Client Outreach Playbook

Step 1

Who to Go After

Local businesses with 5–50 employees that already spend money on marketing but don't have a dedicated person handling it. They feel the pain. You're the solution.

✂️

Barbershops & Salons

Instagram is an afterthought, appointments get lost, nobody manages reviews

$150–400/mo

🍽️

Local Restaurants

Social media is an intern's side-project, reviews go unanswered, Google listings are wrong

$200–500/mo

🌿

Landscapers & Home Services

Leads come from word-of-mouth only, Facebook page hasn't posted in 6 months

$200–600/mo

Rule: Target businesses within 15 minutes of your home or school. You want to be able to walk in unannounced.

Step 2

Walk In. Use This Script.

Don't call. Don't email first. Walk in during a slow time, find the owner, and say exactly this:

You: "Hey — are you the owner?"

[If they say no, ask when the owner is usually around and come back then.]

You: "Cool — I'm [Name], I'm a student at [School]. I help local businesses with their social media and Google presence. I noticed [business name] — do you ever feel like you're not showing up well online?"

[Pause. Let them agree.]

You: "I do everything from content to posting to managing reviews. I charge [price] a month, and I can show you results in the first 30 days. Would it be cool if I put together a quick free plan for you?"

→ They say yes. Get their phone number. Follow up with a text within 2 hours.

Do this Smile. Talk slow. Listen more than you talk. Have a notepad — it makes you look serious.

Don't do this Don't pitch for more than 90 seconds. Don't argue if they say no. Say "No problem, thanks for your time" and leave. Next one.

Step 3

3 Cold Messages That Actually Work

Use these after you visit in person — or send cold if you found their number online. Texts get 3–5x better response than emails for this audience.

📱 Text — Barbershop

"Hey [Name], it's [You] — we talked earlier at [Business]. I put together a simple 30-day plan for [Business Name]. It's free and shows what I'd post for the first week. Want me to send it over?"

In-person variant: After they say no to the pitch, say "Would it be weird if I texted you this weekend a quick preview of what I'd do for your page?" — gets a yes 70% of the time.

📱 Text — Restaurant

"Hi [Name] — I'm working with a few local restaurants on their social and Google listings. I noticed [Business] doesn't have recent posts up — is that on your radar? I could show you what's working for nearby spots."

In-person variant: "Are you managing the page yourself or do you have someone on it?" — most will say "it's been neglected." That's your opening.

📱 Text — Landscaper / Home Service

"[Name], quick question — are you getting most of your leads from word-of-mouth right now? I help home service businesses show up on Google so people find them before they call a competitor. Want to see what you'd look like when someone searches '[service] near me'?"

In-person variant: "What happens when someone Google '[service] [your town]' — where do you show up?" — they almost always say "I don't know" or "probably not." That's your hook.

✓ Send between 7–8am or 6–8pm (higher open rates)

✓ Follow up once 48 hours later: "Hey — just checking in on that preview."

✓ Never send more than 2 follow-ups

✗ Don't mention price in the first message — lead with value

Step 4

Do This Today

1

Pick 5 businesses within 10 minutes of you

Barbershops, restaurants, landscapers. Use Google Maps. Write down: name, address, owner name if you can find it.

2

Walk into the first one this week

Slow time = Tuesday–Thursday, 2–4pm. Use the script. Get a phone number. Leave if they say no.

3

Text them within 2 hours of meeting

Reference something specific from your conversation. Keep it short. Ask a yes/no question.

4

Repeat 5 times

Not 5 attempts — 5 conversations. Statistically, 1 out of 5 will say yes. That's your first client.