There are a lot of misconceptions about sales, especially from people that don't sell. A lot of that is because Hollywood and TV enjoy presenting people as shyster salespeople.
Essentially, the first thing to remember is that you're there to help them make money. Believe that, and your job is easier. Think of yourself as someone who just found this great service and they should use it because it'll make their lives easier/better/etc.
But first, you have to find your customers. Who are they? Where are they? How do you get to them?
Small businesses are hard to reach and hard to sell to. But if you get enough of them they become an impenetrable moat that will allow you to get revenue forever.
As other people have said, you may have done stuff in the wrong order. But there are plenty of startups that have done "if you build it they will come." It just costs more. I mean, you need to sell something!
You obviously built it with a customer's needs in mind. Who was that customer? A friend? Your business? That should be part of your marketing story.
Essentially, the first thing to remember is that you're there to help them make money. Believe that, and your job is easier. Think of yourself as someone who just found this great service and they should use it because it'll make their lives easier/better/etc.
But first, you have to find your customers. Who are they? Where are they? How do you get to them?
That's what this book is for:
https://smile.amazon.com/Traction-Startup-Achieve-Explosive-...
Then how do you talk to them? Why should they trust you? This is one book that might help with that:
https://smile.amazon.com/Soft-Selling-Hard-World-Persuasion/...
Small businesses are hard to reach and hard to sell to. But if you get enough of them they become an impenetrable moat that will allow you to get revenue forever.
As other people have said, you may have done stuff in the wrong order. But there are plenty of startups that have done "if you build it they will come." It just costs more. I mean, you need to sell something!
You obviously built it with a customer's needs in mind. Who was that customer? A friend? Your business? That should be part of your marketing story.
Good luck!