How to Land Your First Client For Your Marketing Agency (Even with No Experience)

Imagine waking up every day with a system in place that brings in new clients like clockwork. If you’ve struggled to get clients before, it’s likely because your messaging didn’t resonate with prospects, leaving you feeling like there was no end in sight.

But here’s the good news: if you’ve ever felt that way, or if you currently do, this guide will walk you through a step-by-step approach to landing your first digital marketing agency client — even if you have no prior experience or results to leverage.

These strategies have helped countless beginners jumpstart their marketing agencies, and they are the exact same concepts I used to grow my agency to over 15,000 paying clients. Let’s dive in!

Step 1: Niche Down for Success

One of the biggest mistakes new agency owners make is trying to work with every type of business. When I first started, I thought any small business owner was a potential client — chiropractors, dentists, real estate agents, and more. But when I pitched a dentist, they wanted to know my experience working with other dentists. Since I didn’t have that, it was hard to gain their trust.

The solution? Niching down.

• Pick a specific industry so you can tailor your messaging.
• Understand their unique pain points and challenges.
• Speak their language (e.g., real estate agents talk about “clients,” while dentists talk about “patients”).
• Build expertise and authority within that industry.

Once you’ve chosen a niche, using a tool like Apollo.io can help you find and connect with business owners in your target market. With its advanced prospecting features, you can easily build a list of potential clients and reach out to them in a personalized way.

Step 2: Offer a Free Trial to Build Confidence

When I landed my first real estate agent client, I made a simple offer: I would generate 50 leads for free, and if successful, they would pay me $1,000.

Here’s why this works:

• You remove the pressure of charging upfront, making it easier to secure your first client.
• You gain hands-on experience and confidence.
• Once you deliver results, you can use them as a case study to attract more clients.

Managing your outreach and follow-ups efficiently is crucial here. A CRM tool like Brevo can help you automate emails, schedule follow-ups, and keep track of client interactions so you never miss an opportunity.

Step 3: Develop a Strong Offer

Now that you have experience, it’s time to refine your offer. Avoid overpricing your services just because some gurus say you should charge high-ticket prices. Instead, focus on:

• Pricing that small business owners find affordable and worthwhile.
• Providing a clear ROI so clients see the value in your service.
• Creating a “no-brainer” offer they can’t refuse.

If you’re unsure how to create high-converting landing pages for your clients, Leadpages makes it simple. You can quickly build and test pages that drive leads without needing design or coding skills.

Step 4: Use Organic Outreach to Find Clients

Before spending money on ads, start with free organic methods:

• Post your results on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
• Engage in industry-specific Facebook groups.
• Reach out to business owners via DMs or emails with personalized messages.
• Offer free value, like helpful marketing tips tailored to your niche.

If you want to automate social media posting to keep your brand visible, SocialBee is a great tool that helps schedule and optimize content across multiple platforms, ensuring consistent engagement.

Step 5: Leverage Referrals and Testimonials

Once you’ve helped a client, ask them for referrals. Since business owners often network within their industry, they likely know others who could use your services. Simply ask, “Do you know anyone else in your field who might be interested in getting more leads like you did?”

Also, showcase success stories on social media and in your outreach. Testimonials provide powerful social proof that helps build trust with potential clients.

Conclusion

Landing your first client as a new digital marketing agency owner may seem overwhelming, but if you follow these steps, you’ll gain traction quickly:

1. Niche down to focus on a specific industry.
2. Use prospecting tools like Apollo.io to find and connect with potential clients.
3. Offer a free trial to gain experience and build credibility.
4. Use a CRM like Brevo to manage outreach and follow-ups efficiently.
5. Leverage landing page builders like Leadpages to create compelling offers.
6. Automate social media marketing with SocialBee to stay consistent and visible.
7. Use referrals and testimonials to scale your business.

If you want more detailed scripts, templates, and a step-by-step guide on how to land and fulfill clients, drop a comment below, and I’ll share my free training program.

By implementing these simple strategies and leveraging the right tools, you’ll set yourself up for long-term success in your digital marketing agency journey. Good luck!