Meet/Greet and Connect

MEET / GREET AND CONNECT By Steven G The meet/greet and connect is the first step in bringing a customer thru the door. The meet/greet is crucial in setting the tone for the sale process. The connect is the transition into the rest of the sales process. This is the difference between will they stay or will they go. To begin to understand the meet, greet and connect you must first have confidence in yourself, your co-workers and your company to be professional in appearance and ability. For example, ask yourself if you would feel comfortable if guest were coming over and your home looked like a mess, your siblings acted inappropriately and no one knew how to cater the company. Now think of a time when you were invited to someone else’s home for the first time. Think about when you pulled up to the home. Was the environment warm or cold? You knock on the door. They answer and invite you in. Ask yourself, did they make you feel comfortable, was the house warm and inviting and how long or not at all, did it take, before you felt comfortable like you belong. It is important to make your workplace the ideal home. A place/environment that makes everyone feel welcome and so good they want to visit all the time. With your lease-line and showroom looking inviting, make sure someone is on the lease-line ready to greet them at all times. Meet/greet the customer with a smile. Introduce yourself and welcome them to your company/home. A firm handshake is suggested but not always necessary. Tell them why it’s different here at your company. Connect by using complimentary questions/comments. There are three types you could use. They are; social, merchandise and service. A social question/comment could be about the weather, local sports team or stylish pocketbook/shoes they might be wearing. Merchandise should wow them with something you have in stock. And a service is an offering to fix, clean or even appraise a similar product they already own. Show them why it’s different here at your company. Don’t be afraid to give them a tour of the showroom and to introduce them to other co-workers. The more they know of your show room environment the more comfortable they feel, making the sales process that much easier. Making a positive first impression and establishing a relationship with customers is critical to their buying needs. Remember to practice, role play and give/receive feedback to perfect this tool. Don’t leave it to your day of performance to make your mistakes. Good luck/ Have a great day, Steven G