9 Ways to Make a Great First Impression

Back in college I had a pal who had an interesting work philosophy. “Whenever I start a new job,” he told me, “I always work extra hard the first month. That way they view me as a hard worker, even later on when I slack off a bit.”

While his lesson was a bit skewed, his point is well taken: You really do never get a second chance to make a great first impression. People often view you and your business through that first lens they see you through, and especially these days, people do seem to judge pretty quickly. It is also equally true that in this 24/7, interconnected, wired world, there are a lot of different ways to make (or break) that great first impression.

Here’s how:

1. Have a great website design: More than your storefront, today your website is often the first thing people see. What do they see when they check you out online? If your site isn’t beautiful and professional, people likely are not going to take you too seriously.

Here’s what not to do: I have a colleague who consults with people on their brand, yet he still has a website that says “under construction.” You have got to be kidding me. I can’t believe he gets business.

2. Act like content really is king: Is your “About” page full and up to date? Do you offer some free tips or valuable product information? Do you have some testimonials? Do you have some great brand partners to show off? The friendlier, more helpful, and more impressive your site, the more people will trust you from the get go.

3. Have a decent social media presence: No, you do not have to have 5,000 followers (although if you want that many, here’s how to get them) but you should have a respectable social media presence if you want to be taken seriously. You need to be LinkedIn, on Facebook, and at least have a Twitter account. If people try and find you through social media and cannot, they will wonder why.

4. Have good e-mail etiquette: People generally expect to hear back from their initial e-mail correspondence with you within 24 hours, or less. If they don’t, they rightfully can conclude that you are either too busy or too disorganized to give them your time. Big mistake, that.
5. Spruce up the front: Different people like and expect different things. Cleanliness and order may not be that important to you, but you can bet they are for some people. A messy or dirty office or store is a bad sign for those folks.

6. Have the right person up front: If they don’t go to your site first, potential new customers call or come in instead. The person up front has to be extra competent and friendly; someone who makes new people feel welcome, whether in person or over the phone. If people receive a professional greeting, great, but if not – for whatever reason – you are unnecessarily giving people reason for pause.

7. No Nopeys: A nopey is that employee who loves to say “no;” usually, it is a power play done to exert superiority in some sort of customer service situation. It might typically go like this: “I would like to substitute a salad for the french fries, would that be OK?” “No.”

The nopeys on your staff are a signal to your new customers that policies are more important than people. People do not like that.

8. Treat new customers like gold: Of course, all customers are gold, but sort of like my college pal, by treating new customers great, you give them grounds to remember you.

Example: I recently checked into a hotel in New York, one I had not stayed at before. The clerk then handed me a small goodie bag, with bottled water and a little chocolate. He said: “Welcome Mr. Strauss, we hope you have a great stay and will consider staying with us again.” I did and I did.

9. Dress for success: Yes, this is the era of dressing casually and mostly that is a welcome thing, but too casual is, well, too casual. It is very hard not to impress when you are dressed well, and conversely, it is almost impossible to impress if you are dressed inappropriately.

Take Your Networking from Ordinary to Extraordinary

In today's fast-paced and wired world, making new business contacts is becoming easier than ever before. However, some businesses are connecting with the wrong people, contacts who not only don't want their product or service but who are also not able to provide opportunity or greater market reach. The connections businesses need to focus on, and which are vital to your business--whether it be a product or service--are called high-level networkers (HLN), also known as center-of-influence connections.


To take your business to higher levels, you want to be a great networker and reach out to high-level people. HLNs are movers and shakers, decision-makers and action-takers.† They are active online and off, they know people, people know them, and more importantly, people listen to them. These connections can be key influencers in an industry or community, and they are the people who can help take your business to a higher level by connecting you with people or opportunities.

As a great networker, you must be flexible and approach connection-making as a constant outreach that extends far beyond an event or chamber mixer. Furthermore, be a risk-taker and ask people next to you what they do and where they are from; you never know who will be sitting on the airplane next to you, who will be behind you in a line, or who will be in a group discussion area in an online meeting place. Don't let these opportunities pass you by. Remember, don't hesitate to network with someone who has no obvious connection to your ambitions: Your new contact may be able to give you relevant names of his or her friends and colleagues.

Far too often, people don't reach out to a high-level connection in fear of rejection, forgetting that the whole point of networking is to reach out to people you don't yet know. Many high-level networkers can now be found on LinkedIn, a business connection site. If you don't yet know them on LinkedIn, simply ask for an introduction through a mutual connection, or take the risk and ask if they would like to connect. Give them a reason why you would like to add them into your professional network. You will most likely find that they too are an open networker and that they will gladly accept the invite.

Here are five tips on how to take your networking from ordinary to extraordinary:

1. Reach Out: Commit to connecting with a minimum of 25 new HLNs every six months to keep your company in front of the "make it happen" community. You will find them online with at least 500 connections; they are active and posting daily as well as have complete profiles with recommendations and testimonials. You can also find them in communities at events, in political circles, leading community organizations, or media personalities such as news anchors, radio hosts or reporters.
2. Follow Up: One of the biggest mistakes business owners make is not following up to build and maintain long-term relationships. It is vital after you meet with a contact to write a thank you note. Tell your contact how much he or she helped you, and refer to particularly helpful, specific advice. Everyone--even the most high-level executives--like to feel appreciated. 
3. Keep in Touch: In addition to immediate follow-up after a meeting or conversation, keep in touch with your contacts. This way, they may think of you if an opportunity comes up, and they will also be forthcoming with new advice. It's important to stay on their radar screens without being imposing or invasive. And, of course, if you get that new job or land that deal, be sure to tell them and thank them again for their help.
4. Make it Easy: You also need to make it easy for your contacts to keep in touch with you as well as help you. Explain what you specifically want and ask detail-oriented questions. For example: "I'm looking for opportunities in hotel hospitality. Do you know anyone who is a decision-maker at a resort or high-end hotel in the San Francisco area?† May I have their names and phone numbers? May I use your name when I introduce myself to them?" Also be sure to have your complete contact information on all the social networking sites on which you are active.
5. Listen: Most people love to talk about themselves. By asking your contact to offer valuable insight from his or her personal experiences and successes, he or she will feel important and respected. Who doesn't like to feel like an expert? Be sure to avoid making general demands, such as "Do you know of any jobs that would be good for me?" This sort of question is overwhelming, and it puts an unnecessary burden on your contact.