Often times when people join a business they feel overwhelmed. Many people feel that there is so much they need to know before they approach anyone. So…WHAT is it that you should know before you approach people?

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I had signed up for a business as a distributor to get a discount a couple of years ago, I’ll call that Company A. My upline coached me to see if this was a business I wanted to build since I had signed up a couple of other team members. I tried it but it just wasn’t me at the time, I had another business I was working on and it didn’t fit in with the schedule I desired.

Last summer I switched  to a product line that I felt better suited me and my beliefs, I’ll call that Company B. (I rarely switch products in this area so this tells you how I feel about the products.). While I liked some of the products of Company A, I didn’t want to order from 2 different companies so again, I signed up as a distributor for Company B and again I have team members.

Last week the upline for Company A called to tell me about some specials. WOW I thought she forgot all about me. I hadn’t heard from her in about 9 months. I also had not been ordering. I called her back to let her know that I wasn’t ordering from Company A anymore and I mentioned that I hadn’t heard from her in a while and asked how she was doing. (This upline is very likable but not very personal or relational).  She said “Oh well I never know how often people like me to contact them.”

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As many of you know the Olympics are wrapping up this week!

So much fun!!!

Our house has seen its fair share of ‘whoops and hollers’.

I’d have to say the most “Fun” with the Olympics though are the Norwegian “hot pants”.  Every time they came up to curl, comments and giggles (by both kids and adults) would happen.  Then they would show how really good they are!!!!

A few weeks ago Charlotte and I hosted a Radio program where we talked about how to Brand Yourself within a company.

The cool thing that we talked about is the fact that just because you are part of a certain company that doesn’t mean you need to drive a pink car…unless of course you earned that pink car and are yay…so proud.

You can be part of a direct sales company but you still need to Personally Brand yourself!!!

I chose to personally brand myself with “authentic and good customer service” ; in fact, it is still something that I have deep inside of me!  Those of you who have followed me for awhile know that I answer back any direct Tweet on twitter & I will personally answer you back on FaceBook!  That is my integrity!

The Norway Curler’s…..they chose to brand themselves in curling by being the “fun” team…..in fact, you can even find them on FaceBook! And even buy their pants (which are the colors of their national flag!!!) you mite have to wait awhile though…..cause apprently they are SOLD OUT!!!!

So how are you Personally Branding yourself in your Direct Sales/Home Party biz?????

JODY

www.DesignedforDivineDestinations.com

“Where its not just about the Destination, it’s the Journey to get There”

We all know someone who seems to have all the luck! They win all the door prizes, they get all the free stuff, they get to meet all these cool people. They just seem to have the sun shining over them all the time. Who do you know that’s like that?

I can think of a guy I knew from work. I’ll call him Bob. Bob and I both worked for a charitable organization. I also went to college with his wife. This guy was always getting free tickets to cool events, he was always invited to places where he got to hang out with some local or national celebrities. Bob was the guy people were talking about when they said “That guy is SO lucky!” Even his wife was heard saying it frequently.

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We’ve been asked once or Twice: “What is the best way to get Party Bookings”

Well, there is no short answer to that; however, I’d like to give you a quick tip that can get you Out THERE more!

Go out and get to a Networking Meeting. Find out if there is a “ladies luncheon” this week, perhaps through your local chamber of commerce. Get yourself a ticket and make the “intention” of meeting someone who YOU connect with!

Charlotte and I both love doing this!  We love to meet new people!  We both make it a point that if we Connect with someone, we go out for lunch….meet for coffee.  Develop a Friendship with someone NEW!

The point here is not to “Bug them about your business”; in fact, I recommend that you don’t even bring up your business…..”they will ASK YOU!” At that point, tell them what you do….what YOU Love.

Again, and this is important…..do NOT tell them about your business! Just enjoy your lunch or coffee!!!

Trust me, I’ve had more business over the years just getting to know people in this way.  Your new friend may or may not have a show with you, however they will feel more comfortable knowing that you are truly trying to make a personal connection and not a sales pitch!

What will happen is this:

• The next time you have an open house…your new friend will be more than happy to show up.
• When someone in your “new friends” circle of influence has a need…your new friend will “highly recommend” YOU as the great and wonderful person you are!

I’ve made so many wonderful connections and friendships (and yup extra money too) just by connecting at least once a week with someone new!

