A full course on a page.
60 minute client acquisition
part five
What we’ll learn
Using Google to Find Local Clients
The 60-Minute Client Hunt
A fast, practical exercise to prove clients are everywhere.
Goal:
Find at least 15 potential clients in one hour and adds them to their Dream 50 tracker.
No guessing. No theory. Just discovery.
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Before the Timer Starts
Open a simple spreadsheet with these columns:
- Business Name
- Website
- Business Type
- What I Noticed About Their Images
- Contact Person (if available)
Don’t overthink the sheet.
Speed matters more than perfection.
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Minute 0–10
Google Maps Sweep
Search locally for categories like:
- bakery
- craft brewery
- winery
- distillery
- boutique
- handmade jewelry
- custom furniture
- coffee roaster
- skincare brand
- knife maker
Open the businesses that look interesting.
Add at least five to the sheet.
Don’t research deeply yet.
Just capture the leads.
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Minute 10–25
Website Evaluation
Now open the sites.
Ask three quick questions:
- Do they sell something visual?
- Do they clearly use photography?
- Are the images average or inconsistent?
If yes → they stay on the list.
Add a quick observation in the notes column.
Examples:
- “Menu photos all different lighting.”
- “Product shots on white background but flat.”
- “Beautiful product but weak imagery.”
This observation becomes the future outreach hook.
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Minute 25–40
Instagram Sweep
Search hashtags like:
- #phoenixbakery
- #phoenixmaker
- #phoenixcoffee
- #phoenixskincare
- #phoenixboutique
Replace with their city.
Look for:
- active posting
- phone photography
- inconsistent lighting
- poor composition
Those are opportunities.
Add five more businesses.
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Minute 40–50
The Hidden Clients
Now search phrases like:
- “artisan chocolate [city]”
- “small batch soap [city]”
- “custom furniture maker [city]”
- “local distillery [city]”
These businesses often have no strong photography yet.
Which is exactly the point.
Add three to five more.
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Minute 50–60
Pick the Top Three
Now they choose:
Three businesses you would most like to photograph.
For each one write:
- what you would photograph first
- why better images would help the business
Example:
“Photograph three signature cocktails for their Instagram and website.”
This becomes their first outreach email target.
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The Debrief (Important)
This is your audit.
- How many businesses did you find?
Hopefully 15–30.
- Did you realize this many potential clients were around you?
Almost nobody does.
That’s the point.
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The Lesson To Walk Away With
Clients are common.
What’s rare is photographers who pay attention to businesses.
The moment you start looking through a commercial lens, your city becomes full of opportunity.
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