TL;DR: You Don’t Need More “Ideas”. You Need Clients
Trying to get clients fast without burning out? This guide gives you a focused plan with real, actionable strategies; not vague tips or recycled advice.
Inside, you’ll learn:
How to create a simple personal website that builds instant credibility
The offer-page strategy that turns “just browsing” into booked calls
Where to find ready-to-hire clients inside niche communities
A smarter way to use cold outreach (without sounding desperate)
How to automate follow-ups so you’re always top of mind
Whether you’re a freelancer, coach, or consultant, these methods are built to help you move quickly, consistently and sustainably.
👇 Scroll down to find the strategy that fits where you are right now.
Can you feel the pressure? 🤯
I don't know about you but every coaching, consulting, and freelancing space feels crowded right now. Everyone’s offering something. Everyone’s posting. Everyone’s pushing. And here you are, trying to get clients fast without shouting into the void or burning out.
You’re not imagining it. The pressure’s real. From my research, I've learned that nearly 73 million people in the U.S. alone now freelance, and the global freelance market is expected to hit $1.7 trillion by 2025.
That's huge.
But here’s what most people won’t tell you:
There’s still space for you.
There’s still a way to show up, stand out, and build something solid — without gimmicks, exhausting tactics, or hoping someone “finds” you.
This guide walks you through 12 practical strategies that work in today’s landscape — from building a simple website and crafting a strong offer to joining the right communities and using cold outreach without sounding like a template.
Whether you’re…
A solopreneur figuring out your first offer
A freelancer sick of scrolling UpWork
A coach or consultant with value to offer but no leads in the pipeline
Or just ready to stop watching less-experienced people book the clients you know you could serve…
This guide is for you.
Let’s get into it and help you turn effort into traction.
Why Trust This Guide?
Before I became an in-house writer, I was exactly where you are.
I started freelancing in 2017, third year of college, a handful of writing samples, and zero idea how the business side of things worked. I wasn’t the most experienced. I didn’t have an elaborate network. But I knew I wanted to make this work.
Eight years later, I’ve worked with clients across multiple industries, helped teams grow, increased clicks and conversions for real businesses, and now write full-time for a company I genuinely love.
There’s no secret formula: just clear steps, good tools, and showing up consistently. If you’ve got the drive, you can build something solid.
There’s no difference between you and me.
So let me help you find your path.
Every New Entrepreneur’s Question: How Do You Find Clients Consistently?
Finding quality clients consistently is a challenge that many entrepreneurs and business owners face.
It's not just about getting your name out there; it's about connecting with the right people who need what you offer. To new business owners, this can be extremely daunting.
You’re new to business, filled with passion, and just want to see this venture succeed.
You see, the key is finding your first client (and more after that) is to develop a strategic mindset.
Start by deeply understanding your target market. What are their pain points? What solutions are they seeking?
How can you form connections with potential customers you can genuinely help? Once you have this insight, tailor your online presence to speak directly to them.
You also need to work on being proactive and reaching out to your target audience through email marketing, content creation, and other digital marketing strategies.
For new small business owners and those with minimal marketing experience, this guide will help you create a streamlined client acquisition process you can use over and over again.
How to Get More Clients For Your Online Business (12 Tips)
1. Do I Really Need a Personal Website to Get Clients
Yes. you absolutely do.
A personal branding website can help you get clients faster. It gives you credibility, shows people exactly what you do, and makes it easy for them to take the next step. Social media bios and job board profiles can only go so far, especially when you’re competing with dozens of similar offers. A website tells your story on your terms.
You don’t need to be an expert graphic designer or copywriter to create an amazing website design that features compelling copy.
You just need the right tools.
Thrive Theme Builder and Thrive Architect are the duo you need to create an impressive WordPress web design for your business.
These powerful no-code tools are designed to help you create a visually appealing website that makes your own business stand out.
Thrive Theme Builder takes the stress out of creating a custom WordPress theme, helping you set up all important parts of your website in minutes.
In a few clicks, you’ll have chosen and set up your ideal theme, unique color scheme, and core site templates (homepage, headers, footers, etc.)
No need to code. No need to purchase expensive add-ons. You get everything you need to put your business online in a solid way.
You can purchase Thrive Theme Builder and Thrive Architect as a bundle or as part of Thrive Suite, where you get access to eight additional premium plugins.
2. Where Can I Find Communities Full of Potential Clients?
You don’t need to build an audience from scratch, someone already did it for you.
Communities where your ideal clients hang out already exist. The key is finding and showing up in the right ones.
These are often called Client Resource Networks (CRNs) — spaces filled with people who are asking questions, sharing struggles, and looking for solutions. That’s where you come in.
