Finding the first customer?

Hi All
I want to start environmental and native forestry consulting. Ive a degree in both and want to start offering such services as Environmental Impact Assessments, biodiversity plans, native woodland management and the like. Im not looking to make a fortune-just enough to make a half decent living would be great.

The problem is I dont know how to get the first customer! ive a small website going
Can anyone suggest a hand?any suggestions would be great. cheers.

Re: Finding the first customer......

Advertise in Crann magazine. There is also a directory of environmental consultants. Do some voluntary work in the field, to get experience to put on your CV. Write articles for the newspapers. Contact Reps consultants in your area.

Re: Finding the first customer......

Killter - I would agree with all of Brendans suggestions. Looked at your website and it looks good. Just one thing - your contact information is vary vague. You have an email address and a mobile number. I personally think that for people to have faith in your business you need at least a business address and possibly a landline.

Re: Finding the first customer......

Have you experience in this area - have you worked in these areas or are you fresh from college? TBH, if you've just completed your degree and don't have any hands on experience I think you're efforts will be in vain. I would suggest you get some experience with the likes of White Young Green. If you do have practical experience, then perhaps you could contact Environmental consultants with the view to sub contracting some of their work - it might be easier and help build up your name.

Re: Finding the first customer......

Tend to agree with Lorz.

Getting relevant experience and a knowledge of the area (which can be displayed to the customer) would be of huge benefit to picking up clients.

If you have experience in the area finding a way to convey this to potential clients is needed, if not, I'd suggest you try and build some up before spending too much time on marketing.

By gaining experience with the likes of WYG or any of the Environmental Consultants in the country (there are a huge number out there) you'll not only gain experience, you'll also add a number of potential clients to your list who will have first hand knowledge of your work and therefore be far more likely to employ you.

Other little things like stating your own/your staffs chartered CIWEM (or any of the other institutional bodies) status may be of some (slight) benefit in gaining confidence in potential clients.

The forestry side of things may give you a specialism that not many of the large groups already possess. The chances of sub contracting here seem quite good so postioning yourself in a good working condition with large consultants (RPS, Jacobs, WYG, etc etc) could provide a good starting point for ICM.

Best of luck, hope it all goes well.

Re: Finding the first customer......

Hi Killter,

Your domain name is a bit of a mouthful... is this the registered business name? Would you consider obtaining a shorter .ie domain?
Other points to note, which build on the points previously mentioned regarding relevant experience and building customer relationships/trust, would be to include website options such as "Testimonials", "Case Studies", "Free Samples of Work (e.g. free downloadable assements etc). Make your website an invaluable resource in your area of expertise. Have a PR section where you have printed articles, white papers in relevant papers/magazines which you have written.
Just some food for thought which could help build your consultancy business. Best of luck.

thanks to all above-it's really appreciated. Ive a bit of experience that ill put to use....i knew not putting in an address on the site was dodgey looking so ill get onto that also with downloadable projects ive done before....cheers