First call script

FIRST-CALL SCRIPT (20–30 minutes)

0. BEFORE THE CALL — 5 minutes
- Look at the client's website and social accounts and write down 2 facts about them.
- Goal of the call: understand the problem and agree on a next step.

1. OPENING — 2 minutes
"[Name], thanks for making time. Here's what I suggest: first I'll ask a few questions about your project, then I'll tell you how I work, and at the end we'll decide whether it makes sense to go further. We have [25] minutes. Does that work?"

2. QUESTIONS — 10–15 minutes, the client does most of the talking
- "Tell me what's going on with [area of the project] right now."
- "What have you already tried? What worked and what didn't?"
- "Why did you decide to take this on now?"
- "How will you know it's solved? What will be different?"
- "Who else is involved in the decision?"
- "Is there a deadline, and a ballpark budget?"
Write down the answers in the client's own words. You'll use them in the proposal.

3. RECAP — 1 minute
"Let me check that I understand: [recap in 2–3 sentences]. Is that right?"

4. HOW I WORK — 3–5 minutes
"For your project, I'd suggest these steps: [2–3 steps]. It usually takes [time frame]. I had a similar project with [type of client]: [what we did, how it turned out]."

5. NEXT STEP — 2 minutes
"Here's what I suggest: by [date] I'll send a proposal with options and a price. Would [day and time] work to go over it?"

IF THEY ASK ABOUT PRICE RIGHT AWAY
"Similar projects run from [amount] to [amount]. I can be more precise once I understand the scope. Two more questions, and then I'll give you a number."

AFTER THE CALL
- Send a recap email the same day (see the "Email after a call" template).

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HOW TO REFINE THIS WITH AI
"Here is a first-call script. I [what you do], I'm calling [whom], and their typical problem is [problem]. Adapt the questions in section 2 to my field and add 3 questions that will help me understand budget and timing without pressure. Then play a client who has doubts and run a practice call with me: ask one question at a time, wait for my answer, and after the call tell me what I could say differently."