How Did You Get Your First Clients for a Service-Based Startup? (I will not Promote)

Hey everyone, (I will not promote) For those who have launched a **service-based startup**, what were your biggest challenges in landing your first clients? I’m based in **Sri Lanka**, and we’re trying to break into international markets like **the US, UK, and Canada**, but finding initial traction has been difficult. I’d love to hear from other founders who have been through this: 1️⃣ How did you find and close your first clients? 2️⃣ What outreach methods, partnerships, or channels worked best for you? 3️⃣ Looking back, what would you have done differently in the early days? Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences.