Here's The Real Reason Your Office Is A Deal Breaker For Most Clients

As a leader, you’re fully aware of the power a great pitch carries for closing a deal. Hence why you spend hours working on these before a big meeting, and hence why it can come as such a blow when a client still gives you a dreaded ‘no’. But, did you know that your pitch alone isn’t the only thing you need to lean on in order to finally seal those deals?

While what you say in a meeting obviously matters, statistics also reveal that vital first impressions are made within the first seven seconds. Obviously, this is something we frequently discuss when it comes to topics like marketing or trade sales. But an office space that leaves a lot to be desired could also prove a deal breaker for your most exacting clients.

Unfortunately, you can’t tweak your color scheme or work on your handshake to overcome this problem. Instead, you need to think about the following office-based first impression no-nos and the improvements you can make to overcome them.

# 1 - A Lack of Parking

Imagine this – you’ve come from out of town for a meeting with a brand that you’re already unsure of. You might have had a long drive, or this might be just one meeting of many that you have lined up that day. Then, you go to enter the car park, but guess what? There’s no available space, and finding parking elsewhere means setting yourself back for the whole day.

For obvious reasons, the client in this scenario won’t be in the most receptive mood once they finally get to you. In fact, they may be so stressed about the other meetings they’ll now be late for that they don’t even pay attention to your perfect pitch. And, just like that, you lose a deal.

This is something you obviously want to avoid, and it’s a surprisingly simple issue to overcome. The key is to make sure that all guests receive a parking permit that guarantees them a quality space. This reduces confusion, ensures that parking is arranged well in advance, and provides an additional peace of mind that’s sure to put you in a client’s good books.

# 2 - Unclear Check Ins

Clients ultimately start judging whether your business is a good fit from the moment they walk in the door. This is especially true for B2B clients, who will want to know that you’re a reliable long-term partner. Unfortunately, that’s not the impression you’ll create if you start with messy check-in procedures.

Even something as simple as failing to give a clear name or location for clients to follow when they arrive is a red flag. If there’s no reception desk or direction for clients to head in, then they’ll soon start to lose faith in your ability to conduct effective business. They may even leave before the meeting starts!

Overcoming these issues should begin from the moment you contact a client with a meeting date, when you should also state clearly where the meeting will be held and, vitally, who their point of contact is should they run into any issues. It’s also well worth implementing a reception desk in your office if possible. Even if this isn’t continually manned, the ability to meet and greet clients in the moment will help you create a far more sparkling first impression than you might otherwise.

# 3 - A Messy Space

As a leader, you don’t have much time to worry about the general cleanliness of your office, but did you know that this can also take its toll? Even small signs of negligence, including grubby windows and unwashed baseboards, can create doubts that you don’t want creeping in.

Obviously, seeking a reliable and well recommended commercial cleaning service for regular visits outside of office hours is key to getting past this potential setback. But, this alone isn’t enough to ensure that guests don’t see something that they shouldn't. You should also take steps that might include hiring a regular commercial window cleaning service, providing dedicated, out-of-sight rubbish and recycling bins, and even just having someone check the toilets before a client visit.

While these tasks may seem like the last things on your checklist for meeting day, even just making sure there are no unpleasant surprises left in the lavatory can ensure that you leave a good impression across all elements of your operations.

# 4 - A General Lack of Facilities

So far, we’ve discussed office deal breakers that are broadly in your control, but not everything is quite as easy to handle. For instance, if your office doesn’t have a meeting space, you may feel like there’s nothing you can do to win clients around. Equally, if your budget doesn’t stretch to things like meeting tech and even crucial projectors, you may be stuck in the dark ages without a way out.

These issues will certainly go against you when it comes to clients who generally now expect these things as standard. After all, how can you win them around with a paper presentation that’s delivered at your desk? But that’s not to say that you’re powerless here.

Luckily, there are now plenty of meeting rooms for either temporary or long-term hire, many of which are fully equipped with the latest meeting tech, including smart signs in and high-tech projectors that are sure to impress.

While you might feel frustrated that you can’t host clients in your own office, these options are fantastic for allowing even small businesses to ensure the wow-factor that’s going to secure sales. And, once those sales start rolling in, you can then turn your attention to expanding your own business space, or kitting out your office meeting room a little better.

Conclusion

Having clients round for dinner is undeniably daunting, and a lot can go wrong, no matter the quality of your pitch. So, be aware of these potential in-office deal breakers, and do what you can to ensure that your speech, rather than your space, does the talking.