These networks can take the form of:
- Paid Online Forums
- Facebook Groups
- Subreddits
- LinkedIn Groups
- Masterminds
- In-person Industry Guilds, Associations, and Networks
- Local Industry Groups
- Communities around online courses (e.g. WP Elevation, FunnelHackers)
This is great for you, because someone has already done all the hard work of collecting your ideal customers in one place.
Now all you need to do is find and tap into these networks.
To get started, go on any of the platforms mentioned above, search: [your ideal client’s job title or industry] + ‘community’, ‘network’, ‘mastermind’ or ‘group’. Also do a search on Google to find any outlier groups like those associated with paid courses.
The results of a Facebook Group search for the terms [WordPress developer] + 'mastermind'.
Join three of the most value-based, community-oriented networks you can find. A mix of free and paid CRNs should give you access to a good span of the market.
3. How Do I Create an Offer That Actually Attracts Clients?
If you want people to work with you, give them a reason to care, fast.
That’s where your offer page comes in. It’s a way of saying to your potential client ‘if you’re curious about my services, here’s a risk-free way of seeing if we’re a fit.’
Your offer page is a landing page where your lead can sign up for a free or low-cost offering — a taster if you will — to your services. Your offer should be a no-brainer for an interested lead.
Give a ridiculous amount of value here, something that will give your clients a quick win and leave them feeling great about potentially working with you.
A few examples could be:
A free coaching call
A free audit of their site, business, accounts, etc.
PDF, eBook, or quiz
No matter which of the methods below you use, your end goal will almost always be to get potential clients to this page and into your email list.
Building this page should be quick.
If you’re using Thrive Architect, choose one of the landing page templates and customize it for your offer.
More templates in Thrive Architect
Every landing page template includes all the key components (hero sections, call to actions, etc.) you need to create an enticing offer page.
Once you’ve created your landing page, use Thrive Architect and your email provider to build a simple lead-generation funnel to capture converted visitors and create more gigs for your business.
4. How Can I Make My Website Easier for Clients to Find?
Your goal should be for potential clients to find you when they use search engines to look for your services or industry.
The easiest way to optimize your website for search engines is to use a reliable SEO plugin.
Most business owners don’t have time to learn the intricacies of search engine optimization, and that’s why tools like this exist.
Our top recommendation for WordPress websites: All in One SEO
AIOSEO handles all the technical aspects of optimizing your website and provides key tips on how to make your content SEO-friendly.
This plugin is easy to install, even easier to use, and will help you get your target audience in front of the right eyes, so you can convert them into leads and customers.
No matter which of the methods below you use, your end goal will almost always be to get potential clients to this page.
5. Is Partnering with Others a Smart Way to Get Clients?
Absolutely.
Team up with business owners and creators in niches that complement yours.
This is a great way to reach different demographics while building your reputation as an expert in your field.
For example, if you’re a fitness consultant, think of reaching out to nutritionists, wellness practitioners, or even doctors. You can cross-promote each other’s businesses and content, without being in direct competition with each other.
Collaborating can look like guest blog post exchanges, featuring as guests on each other’s podcasts, co-posting on social media platforms, or co-hosting live meetups.
It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved.
6. How Can I Use Social Media to Get Clients Without Going Viral?
Social media is a great way to expand your online presence. And you don't need to go viral to succeed.
While your personal website serves as the main hub for your brand, social media is your digital business card.
Use this tool to spread the word about your business, connect with more of your target audience, and drive traffic to your offer pages.
Start with one or two platforms – the ones you choose will depend on your audience.
For example, a LinkedIn profile is a must for business and marketing consultants.
If you’re building on a budget, don’t dive into influencer marketing or paid advertising (e.g. Facebook ads or Google ads) yet. Spend time building an audience organically and forming your brand’s voice, first.
7. Can Free Workshops and Webinars Help Me Land Clients?
Yes, these are key!
Running regular webinars and workshops is an incredibly effective way to attract new clients and expand your current client base.
These interactive sessions serve as a platform to demonstrate your expertise, share valuable insights, and directly engage with potential clients.
As you plan these sessions, focus on delivering content that solves problems or answers key questions your potential clients might have. It's not just about presenting information; it's about creating an experience that leaves participants feeling informed and empowered.
After each session, follow up with your attendees. You can do this by sending thank you emails, providing additional resources, or offering exclusive discounts on your services or products.
This simple strategy keeps the conversation going and can lead to conversions. To leverage these events further, record them and use the content as part of your content marketing strategy.
Turn your transcripts into blog content, social media posts, and podcast episodes.
8. Does Cold Emailing Still Work and How Can I Do It Right?
Cold email outreach is a 50/50 kind of strategy – it can help you get more clients or repel potential prospects completely.
It all boils down to how you use it.
If you spam 1000 inboxes with a copy/pasted generic sales pitch, it’s not going to do you (or the internet in general) any good.
