First impressions count for a lot, particularly in the world of business.
If you are new to the business, or you are looking for a more modern way to make good first impressions on potential new clients or business partners, there are many tips to follow. Some of them are older, and some of them are newer and are more relevant to 2023 and beyond.
So, how can you and your company make a great first impression with clients, partners, or even investors? Read on to find out.
Buy Them a Corporate Gift
Purchasing corporate gifts is not a new idea, particularly just after contracts have been signed between 2 companies, and even in 2023, the most popular gifts typically include corporate chocolate gift boxes by Dallman Confections, cheese boxes, wine boxes, and fruit baskets. In 2023, however, there has been a bit of a change in the focus of these gifts, and it is now commonplace for businesses to trade wellness baskets. These will showcase that you care about the health and well-being of your new business partner and their team.
Research The Company
Before coming into your initial meeting, you need to thoroughly research the new business partner and their company. Even if yours is very similar, you need to understand their industry, their recent achievements, their challenges, and their long-term goals. This will demonstrate that you have a genuine interest and commitment to making a partnership with them. Be sure to tailor your conversation this way so you can showcase the research that you’ve done and that you know them well.
Communicate Effectively
Messy communication will lead your potential partners to conclude that you are not straightforward as an individual. The key to making great first impressions is to be clear and have effective communication. Be sure to actively listen to your business partners’ ideas and expectations and be concise. Aim to use positive body language, lots of smiling, maintain eye contact, and offer a firm handshake. Even if you are having a bad day, try to maintain a professional demeanour, as this will go a long way.
Deliver!
It sounds obvious, but when it comes to making great first impressions in the world of business, you need to be trustworthy. So, if you make a promise, deliver on it, as well as any commitments. If you say that you’re going to provide services to a potential business partner by a certain day, then do it, as this will make you appear more reliable and better to do business with.
Brag (a bit!)
You will want and need any potential business ventures to go smoothly, and the best way to do this is to talk openly about the accomplishments of your team in the past. So, this gives you free rein to gloat or brag about this, but don’t overdo it, as this can make you seem insincere. Talk about potential hurdles that your team has overcome in the last year and talk about how this will apply to future business endeavors going forward. This will showcase that you know what you’re doing and that your team is committed to the growth and expansion of any other businesses that you are involved in.