It takes just a quick glance, maybe three seconds, for someone to evaluate you when you meet for the first time. In this short time, the other person forms an opinion about you based on your appearance, your body language, your demeanor, your mannerisms, and how you are dressed.
With every new encounter, you are evaluated and yet another person’s impression of you is formed. These first impression can be nearly impossible to reverse or undo, making those first encounters extremely important, for they set the tone for the all the relationships that follows.
So, whether they are in your career or social life, it’s important to know how to create a good first impression. This article provides some useful tips to help you do this.
Be on Time
The person you are meeting for the first time is not interested in your “good excuse” for running late. Plan to arrive a few minutes early. And allow flexibility for possible delays in traffic or taking a wrong turn. Arriving early is much better that arriving late, hands down, and is the first step in creating a great first impression.
Be Yourself, Be at Ease
If you are feeling uncomfortable and on edge, this can make the other person ill at ease and that’s a sure way to create the wrong impression. If you are calm and confident, so the other person will feel more at ease, and so have a solid foundation for making that first impression a good one.
Present Yourself Appropriately
Of course physical appearance matters. The person you are meeting for the first time does not know you and your appearance is usually the first clue he or she has to go on.
But it certainly does not mean you need to look like a model to create a strong and positive first impression. (Unless you are interviewing with your local model agency, of course!)
No. The key to a good impression is to present yourself appropriately.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and so the “picture” you first present says much about you to the person you are meeting. Is your appearance saying the right things to help create the right first impression?
Start with the way you dress. What is the appropriate dress for the meeting or occasion? In a business setting, what is the appropriate business attire? Suit, blazer, casual? And ask yourself what the person you'll be meeting is likely to wear - if your contact is in advertising or the music industry, a pinstripe business suit may not strike the right note!
For business and social meetings, appropriate dress also varies between countries and cultures, so it’s something that you should pay particular attention to when in an unfamiliar setting or country. Make sure you know the traditions and norms.
And what about your personal grooming? Clean and tidy appearance is appropriate for most business and social occasions. A good haircut or shave. Clean and tidy clothes. Neat and tidy make up. Make sure your grooming is appropriate and helps make you feel “the part”.
Appropriate dressing and grooming help make a good first impression and also help you feel “the part”, and so feel more calm and confident. Add all of this up and you are well on your way to creating a good first impression.
A Word about Individuality
The good news is you can usually create a good impression without total conformity or losing your individuality. Yes, to make a good first impression you do need to “fit in” to some degree. But it all goes back to being appropriate for the situation. If in a business setting, wear appropriate business attire. If at a formal evening social event, wear appropriate evening attire. And express your individuality appropriately within that context.
A Winning Smile!
“Smile and the world smiles too.”* So there’s nothing like a smile to create a good first impression. A warm and confident smile will put both you and the other person at ease. So smiling is a winner when it comes to great first impressions. But don't go overboard with this - people who take this too far can seem insincere and smarmy, or can be seen to be "lightweights".
(*Author Unknown)
Be Open and Confident
When it comes to making the first impression, body language as well as appearance speaks much louder than words.
Use your body language to project appropriate confidence and self-assurance. Stand tall, smile (of course), make eye contact, greet with a firm handshake. All of this will help you project confidence and encourage both you and the other person feel better at ease.
Almost everyone gets a little nervous when meeting someone for the first time, which can lead to nervous habits or sweaty palms. By being aware of your nervous habits, you can try to keep them in check. And controlling a nervous jitter or a nervous laugh will give you confidence and help the other person feel at ease.
Small Talk Goes a Long Way…
Conversations are based on verbal give and take. It may help you to prepare questions you have for the person you are meeting for the first time beforehand. Or, take a few minutes to learn something about the person you meet for the first time before you get together. For instance, does he play golf? Does she work with a local charitable foundation?
Is there anything that you know of that you have in common with the person you are meeting? If so, this can be a great way to open the conversation and to keep it flowing.
Be Positive
Your attitude shows through in everything you do. Project a positive attitude, even in the face of criticism or in the case of nervousness. Strive to learn from your meeting and to contribute appropriately, maintaining an upbeat manner and a smile.
Be Courteous And Attentive
It goes without saying that good manners and polite, attentive and courteous behavior help make a good first impression. In fact, anything less can ruin the one chance you have at making that first impression. So be on your best behavior!
One modern manner worth mentioning is “turn off your mobile phone”. What first impression will you create if you are already speaking to someone other than the person you are meeting for the first time? Your new acquaintance deserves 100% of your attention. Anything less and you’ll create a less than good first impression.
Key Points
You have just a few seconds to make a good first impression and it’s almost impossible ever to change it. So it’s worth giving each new encounter your best shot. Much of what you need to do to make a good impression is common sense. But with a little extra thought and preparation, you can hone your intuitive style and make every first impression not just good but great.
Source: MindTools.com
Friday, July 31, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
6 best tips to online cost effective marketing
Is your business experiencing stagnation with the Recession? If so, continue reading.
Five years ago, did you see this economic recession coming? Perhaps, you did to a lesser extent, but you didn’t really think it was going to be this bad, right? With that said, companies have to gain leverage and position themselves to their markets by becoming the number one choice to consumers through cost effective marketing.
However, with traditional advertising costs through the roof, companies need to find more effective ways to target their markets, specifically through online media outlets – public relations, banner advertising, SEO, blogging, and branding.
Here some low cost ways of effective advertising:
1. Research and understand the goals, values, and behaviors of your market. Once you have a thorough understanding of your market, you will know how to deliver messages effectively.
