Tuvo Apps
Contributor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
200%
- Sep 6, 2015
- 25
- 50
Hello everyone,
so it has been around 7 years since I discovered this forum, and a lot has changed since then. There has been a lot of ups and downs, and a few times I really wanted to quit. Last year I closed my first $5K deal, which was a big milestone for me. So I decided to let you guys know what I've been up to, and share my story so far.
I'm 22 now, and I started with entrepreneurship when I was around 14. You can read about my beginnings at my introduction thread, but this is a quick summary:
- I always wanted to be successful, always looking for different ways to make money. I read Rich dad poor dad at 14, and soon after discovered this forum
- At 15 I decided to make logos. I got my first client from local Craigslist, made around $20
- The same year I got another logo design client from cold email marketing
- At 16 a guy approached me at the bookstore. I joined an mlm and spent 1 year trying to be successful there. Learnt a lot about sales
- After leaving the mlm I started a lot of "wantrepreneur" projects - Tried to make a revolutionary fitness band, started a few Instagram fanpages, started an automotive YouTube channel, and tried to build an app for teenagers.
Web design
My real story begins at 19, when I read Fox's thread about webdesign. It seemed intriguing, and I had some experience with creating websites. So I decided to stick with it for a while.
I had no contacts, but I needed money fast. So I started cold calling businesses. I did this for a year, called around 100 businesses. Not exactly massive action, but I got 2 clients from that. In total my first year I made $700. I needed a change.
I needed to put myself in a situation where successs is inevitable. So the next year I decided to burn bridges, take all my money ($500) and move from Prague to London. The money was burining through very quickly, so I had no other choice than to take massive action.
I went to business networking events and trade shows, but being the introvert I used to be, I never made any sale. I didn't even talk to anyone at those events. But I was almost completely out of money already, so I had to do something.
So I went door to door, knocking on businesses and trying to sell my marketing package. I did this for a few days, nothing. Then I discovered the Facebook method.
I posted in several Facebook groups, introducing myself as a web designer that is starting about, and friendly offering my services. A few of these posts "exploded", and I got my first 5 real webdesign deals. This literally saved me.
So I was making websites, and by the time I was leaving London, I closed a deal for $700 - a big deal for me at the time!
Found a real need
The next year I got a few referrals, but my main source of leads were still Facebook groups. I picked a niche, and decided to make websites only in that niche. I made around 12 websites by this time. Also I started to meet my clients face to face.
During one client meeting, the guy told me about a problem he has that is costing him a lot of time. He told me his vision - the problem could be solved with a simple software. I agreed to figure it out, and that was my first $3500 deal.
I found a solution, and since I was so excited that I found a real need, I immediately wanted to scale it. I had no idea how, so I went back to cold calling. I called 5 business owners the first day, and set an appointment for the next day with one of them. He was very interested, and 7 days later my first deposit arrived. That was my first $5K deal.
So that was my story so far. It has been a crazy ride, but I don't regret any of the decisions I've made. I learnt a lot during these 8 years, and I still have a long way to go.
I would never be able to achieve any of this without this amazing forum and community! Thanks guys.
Next post will be about the future and the challenges I am facing right now.
so it has been around 7 years since I discovered this forum, and a lot has changed since then. There has been a lot of ups and downs, and a few times I really wanted to quit. Last year I closed my first $5K deal, which was a big milestone for me. So I decided to let you guys know what I've been up to, and share my story so far.
I'm 22 now, and I started with entrepreneurship when I was around 14. You can read about my beginnings at my introduction thread, but this is a quick summary:
- I always wanted to be successful, always looking for different ways to make money. I read Rich dad poor dad at 14, and soon after discovered this forum
- At 15 I decided to make logos. I got my first client from local Craigslist, made around $20
- The same year I got another logo design client from cold email marketing
- At 16 a guy approached me at the bookstore. I joined an mlm and spent 1 year trying to be successful there. Learnt a lot about sales
- After leaving the mlm I started a lot of "wantrepreneur" projects - Tried to make a revolutionary fitness band, started a few Instagram fanpages, started an automotive YouTube channel, and tried to build an app for teenagers.
Web design
My real story begins at 19, when I read Fox's thread about webdesign. It seemed intriguing, and I had some experience with creating websites. So I decided to stick with it for a while.
I had no contacts, but I needed money fast. So I started cold calling businesses. I did this for a year, called around 100 businesses. Not exactly massive action, but I got 2 clients from that. In total my first year I made $700. I needed a change.
I needed to put myself in a situation where successs is inevitable. So the next year I decided to burn bridges, take all my money ($500) and move from Prague to London. The money was burining through very quickly, so I had no other choice than to take massive action.
I went to business networking events and trade shows, but being the introvert I used to be, I never made any sale. I didn't even talk to anyone at those events. But I was almost completely out of money already, so I had to do something.
So I went door to door, knocking on businesses and trying to sell my marketing package. I did this for a few days, nothing. Then I discovered the Facebook method.
I posted in several Facebook groups, introducing myself as a web designer that is starting about, and friendly offering my services. A few of these posts "exploded", and I got my first 5 real webdesign deals. This literally saved me.
So I was making websites, and by the time I was leaving London, I closed a deal for $700 - a big deal for me at the time!
Found a real need
The next year I got a few referrals, but my main source of leads were still Facebook groups. I picked a niche, and decided to make websites only in that niche. I made around 12 websites by this time. Also I started to meet my clients face to face.
During one client meeting, the guy told me about a problem he has that is costing him a lot of time. He told me his vision - the problem could be solved with a simple software. I agreed to figure it out, and that was my first $3500 deal.
I found a solution, and since I was so excited that I found a real need, I immediately wanted to scale it. I had no idea how, so I went back to cold calling. I called 5 business owners the first day, and set an appointment for the next day with one of them. He was very interested, and 7 days later my first deposit arrived. That was my first $5K deal.
So that was my story so far. It has been a crazy ride, but I don't regret any of the decisions I've made. I learnt a lot during these 8 years, and I still have a long way to go.
I would never be able to achieve any of this without this amazing forum and community! Thanks guys.
Next post will be about the future and the challenges I am facing right now.
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