Tips on Making Good First Impressions

If you’re over the age of three, you’ve heard the old saying: “There’s no second chance to make a first impression.”  This is true when you meet anyone, but when you’re getting ready to meet someone you think that you might want to get involved with, the stakes are even higher.  Just try to think of a situation where first impressions are more important than on a first date.  Everyone wants to make a good first impression, however, given the often stressful nature of a first date or meeting, it can be much more difficult to accomplish than you would think.  Research shows that people generally form an opinion about you within seven to seventeen seconds of meeting you, so you need to be ready from the start.  Here are a few tips and suggestions that will significantly improve your chances for making a good first impression. 

1.  Keep It Clean...And Neat

Nothing will turn off someone faster than an obvious lack of proper hygiene.  If you are meeting someone for the first time, don’t try to impress them with how fit you are by showing up straight from the gym and needing a shower.  Take a shower.  And when you do, make sure you wash your hair.  Nobody likes oily, greasy, matted hair. “I live with goats” is probably not the first impression you want to make. This one is really basic:  if you don’t shower and your hair looks greasy, the person you are planning to meet will run away as fast and as far as they can.

While you’re at it, make sure your teeth are brushed, ears clean and fingernails trimmed and clean.  If you greet someone with a big smile and your teeth are so stained they look like you’ve been gargling coffee, the other person will not respond positively.  Brush your teeth, and use some mouthwash while you’re at it.  “Hello” is a nice word, but not when it is floating towards you on a cloud of bad breath. 

Once you make sure your body is clean and neat, take a hard look at the clothes you planned on wearing to your initial meeting.  If you are wearing the jeans that are so dirty they could stand up by themselves, then your chance of a second date just evaporated.  And, if you’ve been wearing the same sweats for several days because you “hate wearing dresses,” you won’t have to worry about dressing up for a night on the town, because you will be home alone.

First impressions can be simple.  They are about basic respect for the other person:  you and your clothing should be clean and neat. 

2. Watch Your Language

Once again, this is about respect.  The first time you meet someone, you are trying to get to know them, so don’t use language that is questionable.  If you are meeting someone through a dating and matchmaking service like Two of Us, then you will probably already be on the same page as far as language goes.  But even if you think that’s the case, watch it during the first meeting.  If you can’t get through “Pleased to meet you,” without dropping an F-bomb, I guarantee they won’t be pleased to meet you.

Part Two of watching your language is more about topic selection.  What shall I talk about with this new person I’m hoping to date?  Politics?  Religion?  What’s wrong with the country and how I would fix it if I were dictator?  None of these will help you get a second date. 

Instead of pontificating on a divisive subject, ask your date to tell you something about him/herself.  And if you do have to talk about yourself, tell your date about your interests and passions.  Passionate people are always interesting, and if your date finds you interesting, chances are you will make a great first impression, and get a second date.