LinkedIn Lead Generation from Scratch: First Client in 60 Days

What happens when you’re an expert… but nobody in your new industry knows who you are?

In this episode of LinkedIn Riches, I sit down with Eric Ward, a former SaaS founder and CTO who exited after 24 years and decided to build an entirely new consulting business from scratch - in an industry where he had zero LinkedIn connections.

Eric didn’t try to “look busy” on LinkedIn. He didn’t spray cold pitches. And he didn’t rely on hope.
Instead, we used a focused LinkedIn strategy to help him build credibility, start real conversations, and land his first client in under 60 days - all while learning exactly what his new market wanted.

If you’re a consultant, coach, or small business owner trying to break into a new niche (or feeling invisible on LinkedIn), this conversation will hit close to home.

WHAT YOU'LL DISCOVER:

03:20 - Why Eric chose to niche down after exiting a SaaS company

10:12 - The 19-hour airport delay that changed his business direction

15:34 - How we positioned Eric's LinkedIn profile to attract his ideal prospects

18:22 - Why story-driven content builds trust faster than authority posts

22:52 - What Eric learned from his first booked LinkedIn sales calls

26:48 - How continuous improvement beats "set-it-and-forget-it" outreach

29:34 - Why LinkedIn success feels like pushing a snowball at first

This episode is a real-world LinkedIn case study - not theory, not hype - showing how patient, intentional LinkedIn lead generation actually works when you’re starting from zero.

(Note: You can also watch this episode as a video here. 📺)

Connect with Eric Ward on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-ward-greenville/


ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

🎁 Free LinkedIn Lead Generation Tips & Resources

📝 Sign Up for the "LinkedIn Lead Generation Tips" Newsletter

🤝 Connect with John Nemo on LinkedIn

🎯 "Done For You" LinkedIn Lead Generation Services