The First Client

Intro:

Starting a web & app dev company was a dream I had prior to learning to code, but landing my first client was the moment that made that dream feel real. As the founder of ${DarkMode} Devs, getting that first opportunity not only validated my skills but set the foundation for what my company would become.

When I started this company, I had no idea what I was about to get myself into, I just wanted to succeed and build a great tech company and prosper just like anyone else who believes in the good old "American Dream". I knew client acquisition was a problem that needed to be solved and anyone who knows the industry knows that my competition was fierce. I had to start somewhere, and you wouldn't believe how I landed my first client - a humble experience.

Here's the story of how I secured my first client and the lessons I learned along the way.

The story behind the first client:

In the beginning, I struggled with the typical hurdles—finding leads, building a portfolio, and convincing potential clients to take a chance on me. Despite honing my skills in web & app development, translating that into real business seemed daunting. I started by building my online presence, networking within local developer groups, and sending out cold emails, hoping someone would respond.

Long story short, I was living at my mom's ranch, I was a recent bootcamp grad and a full-time student. One day the power went out in our home, and we knew the bill was paid. We had to have electricity, this isn't the stone age, and I needed the internet. We tried going to the main meter and resetting the switches, but nothing. So, after a night of lighting candles, I started calling professional electricians. After half a day of phone calls, I found only one electrician that was willing to come to our home and give us a free estimate after assessing the damage.

Shortly after he arrived, he showed me the issue, and it was dangerous, our home could have caught on fire and my room was right next to the main meter. He acted in good faith and began repairs so that we could have electricity and not worry about burning alive. While he worked, we spoke about a lot of things, and it turned out his company needed a web presence and some social media management. I offered to help with no upfront costs, just as I was afforded.

Fast forward who knows how long later, a lot has changed, and I hadn't heard a peep from the electrician since he left our home. One day, I decided to reach out, and he wanted to meet up at his house and discuss how I can help his business.

Onboarding:

Before our first meeting, I knew I was taking the job no matter what, money meant nothing to me - I've been rich and poor, as well as everywhere in-between, in my life. What I valued was establishing a real relationship and giving my clients a great and lasting experience.

So, we arrived at his home. He showed me how bad his current website was, and he showed me how a local CMS developer was charging him $7,000.00 a month for a trash website, and now that his business couldn't afford the fees, they left him high and dry with online garbage. The man was left with nothing, and his business was dying slowly. He was willing to give his business one last shot at success, but didn't have the money to pay me. I thanked him for what he did for me and my family and decided I was taking the job for free. But, as excited as he seemed, he said he respectfully had to pay me something, and all he had was an old gaming PC still in the original box. So, I agreed to take the PC as payment for our services, and that was that, or was it....

How it ended:

The man came to my home one day, as I invited him to come and hang out while we put the finishing touches on his website and social profiles. He was going through a lot. He thanked us for our help and stated that he may dissolve his business. It turned out that he was going through a divorce and didn't have the patience or strength any longer to compete in his field.

Fast forward again, sometime later, I reached out to see how he was doing. It turned out his phone was disconnected and when I checked on his website and social media profiles - he took it all down. I was sad for many reasons, not only because I no longer have a project in my company portfolio, but for whatever he was going through, because when my family needed help, he was there, so I tried returning the favor.

Reflections:

Landing my first client was a game-changer. It solidified the importance of being me. In hindsight, my first client was a humble and yet rewarding experience, he wasn't a big time high paying client, he was a hard-working American that had a big family to take care of and little resources to do it. I still think about that trash CMS developer and wonder how he sleeps at night for what he did to that family for months - he is a disgrace of a man in my eyes.

Myself, I was willing to do anything to make my company succeed and establish a good relationship with my clients - no matter who they were. Sometimes in life money is not everything, it's how we take care of one another on a human level.

Advice to Others:

If you’re trying to land your first client, my biggest tip is to leverage your network. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Personalizing your approach to each potential client and showcasing your unique strengths will set you apart. And remember, every interaction is an opportunity, even if it doesn’t result in immediate business.

Stay Blessed.

Side Notes:

There's more to come - personal and technical.

If you’re interested in the Backstory to ${DarkMode} Devs, or If there is something you’re interested in that you would like us to write about, contact us through the contact form on this blog and let us know.

If you're an aspiring web developer or entrepreneur looking to jumpstart your career, don’t hesitate to reach out. Whether you need a website for your business or mentorship to help you land your first client, ${DarkMode} Devs is here to support you. Let’s connect!