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Est. MMXXVI · Issue 01
Story of Entrepreneur
Playroom · First Sale

Deal Closer

Define your ideal customer, build an outreach sequence, prepare for objections, and score your opportunities. From first conversation to first invoice.

Ideal customer profile

Define who your first customer is. Be specific - vague ICPs lead to weak conversations.

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Outreach sequence

Follow this 5-step sequence for each prospect. Check off steps as you complete them.

01
ResearchResearch

Identify 5-10 prospects matching your ICP. Find their name, company, recent news, and a specific pain point.

02
Cold emailCold email

Subject: One line showing you know their problem. Body: 3-4 sentences. Ask for a 15-min conversation, not a sale.

03
LinkedIn follow-upLinkedIn

Reference your email. Share a relevant insight or article. Keep it light - this is about building familiarity, not pushing.

04
Phone callCall

Reference the email. Ask: Is this a good time? Have 30 seconds. If yes, deliver your 30-second pitch. If no, schedule.

05
Follow-upFollow-up

72 hours later: Share a relevant resource. Ask one specific question. Make it easy to respond. Move toward a discovery call.

Objection handler

Prepare for common objections. Select one and write your response.

Deal scoring

Rate a prospect against each criterion (1=weak, 5=strong). Score helps prioritize which opportunities to pursue first.

ICP fit

How well does this prospect match your ideal customer profile?

Budget confirmed

Do they have budget allocated for this type of solution?

Timeline

How soon do they need a solution?

Decision authority

Are you talking to the person who can sign the check?

Urgency

How painful is the problem for them right now?

Relationship

Do you have a warm introduction or existing connection?