How to Ace Your First Client Meeting

No matter how skilled you are or how much experience you have, your first client meeting will always be terrifying. That’s because you’re under the spotlight. This client doesn’t have to sign on with you and it’s up to you to show them why they should. Suddenly, all of these questions start flooding through your head. What if I mess up? What if someone else is better than me? What if they laugh in my face? These are often irrational fears, just like most other fears. So, how do you keep your composure and get through it with flying colors?
Remember Your Client is Human
Contrary to popular belief, your clients aren’t fantastical monsters you have to try and slay. Your client is a human and wants to be treated like one. So, instead of jumping straight into your business talk, take some time to get to know your client. Find out where he lives, what his hobbies are or what his favorite food is. Do it casually, rather than making your client feel like he’s in an interrogation. If you can find something to connect on, your client won’t seem so terrifying.
Show Organization
The last thing your client wants to witness is you winging a meeting. It will be obvious to your client if you haven’t prepared, so you need to start planning for your meeting early. Make sure to show your client your agenda before getting the meeting started. That way, your client knows that you’ve thought the presentation through and can make any necessary comments before you get started.
Make Your Client Comfortable
One of the most important things you can do is make your client comfortable in every aspect. From offering a hot cup of coffee to ensuring IR35 contract reviews and assessments, you need to give your client peace of mind about working with you. Demonstrate your knowledge about the client’s business and how you can benefit. Be relatable and willing to answer questions or take on suggestions. The easier your client feels it is to talk to you, the more comfortable he’ll be.
Listen Carefully
To stop a client meeting feeling like a one-sided audition, it’s often a good idea to ask your client a lot of questions. Not so many that your client feels under pressure, but just enough to let him know that you’re really interested in providing what he needs. Make notes of everything your client says and repeat them back to him throughout the course of the meeting. It’s a sure-fire way for your client to leave the meeting feeling confident about the future of your relationship.
Always Say Yes
Your client is likely to know specifically what he wants. If you haven’t got experience in a particular area, say yes anyway. A client will always be more attracted to ‘I haven’t got experience of that but some of my colleagues have’ than to, ‘sorry, but I can’t do that for you.’ That way you’re still being honest but not giving the work up to a competitor.