In almost all life situations, we want to leave a positive impression with people when we first meet them. Whether you’re establishing a new business contact or meeting your future in-laws for the first time, first impressions matter. Remember, you never have a second chance to make a first impression!

A s a Public Speaker, your first impression can be the difference between getting booked consistently and hearing only cricket sounds in your inbox.

Follow these tips to make a great and memorable first impression:

1. Have a pleasing appearance. Even though attractiveness is in the eye of the beholder, it’s still important to look your best. Clean, wrinkle-free clothing, brushed and styled hair, and light or no fragrance helps most people be at their best. If you wear make-up, you know it doesn’t take much to enhance your appearance.
   
   
2. Make eye contact and smile.

People make positive connections with each other by looking each other in the eyes. Your audience needs that connection too. While you may not be able to make eye contact with everyone in the room. Choosing a few angles and maintaining eye contact to specific people has proved to be of great benefit to the Speaker.

• Also, a smile makes you look appealing and friendly. You look more open to others when you’re smiling in a natural and relaxed way.
  
  
• Pay attention and listen.

This is Powerful before and after a speaking engagement when in-person or super relevant when it is Virtual. Never underestimate the power of your audience.

When you listen well, you show genuine interest in the person.

• Refer to your audience by name.

I have seen this work wonders during my Instagram or Facebook Live sessions.

Also showing up early before a speaking engagement and walking the room to meet a few people… making sure I ask their names and calling them out during my speech has been magical.

You can just see the room light up from the stage!

 In most situations, it’s beneficial to you to be seen as focused, a good listener, and polite. Using the new person’s name in your conversation helps accomplish all of these things.

• Be sincere.

 Be yourself, everyone else is already take.

– Oscar Wilde

People tend to sense when others are putting up a front or behaving in ways that aren’t natural for them. Being genuine is a quality everyone wants to see. If you’re sincere, your audience will sense that.

Because you never know what might blossom between you and your audience, put in the effort to make a positive first impression.

Try some of the tips above or think about techniques that may have worked for you in the past and don’t forget to share so others can benefit in the comments.

Want to learn more about how you can Master any stage especially Virtual Stages?

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