14 Ways to Put Your Best Foot Forward
Posted April 16, 2012 in Getting Clients, How-To
You don’t get a second chance to make a good first impression, so make your first contacts count. Making a bad impression could cost you a client.
It’s often the first few minutes of any initial meeting that determine whether or not you get a prospect’s business. Yet, many freelancers ignore the importance of leaving a good first impression–that’s because they don’t know how to make a good impression or they don’t understand how important it is.
In this post, I’ll remedy that problem. I’ll share fourteen easy ways to leave a good first impression. At the end of the post, feel free to add your own tips for putting your best foot forward.
How to Leave a Good First Impression
Here are some tips you can use when you initially meet a prospective client to make sure that you leave a good first impression.
- Respond promptly. If you receive an email or a phone call, nothing leaves a bad impression like not getting back to the inquiry in a timely fashion. Yet, some freelancers make prospects wait days or even weeks for a response.
- Listen carefully. If you’re doing most of the talking, something is already wrong. Whatever you do, don’t interrupt your contact while they are speaking. It’s okay to take notes. It shows that you are serious about the client.
- Be positive. Think the best of your prospect. Attitude counts. If you come to a meeting with a bad attitude, it will show in your body language and tone of voice. Your prospect will likely pick up on it.
- Research beforehand. Even if the prospect contacted you “out of the blue,” you can still make an effort to learn something about him or her. See if they have a website or blog. Are they involved in social media? Find out what industry they are in and learn something about it.
- Be courteous. Another immediate turn off for prospects is rudeness. Even if you don’t think that the prospect is a good candidate to become a client, there’s no excuse for being rude to them. Rudeness will be remembered and may even become part of your online reputation.
- Be punctual. If a prospect sets up a face-to-face meeting with you, make every effort to arrive on time. If it looks like an unforeseen circumstance is going to make you late, call and let them know.
- Make eye contact. It sounds simple, but a surprising number of people don’t like to make eye contact. They may be shy or not making eye contact may simply be a bad habit. However, if you can’t look your prospect in the eye, you may appear shifty or dishonest. Don’t stare though.
- Take note of your contact’s name. Try to use it in conversation as often as possible. Be careful. Be sure to get right. Listen carefully when your contact introduces themselves and repeat the name out loud just to be sure. While we all like to hear our names, there’s nothing worse than hearing your name mispronounced.
- Relax. Since this is a first meeting or phone call, you’re probably a little nervous. Unfortunately, nerves are catching. If you appear nervous, your prospect may begin to feel uncomfortable. Try to calm down and appear relaxed.
- Dress appropriately. Freelancers are notorious for sloppy dress. When you’re alone in your home office, what you wear doesn’t really matter. You can stay in your pajamas or wear an old comfy sweat suit with holes in it. However, when you meet a prospect, make the effort to look professional.
- Be careful about your written communication. Mistakes matter. If your initial contact is through email, make sure that your email response is error-free. Proofread it carefully and look for any grammar or spelling mistakes that might make you look bad.
- Don’t seem rushed. Avoid looking at your watch or any clocks on the wall. If you appear rushed or distracted, your contact may believe that you aren’t really interested. That’s not the impression you want to make.
- Say thank-you. This is another courtesy that most business people no longer follow. However, just because other freelancers don’t say thank-you doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. A thank-you note after your meeting is a sign of respect and can really make you stand out in the prospect’s mind.
- Don’t forget to leave your business card. Your business card provides a handy way for your contact to connect with you in the future. While you might think the client will remember how to find you (especially if they contacted you first), this isn’t always the case. Don’t leave your initial meeting without passing your business card to your contact.
Your Turn
What are your best tips for leaving a good first impression? Share them in the comments.
Image by aramek
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About the author: Laura Spencer is a freelance writer from North Central Texas with over 20 years of professional business writing experience. If you liked this post, then you may also enjoy Laura’s blog about her freelance writing experiences, WritingThoughts. Laura is also on Google+.