Good luck!

& Let us know how this works for YOU!

Jody

www.DesignedforDivineDestinations.com

“Where it’s not just about the Destination, it’s the Journey to get There!”

One of the people who I enjoy listening to and who has taught me a lot about communication skills is Pamela Jett. Although her applications are designed for business application, of course it has helped me with my personal application.

She is a communications skills expert and is a professional speaker and author.I have listened to several of her CDs and even had my children listen to some of them. She offers communication techniques that add power language to your vocabulary, she also assists you in deleting language that adversely affects your carer and relationships. She also gives you language to deal with difficult people.

Whether you are in the business world, an entrepreneur or a regular person who is looking to improve your communication skills, then her courses are a must.

She offers one telecourse a month and she is starting the year off with Snipers, Steamrollers and Chronic Complainers

https://secure.confertel.net/tsregister.asp?program=Jett2010

Her regular website is www.jettct.com

Listen to her, you will love her techniques, systems and tools.

Charlotte Salafia

www.designedfordivinedestinations.com

“Where it’s not just about the destination, but the journey to get there!”

WOW what a long title! I prefer things be short and sweet but some things require more words.

Attraction Marketing has always been practiced through out the centuries, it’s not a new idea it just has a newer name. I’m not sure if anyone assigned a name to the practice before. Most people in sales have heard of attraction marketing and some even know what it is.

How does attraction marketing work?

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So it’s January of a new year and some of you in Home Party Businesses may be thinking “It’s the beginning of the year.. everyone has already spent all their money on the holidays and no one wants to have a party” or “People are all partied out and just want to rest”.

Uh oh! Sounds like someone is just making excuses. Delete that thought and replace it with a new one! Here are some suggested thoughts to replace those ones with….. Read the rest of this entry »

Some of you may have heard a Rumour! The Rumour is shhhhh….

January is the slowest Month of the Year in any Home Based Business!

Well, thankfully that’s just a Rumour!!!!

For the 9 yrs I was in the Direct Sales Company I bonused (didn’t do just the minimum sales) Each and EVERY January!!!!

I’m going to share with you some of my Top Tips on how to maximize your January sales NOW!!!!

Scene #1
So, it’s near the end of the year! September, October, and November have been totally amazing. Sales have been through the roof, you are glad there is a lull so that you can finally slow down for your own Christmas Agenda.

Then, a funny thing happens! It’s January 5th and you have no shows left!

No customers to talk to!

Realizing, yikes, how did this happen? I better get on the phone and do some calls!

So in a panic you start phoning a tonne of customers, hostesses, then you bug your best friends (again!) to please look at the new catalogue and ask,

Sound familiar?

How does this sound instead?

Scene #2

It’s January 5th and today I’m calling my 6 hostesses that I already have booked, letting them know the new catalogue is in, it’s amazing and I give them 3 great New ideas that they can tell their guests about to help get them to the shows!
They are:
1) Fabulous Gifts for each guest in attendance
2) New products at the show
3) Shipping is on me (or whatever you want to offer)

Now, I don’t know about you….but I’d rather have Scene #2 and Know what I am doing…then doing something out of Frusteration and Desperation!

If you had been building Bridges behind you then Scene #2 is totally possible, if not, it’s not too late!

Here are my three Easy Breezy Ways to build some bridges for the New Year!

1) Stay Connected with your Past Hostess’s/Customer’s
2) Have a mail-out list
3) Keep up connections with their family (spouse/parents/siblings)

Let me Expand on each of these for ya!

1) Stay Connected

• Go through all your sales from the past year…YES..the past year. List all your Hostess’s/names/address’   Also make a list from your customer base…put them in 2 categories…those who bought under $50…those who bought Over $50  

2) Have a Mail Out List

• After you have made out your Connections you will now have 3 different mail outs!!!
• One to all your past Hostess’s thanking them for their time and business (include your new catalogue & that you are going to have an event in the New Year…just for them!)
• Second to all your customer’s who ordered over $50…let these ladies know that they are now one of your “preferred customer’s” and that they will Always be in the know of upcoming specials
• Third…will be to your customer’s who ordered under $50…thank them for their patronage..and how happy you were to meet them.

