“The First Impression is the Last Impression!”

Though we are not sure about who said this, one thing that we are sure of is that there must’ve been some deep-rooted analysis behind it.

When meeting your investor for the first time, it is important to make the best first impression you can. Not only does it work in your favor, it also increases your organization’s chances of securing the client. If you didn’t already know, your angel is your fund-raiser; they are the individuals/entities who take the risk of financing your capital expenditure.

Thus, it is important that you say the right things and follow the do’s when meeting your angel investor for the first time. Why? To attract their attention! Here are some ways in which you can have a lasting effect on them:

Basic Etiquettes

No matter where you go, what you do, and who you meet, it is important to be mindful of the basic etiquettes expected of you. Respecting your superiors is one thing and completely fawning over them and coming off as desperate is another; be weary of that! Always be polite as long as you don’t seem to be flattering. Your investor will be compelled to think that you are insecure and are trying to cover up for the shortcomings in your work. Mustering up unnecessary and unprofessional compliments will make them think twice before funding you and may result in them looking down on your organization.

Improve Time Efficiency, Use Online meeting

It is important you let your investors and Board directors know you value their time. Your first meeting is through an online meeting? Use Dial-out conference service for your conference call. Don’t make your angels enter codes or wait for everybody to connect, let them join the conference just by answering the phone. Remember, distorted communication means no communication. Make sure you choose a service with great audio quality so your online meeting will be flawless.

Precise yet Informative

Always remember to be precise yet informative. By this, we do not mean that you must omit some crucial information from your plan of action which could have adverse effects on their invested finances; rather, give short and easy-to-understand proposals and information so that they aren’t faced with the task of decoding the complexities of your words and instead, can focus on the information you have provided.

Confidence and Composure

What you need is confidence and composure.

A shaky and nervous leader will place doubts in the mind of the investor. This is because a leader who isn’t sure of themselves can never be sure of what they are doing. This must not be mistaken for arrogance. Foul attitude and aggression can deter your investor from investing in your business.

Since the investor is risking financing you, to some extent, they will ask numerous questions multiple times. Hence, it is your task to remain patient and maintain your composure. A slightly irritated tone can aggravate the investor, and it may even result in you losing their interest.

Interactive

You need to maintain constant interaction. The more you involve the audience and listen to their opinions, the more trustworthy you become. Also, constant feedback will allow you to analyze the investor’s mental capability as well as their decision making prowess. You can then influence their decision through healthy debate.