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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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!”

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!”

Hey Everyone,

My hubby posted this on his blog…and I thought it very relevant to what our readers think too! Enjoy and don’t forget to let us know your thoughts!!!

Click Here to Read Article!

Jody & Charlotte

http://www.DesignedforDivineDestinations.com

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

So, you have this home party business selling X, Y and/or Z. You have had a couple of parties but seem to have a hard time getting people to book the next party. You might think “how can I get some parties booked so my hostess can get rewards and I can do more parties?”.

Plant some seeds!

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When you start a Home Party Business, the first thought is how to get people to have parties. Many coaches or “uplines” advise you to have your own party first and that is a great idea! You are excited about your new position as a distributor and you are excited about the product and you think everyone else should be!

Think about why you got into the business. Some become a distributor because of the discount and then think about making money with it.. if it happens. If you don’t make it happen, it’s not  going to. Be sure you know whether or not you really want to host parties or just enjoy the discount.

When you make the decision to sell, be sure that it’s your decision and that someone didn’t just talk you into it. If you have not accepted the role, you will not be successful no matter how good your coach is.

One of the greatest challenges that new distributors come across is how to get people to book parties. I know that many distributors feel they need to have a lot of product knowledge before they can start feeling comfortable with demonstrating. The beauty of hosting your own party first is that you are surrounded by friends and family, if you make any mistakes, they know that you are new at it and are very forgiving. Making mistakes is how you learn, go ahead and get them done with those who are most forgiving. Start with the products that you fell in love with and their questions will teach you what you need to know for the next time.

When you have your party, don’t expect that people are just going to sign up to have their own party, you have to ask! Plant seeds through out the party (we will address this in another blog). Give them the idea to have their own party during the party. At the end when you observe how much they like your products or particular products… ask them if they would like to have a party of their own, so they can get a discount on the items they would like to purchase. I myself would generally say “when would you like to host your own party so that you can get more items that you like?” but you should ask with the way you are comfortable.

Be sure to have a calendar purchased before you have your first event. (We will also address calendars and booking later) and have it handy. Determine ahead of time what days you will have available. Being wide open looks desperate so schedule them with in both your and the clients parameters. Be sure to encourage booking within the month.

What to say when they say no… sort of… People will give you different kinds of “no-s” . Some will outright say, “no, I don’t want to have a party”, and your question to them is “you don’t want to have one now, in the next month or the next year? or ever?”. No is a different answer in every ones mind. Be sure you are clear on what “No” means. If they say no.. for now then ask permission to call them in a few months to check back in with them. If they say never, then respect that and ask if they can be on your mailing list for future order.

There are some who say no but may mean something else. I remember being with my upline when I was researching whether I wanted to represent this company. I had a friend of mine book a party and at the end of her party one of her friends answered the question with “…. no… I don’t have enough friends who would come.” My upline said “are you sure?” and her friend said “yeah”. My upline was about to drop the ball and let it go…but I could tell she was interested in hosting a party to get more product at a discount and free stuff too. I piped up “Oh sure you do! Sara (the host of the party…not her real name) will come, won’t you?” Sara says “of course I’ll come” and another friend pipes up “Oh yeah, I would come too, I need to spread out my order”. Then I asked her “Don’t you have a couple of friends at work that would come?..or what about  a friend from the gym?”. After I encouraged her to think of a couple of people and she felt good knowing that she had at least 2 firm commitments she decided to host and her party generated $800 in sales.  One of the girls at the party inquired about becoming a distributor herself.

Now, maybe $800.00 is not going to make anyone rich but.. the friend was happy, there was potential for more business and party bookings.. AND I got more experience. What was the secret? I figured out that some people want to host a party, it’s always a good excuse to invite people over and have fun (who may not come otherwise) and that some people feel that they don’t know enough people to make it worth your while. By assuring her that she did know people who would come and by letting her know that it’s not all about how many people who come but it’s about having fun, they feel more comfortable booking a party with you.

There are lots of people who like to have parties, there are lots who want to earn the free gifts. Take the time to genuinely talk to them without pressure and find out what it really is that they want. You have the power to empower them.

Charlotte Salafia

www.designedfordivinedestinations.com

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

I started my blog in the Fall last year. My husband has been blogging for quite some time whether it was on someone else s interactive blog or his own. For a long time I wasn’t sure what blogging was and thought that it was probably pretty complicated.

Turns out, blogging is very easy and I have found that the more I write, the more I find I have to say.

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We have all found ourselves sabotaging ourselves. Most of the communication we participate in any given day is internal dialogue. At some point or another we have all said to ourselves “I’m not good enough” or “I don’t deserve this“. It’s not a good dialogue to have. Certainly this sort of communication with yourself is something to be changed.

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