3) Keeping up Connections with Family

• You want to make sure that you get to know every hostess’s family! 
• Make sure you write down in your hostess’s file their husband’s name, sister, brother, mother etc…if you can…then when there are great Christmas specials….Valentine’s Special’s…and in the summer Anniversaries….you know Who to talk to & help them choose fav gifts for your special Hostess

(some of my most successful & lucrative parties have been my Spouse parties….one was well over $10,000 just before Christmas!)

So there ya go!
Some great ideas for how to Jumpstart your January!

I’d love to know how you stay connected with your Customer’s!

JODY )

Jody Maley is Motivational Speaker & Trainer, mom of six,retired entrepeneur, ToastMaster, Queen of the Home Party Plan Biz!
http://www.DesignedforDivineDestinations.com
“Where its not just about the Destination, it’s the Journey to Get there!”

Ok.. so… there’s this cosmetics company that I found out about. It’s non-toxic, non-carcinogenic, and non-hormone disrupting. I totally get passionate about this sort of thing as I am working on detoxing my body as much as possible. I get excited about the fact that I can detox and not slather on more toxins with my every day makeup and cosmetics (soap, shaving cream, shower gel etc). I use up to 15 items every day.. the cosmetics industry (which is totally unregulated) says there are only “trace amounts” of toxins but consider that you use this stuff every day and it’s about 15-20 products. ….. alright you get it, I’m passionate.

I liked this company so much I became a distributor.. why not..it was free to be a distributor and get the discount on the products. SO When I started talking to my friends about it… many of them had questions. Lots of my friends know I read a lot about natural meds and detoxing my own environment, they trust me. They ask me about make up. It got to the point where so many were asking questions about the products and they wanted to see them that I decided to host my own party. When I signed up … I had no intention of having parties but I decided that was the best way to go so I could show everyone at the same time what the products were about and they could see the color palates and ask all their questions with my partner there who is great with the product knowledge.

I picked a night and sent out several invitations and WOW did I pick a busy night. Lots of people were unable to  make it. I had 2 guests. Was I disappointed? Not at all… I was happy that 2 of my friends were able to make it and hang out and have some cheese and wine and cider and other yummy snacks.

They asked lots of questions and made their orders. Earlier that day, one of my friends who could not make the party dropped by and made an order as well. So I had 3 orders. I also had stuff I wanted to get.

My desire was to make it more a party than about the cosmetics but I am the kind of person that lets things flow as they need to. My friends naturally gathered around the products on the table and we sat there and chatted about all sorts of similar interests and concerns with health and toxins . The conversation was natural and I let them ask the questions about the types of things they were interested in rather than trying to direct them to particular items. For me this party wasn’t about the money making  aspect, it was about introducing my friends to products I feel will help them live healthier lives.

I wasn’t disappointed about my 3 orders because I had more friends who can share the passion I have for clean living.

But wait… there’s more. I talked about these products with the 2 ladies in my networking group that could make it to the meeting earlier that day (perhaps that should have been my indicator as to what sort of busy day it was for several of my friends) and I knew that one of my friends in the group was VERY interested in the products. She is similar to me in that she prefers to use cosmetics that are non toxic and she does detoxes and eats healthy. I didn’t wait for her to call me… I called her (because I know that’s her… she’s busy and the way to get in front of her is to call her). She thanked me for calling her and she ordered several items which doubled my party orders.

If my friends like what they get, they will naturally order more. I can set them up as preferred customers and let them enjoy the same discount that I enjoy. Perhaps I didn’t make a fortune with this party and I’m good with that. My real passion is about showing these incredible products to my friends and helping them live a less toxic life. I know that money follows the passion. I have already made more than I expected with this company because as I originally stated, I only became a distributor for the discount and now I have earned a bit by sharing that passion.

Before you book your next party, ask yourself this…. “Am I selling a product? or am I introducing people to a product that I am fully passionate about?”

When you are passionate, people will find you, they will ask you about purchasing your products. Then they will tell their friends about it.

This is just a snippet of what the home part business is all about. Asking yourself the right questions will bring you success. Making sure that you present a way that is not intrusive or bossy but that gets others just as excited about your product as you are will naturally draw people to your business.

Are you selling products or are you introducing your passion?

Charlotte Salafia

www.designedfordivinedestinations.com

“Where it’s not just about the destination, but the journey to get there.”