How to Make Great First Impressions in Business

In business, as well as in many other facets of life, making a great first impression matters. Whether you are networking with prospective investors or hosting an event for potential customers, knowing how to make a great first impression can mean the difference between failure and success.

First impressions are generated subconsciously when meeting strangers and passersby in the street, applying for jobs, and even promoting an idea, product, or service. Whether we like it or not, first impressions are a part of our everyday lives, both in and outside of the realm of business.

As Marcus Lemonis has said, “The key to business isn’t being smarter or wealthier; it’s being able to connect to people and relate to them.”

Building a successful business or brand is not an overnight process, even if you have a high-quality product or service and an audience eagerly awaiting the inventory. In order to truly succeed and excel in business, it is imperative to represent your business professionally at all times.

As Marcus often says, “First impressions matter.” Making great first impressions each time you meet with new clients, investors, partners, and business associates is one of the best ways to ensure you maintain a professional and long-lasting reputation in the industry of your choosing. When others view you as professional and as an authoritative source in your industry or market, it becomes much easier to negotiate and create deals that work best for you and in favor of your business.

Reputation matters when building a business and brand, especially if you intend to scale your business and expand internationally over time. In order to remain appealing to prospective customers and clients, you must have an established professional reputation as well as a credible history in business.

Taking your professional image and reputation seriously while putting forth your best effort to present a great first impression to anyone you meet in business goes a long way. With enough effort and the ability to remain courteous and professional at all times, you can protect your positive reputation as you continue to give great first impressions to everyone you meet.

Always dress to impress with a professionally tailored suit, pantsuit, or even a tailored dress when meeting with potential investors – or neat and clean casual attire if appropriate for your audience.

Body language is key when making a great first impression, especially when doing so in a professional setting or in front of potential investors. As a professional representing your business and brand, keep these body language tips in mind any time you schedule a meeting:

Posture Matters: Stand up straight and avoid slumping at all times. Good posture helps to exude confidence and self-esteem.

Vocal Pitch: When speaking, be sure to do so clearly and confidently, relaying information professionally and in a non-threatening manner.

Eye contact: Make sure to look others in the eye when speaking and “scan” the room, looking at each team member to make sure they feel included.

Proper conversation etiquette is imperative in the realm of business, whether you are working in the toy industry or high-end fashion markets. Some conversation etiquette tips to remember the next time you intend to meet with prospective investors for your business include:

Standing during introductions: Always stand when introducing yourself to a prospective investor or business associate, even if you have recently stood up to greet another individual. Standing shows professionalism and also extends respect to another, which may help with building a bond and moving forward with your investment goals.

Handshake etiquette: If possible, always initiate the handshake when greeting another professional or investor. Initiating the handshake can help showcase your own confidence.

Share your full name: When introducing yourself to other business associates, investors, and potential partners, do so by sharing your full name as well as your current position.

Professional business cards: Regardless of whether you are meeting with a major investor or a business associate who simply wants to learn more about your business and brand, always have professionally-printed business cards available to hand out.

Smile: Smiling goes a long way when establishing relationships and business connections. Avoid faking smiles but instead, use genuine smiles and responses when laughing or reacting positively to a conversation with an investor or business associate. Investors who are interested in working with a positive and optimistic business are more likely to work with individuals who are also positive, optimistic, and pleasant to be around.

Striving to connect with investors and business associates outside of business is one of the best ways to develop lasting connections and ongoing relationships. For example, Marcus was able to bond with the owners of an all-natural pet food store by bringing up his own adoption, as they have an adopted son themselves. They spoke with Marcus about their path to adoption and he talked to them about his experiences. By sharing this unique commonality, Marcus and the couple were able to create an authentic connection.

While it is imperative to give off a great first impression in business when meeting with investors and other associates or potential business partners, it is equally as important to give prospective customers and clients the same courtesy. In order to truly become successful in business, knowing how to effectively communicate with and relate to your customers is a must.

When Marcus met with the owner and operator of the flower shop, the company his late father had founded, it was immediately clear that there was plenty of work to be done in order to save the family business from going under. While the florist shop had thrived for decades prior, the passing of its founder had taken a toll on morale and vision for the business itself.

The storefront showed signs of dust and unorganized clutter. The store had a mixture of accessories, gift cards, and even candles, causing mass confusion with the branding and overall messaging of the business, leading to a struggle to generate sales and loyal customer relationships. Marcus even pointed out that the florist shop itself had no actual floral arrangements on display for sale, furthering the discovery of issues that had caused the floral shop to begin to flounder.

Always maintain your storefront’s appearance as well as the branding that is most suitable for your business and target audience. A clean and inviting storefront is much more likely to attract new customers while keeping previous customers coming back for more.

Proper branding and messaging can make or break your business, especially if you are working in a highly niche market and industry. The founder of a company selling durable, masculine diaper bags understood this well once he met and began to work with Marcus himself.

Marcus helped to expand the company by exploring different avenues for marketing and promoting his brand to both dads as well as mothers looking for a more utilitarian and gender-neutral diaper bag. Together, they explored the possibility of rebranding the company to a new, more uniformed name via social media marketing campaigns. Ultimately, the tweaking of the company name and the exploration of the brand itself helped to get the products stocked on store shelves.

One of the best ways to ensure you are on the right track when it comes to crafting new marketing and promotional materials as well as marketing campaigns is to research current industry competitors. Take note of the type of messaging, wording, and even various types of imagery or media used to promote similar products and services as your own. Familiarize yourself with brand messaging that is most likely to appeal to your target audience and the demographics you intend to reach to prevent coming off flat, boring, or simply disconnected from your core users and prospective customers.

Communication and transparency can help with establishing credibility and gaining trust of customers as well as business prospects or investors over time. Communicating openly with customers as well as loyal fans shows that you respect those who follow your business. Transparency can help with encouraging conversations, questions, and constructive criticism to help ensure you always maintain the best interests of your customers and clients in mind.