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The Key to First IMPRESSions

There’s this really cool thing called the Internet. I use it all the time.

When I want to know who won last night’s game, I look it up.

When I want to know a good recipe for orange chicken, I look it up.

When I want to know how to get somewhere, I look it up.

And then when I want to know how to make a good first impression on someone, I look him or her up.
People use it and love it and swear they couldn’t live without it.  But it seems like as soon as people pack their laptops into their briefcases and begin their commute to work, they forget to utilize some key features of their 13-inch notebook that can tell them everything about everyone.

Don’t believe me?  Let’s set up a little scenario.

I have a business lunch tomorrow, with you.  Our relationship consists of a few exchanged emails and nothing more. You want to make a good first impression, but don’t know the first thing about me, so what do you do?
Ten years ago, you would have asked your co-workers about me and hoped someone knew me and even if he did, that didn’t mean he knew enough about me to make their knowing me relevant.

But now… You have access to a wealth of information about me via social media.

Am I telling you to Facebook stalk me? You bet!

You can find out what books I read, what movies I like, and what sports teams I like.  If I’ve done in traveling lately, I’m probably tagged in pictures.

You already know what types of topics to “small talk” with me about.

In fact, when you were looking through my pictures, you realized that there were a few pictures of me at a certain restaurant.  It’s just a few blocks away from where we were planning on having lunch.  You suggest we eat there instead.  I don’t have any clue you looked at my Facebook, but I’m glad you suggested the change in locale because now we’re going to my favorite restaurant.

It’s not hard for you to establish a relationship with me because before you knew me before you even meet me.

You’re probably thinking, “Yeah, but what if your Facebook is set to private?”

Look elsewhere.  LinkedIn, Twitter, Spokeo. Maybe I’ve been quoted in news articles. Maybe I’ve got a Youtube channel or a personal blog.

If you’re feeling really desperate, you could look up my home address and look at my house using Google street view.  You’ll see my Toyota truck parked in front of my house and see that I have a basketball goal in my front yard.

Wouldn’t that still be better than going into a meeting with zero knowledge about me?

The key to being good at business is being good with people. The key to being good with people is building good relationships. The key to building good relationships is making good first impressions. And the key to good first impressions… Well you already know where I stand.

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