“As a matter of principle, I never attend the first annual anything.” - George Carlin

As an entrepreneur, one of the toughest roadblocks you run into when first starting out is building your reputation. Whether you are in a service industry or selling your own new product line, how do you persuade prospects to become clients? At times, it can seem like an impossible task, but take heart, there are things you can do.

My first piece of advice for any new business owner is use the people you know! Whether it’s friends, family, past employers or neighbors, make sure everyone you know (and everyone they know for that matter) is in the loop about your new business venture. I would suggest sending out an e-mail to everyone on your contacts list giving them a breakdown of what you’re doing and asking them to pass it along to anyone they know who might be interested in your service or product. You’d be amazed how fast your contact list can multiply by just asking the people you know to pass your information along.

You can even include a special Family and Friends offer or discount. Remember, it takes a lot of work and money to get your business off the ground. Even if you only break even or lose a bit of money on these sales, the portfolio and/or great references or testimonials you gain will be priceless in the future of your business!

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