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A lot of people who want clients online start with the ask. They post what they sell, add “DM to order,” and wait. When nobody replies, they post it again with a new caption and a few more emojis.
Asking first has a built-in problem. You are requesting money from someone who doesn’t know you yet and has no reason to trust you. Giving them something useful first changes that conversation completely.
This post covers why that works, and a ten-minute review you can run on any business today.
Why giving value first works
Think about how many people try to sell to you online in a single day. Most of it you scroll past. Now think about the rare person who messages to say they looked at your page and noticed one thing you could do better. You remember that person.
That is the whole idea. When you point out something useful, you show that you have paid attention to the other person’s business. You prove you know what you are talking about without having to say so. And you come across as someone who helps, not someone who only wants to sell.
The help doesn’t have to be big. It has to be specific and easy to act on. One clear improvement is enough.
It is also how we handle conversations at DMSH. We don’t go into every conversation trying to sell. We start by being useful.
The 10-minute online presence review
You can run this review on a business you would like to work with, a friend’s business, or your own. Set a timer for ten minutes. Don’t try to fix everything. Find the one thing that matters most.
Minutes 1 to 2: look at the page like a stranger. Pretend you have never heard of this business. Read the name, the bio, and the top of the page. Can you tell, within a few seconds, who it is for and what it offers? If you can’t, most visitors can’t either, and they will leave without doing anything. Make a note.
Minutes 3 to 5: read the last three posts. Take each post and ask two questions. Who is this for? What should the reader do after reading it? Some posts speak to nobody in particular. Others end without telling the reader what to do next. Write down which posts fall into either group.
Minutes 6 to 7: try to reach the business. Imagine you are a customer who is ready to buy today. Look for a link, a phone number, or a message button. If it takes you more than a few seconds to find one, write that down.
Minutes 8 to 9: look for proof. Check for reviews, testimonials, finished work, or results. People trust what they can see for themselves, so a page with nothing to show leaves visitors guessing. Note whether there is anything.
Minute 10: choose one. By now you will have a list. Don’t send all of it.
How to choose the one fix
To decide, ask yourself which problem is putting off the most people, which one can be fixed quickest, and which one you can explain in a sentence. Usually the same item answers all three. Go with it and drop the rest.
Sending ten points looks like an audit nobody requested, and some people take it as criticism. One point reads as a favour.
If the page is already strong
Sometimes you won’t find much wrong. That is fine. Say what is working, then point to one small upgrade. People appreciate hearing what they are doing well, and it shows that your review was real and not a template.
How to share what you found
Keep the message short and leave the pitch out. Greet the person, say you looked at how their business appears online, tell them the one thing you noticed, and add a sentence on how to improve it. End by saying you hope it helps. Don’t ask for anything in return.
Mistakes to avoid
Don’t criticise the owner’s work in a way that sounds personal. Don’t send a long list. Don’t put an offer in the same message. And if you would like to share your review publicly, get the business’s permission first.
What happens next
Some people will thank you and carry on with their day. That is fine. You have still left a good impression.
Others will reply asking how to do more, or whether you can help them. That is the right time to talk about what you offer, because they have asked. These clients also come already knowing how you work, since they have seen it.
Where this fits
Giving value first is one piece of a larger system. Visibility gets the right people to notice you, and being useful earns the trust that makes them take the next step. The Visibility & Monetization Challenge from DMSH Ltd, led by Segun A. Wealth, our Visibility Engineer, is built on that system, so that being seen online leads to customers and revenue.
If you want clients online, pick one business this week and send them one useful fix.
