Nail it on the First Handshake

First impressions last.

It takes but a few seconds, even a moment, for someone to make an impression of you when first you meet. Within this few moments, that person would have already made a judgment on your appearance, your body language, your behavior during the meeting, the way you express yourself, and the way you are dressed. Everything about you has been summed up into one whole opinion. And that first impression usually lasts for a very long time.

Every encounter and meeting is an opportunity for you to help develop a positive image of you and your business. Every opportunity for you to meet another person is another chance for you to present a great image. That’s why the first encounters are crucial because they become precedents to the next meetings and the next encounters.

Creating a good impression then is vital to your business’ success. It takes a long time for you to build a good relationship with a positive opinion; but it takes one bad impression and your whole image would surely crumble.

So what do you do to help you get that positive first impression? Here’s how:

Appearance matters.
Of course it does. Remember that the person you’re meeting for the very first time doesn’t know you. And the first thing he or she’s going to see is your appearance. It does make a difference if you appear to look appropriate for the meeting.

It doesn’t mean though that you have to be fully made up or that you buy a new Chanel suit for the occasion just so you could put your best foot forward. The key is to present yourself in a suitable manner. A good haircut or clean shaven appearance would do fine. Wear clean and tidy clothes, put on a neat make-up if you’re a woman, and make sure that you were able to groom yourself appropriately before you leave your house or your office. When you have a clean and tidy appearance, it helps you to feel more confident and comfortable, thus you exude a professional image to the other person.

Be on time.
We all know that patience is a virtue. But if you’re meeting a client or a prospect, or even an investor, it doesn’t pay for you to be late on your first meeting, or even the next meetings thereafter. It always creates a good impression when you’re there at the allotted time. There’s just no excuse for your tardiness, be it for a business meeting or any other appointment for that matter. The best thing to do to avoid being late is to arrive ahead of time, say, a few minutes. Allocate enough time for delays such as traffic or that you still have to look for the place because you’re not familiar with it.

Be prepared.
When that person asks you for a business card or a marketing brochure, you should be able to hand out one or two of your materials. This is especially true with your business card printing pieces.

Just like your personality, your full color business card is a representation of your image. Whatever you have in your card is a reflection of your values, beliefs and your traditions. That’s why it is so important that you have a card that tells your recipient of what you can actually do. You should never leave home without it.

The bottom line is to give each encounter your best. A little extra effort to look and behave appropriately can go a long way in creating that first positive impression from your clients.

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