First impressions count for a lot in business. Despite the progress made in recent times, the harsh reality is that being a woman may still harm the perceptions of some clients. In fact, 61% of entrepreneurs believe that gender stereotypes still impact business growth. While it is important to keep fighting for true gender equality in business, the key takeaway is this. You must go the extra mile to ensure that you make a lasting impact time and time again.

Once a winning strategy has been established, there’s no limit to what can be achieved. If nothing else, it allows you to enter all future client interactions with 100% confidence in your tactics and capabilities. Use the following checklist for guidance and you won’t go wrong.

Always Feel Ready

If you want to make great first impressions in modern business, you must always be prepared. Aside from boosting your confidence heading into an interaction, it makes you look more organised. As such, the prospect will find it easier to place trust in you. Carrying quality business cards, as well as a pen, at all times is vital. Sales opportunities could surface at any moment, but these key items ensure that you’re always ready. Printed details also remove the threat of illegible writing. Finding the card a few days later will remind the client of your meeting.

Feeling ready for impromptu cold-selling interactions is one thing. However, it’s even more important to leave a lasting impression when having the first pre-booked meeting or consultation with a client. Ultimately, your goal is to show that your company is the right fit for them. Researching the prospect in advance will help you find ways to build a rapport right away.

Listen

Whether working in a B2B or B2C setting doesn’t matter. The success of a business relationship is built on a foundation of clear communication. Using your research to find common ground is a great starting point. However, the prospect needs to know that your business is also perfectly placed to solve their pain points. The only way you can prove this is to focus on active listening. When you truly understand what they need from the company, it becomes far easier to give the responses that they want to hear. Building a tailored solution also feels a lot simpler.

It is still important to celebrate the USPs of your business and its products or services. Still, when it comes to your responses, quality beats quantity. In addition to making a more powerful impact, it removes the threat of overwhelming the prospect. Or overcomplicating things. Instead, your interaction remains focused on the main objective, which lends itself to better outcomes.

Invest In Your Appearance

Good organisational skills and preparation will certainly help. Still, you should note that prospective clients will form judgements based on your appearance too. In fact, this happens within just 1/10th of a second. While this is an issue that impacts men too, there is no doubt that women face tougher scrutiny. Therefore, your beauty and fashion choices must evoke the right reaction. The key is to strike a balance between professionalism and friendliness. After all, people have to feel positive about the thought of working with your firm.

Your aura isn’t defined solely by physical appearances and fashion choices, though. Body language and general demeanour are equally influential. Taking a course on casting a more confident figure and communication can work wonders. Speaking without unnecessary filler words like “erm” or “umm” will aid your presence for a memorable interaction.

Utilise Your Web Presence

As already stated, you should research prospects before meeting them. Naturally, though, they will investigate your business too. A strong online presence created through SEO and social media followings will greatly help. Meanwhile, video marketing and other content can be used to great effect. Firstly, it is an opportunity to highlight your authority and expertise within the industry. Moreover, it provides an insight into your personality. The sense of familiarity can make the initial meeting far less daunting for the client, which allows them to focus on what you offer.

A well-designed website with key features like good customer care also paints a positive picture before you’ve even met. It should also be noted that many prospective clients, both B2B and B2C, will also research you. As well as revamping your staff profile on the company site, addressing your LinkedIn profile could be hugely beneficial.

Be Authentic

The above steps may help you tailor your approach to key client interactions. However, they only provide the framework to keep you on track. Ultimately, the greatest USP at your disposal is you. Therefore, the smartest thing you can do is stay authentic to yourself. Leaning into your passion for the business, as well as your positive personality traits, sees positivity spread to the client. While it doesn't always translate to conversions, it will optimise your opportunities. Not least because meetings flow more freely when you unleash your true self.

Perhaps more importantly, people are very good at identifying inauthenticity. Once they are no longer confident that you are presenting your true self, they may start to question what else isn’t accurate. The seed of doubt will cost you dearly, even if you say the right things. Conversely, when a prospect believes you, they will naturally be more open to working with you too.

Conclusion

A great first impression and initial interaction is only the first step towards success. Building a business relationship takes time and you must continue to make positive moves after this meeting. This can begin with a simple email to thank them for their time. This process can be automated with email or SMS software. You should then also build a clear follow-up strategy built around the next intended call to action. Whether this is arranging a full product demonstration or closing a sale, maintaining a sense of enthusiasm is vital.

You have already laid the foundation for success. Keep up the good work, and the desired outcomes should follow.

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