Pitching clients is not a dark art. It is clear thinking, small proofs, and a simple ask. This guide gives you a clean system you can run every week. Pick the right prospect, spot a quick win, send a short pitch, follow up, and close with a tiny project that proves your value.
What makes a strong pitch
- Specific outcome: Promise one result a busy owner understands. Example: more booked calls, more qualified leads, faster checkout, higher email clicks.
- Proof in minutes: Show a screenshot, a 60 second Loom, or a 2 line audit. No fluff.
- Easy next step: One clear call to action. Book a 15 minute call, or reply YES to start a fixed scope starter job.
Set your target and offer
Pick one buyer type and one small paid outcome. Your pitch gets sharper and your close rate goes up.
- Buyer: SaaS under 50 staff, local tradies, ecom stores under $2m, clinics, coaches, B2B services.
- Outcome: Landing page refresh, 3 email welcome series, Google Ads tune-up, CRO audit, product page rewrite, booking flow fix.
Sell a starter job first. Keep delivery under 7 days. Price so a single extra sale can cover your fee. Then pitch the larger engagement once you have a win on the board.
Do a 5 minute pre-pitch audit
Open the prospect’s site and socials. Look for one clear gap you can fix fast.
- Offer clarity: Headline misses the outcome or the who.
- Proof: No recent reviews, weak case study, or buried testimonials.
- Friction: Slow page speed, long form, weak CTA, checkout hiccups.
- Message match: Ad promise does not match the landing page.
- Email: No welcome series or dead post-purchase flow.
Grab one screenshot and write one sentence on the impact. That is your pitch core.
The simple pitch template
Use email for first contact. Keep it short, plain, and human. Swap in your details where noted.
Subject line ideas
- [Company] booking flow – quick win
- Small fix for your [offer] page
- 3 leads a week from one page tweak
- Your Google Reviews deserve front row
Email template
Hi [First Name],
I had a look at [Company] because I help [niche] lift [core outcome] with small fixes.
On your [page or channel], I noticed [one clear gap]. See screenshot below. This usually costs [problem impact] – eg fewer enquiries and higher ad spend.
Quick win I can ship this week:
- [Fix 1] – what I will change
- [Fix 2] – simple proof element to add
- [Fix 3] – CTA or flow tweak
Starter job – fixed scope, fixed price:
- Deliverables: [list 3 bullets]
- Turnaround: [2 to 5 business days]
- Fee: [$X inc GST]
If you want me to do it, reply YES and I will send a one page work order. Happy to jump on a 15 minute call too.
Cheers, [Your Name] [1 line proof – clients, years, or a tiny case study] [Website or Calendly link]
Why this works
- You show you did your homework.
- You sell one outcome, not a vague service bag.
- You remove risk with a small, fast job and clear terms.
Follow up that gets replies
Most wins come from polite follow ups. Use this simple cadence. Stop early if they say no.
- Day 2 – short nudge: Hi [Name] – keen for me to ship the [starter job] this week?
- Day 4 – add proof: Quick note – did this fix for [client], lead volume rose 18 percent in 14 days. Want the same?
- Day 7 – Loom: Recorded a 60 second walkthrough of your [page]. Link: [URL]. Worth a look?
- Day 10 – break up: Should I close the file on this? All good if now is not the time.
Keep each message under five lines. Plain text. No big attachments. A single image or Loom link is fine.
Price and scope for a fast yes
Make buying easy. Offer one fixed scope, one price, one due date. Add a simple work order so both sides know the rules.
One page work order – outline
- Project: [Starter job name]
- Deliverables: 3 bullets
- Timeline: start date and due date
- Client to supply: access, logo, brand colours, product info
- Fee and terms: $X – 50 percent to start – balance on delivery
- Revisions: up to 2 rounds on scope
- Success check: 1 metric we will look at after 14 days
Once the starter job lands and the needle moves, pitch a 30 to 90 day package tied to outcomes. Example: monthly CRO sprints, ad creative and testing, email flows, or regular landing page refreshes.
Where to find prospects
- Directories and maps: Pull a list of local businesses with weak sites or old reviews.
- Job boards: Reply to gigs with your starter job. Show the quick win first, resume second.
- Newsletters and groups: Share a short teardown with one fix and ask for 2 more sites to review.
- Past employers and mates: Warm referrals close faster. Ask for one intro per week.
Advanced tips when you are ready
- 90 second Loom audits: One page, one fix, one outcome. Use a headset mic. Add captions. Keep it under 90 seconds.
- ROI framing: If one extra sale at $[AOV] covers my fee, this is a safe test. Shall we run it?
- Multi-thread: CC a second contact if the first goes quiet. Be polite.
- CRM light: Track pitches and follow ups in a simple sheet. Columns: company, contact, date sent, status, next step.
- Proof pack: 2 screenshots, 1 short quote, 1 before and after. Keep it handy to paste into emails.
- Offer ladder: Free micro audit – paid starter job – recurring package. Move up only after a clear win.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Vague promises: Avoid buzzwords. Say what you will do and by when.
- Too many links: One call to action. One link. Reduce choices.
- Huge scopes upfront: Big proposals slow deals and invite risk. Start small.
- No follow up: Most replies land after message two or three.
- Generic blasts: A 5 minute audit beats a mail merge every time.
Your 7 day action plan
- Day 1: Pick one buyer type and one starter job. Write your work order template.
- Day 2: Build a proof pack. Gather two screenshots and one client quote. If you are new, do one free fix for proof.
- Day 3: Pull 20 prospects. Note one gap for each.
- Day 4: Send 10 pitches before lunch. Use the template. Log them.
- Day 5: Send 10 more. Book any calls. Keep each call to 15 minutes with three questions: what outcome, by when, what is it worth.
- Day 6: Follow up the first 10. Record two Looms.
- Day 7: Deliver your first starter job. Ask for a line of feedback and permission to use a screenshot.
Final word
The right pitch is short, useful, and easy to accept. Choose a tight offer, show one clear win, and ask for a small yes. Keep a steady follow up rhythm and track your numbers. Run this for four weeks and you will book calls, win paid starters, and build proof you can scale. Keep it simple and keep sending.
