I tried every way of getting clients. Here is the only one that worked.
When I started out I just wanted to make videos. But I had no connections, so I had to work out how to fill my own pipeline from scratch. Over ten years I tried pretty much everything.
Over ten years I tried early morning networking, thousands of cold emails, Google Ads and LinkedIn Ads. The only thing that consistently worked was good video content with the right ads behind it. Everything else was expensive, slow, or simply did not convert. That is why it is the only thing I now do for clients.
What did I actually try?
All of it. Networking events at half six in the morning. Outbound campaigns sending thousands of emails to strangers. Google Ads. LinkedIn Ads. The lot.
You know the networking ones. Half six in the morning, a room full of people handing out business cards, everyone hoping someone needs what they do.
Then the outbound. Sending thousands of emails to people you have never spoken to, hoping one of them bites. Then the paid channels, one after another.
None of it was a scam. It just did not work for a small service business trying to build a pipeline from nothing.
Based on ten years of trying to fill my own pipeline, as of July 2026.
So what actually worked?
Creating good video content, and running the right ads behind it. That is it. The content built the trust, and the ads made sure the right local people actually saw it.
That combination is the whole thing. The content on its own reaches the people who already follow you. The ads on their own point at a page with nothing to build trust with. Together, they compound.
If you would rather not spend ten years working this out yourself, book a free 20 minute call.
Why does that matter to you?
Because I have already done the trial and error. I know what works and I know what is a waste of time, and I paid for that education with my own money.
That is exactly why it is what I do for clients now. Not because it is the trendy thing, but because it is the only thing that consistently filled my own pipeline when I had nothing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way for a service business to get clients?
In my experience, good video content with the right ads behind it. The content builds trust, and the ads make sure the right local people actually see it.
Does cold outbound email work?
It was a lot of volume for very little return. It did not build any trust before the conversation started.
Do networking events work?
They can, but they are slow and they do not scale. You are limited to the people in the room.
Want to skip the ten years of trial and error?
Book a free 20-min call