3d • Wins 🌟
Told a potential client I'd build their workflow for free if it took longer than 10 minutes. Built it in 7. They paid me $4k anyway.
Told a potential client I'd build their workflow for free if it took longer than 10 minutes. Built it in 7. They paid me $4k anyway.
Best sales tactic I've ever used.
THE OBJECTION
Discovery call with e-commerce owner.
Her: "I've been burned twice"
Her: "Paid $8k to one developer"
Her: "Paid $6k to another"
Her: "Neither delivered anything working"
Her: "Why should I trust you?"
Fair question.
THE OFFER
Me: "What if I build it right now?"
Her: "On this call?"
Me: "Yes. If it takes longer than 10 minutes, it's free"
Her: "You're joking"
Me: "Dead serious. What do you need automated?"
She was skeptical but explained it.
THE REQUIREMENT
Return processing automation:
1. Customer emails return request
2. Validate order number
3. Check return eligibility (30 days)
4. Generate return label
5. Send label + instructions
6. Update inventory system
7. Notify warehouse team
Previous developers:
First guy: "Needs 3 weeks"
Second guy: "Built something" (didn't work)
Her: "I'm doing this manually. 2-3 hours per day"
THE BUILD
Her: "So you're starting now?"
Me: "Already started"
9:41 AM - Opened Skada.ai
Typed:
"Return request email triggers: validate order in Shopify, check 30-day eligibility, generate return label via ShipStation, send label with return instructions, update inventory, notify warehouse via Slack"
Skada built:
- Email parsing
- Shopify order lookup
- Date validation logic
- ShipStation label generation
- Branded email template
- Inventory adjustment
- Slack notification with details
9:46 AM - Built and deployed
Spent 2 minutes customizing:
- Her email branding
- Specific warehouse Slack channel
- Custom return policy text
9:48 AM - Complete
Total: 7 minutes
THE REACTION
Me: "Send yourself a test return request"
Her: "You're done?"
Me: "Test it"
She sent a return email.
10 seconds later:
- Return label in her inbox
- Inventory updated
- Warehouse notified
Her: "What just happened?"
Me: "Your return automation"
Her: "In 7 minutes?"
Me: "Yep"
Long pause.
Her: "The other developers said this was complex"
Me: "It's not"
THE PAYMENT
Her: "You said free if over 10 minutes"
Me: "I did"
Her: "It was 7 minutes"
Me: "Correct"
Her: "So what do I owe you?"
Me: "Nothing, but if you want to keep it running and maintained, I charge $4k setup + $800/month"
Her: "You're telling me I can walk away with this for free?"
Me: "Yes"
Her: "That makes no sense"
Me: "I built it. It works. It's yours"
She thought for a moment.
Her: "I'm paying you $4k"
Her: "That's insanely cheap for this"
Her: "Plus the monthly. When can we start?"
THE MATH THAT SOLD HER
What she was doing manually:
- 2.5 hours daily
- $50/hour (her effective rate)
- $125 per day
- $2,500 per month in her time
What I charged:
- $4k one-time
- $800/month ongoing
Payback period: 32 days
Annual savings: $30,000 in her time
She didn't need convincing.
The demo did everything.
THE "10-MINUTE GUARANTEE"
I've used this 6 times now.
Results:
- 6 workflows built
- Average build time: 8 minutes
- Never went over 10 minutes
- All 6 clients paid anyway
- Average payment: $3,800
Conversion rate: 100%
Why it works:
- Removes all risk
- Proves confidence
- Shows speed
- Demonstrates value instantly
Most "guarantees" are refund policies.
Mine is: "Watch me build it live or it's free"
No one expects it to actually work.
When it does, they're sold.
THE SKADA ADVANTAGE
Traditional approach:
Can't offer this guarantee.
Building in n8n takes hours minimum.
Risk is too high.
With Skada:
Every workflow is 5-15 minutes max.
Risk is zero.
Close rate is 100%.
I can confidently say "10 minutes or free" because I know it'll take 7.
CURRENT PIPELINE
Using this tactic on every skeptical lead:
"I'll build it live on this call. Over 10 minutes = free"
Last 2 weeks:
- 4 "10-minute challenges" accepted
- 4 workflows built (6, 9, 7, 8 minutes)
- 4 clients closed
- $14,200 in revenue
- Total build time: 30 minutes
THE BEST OBJECTION HANDLER
Client: "How do I know it'll work?"
Me: "Let me build it right now. If it takes over 10 minutes, keep it for free"
Closes instantly.
Client: "What if it breaks?"
Me: "I maintain it for $X/month. If it breaks, I rebuild it in minutes"
Trust established.
Client: "This sounds too good to be true"
Me: "Watch me build it. Clock is running"
Proof beats promises.
THE PSYCHOLOGY
People don't buy promises.
They buy proof.
Saying "I'm fast" = empty claim
Building in 7 minutes = undeniable proof
Saying "I'm reliable" = marketing
Deploying live on a call = trust
Saying "It'll work" = hope
Showing it work instantly = certainty
THE REAL INSIGHT
Speed isn't just a feature.
It's the entire sales process.
Demo = proposal = delivery = close
All in 10 minutes.
No back and forth.
No quotes to review.
No "let me think about it"
Build it live.
Show it works.
Close the deal.
Who else is using speed as their closing tool?
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Told a potential client I'd build their workflow for free if it took longer than 10 minutes. Built it in 7. They paid me $4k anyway.
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