You land the client. You're ecstatic, relieved, and maybe a little bit nervous. Now what? How do you ensure that you make a great impression and deliver on their expectations? Here are four tips to help you stand out and impress your clients.
1. Make sure you are well-prepared before the meeting by doing your research.
Preparing for any meeting is essential, especially when securing your first client. As a business professional, it's important to dedicate the necessary time and resources to research topics related to the business and industry being discussed.
Make sure all questions are answered before heading into a meeting as this could be critical in securing your first business sale. When you have done your research, you will feel confident in the information you’ve gathered and know that you've done all that was possible to ensure success in the meeting. Think of research as an investment that yields returns in the form of new customers and relationships.
Dress to impress - choose clothing that is professional and makes you look put together.
When it comes to securing your first client, the way you present yourself can make all the difference.
It’s important to dress in clothes that are both professional and flattering; clothing that makes you look put together and feel confident. Think of your clothing as a tool to help enhance a positive image of yourself in the mind of the other person.
Don’t overdo it by being too formal or too casual but aim for something in between — modern yet timeless, classic yet stylish. Make sure that whatever business attire you decide on speaks well about you and showcases your abilities, so that your client can see that you are taking their work seriously. This could be just what sets you apart from the competition and wins your first client.
2. Be confident in yourself and your abilities, without coming across as arrogant.
Having confidence in yourself is integral when securing your first client. Not only does it mean that you present yourself and your offer in a well-put-together manner, without coming across as too imposing or demanding - but it also helps to convince the potential client of your trustworthiness and ability to deliver on their expectations.
You can demonstrate good self-confidence by being well-researched on the services you are offering and being able to articulate your value proposition clearly and concisely.
Your confidence can be further built upon by having a good understanding of how you will differentiate from other competitors and being able to communicate this message effectively with potential customers.
This can help the customer to have more trust in the capabilities of what you are offering, leading to more successful business dealings. With these few tips in mind, you should have no problem securing your first client while still keeping a professional demeanor rather than coming across as arrogant.
3. Listen to what the client has to say and ask questions to clarify their needs.
When securing your first client, it is important to listen to what they have to say and ask questions to clarify their needs. This not only allows you to better understand their unique situation, but also provides an opportunity for you to gain more insight into how your services can best serve them.
Over-communication and over-clarification are key when building a successful relationship with the client and ensure that there will be mutual understanding with the work that you do — leading to a successful business for both of you. Doing this research early on in securing the client helps pave the way for a long-term business relationship.
4. Come up with creative solutions to problems that the client presents
When securing your first client, coming up with creative solutions to their problems is a great way to make sure that you land the job. Of course, the specific nature of the creative solution will depend on the problem you are trying to solve.
However, there are some key tasks that can help lead you towards finding an effective solution. First, make sure you listen carefully to your client and take into account their unique perspective on what they need from you.
Brainstorming possible ideas as well as doing research into other similar cases can allow for more options and better insight.
Ultimately, presenting creative solutions needs to be seen as a balancing act between providing a fresh approach while also ensuring that it works with existing conditions and resources. By taking those steps and being thoughtful in the solution provided, securing clients should become easier.
Follow up after the meeting with a thank-you note or email
Sending a thank-you note, or email post-meeting can be the tipping point in securing your first client. Even if you had an amazing meeting, following up with a small token of appreciation can clinch the deal.
Research shows that taking this extra step conveys professionalism and attentiveness, as well as demonstrating to clients that you strive for excellence. Such a gesture can show clients that you value their time and respect their opinions, ultimately strengthening relationships and securing business.
It's further important to note that the effects of such a simple act may not manifest immediately but could benefit you down the line when securing future clients.
The next time you have an important meeting, put these neuroscience-backed tips into practice and see how they help you land the sale.
Remember to do your research ahead of time, dress for success, be confident without being arrogant, listen carefully to what the client has to say, come up with creative solutions to problems, and follow up after the meeting.
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