How do you make a first impression that will last?

I am an introvert. I don’t like too much peopling lol. When it comes to first impressions I think people see me as very shy, very reserved, some may even say mean and not really social. This can all be true. I can be the life of the party if I warm up but I normally don’t do that unless I know a few people there. I am not a person who speaks first at all. I want to say I’m working on that but I’m not. I won’t even lie lol. Networking as an introvert is very hard but it can be done. When you go to an event you want to leave a lasting impression. You want people to remember you but how can they remember the shy introvert or even the talkative patty. People will judge you whether you like it or not so if they are going to judge give them something to judge about. So how do you make a first impression that will last?

How do you make a first impression that will last?

Be aware of your style

It is not a bad idea to care about how you look and dress. Your style is something that others will notice about you right away. This means that it is not superficial to take an interest in how you look, it is actually a smart business move. When you dress in a way that is stylish and professional, you have the ability to exude confidence and make an impression that is appealing. You do not have to pay a lot of money to look your best, but you do need to put in the effort. If you care about how you look, it will ultimately help you to make a much better first impression. Also, be yourself when you dress. You don’t have to be cookie cutter. Wear a bright shirt, wear accessories, mix and match your clothes.

Be polite

It is also important that you learn proper etiquette for different social situations. This is the only way that you are going to be able to blend in well. When you have proper etiquette you are seen as polite and can make a good first impression. However, when you have poor etiquette you stand out for the wrong reasons and can be mistaken for being rude. It does not take a lot of effort to learn proper etiquette, but it does take a bit of effort to make sure that you are ready for any social situation that is thrown your way.

Be interested in others

It is also possible to make a much better first impression if you take a real interest in others when you are first meeting them. This is one of the best ways to be viewed in a positive light. If you seem to actually care about what others are saying, you will be seen as someone that really listens.

Now all of the above are standard but here is how I work a room and make an impression.

First I observe the room. It pays to be to be the quiet one in the room. You can see whose talkative and who makes the most noise. I tend to go to the ones that are quiet like me first.  If you are an extrovert you will do the opposite and go to the ones that are commanding the room. Strike up a conversation and ask what do you do or are you on social media. I tend to get the conversation started with social media because who isn’t on social. Because I have my camera with me all the time (my real camera not my cell) that is my accessory that makes me stand out because people are curious as to why I would carry my real camera everywhere and not use my cell phone. I think that right there sets me apart from everyone else. That is my key to making a first impression.

Have something that makes your stand out from the crowd so that you can be remembered. It could be the outfit, it could be your ability to move into every conversation, it could be something you have in common with someone, it could be your natural spirit that attracts people…or makes them run away lol. Either way when you want your first impression to be the best put the effort into making yourself stand out.

How do you make a first impression?