Picking up a new client is quite the feat. It means you’re expanding, you’re getting into new opportunities, and you’ve got the chance to make some good money. Whether you’re working as part of a team or you’re the one person keeping the business turning over, booking a first time face to face is something to celebrate.
But once you’ve got that out of the way, it’s time to prepare for your meeting properly. And if you want to do just that, here are the things to keep in mind before your client comes in.
Do Some Background Research
Treat this encounter in much the same way you would a job interview. They’re willing to consider you for their next project, meaning you’re in the hot seat in the same way you would be with a prospective employer. That means you need to know as much as possible before you sit down together!
To do your research, make sure you get a brief from the client that contains some basic details. Their name and email address for one, but be sure to tell them that the more they can share with you, the better. You can then research their name and business, and find out what kind of experience they’re likely to bring into the meeting with them.
Make Sure Your Office Looks Good
A well organized office always makes a good impression. That doesn’t mean you can’t have personal touches around, but if there’s a big mess going on and it’s less than clean in your workspace, you’ll need to get in touch with an Office Cleaning Company. They’ll whip the space into something much more workable and you won’t have to worry about where your client’s eyes will land!
Of course, your workspace needs to reflect you as both a business and a business owner, but try to have a sense of ‘organized chaos’ about this at the very least. And remember, any and all clients are going to have some kind of expectation over what professionalism looks like, and you need to meet this from the moment they step through the door.
Have a Goal to Reach By the End
If this is the first time you’re meeting this client, what do you want the meeting to achieve? What do you want to happen next? How will you communicate this to the client in question?
Make sure you have answers to these questions before you get into the meeting. You need to know what both parties want, how you’ll both proceed, and when you’ll be able to let each other know if you want to go ahead.
But above all else, this initial meeting should achieve something notable you can work on. Note down a goal that fits this, mention it to the client, and work together to tick it off the list.
Booking a face to face is a great thing. Once you’ve done so, get ready to be your professional best!
