A summer action plan will help you stay consistent in your business. When you plan and prepare for summer business you see forward movement in your business.
It’s Day 13 and today is so important on making a first impression at your summer networking events. Open your workbook and keep reading.
Download your 30-day Summer Action Plan WORKBOOK here!
Part of your summer strategy is being prepared to talk about your business in a fun and creative way. In Blog #12 you learned how to connect with someone and share your powerful story by dripping out content and creating conversation.
Today we focus on the skill of making a “first” impression that makes you memorable to others. A first impression is essential to impress people who you want to connect with and build lasting relationships.
First, what signals are you giving when you meet someone for the first time? Are you happy? Are you serious? Are you sad? Being open and smiling is giving a loud and clear signal. When you have a great smile you get people’s attention.
Then, what you say and how you say it, and how interesting you are holds the other person’s attention and builds that rapport for them to want to get to know you more.
There’s a book by Nicholas Boothman called “How to Connect in Business in 90 seconds or less.” Nicholas says, between meeting and communicating there lies a 90 second land of rapport that links people together. If you make the right impression during the first 3 or 4 seconds of a new meeting you create an awareness that you are sincere, safe and trustworthy and people will want to go further and find out more about you.
Go to page 9 in your workbook and check your signals to being approachable. Add the following checks to make a first impression when meeting someone new.
First Impressions Checklist
- Be prepared with your one-liner
- Check your attitude.
- Check your body language – are you open and approachable.
- Be prepared to meet and shake hands
- Be the first with eye contact. Look a person directly in the eye. Eye contact is real contact.
- Smile! Beam! Let your face reflect your attitude
- Now, you’ve got their full attention
- Be the first to identify yourself. Take the lead. Extend you hand. Make your handshake firm and respectful.
- Point your heart at the other person, and give out your special energy to accompany your handshake.
- Lean forward very subtly. This will indicate your interest and openness.
- Introduce yourself and they will say, “Hi, I’m Barbara!”
- Find a ways to say her name 2 or 3 times to help you fix it in your memory. “Barbara, it’s nice to meet you, Barbara!”
After the initial introduction, it’s conversation time. Conversation comes in two equal parts – asking questions, and actively listening
- Ask open questions. e.g. How many people do you think are attending this busy event tonight?
- Continue the conversation, then
- Actively listen. Use heart-centered listening which is giving someone your full attention. Show genuine sincerity that you are understanding their business, their lifestyle. You’re listening to find out whether this person is someone who would love to buy your product, or maybe be a candidate for the business.
Most of all, your goal is to develop a future friendship. You make a first impression when you are friendly, open and smiling. Then, you share value in the conversation, which leads to exchanging information so you can follow-up to meet again.
First Impressions make the difference in growing your business, but 80% of success is in the follow-up in building deeper relationships.
Summer is one of the best times to expand your client base networking and meeting people for the first time. Make the most of your summer social events like kids swim meets, family gatherings, and summer festivals, fairs and concerts and be prepared to make new friends with your first impression.
Want to learn more networking and attracting new clients? Schedule a 30 minute complimentary strategy session. Email mymentorbiz@gmail.com today!
How are your skills at making a first impression? Leave a comment on my Facebook page today.
And comment below how these daily blogs are helping you stay balanced with your business and your life over the summer using your Summer Action Plan workbook.
Tomorrow I’ll share with you the ONE THING you must do this summer above everything else?
