It’s probably cliche to keep on hammering this point but it’s absolutely true, first impressions do count for a lot in business.

But it’s not if you can make a good first impression, but how you do it. No one would claim you made a bad impression if you met a client or customer, with a smile, a handshake, and pleasant conversation. If you turned up in a hoodie and joggers, this would take the edge off your personality and manners. The client might see you as a nice person and a good conversationalist, but looking at the way you dress, would they feel comfortable parting with their money? It’s iffy. Your first impression can be made in lots of different ways, you don’t have to say anything to gain attention.

IN THE REAL WORLD

There’s no disputing how powerful online businesses have become. Billions of people around the world are connected to the internet. We browse, shop and book things online as if it’s second nature; as if we’ve been doing this for decades. However, ecommerce has only really flourished in the past 2 decades. So, having a real-world presence still means a lot. Yet, small businesses struggle to find and afford their own office space. This can hurt their chances of being taken seriously by clients and customers. Thankfully, there’s a solution in the way of physicaladdress.com. They offer you the ability to use their commercial buildings as your real-world address. You can put this on your business cards, flyers, websites, and social media accounts. Their virtual mailing service is incredibly popular because it allows clients and customers to send you real mail to their address.

In this world of fast lattes, frizzy morning hair and baggy clothes, the professional businessman need to still value the ‘older’ ways. Business etiquette is extremely valued the higher you go in the industry and economic circles. Every nation has its own style. Japan is well-known for its unique business culture and was you to enter into this market, you would not get far without adhering to the customers and traditions of the culture. You must learn the correct business etiquette for your own nation and slowly expand your knowledge to all parts of the world. In Russia, it’s customary to have a shot of vodka when you sign a partnership or sales contract. In the UK, being invited to a tea meeting in London is seen as a great compliment to which it has its own unique culture also.

BE THOROUGH WITH YOU TIME

Before meeting a client, we all rehearse some of our lines. We want to have certain facts and figures just ready on the tip of our tongue. We worry about the meeting we’re going to have and such. But just showing up on time, making sure the meeting doesn’t overrun the agreed time and sending reports before deadlines, matters a whole lot. Be punctual with your time when it comes to client communication.

Professionalism comes in different forms in the business world. Having a real-world address despite being a small business, can really inspire confidence in customers and clients.