8 Tips to Ace Your Pitch for Your First Client Meeting

There is a lot to add to your to-do list when you initially start your freelance business. When it comes to your first client meeting, it might be difficult to know where and how to begin.
If you want to master your first client meeting, follow these steps and tips to overcome and wow your prospects.

1.Do research before meeting: You never know what you will be asked during your first client meeting. Therefore it is important to do a background study and prepare for everything before scheduling a call. Jolt down the names of the people you’ll be meeting with, and look through the client’s LinkedIn and social media profiles to know them better. It is the best technique to look for things that will help you connect you and the client. 

2. Prepare for the interview: After conducting background research, you will have all the information that you need to ace your interview. Make your plans based on what information you have and win the opportunity. Create a script to guide you from the beginning to the end of the meeting. Forgetting what to say or becoming completely tongue-tied might be stressful, which is where a script comes in handy.

3. Be interactive: Your clients may lose interest if you stay talking for an hour, so be interactive and ask them questions now and then to see whether they are still actively listening. Interaction can help your clients remember the fun and interesting meeting over dull ones. He may want to work with you and offer you the best opportunity if you can make a good impression. So make sure they are involved in the meeting at every stage.

4. Be a good listener: Allow your clients to talk about their company and the project, and try to understand their needs before pitching. Listen to what your clients have to say—their concerns remarks, replies, and questions. Interruptions create an unfavorable impression of a person. So pay attention, listen carefully, and plan your comments before responding.

5. Understand their pain point: After listening to their requirements, jolt down and discuss their pain points. Then try to understand their pain point and connect the dots to resolve the problem. Lastly, the most important thing is creating your proposal around your clients’ issues. Remember that the meeting should be focused on your clients than you, and that’s how you can get the client’s trust.

6. Establish your clear price: Hourly price and project-based (fixed rate) pricing are the two types of pricing. The first proposal to a client may be the formatted hourly basis by the standard in freelancing websites. However, if you like and the client agrees, you can work on a fixed-rate contract. Analyze the client’s requirements and decide how to charge.

7. Avoid red flags: Some phrases could lead to a big problem during a client meeting. For example, if the client states that the project shouldn’t take too long or if the previous freelancer just didn’t work out, it’s a total no. Over time, you will begin to establish a list of “red flags” that indicate someone isn’t your ideal client, so avoiding working with people who aren’t good for you will help you better.

8. Don’t forget to follow up: Keep in mind that the last impression is just as crucial as the first. Make sure everything is neatly wrapped up. Do not be disappointed if you do not get the opportunity. It will help you in learning a great deal. Finally, the most crucial aspect is what you learn and how you develop from your first meeting.

You now have all the information you can ace your first customer meeting. But remember to keep your plan strategic to get projects to form your potential clients. Make a strategic decision and give yourself time to prepare and recognize red flags. Within no time, you will get projects like a pro.