Hey grump, I know we touched on this before.
As much as you hate to hear it, my initial suggestion that in the beginning getting work under your belt (to establish references) can be more important than profit still holds merit. Giving somebody a deal they can't refuse sometimes helps get you started. If they will take a chance on you, you will take a chance on them by giving them a great deal, as long as they agree to be a reference for you. Everybody has got to start somewhere.
You can also give them an offer they can't refuse as in a 100% money back guarantee. If you don't like what I do for you I will give you your money back on conditions. You then write into the contract that if the customer is not satisfied then the arbitration process begins, which would involve a 3rd party examining the work and determining if it meets industry standards, if it does then no money back. Of course you include that the 3rd party is determined by your choosing.
Second choice is its a numbers game, you can't land them all, you just have to keep going to you find somebody who doesn't ask you for references, you might be able to only close 1 out of 10 instead of 1 out of 3 in the beginning, but that will change as you build your references.
Third - is do you have pictures you can put into a portfolio? I have found that if you show people some really good examples of your work they become self-satisfied and don't bother asking for references.
Aren't there any people who you have done work for with your old employer that know you enough to be a reference for you?
As much as you hate to hear it, my initial suggestion that in the beginning getting work under your belt (to establish references) can be more important than profit still holds merit. Giving somebody a deal they can't refuse sometimes helps get you started. If they will take a chance on you, you will take a chance on them by giving them a great deal, as long as they agree to be a reference for you. Everybody has got to start somewhere.
You can also give them an offer they can't refuse as in a 100% money back guarantee. If you don't like what I do for you I will give you your money back on conditions. You then write into the contract that if the customer is not satisfied then the arbitration process begins, which would involve a 3rd party examining the work and determining if it meets industry standards, if it does then no money back. Of course you include that the 3rd party is determined by your choosing.
Second choice is its a numbers game, you can't land them all, you just have to keep going to you find somebody who doesn't ask you for references, you might be able to only close 1 out of 10 instead of 1 out of 3 in the beginning, but that will change as you build your references.
Third - is do you have pictures you can put into a portfolio? I have found that if you show people some really good examples of your work they become self-satisfied and don't bother asking for references.
Aren't there any people who you have done work for with your old employer that know you enough to be a reference for you?