Avant Garde Ideals Reviews How the First 7 Seconds Can Ruin Your Business

EDINBURGH, Scotland - Oct. 2, 2013 - PRLog -- Avant Garde Ideals (http://www.avantgardeideals.com), professionals at event and retail sales have learned the basics on how to close a sale in just seven seconds. And they know you can do it faster if you use sales techniques to make a great first impression. Seven seconds is the average length of time you have to make a first impression. If your first impression is not a good one you may lose out with that potential customer or new business. Understanding you do not have time to waste it pays to understand the sales techniques of how people make their first judgement and what you can do to control the results.

The moment you meet a new customer or client his or her brain makes a thousand computations: Are you someone to approach or to avoid? Do you have status and authority? Are you trustworthy, competent, likeable, confident? All these computations are done at lightening speed.  NYU researchers have found that we make eleven major decisions about one another in the first seven seconds of meeting. In business this is crucial because if you lose the first impression you could lose the business.  It may always be possible to stop potential customers or clients from making snap decisions but your brain can help you understand how to make those decisions work in your favour.

First impressions are more heavily influenced by nonverbal cues than verbal cues. In fact, studies have found that nonverbal cues have over four times the impact on the impression you make than anything you say.  Your appearance and body language make for 93% of how you are judged based on non-verbal data.  Avant Garde Ideals tells us a good sales technique is to never prejudge your customer or client. When your initial contact is over the phone, 70% of how you are perceived is based on your tone of voice and 30% on your words.  Avant Garde Ideals business motto “It’s not what you say – it’s how you say it.”

With this widely acknowledged pressure Avant Garde Ideals reviews the business’ seven tips for making your first impression strongly positive.

1.     Have a Great Attitude. People pick up your attitude instantly. Before you turn to greet someone or enter a conference room, think about the situation and make a conscious choice about the attitude you want to embody.

2.     Smile. A smile is an invitation, a sign of welcome. It says, “I’m friendly and approachable.”

3.     Eye Contact. Looking at someone’s eyes transmits energy and indicates interest and openness. (Avant Garde Ideals tip: to improve your eye contact, make practice of noticing the eye colour of everyone you meet.)

4.     Enthusiasm / Excitement. Raising your eyebrows can show this. Open your eyes slightly more than normal to stimulate the “eyebrow flash” that is the universal signal of recognition and acknowledgement.

5.     Lean in slightly. Leaning forward shows you’re engaged and interested. But be respectful of the other person’s space. That means, in most business situations, staying about two feet away. Make sure you mirror the image of the customer. (Avant Garde Ideals tip: never stand face to face with an individual as it seems confrontation. Approach the new customer or client on angle).

6.     Posture. Status and power are nonverbally conveyed by height and space. Standing tall, pulling your shoulders back, and holding your head straight are all signals of confidence and competence. (Avant Garde Ideals tip: never your body in a closed position, i.e. arms crossed, legs crossed, or holding an object in front of yourself)

7.     Annunciate. Rather than mumble, speak so you are easily heard. Speak with confidence. Alter your pitch to avoid the dullness of being monotonous.  Display animation in both voice and facial expression.

In business you want to plan your every move with a potential new customer or client so you arrange for the appointment or prepare the meeting or pitch and you rehearse repeatedly. In business you always want to be prepared so every time you walk out of your office be ready to make a powerful first seven second impression. The next person you meet could be a new addition to your new team or a potential client you want to sign up.