Approaching Strangers About Your Product or Service: A Step‑by‑Step Guide

Meeting new people who could become customers is uncomfortable for most founders. This guide makes it practical—and shows how TODD (Outreach Relationship Management) can reduce the busywork so you can focus on the conversation.

1) Know Who You’re Approaching

Define 2–3 ideal customer profiles (ICPs): role, industry, size, pains, and desired outcomes. Build a short list first; quality beats volume.

TODD tip: Import your contacts and letTODDenrich missing fields (role, company, website) and flag duplicates before outreach.

2) Do 2 Minutes of Research

Skim LinkedIn/about pages for recent initiatives, tech stack, or hiring clues. Note one relevant insight you can reference.

TODD tip: Save research notes on the contact; TODD surfaces them and suggests a personalized opener when you draft.

3) Use a Simple Opener (No Pitch Yet)

Start with context + relevance + soft ask. Example:

“Saw you’re rolling out regional partner programs. We help teams reduce manual list cleanup and follow‑up work. Worth a quick compare‑notes chat?”

TODD tip: TODD proposes message variants and validates email addresses before you send.

4) Offer a Specific Next Step

Give a clear, easy option: a 15‑minute call, a 2‑minute video, or a one‑page benchmark. Avoid vague “let me know.”

TODD tip: TODD schedules nudges and reminds you to follow up at the right time if there’s no reply.

5) Follow Up (Politely, 3–5 Touches)

Space touches 2–4 days apart across email and LinkedIn. Each touch should add value (case study, insight, or question).

TODD tip: See how TODD automates follow‑ups and prioritizes who to contact next.

6) What to Say If You’re Approaching In Person

• Event opener: “What brought you to this session?” → listen → connect pains to outcomes.
• Booth walk‑up: Ask a micro‑question (“How do you keep your CRM clean?”) then offer a relevant takeaway.
• Exit: Propose a tiny next step and exchange details.

7) Keep Notes So Future You Sounds Smart

Record objections, interests, and timing. You’ll write better follow‑ups and avoid repeating the same starter.

TODD tip: TODD stores conversation notes and suggests the next best action.

Mini Script Library

Cold email: Context → value → soft CTA.

Subject: Quick question about your partner outreach
          
          Hi {{first_name}}—noticed {{company}} is hiring for {{role}}. Teams in that stage often lose time to contact cleanup and follow‑ups.
          Would a 15‑minute compare‑notes chat be useful? If not, I can share a 2‑minute overview.
          — {{your_name}}

LinkedIn DM: “Appreciated your post on {{topic}}. Curious how you handle {{pain}}—happy to share what we’re seeing.”

---

Next: Let TODD work the admin while you work the conversation. Start free or see follow‑ups in action.

FAQ

How many times should I follow up?

Three to five touches across 2–3 channels is a solid baseline. Stop if you’re clearly asked to, or after no signal in 30 days.

What if I’m introverted?

Use short messages and value‑first links. Scripts help. TODD drafts variants so you don’t start from a blank page.

How does TODD help, specifically?

TODD enriches contacts, validates emails, drafts personalized messages, prioritizes who to reach out to, and nudges timely follow‑ups.