For your emails to be successful, you’ll need to use them as a delivery system for highly personalized nuggets of value. Don’t treat this like a numbers game — it’s about establishing high-quality relationships.
There’ll be no links to your offer page in this one. In fact, limit the salesy content. These emails are all about showing your target customer how you can help them. You want their “Yes, I’m in”.
Your emails should be personalized, extremely relevant to the potential client you’re reaching out to, and valuable as well.
Don’t forget to include social proof from past clients to build trust and credibility.
You should also schedule follow-up emails in your calendar as well to keep your request at the front of your prospect’s minds.
Because each piece of outreach takes a long time to set up and deliver, this method is only suitable for high ticket sales.
9.How Do I Nurture Leads with Email Without Sounding Spammy?
Simple: automation and well-written email campaigns!
Automating your lead nurturing campaigns is a time-efficient way to build relationships with potential clients, while you focus on growing other aspects of your business.
These email campaigns should feature content that aligns with your leads’ interests and needs, to guide them through the different stages of the customer journey.
Start by segmenting your leads based on their behavior or preferences, and then design a series of targeted emails—from introductory information about your services to more detailed content, such as case studies or testimonials, that demonstrate your value.
10. How Can I Set Up a Referral System That Actually Works?
A client referral system is all about making the most of your existing client networks by giving them a little nudge to recommend your services or products.
Set up a program that rewards your clients in a way that's appealing to them—think discounts, freebies, or even exclusive perks for every new client they bring in.
The key is to keep it simple and hassle-free. Make sure your clients can easily refer their friends and claim their rewards without any fuss.
Get the word out about your referral program through your website, emails, and social media channels to make sure everyone knows about it.
Done right, this approach not only strengthens your relationship with current clients but also taps into a trusted and effective marketing channel—word-of-mouth.
11. Is It Okay to Ask My Friends and Network for Client Referrals?
Of course, it's a must!
“Hey, I’m looking for clients. Do you know of anyone looking for [x service]”
Surely it can’t be that simple... right?
Sometimes it is!
If people in your network know you are actively looking for new clients, they are more likely to keep an eye out for you.
While this step may not seem worth mentioning — it's so obvious it’s often overlooked.
Post on your networks and social profiles that you’re currently looking for clients. You can use a sentence as simple as “I’m looking for clients, know of anyone that needs [x]?
12. Do Speaking Gigs and Events Help Me Get Clients Faster?
Yes, they can.
In addition to hosting your own webinars and workshops, you should work on speaking at events hosted by other organizations.
When you peak at these events, you're not just sharing knowledge; you're also showcasing your brand and what you stand for.
It's an opportunity to make a lasting impression on potential clients and form solid partnerships with other professionals in your industry. Choose conferences that align closely with your business niche and prepare engaging, informative presentations that address current trends or challenges in your industry.
Don’t forget to actively participate in networking sessions and workshops, where you can build valuable connections.
Next Steps: Create a Landing Page for Your Offer
Now you have 12 solid strategies to create a client acquisition plan for your business. It's time to start working.
If you already have your personal branding website setup, your next step is to work on your offer page.
Landing pages are key for putting your offer in the best light to entice your audience and get them to take action.
So, here are 4 free tutorials to help you get started:
Frequently Asked Questions About Getting Clients Fast
Tap into your immediate network — friends, peers, old coworkers, even past professors. A single message saying “I’ve opened up a few client spots” can get people referring you quickly. Pair that with personalized cold outreach (think short Loom videos or thoughtful DMs), and you’ll start building traction faster than you think.
It depends how you use it. Posting alone won’t do much. But joining active groups, starting direct conversations, and consistently offering helpful insights can quickly put you in front of warm leads. Bonus: Your content builds credibility along the way.
Personalize it. Keep it short, relevant, and focused on their needs — not your pitch. A quick Loom video or a thoughtful note referencing their recent work will go further than 100 copy-pasted emails.
Start with who you know — satisfied clients, peers in related industries, or even past employers. Offer a small referral reward or set up a “services exchange” with complementary business owners. Trust is already baked in, so conversions tend to happen quicker.
If set up right, your website can start attracting leads almost immediately — especially when paired with high-intent blog content and strong calls-to-action. It also gives your outreach and social media efforts a professional home base that builds instant trust.
How to Get Clients Fast: Final Words
Finding clients doesn't have to be a tough task that takes up all of your time. With the right strategy and tools, you can start generating a steady stream of prospects in no time.
The key is to start simple and build from there.
Choose a method above and follow the steps. That’s all it takes to start generating consistent clients for your business.
If you make sure to continue these lead generation strategies even when you get busy, you can ensure you'll earn a steady flow of new clients. And the effects will compound over time. The longer you stick at it, the easier it gets.
And if you're looking for tools to build a rock solid business website...
