Evan Carmichael Top Header about About About facebook Twitter YouTube Google+

Fast First Impressions



Free PDF Download
How To Exceed Customer Expectations - By Jim Meisenheimer

Name: Email:


Fast first impressions are getting even faster today.

You've probably heard that "You never get a second chance to make a good first impression." And it's true!

You also probably heard that "First impressions are lasting impressions."

Have you ever thought about how long it takes to make a first impression? I remember sitting in a sales training class and hearing the sales trainer talk about how it takes two minutes to create a first impression.

That might have been true then, but nothing could be further from the truth today.

I also remember reading an article written by the CEO who owned an executive search firm. His research, about eight years ago, indicated that it took as little as five seconds for an interviewer to form his first impression of the interviewee.

Now get this. According to a study conducted at Carleton University in Ottawa, people are forming first impressions in as little as 1/20th of a second.

Yikes - I've heard of rapid transit but up until now I've never heard of rapid and fast first impressions.

There's speed dating, speed dialing, and of course speed channel surfing with your remote control in your family room.

The point is that we're doing everything faster today - everything and this includes forming first impressions.

If you're a professional sales representative and focused on growing your business it probably requires selling to new sales prospects.

Many of the sales prospects you call on are overworked and overwhelmed. You won't get many second chances in the first impressions department with these people. So it has to be good the first time.

Here's a short list of things you can do to improve your first impression:

1. Be prepared! Sure you have to look good, but once you open your mouth you have to sound good too. Develop and rehearse an elevator speech which answers the question "What do you do?"

2. Dress for success. I wish I could remember who said this, but I can't, so I'll tell you anyway. “When it comes to clothes, buy half as much and spend twice as much.” Clothes may not make the man, but they certainly add to a good first impression. Shoes must be polished including the heels which can get beaten up with all the driving you do.

3. Walk like a winner. There's a reason why people often say the first thing people notice about other people are their shoes. And the simple reason why people are looking at shoes is because their heads are canted downward. You'll appear more confident when you have your chin in the up and locked position with a smile on your face.

4. Smile talking. This is easy to say and extremely hard to do. Practice smiling while you're talking. It changes everything. Some people do this naturally and I'm not one of them. I'm serious by nature and I have to concentrate on smiling. Of course it's easy to tell whether or not you're smiling when you're talking to someone. If the other person is smiling at you, you're probably smiling at them.

5. Be approachable. If you want to appear friendly and approachable on all sales calls, consider wearing a name tag. Now don't be too quick to pooh-pooh this idea. Scott Ginsberg has been testing theories on first impressions for seven years. Nametags don't hurt and they probably help in the first impressions department.

If you never get a second chance to make a good first impression what are the chances of getting a second chance with an extremely fast first impression?

It seems like everything we're doing these days is in the fast lane. My advice is to slow down and pay attention to the first impressions you're leaving behind.

Think about the lifetime value of a sales prospect who didn't become your customer because of an underwhelming first impression.

Forget about accidental first impressions when you're selling.

With a little planning and a little practice you first impressions will become memorable.


Related Articles

  First Impressions Funding
  The 'Being Efficient' Myth In Sales
  Social Networking: A prime location for advertising
  Impressions: Vital To Sales Success
  One Last Rule Never Put Everything in Your Advertisement
  First Impressions
  Fast and Feast - Sales and Marketing Tactics
  Banner Ads Basics: How It Works For Online Business
  Job Advice: How to Handle the Exit Interview
  Marketing Strategies - What to Know About Banner Advertising
  Marketing Strategies - What Should a Banner Advertising Campaign Look Like?
  So Many Affiliate Programs! Which One Do I Choose?
  Your Charisma Factor
  Exclusive ASI Survey On Promotional Products ROI Released
  How Often Should You Repeat a Mailing?
  Fasting and Feasting
  Home Business Affiliate Programs - Where to Start?
  Sales Performance- Does it Correlate with First Impressions?
  Business Casual and the Psychology of Office Attire or Who Cares What you Wear to Work as Long as you Perform?
  Dress For Success When Job Hunting

Home > Sales > Jim Meisenheimer > Fast First Impressions >

Free PDF Download
How To Exceed Customer Expectations - By Jim Meisenheimer

Name: Email:

About the Author: Jim Meisenheimer

RSS for Jim's articles - Visit Jim's website

 

Jim Meisenheimer publishes the Start Selling More Newsletter. The focus is on common sense sales tips and selling strategies based on practical ideas that get you immediate results. You can get more information and sign-up for my FREE Newsletter at http://www.startsellingmore.com

Discover the 12 Best Sales Questions To Ask Customers. When you ask these sales questions, you won't be selling you'll be solving your customer's problems. You'll close more sales when you ask these 12 clever sales questions. And your sales will take-off! Go here now: http://meisenheimer.com/products/salesquestions.htm



Click here to visit Jim's website.
Dashed Line

More from Jim Meisenheimer
A Big Sales Tip
Upside Down Salesmanship
Upselling Sales Tips
Sales Management You Got The Job Now What
Kentucky What Is It Chicken

Related Forum Posts

Re: First Facebook Ad - Experiment! Re: First Facebook Ad - Experiment!
Business magazines Business magazines
Re: Bnefits of Email marketing Re: Bnefits of Email marketing
Re: What If Steve Jobs Hadn't Returned To Apple In 1997? Re: What If Steve Jobs Hadn't Returned To Apple In 1997?
Re: Hi from Greenville, SC Re: Hi from Greenville, SC

Share this article. Fund someone's dream.

Share this post and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.
Share for a Cause
Featured Article



Worksheets
By: Evan Carmichael

Do you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur?

8 Powerful Steps to Finding Your Passion

Does your pitch suck?

Create a plan of attach to launch your new business.

8-Cover

Like this page? PLEASE +1 it! Evan Signature
Bottom Footer



Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!
Name:
Email:
Popular Articles

What Is Counselling, What Is Psychotherapy?

How to Manage Overwhelm & Massive Life Change

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.