Every IT professional meets customers. These customers may be in your own business: your boss, for example, could also be treated like a customer. He or she has needs, and your job as an employer is to meet those needs.

You want your customer to come to you for a solution rather than somebody else. Remember again: your customer could be your boss, co-worker, contracter, etc.

The basics

The "basics" are the things you absolutely must do. Otherwise your reputation may be tarnished.

Be on time to meetings. Make sure you've prepared well - bring paper and pen (or a laptop), know what's happening, complete assignments before you arrive, know who's arriving and why they're there.

Be polite. Never insult anybody - present or not, whether they're involved or auxilliary (e.g. waiters), implied or direct, verbal or with body language. Smile. Compliment people. Give consise and useful replies to questions, even the stupid ones. Don't stuff your face with free food.

Be competent and useful. Have a professional demeaner and make sure what you say is valuble and true.  Be inclusive and aware of everybody. Know why you're there and take charge of "looking after" your guests, or be a gracious guest yourself. Give them the impression that you're smart and you get stuff done (but don't lie or make false promises).

Go to the dunny beforehand.

Have a professional appearance. Dress well. Shave. Make sure your hair is both well cut and styled.

If you agree to do stuff, then make sure that it gets done on time.

Be a "yes" person, within reason. Make the customer feel they can trust you do make stuff happen.

Keep in contact with your customers. Listen to them. Talk to them regularly (book this in to your calendar). Pamper them and let them know that you're their trusted friend as well as their "car salesperson".

Don't look or sound like an idiot. Use formal, professional language. Don't have tattoos or piercings. Use proper grammar and spelling in correspondence (don't use Internet slang, L.O.L.).

The extras

Meet your customer face to face. Get to know them. Listen to what they need, rather than explaining it to them.

Feed people. Hungry people are grumpy. People like people who give them food. Offered food can range from bikkies to catered lunch to dinners. Warm food is good in winter - keep some mini pies in the freezer? Cheese boards? Some people might not eat sweet things.

Offer them drinks. Possible drinks are water, juice, tea/coffee, expresso-based coffees, wine, beer.

Make them comfortable. Make sure the office is a good temperature (get a/c or heating installed). Make sure you have decent furniture. If they're waiting, give them magazines / an Internet connection / food and drinks. Or meet them at their place. [An idea: give your office really good carpet and ask people to take their shoes off. Put a lounge suite in the meeting room (with projector, wireless keyboard, laptop stands) and bring guests straight there with a glass of wine and warm food).

Make sure all your pens in your office are quality ones with your branding on them. Encourage employees to "lose" them and customers to "steal" them. This is advertising.

Have professional things with you. Don't use cheap accessories; your customer will think you're cheap.

• Make sure your laptop looks professional. Don't show a cheap netbook to your customer. Make sure it looks "new". Make sure there isn't obvious physical damage. Make sure the keyboard isn't worn or grubby.
• Make sure your bags and accessories look professional. Use a brief case. Get a fancy binder for the paper you carry. Get a fancy pen.
• Don't show the customer a cheap mobile phone.
• Make sure your wrist watch (if you have one) isn't a cheap CASIO but rather a classy analogue one.
• Don't wear an iPod. You're not a teenager.
• Don't show the customer your packed lunch. You're a well-paid professional (even if you're not) and well-paid professionals eat at expensive restaurants each day (even if you don't).

The dodgy stuff

If it's a possibility, employ a "people person" to "help" you face your customer in a professional and useful role. This person doesn't need to be blond, young or a female; some people are natural "people persons" that other people just find attractive.

Offer your customer freebies. I personally hate these, but other people like these. Make them relevant: stress balls with your logo or a HTML colour chart? Pens (not cheap ones) with your details? Office toys? Make sure they are of the sort the customer will actually use.

A glass of wine during a meeting might be beneficial. A few more glasses and the customers might make a sloppy decision in your favour.

People like sports. Keep your sport knowledge up to date, even if you don't like it.