The 5 skills I needed to land my first client (now at 1.4k clients per month)
This is the fastest newsletter I've ever written because I'm literally just going to tell you everything I needed to learn to get my first client.
This is going to be my most actionable newsletter to date, it’s main purpose is for you to level up!
you’re still working on landing your first client, I suggest you learn all the skills I’ll indicate below.
You’ll either land a client or gain the skills necessary to land one. Either way, it’s a win-win.
I’ll keep this quick because our December 2024 campaign is killing me.
Skill 1: Videography
This skill is interchangeable with photography, but I focused on videography because I only used social media (Facebook and Instagram).
Both platforms I used to land my first client—then and now—prioritize videos over photos.
Don’t let the term ‘videography’ scare you. You don’t need to be super talented; you only need to be “good enough.”
YouTube is your friend. I recommend starting with these topics:
Once you’re done watching these videos, stand up, roll up your sleeves, and start taking videos. Your first few attempts will suck (it’s a skill that professionals dedicate their careers to). Be patient with yourself.
Since you’re a businessman, not a videographer, expect about 50% of your raw footage to be unusable.
Now that you have good-enough raw footage, it’s time to learn how to use it.
Skill 2: Video Editing
The first step of video editing is selecting the right footage and how you’ll arrange them to become an actual ‘video’.
The problem with this skill is it involves choosing the right video editing software.
Here’s what I chose, and why I chose them:
Davinci Resolve: its free version is still the best (in my opinion) and the interface is easy to use (in my opinion).
Capcut: I mainly use it for auto-generating captions but I’m sure a lot of creators use this for fast and basic editing.
The first step in video editing is selecting the right footage and arranging it into an actual ‘video.’
One challenge with this skill is choosing the right video editing software. Here’s what I use and why:
DaVinci Resolve: Its free version is (in my opinion) the best, with an easy-to-use interface.
CapCut: I mainly use it for auto-generating captions, but many creators use it for quick and basic editing.
I found this skill fun at first (during the learning phase) but it quickly became a chore.
Here’s how to avoid over-studying technicalities you don’t actually need:
Find a video from a competitor.
Imitate it (focus on the cuts, not the effects).
It’s easy to get carried away with aesthetics instead of focusing on the conversion rate. Remember: in its simplest form, video editing is just merging clips. Once you can do that, you’re 90% done.
Everything in excess is just that ‘excess’.
Always remember: “Your videos don’t need to entertain; they need to convert.”
Skill 3: Copywriting
Once you’ve unlocked your video editing skill, the next step is understanding how to:
Get their attention (there’s a lot of competition for attention out there).
Deliver your message precisely.
Have them do what you want them to do.
Those 3 things are the foundations of copywriting, I made a long thread regarding this skill.
Look at it yourself, it will give you a better understanding.
In my opinion, this is the most fun skill to learn, and once you master it, your profitability goes through the roof.
Your primary sources of knowledge for this skill are books and advertisements.
Copywriting is a skill that starts with imitation, then evolves into innovation (emphasis on THEN).
Skill 4: Content Creation
The skills you’ve gained from 1–3 already set you up for creating ‘content.’
Here’s how you can use your content to attract clients through multiple methods:
Organic Content:
How It Works: Post your videos for free. If they’re good enough, the algorithm will suggest them to more people.
Pros: It’s free and has viral potential.
Cons: It’s not targeted, so while many people might view your content, they may not be potential clients. Your competition can also see what you’re doing.
Suggested Channels: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok.
Cold Outreach:
How It Works: Directly contact potential clients one-on-one.
Pros: It’s free, measurable, and keeps your competition in the dark.
Cons: Your time is limited, so you can only reach out to a certain number of people.
Suggested Channels: Email and direct messages.
Paid Advertisements:
How It Works: Pay platforms to forcibly show your content to a targeted audience.
Pros: It’s targeted to specific clients and provides the best analytics.
Cons: It’s not free, and success depends on the efficiency of your content.
Suggested Channels: Instagram, Facebook.
If you found this letter educational, share it to your friends or your profile!
Hit me up on threads or IG by tagging me (@pr.limj), let me know you made it to the end of this letter!