Building Your First 100 Contacts

Introduction

In the early days of a coworking space, waiting for people to discover your location is rarely enough. Your building may have attractive furniture, fast Wi-Fi, and empty desks, but potential members will not know you exist unless you contact them directly. The "100-Contact Scramble" is a practical way to create your first flow of tours, trial visits, and memberships. It means reaching out to people and organizations that already have a reason to use flexible workspace.

Concept

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The Importance of Direct Outreach

Direct outreach matters because a new coworking space has little local reputation. Instead of spending heavily on ads before you know which message works, start conversations with people who may need a desk, meeting room, private office, or business address. Ask about their work setup, listen for a problem, and invite them to see the space.

Real-World Example: A new coworking operator near a busy train station contacts independent consultants, remote employees, and small agencies within a three-mile radius. The message is personal: "We have opened a quiet workspace near the station. Would you like a free half-day pass to test the Wi-Fi, phone booths, and meeting rooms?" Several recipients book tours, and the owner learns that many need reliable rooms for client meetings rather than permanent desks.

Direct outreach also includes phone calls, local visits, email, LinkedIn messages, and introductions from current members. The goal is not to pressure people into signing a lease. The goal is to find useful conversations and show how your space can solve a real work problem.

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Building a Network

Your first network should include more than people who might become members. Build relationships with local accountants, recruiters, commercial real estate agents, startup advisers, relocation firms, universities, chambers of commerce, and companies hiring remote staff. These people regularly meet professionals who need workspace.

Use your existing contacts, former colleagues, local business groups, and member introductions. LinkedIn can help you find founders, freelancers, sales teams, and remote workers near your location. Local events are also valuable: attend business breakfasts, host a small founder lunch, or offer your meeting room to a community group.

Real-World Example: A coworking manager creates a list of 100 local contacts: 40 potential members, 20 estate agents, 15 accountants, 10 recruiters, 10 startup coaches, and 5 event organizers. Each person receives a message suited to their role. Recruiters are asked to refer companies needing temporary project space, while accountants are invited to a member breakfast.

A good network is not just a spreadsheet of names. Record what each person does, what they need, when you last spoke, and the next useful step. Treat partners as long-term relationships, not one-time sources of leads.

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Resilience in the Face of Rejection

Most outreach will not produce an immediate tour. Some people will be happy with home offices, locked into leases, too busy to reply, or outside your price range. That is normal. Rejection is information, not a verdict on your coworking space.

Track each response and look for patterns. If people like the location but object to the monthly price, test a part-time plan. If they ask about parking, improve your directions and parking information. If your message receives no replies, make it shorter and focus on a clear benefit.

Real-World Example: A space manager contacts 100 local remote workers and gets six replies. Four say they only need a desk two days per week. The operator creates a flexible access plan, follows up with those contacts, and books three tours. The outreach did more than create leads; it exposed a better offer.

Conclusion

The "100-Contact Scramble" gives a new coworking space control over its early growth. Build a focused list, start genuine conversations, invite qualified people to experience the space, and record what you learn. Consistent outreach will reveal which member groups, offers, and partnerships deserve more attention. The work requires patience, but it is faster and more reliable than waiting for empty desks to fill themselves.