In this 236th Episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, Adam and I discuss how to find your first customer: what fishing taught me about business. At first it seems like there should not be a correlation, but as Adam unpacks the concept, it makes a lot of sense.
Let me explain this below.
The Myth: If You Build It….
Have you heard this line from a famous movie?
“If you build it, they will come.”
Many of us start our small business and/or homesteading business with big ideas about selling all kinds of canned goods, veggies, herbs, flowers, crafts or whatever products we create to the hungry masses. Too many of us start something (a podcast, a YouTube Channel, a TikTok Channel, a business) based on a passion and hobby that we have, and we think that customers will just show up and throw money at our feet.
I hate to break it to you, but:
Field of Dreams was just a movie, the ghosts don’t come out of the corn and people don’t make the drive to nowhere for the hell of it. It doesn’t work like that in real life.
There is A LOT more to selling a product or idea to the masses than just “building it” and offering it once. It takes knowing your ideal customer, knowing the market, networking, and being consistent and persistent to “catch” the interest of the potential customer, have them “bite” on the product or idea, and “reel them in” for a sale.
How to Find Your First Customer
Adam makes a great analogy between fishing and getting your first customer for your start up business. The parallels are very obvious and make a lot of sense as he walks us through a story about his fishing experience in the Great White North. After two hard days of fishing, his group found the right spot holding the right fish, used the right bait, and kept at it until they caught some beautiful monster walleyes. It took persistence and the right amount of work to land those big fish, and the same process can be used to land your ideal client.
It isn’t easy. Sometimes it is a lot of hard work and isn’t fun. The lake is full of other hungry fishermen that are trying to load their stringers with keepers, and it’s up to us to read the lake, understand the behavior of the fish, go where they are and keep on casting (or jigging).
10 Steps to Find Your First Customer
Adam has a lot of really good tips and advice in the podcast episode and livestream. If you want 10 Steps to Find Your First Customer, I have listed out a few for you below,
1. Define Your Target Audience
- Identify who your ideal customer is: Understand their demographics, interests, pain points, and needs. The more specific you can be, the easier it will be to craft a message that resonates.
- Research your competitors: Know what similar businesses are doing and look for gaps in their offerings. This can help you refine your own approach.
2. Make Sure Your Offer is Clear and Valuable
- Product-market fit: Ensure your product or service is something people actually want and that it solves a real problem or improves their lives.
- Compelling value proposition: Be clear about the benefits of your product and why someone should buy it over alternatives. This message needs to be visible on your website, social media, and marketing materials.
3. Leverage Your Personal Network
- Friends and family: Reach out to people you know personally who might be interested in your product or who could help spread the word.
- Social media: Post about your new business on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. A simple post or story can help you reach your immediate network and start generating interest.
4. Build an Online Presence
- Website or landing page: Set up a simple, professional website or landing page where potential customers can learn about your offering and make a purchase. Tools like Shopify, Wix, or WordPress make this process easy.
- Social media: Even before you get your first sale, start building a presence on platforms where your target audience hangs out. Post content related to your industry, engage with others, and offer valuable insights or tips.
5. Offer an Incentive or Promotion
- Discounts or special offers: A limited-time discount or a special deal can be a great way to attract your first customers. For example, you could offer 10-20% off for early adopters or free shipping for the first few buyers.
- Free trials or samples: If you’re selling a service or digital product, offering a free trial can help people experience your offering firsthand without any risk.
6. Start Cold Outreach
- Direct messaging or email: If you have a list of potential leads, start reaching out directly to introduce them to your product. Make sure your messages are personalized, not spammy. Focus on the value you can offer.
- Cold emailing: If appropriate for your business, you can cold email potential customers or businesses that might be interested in your product. Just make sure your message is clear and compelling.
7. Use Testimonials and Social Proof
- Build trust: If you’ve done any beta testing, ask your first customers for testimonials that you can display on your website or in your marketing materials. Positive feedback can help reassure new customers that they’re making a good choice.
- Leverage influencers or micro-influencers: If possible, partner with influencers in your industry who can review or promote your product. Even smaller influencers with engaged audiences can make a big impact.
8. Simplify the Purchase Process
- Easy checkout: Make sure the process of buying from you is as easy and frictionless as possible. Complicated forms or unclear payment systems can deter potential customers.
- Multiple payment options: Provide a variety of payment methods to make it convenient for customers to buy (e.g., credit card, PayPal, etc.).
9. Test and Iterate
- Learn from feedback: After making your first sale, ask your customers for feedback to improve your product, service, and sales process.
- A/B testing: If you’re running ads or using a website for sales, try different approaches and see what resonates best with your audience (e.g., different headlines, images, or call-to-actions).
10. Stay Persistent and Consistent
- Don’t give up: The first sale is often the hardest, but once you get it, you’ll have more confidence and momentum. Keep refining your process, and don’t be afraid to try new strategies.
Additional Tips:
- Networking: Attend events, webinars, or join online communities relevant to your business to connect with potential customers.
- Content Marketing: Publish valuable content (blogs, videos, social media posts) to educate your audience and establish yourself as an authority in your niche.
- Referral Programs: Consider offering a referral bonus or incentive to customers who refer others to your business.
The key is to be proactive, engage with your audience, and be persistent in your efforts. Once you get that first sale, it’s a snowball effect—the more you refine your process, the easier it becomes to get the next one.
RFK and the Fast Food Dilemma
Do you see any similarities between these two photos?
One was taken in November 2016 with the Cheshire Orange Cat and a sullen Mitt Romney. The second one was taken in November 2024 with the Cheshire Orange Cat and a less than thrilled Robert Kennedy, Jr. Donald Trump Jr’s Tweet associated with this photo and summed up his perspective:
“Make America Healthy Again starts TOMORROW.”
Adam and I wrap up the show by talking about RFK Jr’s failure with fast food on Trump’s plane. While the product placement was perfect in the photo, the fact that RFK Jr bowed to pressure to eat McDonald’s and drink a Coke caught me and the nation by surprise. The fact is that this simple act hurt his reputation and stance on fast food, especially since he was literally just calling these foods “poison.”
As a person (an idealist) who was hoping that RFK could bring change to the food industry, big pharma and health care, I am wondering if he hasn’t already been compromised and the “Make America Healthy Again” movement is destined for the scrap heap. Somehow that soft spot in RFK’s armor has been found, and I expect difficult times ahead for RFK.
As you all know, I don’t talk politics on this channel, but this photo really got to me. If you think you can play with the Devil, he just might call you on it, beat you at that game and win.
We’ll see about RFK. The big money special interest hacks are ready for him, knives drawn. May the odds be in his favor, but I am not holding my breath.
Links
Show Sponsor
This live-stream is brought to you by A Modern Frontier Farms: Modern Frontier Farms Website
Get all your pasture-raised beef, pork and chicken from A Modern Frontier Farms! Grass Fed; Grass Raised; 100% Delicious!
When he isn’t at a Farmer’s Market or hanging out with his wonderful wife and beautiful kids, Adam can be found at the following locations:
Other Related Shows
Adam has been a guest on the Small Scale Life Podcast a number of times. Here is a quick list of shows where he has been the guest or cohost:
- Dreams and Goals: How to Manifest Your Future – ANT Live 7
- How to Find Your Passion: From Hobbies to Heartbeat – ANT Live 6
- Boredom: A Path to Mindfulness and Innovation – ANT Live 5
- Hustles and Hurdles: Side Hustles and the Gig Economy – ANT Live 4
- Mindset and Milestones: Prepping for a Life Upgrade – ANT Live 3
- The Importance of Getting Away – ANT Live 2
- Catching up with Adam Rick from Modern Frontier Farms – ANT Live 1
- Small Scale Life Episode 198 – Grass Fed Farm Business with Adam Rick
- Small Scale Life Episode 199 – Creating Heritage Meals and Deep Roots with Adam Rick
In Closing….
From the North to the South
From the East to the West and
Everywhere in between.
May the gods, spirits and folk
Be blessed at this place.
May we heal the land and
Protect the soil, animals and plants.
May we live in strength and love.
Leading the Way
As we learn, do grow and
Be a little better everyday!
This is Tom from the Small Scale Life Podcast. Have a great week! We’ll be back soon with another show. In the meantime, stay safe and take care everybody!
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Special Thanks
For Small Scale Life Podcasts, I would like to thank Sean at Osi and the Jupiter for the intro song "Harvest." Sean wrote this specifically for us, and I really enjoy all of his work. You can find more Osi and the Jupiter at their Bandcamp site: https://osifolk.bandcamp.com/
I would also like to thank Austin Quinn at Vlog Vibes for the intro and outro music. For more information abut Austin and Vlog Vibes, please see the Vlog Vibes YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY80LeqtJf-YBzJy2TWKpDw