A positive first impression can't guarantee that someone will like you, or that you'll always form a successful or profitable business relationship. But a good first impression can help you optimize that important first contact with a potential networking partner.

The tendency to quickly form lasting first impressions is part of human nature. This is because a first impression establishes the framework within which a person's subsequent actions and behavior will be judged.

There are a number of benefits to making a good first impression.

• people will be more likely to relate to you if they've formed a positive image of you as a person and a potential networking partner.
• when people relate well to you, it will be easier for you to build valuable partnerships and expand your network.
• it will help improve your self-image and self-confidence in proportion to your newly acquired knowledge and networking experiences.

How to Make a Good First Impression

Although a first impression reveals only a small part of who you are, or what you're like, that information represents everything new contacts know about you. It's the foundation on which they'll immediately judge the potential value of a future networking relationship.

There are five main keys to making a good first impression when you're networking:

• be positive – This means learning to face your fears, believe in yourself, visualize success, suspend judgment about others, and be aware of body language.
• do your research – If you're targeting someone in particular, doing research can help you find a connection with that person.
• dress appropriately – Communication isn't limited to the words you speak. Potential contacts also glean information from the way you present yourself.
• position yourself – The right position will also give you an opportunity to observe group dynamics. Smaller groups are typically easier to join, and there's more opportunity to find a natural time to involve yourself in a discussion.
• communicate with care – It's vital to be careful when you first speak to someone. Communication skills for networking include introducing yourself carefully, repeating your contact's name, and avoiding presenting a formal pitch.

There are five main keys to making a good first impression when you're networking. You need to be positive, do your research, dress appropriately, position yourself, and communicate with care.