First impressions are absolutely everything, and in business that’s perhaps more true than anywhere else – you might be meeting a client for the first time or welcoming a long-term partner into the office, or it could be about hiring staff, but whatever situation you find yourself in, the impression you make can set the tone for your entire business relationship from them on. The thing is that you’ll want to stand out and be remembered for all the right reasons, and you want them to leave thinking that they want to work with you and that they’re impressed.
That can all sound like a lot of pressure, but if you set things up properly and know what to do, it’s not as hard as it might seem. With that in mind, how do you go about making a good and memorable first impression with your clients (and anyone else, come to that)? Read on to find out.
Dress To Impress
Have you ever heard the saying dress for the job you want? Although that’s not always going to be something that works because you’ve always got to stick to some kind of dress code (even casual work places are going to have rules in place), it’s still a good rule of thumb to go by when you’re considering what outfit you might wear for your important meeting, or just around the office or store, for example. However, as much as what you wear is always going to be important and, whether you like it or not, it plays a big part in making a good first impression, being yourself always has to be part of your decision as well – in other words, you want to look polished and professional, but you also want to feel comfortable. After all, if you’re comfortable, you’ll be more confident and that confidence will really shine through.
When you’re meeting clients, think about what’s appropriate to wear for your industry, but add your own twist to it so you can be happy and comfortable as well. A pop of color in a tie, a fun pair or shoes, or even how you do your hair and makeup can make a lasting impression. The fact is, it’s all about being memorable, so don’t be afraid to add some personality to your professional look.
Be Punctual
Being on time is non-negotiable when it comes to first impressions, so you’ve got to make sure it happens – and ideally, you should arrive (or be ready if whoever you want to impress is coming to you) a little early. In fact, aiming to be early can be a really positive move for both you and your client, so it’s something you should make a positive habit as much of the time as possible.
When you’re early to a meeting, you’ll have time to compose yourself and relax so you come across as calm and collected – and it gives you a chance to go through your pitch or work through the questions you need to ask, which is going to help you make a good first impression as you’ll seem well-prepared and confident.
You can even use the time you have when you’re early to do some additional research about the client, and in that way, you’ll be able to walk in with a solid understanding of their business and what they might be looking for. That’s great because it shows you’ve got plenty of initiative and that you’re interested in them and their needs, and that’s something they’ll definitely notice and be impressed by.
Handwritten Notes
The world is full of digital messages like emails, DMs, texts, and so on – and then there’s the internet itself, with websites and blogs, giving you even more digital communication – so why not stand out in a good way by taking things back a bit and concentrating on writing handwritten notes instead of digital ones? That might sound strange, but when you think about it, you’ll reailze there’s something undeniably personal (and impressive) about getting a note than someone’s gone to the trouble of writing by hand – you’d like it, which means your clients probably would as well.
So when would you write these notes? One reason could be to say thank you after a meeting, or perhaps you want to send a note in advance to say you’re looking forward to meeting up and working together. Whatever the reason for the note, the fact that you’ve taken the time to put pen to paper is the kind of personal touch that sets you apart from everyone else who uses the same old email follow up. It might even be the thing that wins you the contract – it’s definitely worth trying.
Have Good Energy
No one is going to want to work with someone whose energy is on the negative side – and don’t think that you can hide how you feel because it’s highly likely you’ll accidentally let it out (and people will notice a lot more than you think that can – consider any situations you’ve been in that have left you feeling down and sad or uneasy for some reason; that’s likely to be the other person’s energy bringing you down). That’s why it’s so important to bring positive energy into your meetings with you or when you’re interacting with your clients and customers (or staff, come to that); it really can make a massive difference.
So how can you have better energy? It’s quite simple; you need to smile, engage in small talk, ask about them, and generally be happy and joyful. The hard part is to do all that if you’re not feeling all that positive for any reason, but you can actually trick the brain into thinking it’s happy (at least temporarily) and that can be done just by smiling, so try that next time you’re not feeling so good in a meeting and see what a difference it can make.
Green Business Cards
Business cards are a classic way to leave a tangible reminder of who you are and what you’ve been talking about, but they can also be seen as wasteful – after all, aren’t we meant to be cutting down on paper and being more sustainable? We are, and your clients are going to have a better first impression of you if you can show that right from the start. So what can be done?
One option is to try digital business cards, where someone has to scan a QR code and they’ll get all your information, but although that’s a good alternative, it’s also something many business owners are starting to see the benefit of, so it’s not going to help you stand out – and you might even get lost in the crowd.
You could try something completely different and order your business cards from SeedPrint instead. These cards will be environmentally friendly because they’re made from recycled card but, to make them really stand out, they have wildflower seeds embedded in them. That means that rather than throw the card away when it’s no longer needed, people can literally plant it and end up with a gorgeous garden. That’s far better for the environment, and it’s something that’s going to really make your clients sit up and remember you.
Ask The Right Questions
A first meeting isn’t just about selling yourself – it’s about learning as much as possible about your client so you can make sure you’re able to give them what they want in the way they want it. In other words, the more you know about their pain points, goals, and needs, the more easily you’ll be able to come up with solutions that will actually work (and ideally solutions no one else has thought of).
The key to all that is to get the information quickly and easily, and that means asking the right questions. Make sure your questions are thoughtful and open-eneded (questions that can be answered with a yes or no aren’t going to help you get much info). These questions won’t just help you come up with a plan to help the client in the best way, but they’ll also come across as caring and show you’re interested in knowing about them, and that’s going to make for a positive first impression every time.
Pay Attention To Body Language
Something else to remember is that first impressions aren’t just about what you say but also about how you say it – your body language can speak volumes, and most of the time you won’t even know it’s saying anything. The issue is that if you don’t know what your body is saying, you might be giving off the wrong signals so even if your words are positive, your client will get the opposite impression because of your body language.
The best thing to do is to start paying more attention to your body language – notice your posture, remember to make eye contact, and try to avoid crossing your arms (that can make you seem argumentative and closed off), for example. The more you work on good body language, the more natural it will seem. And don’t forget your client’s body language either; are they engaged? Do they seem bored or distracted? If you notice their attention is starting to drift, you can do something about it, so keep an eye on them and adjust your words or actions to keep them with you.
