Have your business cards printed with a Portuguese translation on the reverse side, and hand them over as part of the introduction, not just when someone asks. It signals you’ve made an effort, and it gets noticed.
During the conversation itself, don’t retreat if your counterpart stands closer than you’re used to or touches your arm while making a point — matching that closer distance reads as engaged, while stepping back can come across as cold or standoffish.
- This same warmth shows up in the greeting itself — see the cheek-kissing entry for how a handshake often evolves once you’ve met someone more than once.