When it comes to entertaining clients and showing off your business, you need to be able to stand out from the crowd. You want people to remember you for all the right reasons and to increase the business you do with existing clients and attract new clients too.
This doesn’t come naturally to everyone though, and the more introverted business owners can struggle when it comes to networking and entertaining clients. But this doesn’t need to be a stumbling block or a reason not to host events with clients.
Pick a Location You Are Comfortable In
Heading out to a place you are unfamiliar with can be a recipe for disaster. Especially if you need to make your way there alone. Chances are, you won’t be at your best when you finally arrive.
Choose a location you are familiar with, even if it is your office – you can hire an event planner to transform it if you want. This will make you feel more at ease and confident. It may be a small boost but being on ‘home turf’ can really help you get in the right mindset.
How about hosting an event at your home? Hire a wine tasting expert or chef to cater and entertain your guests and take the pressure off yourself. If you have nice weather, you can use any outdoor space for a more relaxed and informal setting – maybe around fire tables to really create an atmosphere and focal point in the outdoor space so you aren’t the sole centre of attention.
Prep Ahead of Time
Being organised really is your best friend here. Or even delegating tasks to employees or third parties so you can focus on your pitch and how you are going to engage with others in a way that doesn’t overwhelm and wear you out.
This is where employees can come in handy. They can work alongside you to help you mingle with guests and really sell what you do and why they should work with you. If you are a solopreneur, then how about making the event a plus one? This way you can bring along your spouse, partner or a friend to boost your confidence.
Use Tools to Help You Out
Do you have a working product you could use to help you demonstrate what you can do? If not, then what about creating a video that you can show to your clients that will give you something to work with if your words dry up? Having a visual prompt can help people visualise what you are telling them in a way words might not be able to alone.
Think outside the box and how you can use tools from your trade or props to help you make the best impression on your guests and retain clients and boost sales.
Lastly, avoid alcohol. If you are feeling especially nervous, it can be tempting to calm your nerves with a little alcohol. However, there is always the risk one drink could lead to more and things go slightly awry undoing all your hard work to this point.
