It might feel like a major breakthrough when a client agrees to meet up with you at your office, but this would be only one stage in the battle to keep this client loyal to you for the long term.
That’s because you would still need to impress them at the meeting itself — and here are several things you can do to help your office to help you.
Make sure it’ll be all right on the light
Yes, that’s an attempt at a pun inspired by a certain TV bloopers programme — but anyway, the point is, you shouldn’t underestimate how crucial your office’s lighting can be to its appearance.
BusinessOpportunities.biz advises that, as “a harsh overhead light … will make the office look stark and cynical”, you should “opt for softer lighting to create a calm and relaxed atmosphere.” If you put the client at ease, they will be likelier to subsequently associate your brand with positive things.
Do your research about the client
It wouldn’t foster the best impression if, when the client asks you questions about what your company offers, you stumble with your answers.
It would be especially risky if you fail to explicitly connect your products or services with practical ways they could benefit the client. It can therefore help if you endeavour to predict what questions the client might ask you — as, that way, it could be easier for you to ready the information you would have to impart.
Leave them waiting for the right amount of time
Perhaps surprisingly, you don’t necessarily want to see the client face-to-face as soon as they arrive at the office.
Previous Magazine warns that “if you’re just standing around waiting to greet them at the door, they might think that you don’t have much to do because you don’t have many customers.”
You could keep yourself busy at the office but arrange for someone at reception to let you know when the client does turn up.
Give your office a game room
You could understandably be reticent about this idea, perhaps out of fear that a room like this would distract your employees too much from their work responsibilities.
However, Business Matters insists: “Your employees are grown-up people and they know when enough is enough.” The site adds that “clients appreciate employers who care about their employees.”
If your current office lacks enough space for a game room, an office broker like Office Freedom can assist you in finding an alternative workspace that would meet the relevant criteria.
Offer self-serve refreshments
Though you obviously can’t be certain exactly what kinds of light snacks and drinks visiting clients would prefer, you are unlikely to go wrong with having a coffee machine of good quality in your office. Alternatively, you could opt for a snack machine or water dispenser.
Whichever of these options you go for, the idea is to keep refreshments readily accessible so that clients will be able to help themselves with ease during their time at your workplace.