1. Smile Facial expressions are very important when it comes to MAKING a good first impression. Who doesn't want their PERSONAL brand to be associated with positivity? 2. The Right Handshake The handshake is accepted internationally as a professional sign of politeness. A PROPER handshake can convey confidence. You might be rolling your eyes at this, but the handshake is a fine art. You want to walk the line between a squeeze that comes across as incredibly tight and the dreaded limp fish. When you're meeting with people whom you trust and have known for years, ask them how they feel after shaking hands, and how your handshake feels in relation to others they've experienced. 3. Introductions You want your first seven seconds with somebody to be productive, so it's great to throw in a verbal introduction as you meet with people. Even something as basic as "great to meet you" after they greet you can break the tension, and stop you from getting off into a tangent. If you have a hard time remembering names, the intro is a great PLACE to reinforce the name of the person you just met. It doesn't have to be too involved: when your contact says, "Hi, I'm Amelia," REPLY with a simple, "Great to meet you, Amelia. I'm Jonah," instead of just saying, "Hi, I'm Jonah," in response.