2. If you decide to hire an agency to manage your advertising, make sure you are the only account they are managing in your market. If the company manages any competitors, look elsewhere.
3. Tell your market what your USP is and why you are better than all the rest of your competition. A USP is the Unique Selling Proposition, the one element that makes your business better than everyone else’s business (superior customer service, late hours, 24 hour customer service, best prices, or highest quality).
4. Use the right places to advertise online. There is nothing worse then placing an advertisement in a food e-magazine (that has little or no relevance to your market) when you are trying to sell cosmetics, which should be placed in a fashion e-magazine or some other complementary publication.
5. Create an irresistible offer. You want to attract prospects and make them contact you immediately. Offer a discount for first time buyers; offer an introductory period, or a gift that has a high perceived value.
6. Diversify your marketing efforts. Use online advertising, blogging, social media marketing with branding and public relations to get the best results. You should also determine where your marketing dollars are generating the best ROI to prevent careless spending.
Source: Kristin Marquet is an Examiner from New York
Five years ago, did you see this economic recession coming? Perhaps, you did to a lesser extent, but you didn’t really think it was going to be this bad, right? With that said, companies have to gain leverage and position themselves to their markets by becoming the number one choice to consumers through cost effective marketing.
However, with traditional advertising costs through the roof, companies need to find more effective ways to target their markets, specifically through online media outlets – public relations, banner advertising, SEO, blogging, and branding.
Here some low cost ways of effective advertising:
1. Research and understand the goals, values, and behaviors of your market. Once you have a thorough understanding of your market, you will know how to deliver messages effectively.
2. If you decide to hire an agency to manage your advertising, make sure you are the only account they are managing in your market. If the company manages any competitors, look elsewhere.
3. Tell your market what your USP is and why you are better than all the rest of your competition. A USP is the Unique Selling Proposition, the one element that makes your business better than everyone else’s business (superior customer service, late hours, 24 hour customer service, best prices, or highest quality).
4. Use the right places to advertise online. There is nothing worse then placing an advertisement in a food e-magazine (that has little or no relevance to your market) when you are trying to sell cosmetics, which should be placed in a fashion e-magazine or some other complementary publication.
5. Create an irresistible offer. You want to attract prospects and make them contact you immediately. Offer a discount for first time buyers; offer an introductory period, or a gift that has a high perceived value.
6. Diversify your marketing efforts. Use online advertising, blogging, social media marketing with branding and public relations to get the best results. You should also determine where your marketing dollars are generating the best ROI to prevent careless spending.
Source: Kristin Marquet is an Examiner from New York
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Marketers and Exhibition Management Increasingly Blend Live and Digital Media for Greater Performance
Marketers and Exhibition Management Increasingly Blend Live and Digital Media for Greater Performance
10.) 40% of respondents consider digital marketing to be a vital component in the execution of live event; 17% consider it a lead tactic.
9.) 49% of respondents use digital marketing to extend the reach of their event promotion efforts with digital marketing most often used in pre-event outreach (87%).
8.) E-mail marketing is the digital marketing tactic most used by exhibition production (95%) and corporate brand marketers (87%).
7.) 40% of corporate brand marketers and 31% of exhibition production marketers report using virtual events; 71% of respondents use virtual events to accommodate geographically widespread workforces and customers.
6.) The webinar (81%) is the most commonly used virtual event type among respondents.
5.) 51% of exhibition production respondents report always integrating digital marketing tactics in the promotion of events; 37% of corporate brand marketers characterize their use of digital marketing as frequent.
4.) Respondents dedicate 10% of their exhibition production budget to digital marketing sponsorship tactics.
3.) 46% of respondents measure the effectiveness of their digital marketing efforts; 50% of respondents measure ROI for virtual events.
2.) Event activity sponsorship (16%) and speaking opportunities (16%), followed by e-mail marketing/advertising (14%) are the exhibition sponsorship options respondents perceive as providing the greatest ROI.
1.) 72% of respondents feel that the integration of digital marketing into the promotion of exhibition programs increases the effectiveness of the overall effort.
Source: Center for Exhibition Industry Research
10.) 40% of respondents consider digital marketing to be a vital component in the execution of live event; 17% consider it a lead tactic.
9.) 49% of respondents use digital marketing to extend the reach of their event promotion efforts with digital marketing most often used in pre-event outreach (87%).
8.) E-mail marketing is the digital marketing tactic most used by exhibition production (95%) and corporate brand marketers (87%).
7.) 40% of corporate brand marketers and 31% of exhibition production marketers report using virtual events; 71% of respondents use virtual events to accommodate geographically widespread workforces and customers.
6.) The webinar (81%) is the most commonly used virtual event type among respondents.
5.) 51% of exhibition production respondents report always integrating digital marketing tactics in the promotion of events; 37% of corporate brand marketers characterize their use of digital marketing as frequent.
4.) Respondents dedicate 10% of their exhibition production budget to digital marketing sponsorship tactics.
3.) 46% of respondents measure the effectiveness of their digital marketing efforts; 50% of respondents measure ROI for virtual events.
2.) Event activity sponsorship (16%) and speaking opportunities (16%), followed by e-mail marketing/advertising (14%) are the exhibition sponsorship options respondents perceive as providing the greatest ROI.
1.) 72% of respondents feel that the integration of digital marketing into the promotion of exhibition programs increases the effectiveness of the overall effort.
Source: Center for Exhibition Industry Research
Monday, July 6, 2009
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