ForConstructionPros.com

Making a good first impression can greatly impact making a sale. Let's address the important first meeting "live" and in person.

When I visit with relatives, there are two things I have learned NOT to talk about: religion and politics. Over the years I have applied the same principle when dealing with customers. The last thing you want to do is to risk offending a potential customer by making an off-hand comment about a particular religion or repeating a smutty joke about the latest escapades of some political figure.

As you get to know customers and they begin to open up to you about their personal lives, beliefs and values, your discussions may periodically touch some of the forbidden topics. However, refrain from initiating such discussions early in the relationship.

Your professional attitude must be focused on presenting the best image possible. Follow a few simple tips as you prepare to make your next first impression.

Tip #1: Look and smell clean. Don't laugh – too many construction salespeople and estimators simply do not pay enough attention to what they are wearing and how they smell! Keep an extra shirt, pants and shoes at your office or in your vehicle for quick changes. If you are coming straight from a job to meet a new customer, a fresh set of clothes will not only make a more favorable impression on the customer, but it will make you feel better as well. Keep extra deodorant and a bottle of mild cologne available. Remember, your employees may not mind how you smell, but the customer will hardly do business with a contractor they can barely tolerate standing near.