I had to overcome my fear of cold outreach (& why you need to do it too)

On one of the YC videos, they said "as a business owner, you'll have to get comfortable with putting yourself in uncomfortable situations".

So I'm a pretty social person, talking to strangers is never a problem. But I suffer from "what if people don't need what I'm selling". So, reaching out to people makes me sweat.

But here's the problem: a business can not be successful if you're uncomfortable with cold outreach.

Think of it like this:

  • You have an awesome product.
  • But no one knows about it.
  • It's like having a party and forgetting to send out invitations.

Cold outreach is like sending out those invitations. It's one way to talk to someone who might become a customer.

Why you need to start now:

  • It's less-costly. Sending emails and DMs don't cost as much as training ad algorithms.
  • It's risk-free. The worst that can happen is someone ignores you (or your domain gets blacklisted).
  • It's effective. Even big-time entrepreneurs use cold outreach to get clients and build relationships.

Heck, I don't even have a huge business and I'm get cold outreach emails from everywhere.

Here's how to get over your fear:

  1. Change your mindset. Don't think of it as "bothering" people. Think of it as providing value. Offer something helpful, like a compliment, a resource, or a freebie.
  2. Craft your message. Keep it short, sweet, and to the point. Explain who you are, what you offer, and why they should care.
  3. Just hit send. This is the hardest part, but it gets easier with practice. Remember, you miss 100% of the shots you don't take.

Pro Tip: Don't expect to get a response from everyone. Focus on building relationships, not just closing deals.

Before you spend on ads, or hire any agency, cold outreach can help you:

  • Get your first customers
  • Build your network
  • Grow your audience

The hardest part about it is Who to send it to, Message, Journey. But these can be optimised for your business at a very low cost (i'm talking $80-200) within 60 mins of conversation. Then you can DIY and get better results.