Meeting a new client can be nerve-wracking. First impressions matter, and it doesn’t take long to make an impression. Research has shown that within seven seconds, you have indicated whether you are trustworthy. That’s not long. If you’re nervous and it shows, your first impression may not be solid.
Steph Curry, a star basketball player of the NBA Golden State Warriors, switched from an endorsement deal with Nike to Under Armour because of a bad first impression. The story goes that the executive he met with at the pitch meeting for his contract renewal mispronounced his name. To make matters worse, once the PowerPoint presentation started, the Nike team had fellow player Kevin Durant’s name in it instead of Curry’s. The experience soured Curry’s relationship with Nike.
Bad first impressions and innocent mistakes like that of Nike can ruin a client relationship. Sales of Curry’s shoe with Under Armour are greater than any Nike shoe ever, except for a record set by Michael Jordan. Nike missed out on a significant opportunity for their business. What can we learn from this?
Don’t let an important deal fall through as Nike did. Work hard to make an excellent first impression, make clients feel acknowledged, and apologize if you did make a mistake. We are here to help you succeed. Use SendOutCards to thank clients for a great meeting, to apologize if warranted, or even to arrange meetings. We have a card for every occasion. Show your clients that you care with a personalized greeting from SendOutCards.