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17 Comments
Wowie
April 16th, 2012 at 10:17 pmThanks for sharing, Laura. These are very basic tips but a lot of people, surprisingly, fail ro do these.
Great article!
Caroline Leopold
April 17th, 2012 at 9:00 amThe article was helpful and reminds me that professional demeanor and behavior count. I would add that first impressions often happen before the initial client meeting or call. Whenever I have gotten a prospect call or email, they already “know” me through my LinkedIn or through my network. Developing a reputation of producing solid work with other people goes a long way. People will call their peers and ask, “Do you know Caroline? Is she any good?” This happens particularly if you have worked with a company or person who is well-known in the local community. Therefore, it’s best to be professional at all times – whether on Facebook, conference, or a bar. So many first impressions are drawn via casual interaction.
Laura Spencer
April 17th, 2012 at 9:33 amThanks for the feedback Wowie and Caroline. I’m glad that you found the post to be helpful.
Saya
April 17th, 2012 at 9:27 pmLaura, All are correct and great advices. I can not emphasize on listening and Thank you note enough.
Stacey
April 17th, 2012 at 10:02 pmCaroline is right. People have called others to say “Do you know Stacey?” Even if the work you do is pro bono, it must be exemplary and you must maintain the same level of professionalism that you would for a for-profit assignment.
Morgan & Me Creative
April 18th, 2012 at 1:09 amYour’re right Laura, a lot of us have forgotten basic courtesy like ‘Thank You’, ‘How are you doing?’….which has often led me wondering if it’s social media is playing a part in ‘de-humanising’ a great part of our emotions.
Everyday we notice people connecting more and more on such platforms, comments on facebook, text messging, tweets…it seems like actual talk time is getting shorter. Maybe one day, phone companies scrap it all together and just do with data plans and text messaging.
Am not sure how clients perceive it where you’re at but I guess locality and culture makes a difference. The society that is more IT savvy and hungry for the latest technology will probably not notice this so much.
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April 18th, 2012 at 2:26 amUsually businessmen neglect this point “Don’t forget to leave your business card” in-spite of it that it can give you good business opportunity because it is your address and content people may keep in their pockets therefore in my opinion it is very important point.
Timothy K.
April 18th, 2012 at 5:06 amHello!
I have to add the following advice.
If you have a physical meeting,
do NOT put your hands in your pocket when you communicate.
I have seen this and it is considered bad behavior by our staff manager.
Do not wear any extravagant pieces of jewelery (boys and girls).
Being shaved is a plus.
I have been a freelancer for years in http://www.peopleperhour.com I also have a regular job and I know the staff manager… He says that body language has saved him many long hours…
DesignFacet
April 18th, 2012 at 9:59 amGreat post. I think a lot of those comes naturally to some individuals. At first when I started I was a bit shy but now can meet with just about anyone and my confidence has come from experience in the industry and making my past clients happy. I always say that talent is a fraction of what makes a designer, the rest is all personality and mannerism.
Laura Spencer
April 18th, 2012 at 1:28 pmThanks everyone! I really like the added tips.
Vic
April 18th, 2012 at 8:34 pmHi Laura,
Thanks for the practical advice. Being on time is extremely crucial for a good first impression. I’m not sure how many people use this trick, but I actually set my clocks five minutes fast. This helps me to not only make sure I’m on time but to be there a few minutes early.
Caitlin Kelly
April 21st, 2012 at 8:17 amI’m glad you posted this, but — no disrespect meant — really?! It seems obvious to me that much of what is posted here is basic business behavior + basic courtesy. I began freelancing at the age of 19 while still in college and knew this stuff even then. Who in their right mind is rude to a would-be client? (OK, maybe lots of people.)
But it may be that social media usage has now so dulled people’s understanding of face-to-face interaction that they need reminding. Maybe this is generational.
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April 25th, 2012 at 3:15 pmthanks for sharing! i will bookmark this for my business, and show my employees. Great article
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