How I Got My First PPC Client (While Working Full Time)
Getting your first client is the hardest bit. You’ve got the skills, you’ve got the ambition, but you just don’t know who’s going to take a chance on you.
It took me around three months to get mine. I didn’t leave my full-time job. I didn’t spend thousands on ads. I just positioned myself clearly, made myself easy to find and one day someone got in touch. That first enquiry changed everything.
In this post I’ll walk through exactly how I got my first PPC client.
Where I Was at the Time
At this point I already had 6 years’ experience in marketing and 2 years focused solely on PPC. I loved the job I had, I felt I was very good at it, but I wanted a way to earn more on the side without giving up the full-time role.
This was my place: take on a handful of freelance clients I could manage in evenings and weekends and see where it went.
The only issue is I didn’t know how to do that. But using my background in marketing, I used all the tips I knew to do get there early doors.
What I Tried First
I started by building the foundations. I created a Squarespace website that clearly explained what I do, why I specialise in B2B and what makes me a good fit. Even though I didn’t have much of an audience yet, I knew having somewhere to point people was crucial.
I also invested in a professional email address. £8/month for a custom Gmail domain might not sound like much, but it instantly made everything feel more official. If someone was going to trust me with their ad spend, I wanted to look the part.
I didn’t run ads. I didn’t do cold outreach. My SEO was (and still is) growing slowly but that wasn’t how I got found in the beginning.
What Actually Worked
My LinkedIn is what changed things for me.
I’d built a bit of a following there, not through posting a lot but through consistently connecting with people in marketing. When I updated my profile to reflect my B2B PPC offering with keywords, a clear value proposition, and a link to my site, it started working for me in the background.
One day, during my lunch break, I checked my phone and saw an email enquiry come through.
They were a B2B brand themselves and had found me through LinkedIn. They clicked through to my site, liked what they saw and got in touch.
I replied immediately (thankfully I wasn’t in a meeting) and kept all the communication via email. That helped massively while I was still working 9–5, because I could respond in my own time without needing to jump on constant calls.
The process was smooth, they were a great fit and were upfront about the timeline. Around a month later, I got my first invoice through.
What I Learned From It
That first client gave me a huge amount of confidence.
It showed me that clients will come to you if you’re clear about who you help, make it easy for them to get in touch and show a bit of personality in how you present yourself.
It also reminded me how much of a difference timing makes. If I hadn’t replied quickly, they might have moved on.
Tips for Getting Your First PPC Client
If you’re where I was – working full-time, trying to build something freelance on the side – here’s what I’d focus on:
Build a simple, clear website where potential clients can learn what you do and how to contact you
Get a proper email address – it’s a small thing, but it makes a big difference
Optimise your LinkedIn profile with relevant keywords and links to your site
Make it obvious who you help – I niched into B2B and leaned into my background rather than going too broad
Reply quickly when enquiries come in – studies show replying in the first five minutes make you 21 times more likely to qualify a lead!
Final Thoughts
Getting your first client isn’t about having the biggest network or the flashiest portfolio. It’s about being findable, trustworthy and responsive.
I wrote this post to help others (maybe you) get that first client over the line. If you’ve got any questions or you’re trying to land your first one, get in touch. I’d love to help if I can.