First impressions are everything in the business world, and networking situations are no exception to this. The impression you portray when you walk into a room of business owners must be spectacular, and will ultimately impact how people perceive you and your business practices. Here are some tips for making a good first impression:
The first thing you should pay attention to is your elevator pitch. This is a short, informative summary of what you do. Your elevator pitch should not be a long winded story about your business. It needs to be enticing and to the point.
Consider the way you dress. Your outer appearance is everything before you commence your elevator pitch.
The way you talk and interact with fellow business owners is crucial to a powerful first impression. You need to exude confidence and show that you’re skilled in the industry that you’re in. Be sure to show interest in what the other person is telling you about.
Smile! Smiling always exudes a good first impression. People will be more inclined to approach you if you’re smiling. A smile is welcoming!
Be sure to have business cards on hand. It doesn’t look very professional when you’re rummaging in your pockets and wallet to try and find a business card. There are a lot of fantastic apps available for most smart phones that will enable you to take a picture of the business card and the information will be captured and saved automatically.
Ask questions. If you show interest in what fellow business owners do, your chances of being remembered by that person are greatly increased. Don’t be fake. If you’re at a networking event you should be genuinely interested in learning about other business owners and how you can help one and other.
In conclusion, make sure that the moment you walk into a room and when you start talking, you engage people by your attire, presence, and etiquette.
If you’d like to test your skills in a networking environment, why not visit a Just ask! meeting? You’re welcome to attend free of charge, and experience the magic and efficiency of one of our teams. If you’re interested, click HERE.
