With the holidays around the corner, this is no time to hang up your business hat. This next week may be the most important week for your 2017 business.
Why?
Because once the holidays start, the chances of you being able to book January parties drops significantly.
Waiting until after the holidays to reach out to potential hosts is a sure way to get objections like,
“I have so much cleaning up to do after the holidays, can we book in February?”
“My family and friends are all partied out because of the holidays. Maybe another time.”
“I am still trying to recover from everything I spent during the holidays. Message me again in a few months.”
Your first objective in re-launching your 2017 calendar is to book six parties (home or online) in a 30-day period. I call this jump-starting your business, just like you have to jump-start your car if your battery dies.
You may say, “Well, I came into this business to do only one party a week,” or “I came into this to do it part-time.” That’s fine. It is your own business, after all.
But to really establish yourself in the very beginning of the year, it is very important that you hold six parties in a three-to-four-week period. The closer you can make that time frame, the better off you will be. There is no substitute for getting a strong start and having a healthy calendar.
Here are some ways to secure bookings:
- The Casual Approach
Make it casual when you’re in casual conversations. You don’t even need to use the term ‘home party.’ You can offer your customers a fun night to get together with friends. It’s as simple as that.
When I was in the field, I remember being out and about at the mall one day, when a woman complimented me on my necklace. I thanked her, explained to her what I did and asked her if she would be interested in hosting a party.
She replied with, “No, I don’t like home parties.”
Now many consultants would have taken this as a no, and walked away feeling discouraged. But I knew that there was still an opportunity to gain this woman as a customer.
Remember, you do not only offer home parties. You offer a magnitude of ways that clients and customers can purchase from you.
So instead of accepting defeat, I let her know that I also offered one-on-one appointments where I would come to her house, bring my jewelry and help her match them to her outfits. The woman loved this idea and can you guess what she asked next? “Would you mind if I invite my daughter and some of my friends?”
And what is that right there? You guessed it, a party.
- See The People
In this business, it is important to see the people. Meaning, you want to get you and your products in front of as many eyes as possible.
Using your booking lead notebook, you will want to start to call some of your friends, family and acquaintances to set up a time for them to see the products.
When you call them initially, you may want to start with something like this:
“Hi Jessica, this is Belinda. I was wondering if you’re going to be home this weekend (or this evening or afternoon). (Wait for response). Great! I’d love to come over for a quick visit. I have something really exciting to show you!”
Or maybe something like this:
“Hi Jessica, it’s Belinda. I can’t wait to show you the new business I’ve decided to do. (Wait for a response). Terrific! I’d love to stop by for a few minutes to show you some awesome products. I know you are going to love them.
- Enlist Your Friends
When you are starting your business or launching a new season, don’t hesitate to ask people for their help. Friends will often surprise you with their willingness to help you get a great start in your business.
Let them know what you need to be successful and sincerely request their assistance; you’ll typically find them eager to know exactly how they can help you.
“Hi Sarah. This is Belinda. Do you have a couple minutes?” (Wait for response). I’m just getting ready for 2017 and I was wondering if you could help me out by hosting one of my first parties of the New Year?”
Remember, always start with your list of 100! Use your booking lead notebook to create a list of potential hosts, leads and customers.
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Tip: You will also want to be sure you brush up on your Facebook Parties (check out Lindsay’s course here). Many on your list may not be up for a home party in January, so it’s important you offer multiple ways to do business with you.
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