received. Management software dedicated to auto-entrepreneurs, such as And Co or Freelancer, can automate these tasks.
The possibility of keeping a salaried job at the same time
One of the main advantages of the auto-entrepreneurship system is that you can work independently while still holding down a salaried job. This makes it possible to test your business project while limiting the risks, or to build up a supplementary income.
The only constraint is compliance with the sales thresholds specific to the scheme:
- 176,200 for the sale of goods
- 72,600 for a service activity
If this figure is exceeded for two consecutive years, a change of regime to a traditional sole proprietorship or a company becomes compulsory.
Reduced expenses in the absence of sales
Unlike "traditional" entrepreneurs, who have to pay social security contributions regardless of their level of activity, auto-entrepreneurs only pay contributions if they generate sales.
This feature makes it possible to start a business with limited costs, or to get through a slack period with greater peace of mind. If there is no income during a quarter, no contribution is due.
The downside is that there is no coverage in the event of an industrial accident, and unemployment benefits are lower than for salaried employees. To explore these issues in greater depth, Robert Matthieu and Catherine Roux-Lanier's book "Auto-entrepreneur pour les Nuls" (Self-Employment for Dummies) provides additional information.
Keys to success as an auto-entrepreneur
- Choose a field that matches your skills and passion
- Surround yourself with the right people and get the right support.
- Know the mistakes to avoid to optimize your chances of success
Choosing the right business
Choosing the right business is crucial to success as a self-employed entrepreneur. It's essential to focus on a field that matches both your skills and your passion. As Jean-François Dournaux, a consultant specializing in supporting entrepreneurs, points out, "Motivation is the main driving force behind entrepreneurial success. Without a passion for your business, it's hard to stay the course in the face of day-to-day challenges.
In addition to the motivational aspect, it's important to carefully study the market and the competition before taking the plunge. In-depth analysis helps validate the viability of the project and identify opportunities to be seized. The Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CCI) offer tools and advice to help you carry out this market study.
Finally, testing your offer with friends and family is an excellent way of gathering feedback and adjusting your positioning if necessary. "Sophie Clément, a self-employed entrepreneur for the past 3 years, confirms: "Offering your services to friends and family as a first step helps you to gain experience and confidence, before approaching new customers.
Helping you through the process
Although auto-entrepreneur status is designed to be simplified, it's crucial to surround yourself with the right people if you want to make the most of your chances. Centers de formalités des entreprises (CFEs) and CCIs offer invaluable support, with legal and tax advice and dedicated training courses.
Joining an entrepreneurial network is also a great way of sharing experience, exchanging contacts and finding support. According to a study by the Union des auto-entrepreneurs, 74% of auto-entrepreneurs who belong to a network say they are more fulfilled than others. Specialized networks such as Freelances de France or the Fédération des auto-entrepreneurs help break down isolation.
Last but not least, ongoing training is essential to develop your business. Management, sales and marketing skills are particularly key to strengthening. "Beyond technical know-how, it's the ability to manage your business and market effectively that makes the difference," says Éric Lafont, a self-employed consultant for the past 5 years.
Avoid common mistakes
Neglecting sales prospecting is one of the most common mistakes made by self-employed entrepreneurs, either because of a lack of time or a lack of confidence. And yet, canvassing new customers on a regular basis is vital to sustaining and growing your business. Setting aside a specific amount of time for this task is essential.
Another pitfall to avoid: offering rates that are too low in relation to the market, for fear of not finding customers. "This is a very bad calculation. It devalues the offer and the quality of the work provided, as well as dragging down market prices", warns Marie Dubois, pricing strategy consultant. It's better to focus on added value and qualitative positioning.
The last point to watch out for is forward planning. Many auto-entrepreneurs forget to set aside funds to pay their social security contributions and taxes, which puts them in difficulty. However, if you set aside 20% to 25% of each cash receipt, you'll soon be able to avoid unpleasant surprises.
In short, to become a successful auto-entrepreneur, you need to be well prepared, surround yourself with the right people and adopt the right day-to-day management reflexes. With hard work and perseverance, this status offers great opportunities to work with passion as your own boss.
Ready to start your auto-entrepreneur business?
Becoming an auto-entrepreneur is an excellent opportunity to launch your own business with simplified procedures and tax advantages. By following these effective prospecting methods, you'll be able to quickly find your first customers and develop your client base.
Don't forget to define your target clearly, to take care with your communication and to be proactive in your prospecting. Your efforts will be rewarded with a flourishing business and the freedom to do business at your own pace.
So, what are you waiting for to embark on the adventure of auto-entrepreneurship? Do you already have an idea of what you'd like to do? Now's the time to turn your passion into a profitable and fulfilling business. The keys to success are in your hands, all you have to do is unlock your potential as an auto-entrepreneur!