Come to a meeting in flip-flops and your soon-to-be ex-clients will not be impressed. Why? Because you’re not going to the beach with them. You expect your clients will respect you, right? So why shouldn’t you respect them in turn?

Dressing well is only half the battle, though. Remember that the people you and your team will be meeting with regarding your start-up are just as excited about new ideas as you are. They too are entrepreneurial, and eager to get on board with a new venture if they think it will be successful. The fact that they are meeting with you in the first place means that you’ve managed to convince them that you are a passably competent start-up.

So don’t screw it up. Be confident and collected in your meeting. Don’t check your watch or “cut to the chase.” Have nice-looking business cards. Have a nice website (see tip #3). If you don’t know how to answer a question, say “That’s an interesting question that I haven’t considered. I’ll look into that” instead of simply “I don’t know.” The important thing is that you seem cool, rational and present yourself as an exciting potential business partner.

If you act the part, you are the part. There was a story recently about how Fox News labels people as “political analysts” or “experts” who are analyzing on television for the first time. Their labels are all about the image they present as the authority in the matters they report on. In business, you can do the same thing. You don’t have to lie, but you can present an image of success just by acting like you’ve got it.

If you act like a hot start-up, you are a hot start-up. Keep your image polished, and as long as your business is making money, you will attract lots of attention.