Landing the Big Fish, or the most unusual way I've found a client #4

I've found the majority of my clients in traditional ways, through networking or by referral from a happy client, and over the last year or so, I've started to see great results from social media. On the other hand, sometimes business shows up when you least expect it, and when I was asked about the most unusual way I've found a client, one story immediately popped into my mind.

After helping me to define my target market, my coach advised me to make a list of ways I could reach people in that market. One of my ideas was to donate a gift certificate to my services as a door prize at an event they would be likely to attend. I searched online, found an upcoming conference in my target industry, and contacted the head of the sponsoring organization to offer my donation.

I know you're probably thinking that the person who won the gift certificate cashed it in, was pleased with my work, and became a regular client. Of course, that's what we hope when we donate a gift certificate, but in my experience, they rarely get used, and even when they do, for me it's never led to ongoing work. So no, that's not what happened. In fact, I never even heard from the winner.

So what did happen?

Some time later, several months at least, I received a phone call from the woman I'd contacted about donating a gift certificate. She had kept my information on file, and when she was in need of a VA, she thought of me right away. She has been my client for over 3 years now, during which time I've done over 1500 hours of work for her.

Lesson learned? Although at times it seems like our marketing messages are going unnoticed, you just never know who is paying attention!