What strategies can I use to integrate my automation services with local small‑to‑medium‑sized businesses via cold DMs?

Nick advises Jake to stick with packaged automation services rather than moving to custom projects, because custom work suffers from scope bloat and inefficiencies. He suggests leveraging Jake’s existing mortgage‑originator network: compile a list of all B2B clients and leads from that work, plus any other network connections. In a spreadsheet, put clients in column A, ways you could help them in column B, systems you could build or sell in column C, and pitch price in column D. Then warm‑pitch each contact by referencing your automation work and asking if they know anyone who might need it. Start with existing clients and leads, then expand to your wider network for referrals. This approach uses your proven problem‑solver reputation, making outreach far more effective than cold outreach. After exhausting warm contacts, you can still add a scalable outbound mechanism (e.g., B2B cold email) to reach strangers, but the warm path is the fastest route to revenue.