You want to make a good impression and make someone interested, yet the very act of pondering how the other person perceives you can make you less confident! These psyholohical techniques work for making a great first impression. RELATED: How To Get Someone To Like You Using 20 Psychology-Based Techniques

Here are 4 tricks to make someone feel super connected to you the first time you meet them:  

1. Have great eye-contact

According to Leil Lowndes, author of How to Instantly Connect with Anyone, eye-contact signifies “honesty, respect, interest, intelligence, candor and confidence.” But what makes eye-contact good? In a word: length. You need to look at someone long enough to actually connect with them, not just a brief flicker here and there. Lowndes recommends a few strategies for maintaining continuous eye-contact. Think about the exact shade of his eyes, count the number of times she blinks, note the shape and asymmetry of his eyes. RELATED: 5 Types Of Eye Contact & What They Say About Someone’s Attraction To You

2. Use the almost-touch

Touching the other person on the arm or the shoulder is a standard flirting technique. The physical contact indicates interest and comfort. But Lowndes suggests something else: the almost-touch. Reach out like you’re about to touch him but stop before you do. This works on men (“their fantasies go wild wondering what it means”) and women (“she may appreciate your affection but can’t accuse you of being too forward.”) RELATED: How To Make Someone Insanely Attracted To You Just Through Subtle Touch

3. Be eager and enthusiastic — to a point

Here’s a dilemma: How do you come across as interested in someone without seeming overly-interested? Let the other person speak first, then match his level of enthusiasm. That way you won’t sound disinterested or desperate. This works well on a first date or when someone introduces you to someone else. RELATED: The Powerful Psychological Trick To To Make Someone Think About You Nonstop

4. Make a good last impression

The way you say good-bye might be even more important than the way you say hello. Studies have shown that when people think about a past incident they’re more likely to remember the way they felt at the end, even if it’s significantly different from how they felt during the event. To create a great last impression, advises Lowndes, don’t just say good-bye. Instead, say a full sentence that includes the person’s name. Something like, “It was really great to meet you, Tom.” Or “Amy, thanks, I had a really good time.” Be warm and friendly and speak with at least as much energy as you did when you said hello. RELATED: How To Make Someone Fall In Love With You Using Psychology Sarah Harrison is an editor and content stratgeist whose work has appeared in The Guardian, Vice, The New York Times, The Independent and Psychology Today.