In short
A first impression forms in seconds, but what people remember is what stays after the meeting. Be on time, greet with eye contact, introduce yourself in one sentence about what you do and for whom, ask a question and listen. At the end, leave an easy way to find you and follow up within 24 hours. People remember how they felt with you and whether they could find you afterwards.
The first seconds
In a Princeton study (Willis and Todorov, 2006), people judged an unfamiliar face after 100 milliseconds almost the same way as when they had unlimited time. That doesn’t mean the quick judgement is right, only that it forms fast and is hard to change later. That is why the first seconds are worth preparing.
- On time, or 5 minutes early
- Dressed a little more formally than the place expects
- Phone in your pocket, not in your hand
- Upright posture, eye contact, a smile
- A handshake if the other person offers one
- Say your name clearly and repeat theirs
What to say: an introduction in one sentence
Formula: “I’m [name]. I help [whom] to [what result].” For example: “I’m Maria. I help small businesses find an accountant they can trust.” Then ask the other person a question. The full 30-second formula, with examples by profession, is in a separate guide:
Listen more than you talk
Ask 2–3 open questions: what they do, what is new for them, what they are looking for. Use their name in the conversation. Remember one specific thing they told you: you will need it for your message after the meeting.
At a networking event
- Prepare 3 questions to start a conversation.
- Don’t sell in the first conversation: the goal is a second one.
- Exchange contacts at the end, not at the start.
- When the conversation ends, end it warmly: “Glad we met. I’ll write to you.”
At a job interview
- Research the company and the person you will talk to.
- Prepare a short introduction: who you are, what you can do and why you are there.
- Give examples with results, not just qualities.
- At the end, ask about the team or the next steps.
- Send a thank-you message the same or the next day.
The impression after the meeting
Most people forget the details of a conversation, but they remember whether they could find you afterwards. A paper card gets typed in by hand or lost. A contact that is already in their phone during the meeting, with your photo, turns the conversation into a beginning.
How Echo Card helps
With an Echo Card NFC business card, the other person taps your card with their phone and saves your contact with your photo while you are still talking. With “Send me your contact” they send you theirs and you get it by email, so the follow-up within 24 hours is easy. The card has a design made for you, €30, with no monthly fee.