Business Englisch Märkte & Expansion ««
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Meeting new clients
efficiently
Eva-Susanne Krah
M
eeting new clients sometimes can be a
real challenge. Making use of the right
expressions is therefore crucial. Here are
some major expressions to help you find your way
when it comes to meeting new important business
clients. Before you meet a new client, ensure that
you are well prepared. Better use a precise check-
list for you to refer to and ensure you don’t forget
anything important on the day.
1. Research your client’s
company website
a. What former clients have they had?
b. What partners do they work with?
c. Who are their competitors?
d. What is their main focus (product or service)?
e. How many people do they employ?
f. What is the company structure (flat or hierar-
chical?)
g. Do they have any subsidiaries abroad?
h. What is the name of the CEO and Chair of the
Board?
2. Choosing the suitable meeting place
a. Decide on a place to meet: Should it be neutral
terrain?
b. Check your equipment: Do you have equipment
etc that you have to show your client at your office?
4. Circulate an agenda in advance to new
clients, beware of the right agenda.
a. Outline what points you think need discussing.
b. Send it to your client and let him/her amend it.
salesbusiness | 12.12
wEbtIPP
c. Re-send the amended version to everyone con-
cerned in terms of topic, time and meeting part- Mehr Übungshilfen und
ners who should be involved. Formulierungshinweise
in Business Englisch
5. Use Ice-breakers at the beginning finden Sie auf
a. Have a few handy ice-breakers ready to make your www.business-
client feel comfortable from the beginning. Remem- english-de.
ber, it is up to you to put this person at ease so don’t
be aloof or hard to connect with. Once you are both
relaxed and have smiled, your talk will be much ea-
sier. Keep paying attention to special ranks or titles in
advance, during and after the meeting – this reflects
your sense of respect for new business partners and
will create trust during the ongoing business relation.
6. Make connections if they exist
For instance concerning common business part-
ners or friends for a smalltalk start.
a. A typical phrase could be: „How long have you
lived in New York?” Or you both know another per-
son: “How did you get to know Sam?”
b. Refer to things which are about to happen or that
have just happened. No one will tell you things they
don’t want to, and showing an interest in your cli-
ent as a person is crucial. If someone acts awkward-
ly about a question, you can always change the sub-
ject onto another topic.
7. Prepare for mobile presentation
If you think of completing your meeting with a sli-
de presentation, make sure you use the right slides.
Quelle: www.business-english.de «
Eva-Susanne Krah, freie Fachredakteurin und Cross-Media-
Beraterin in Kronberg/Ts.
21