How to Make a Good First Impression with a New Client

You're ready to leave your office to meet with a new client. You check your appearance to make sure every hair is in place and no wrinkles are on your clothes. You practice confident posture as you stand tall. You make sure you have all of your brochures and information to present to the client. But what do you really need to do to make a good first impression in your meeting with your client to ensure they take the next action step?

Dress Appropriately

Yes, it's a good idea to do a last-minute check of your attire, but the focus must begin beforehand. Choose the right outfit for your initial meeting. This will vary based on your industry and your client. For some, they may be expected to wear formal business attire while others will look the part in jeans. You want to make your client feel comfortable doing business with you, and part of that comes from dressing to meet their expectations.

Greet Them with a Smile

When you meet your client, take a moment for introductions even if they know who you are. Smile and shake hands. This step makes them feel important and is a good ice-breaker. It's also a good idea to start off with a non-work comment. "Beautiful day, isn't it?" or "I hope you didn't run into traffic on your way here" provide a safe topic to get them started conversing with you before you get down to business.

Spend Time with Small Talk

Don't jump right into the serious stuff. Take a few moments to get to know your potential client better. Ask questions or talk about subjects that are relevant but not high pressure. This enables you to find out more about the person and allows them to warm up to you slowly. When you jump right into your pitch, you can put your client on the defensive and lose the sale.

Speak Clearly and Succinctly

Don't hurry through your pitch even if you have done it a hundred times. Remember this is the first time your client is hearing it and they may have questions. Also, avoid using technical language or company jargon that may be unfamiliar to the client. If you have a strong accent. The need for clarity is even more important. In fact, you may find it helpful to work with an accent reduction coach who can help you learn how to enunciate clearly so others can understand what you say. Otherwise, they may turn down your pitch because they aren't sure of all the details.

Make a good impression in your first meetings with potential clients by following these steps. You never get a second chance at this opportunity, so take the time to prepare for each meeting as if it is your first one. After all, each client is unique and it's important that you make them feel that way when you meet with them.

Claudette Roche is a dialect coach who teaches accent reduction in the Los Angeles area. She teaches foreign and American accents to actors and business persons/executives. In 2010 she was named as one of The Top 5 Voice Coaches by Hollywood Weekly Magazine.