Southern Hoots News
Erica Southerland, Team Leader
Hello Team!!
Welcome New Baby Owls
Clanci Tipton
Kristina Graybeal
Natasha Miller
5 Direct Sales Recruiting Tips
1. Don't Spam
People actually turn away from your product and what you have to offer if you OVER offer your business. A rule of thumb to remember is this, especially if you network, is to either keep it to one post a day or do a post in the morning and a post in the evening. This way your are getting your Early Birds and your Night {Owls}.
2. Keep it Moving
Don't keep your focus on just one person who is looking to join to your team. If they want to join they will don't pressure. If they have questions, answer them. If they have concerns, address them. If you look to one recruit all the time and you never get a response you may have missed out on someone who is very interested and didn't even know it. Find a balance between everyone and if it helps to create an email to send out to them or set up a meeting with everyone potentially wanting to join but needs needs to hear information in person do so! If nothing comes of it at first set a time to follow up with a card in the mail or phone call.
3. Don't be Selfish
Don't recruit with the intentions of what's best for you or what's in it for you. Rather look at it as how can you grow together. I know sometimes in this world we can get lost in this but it truly does help. Take the time to get to know your recruit from a personal level. If they do not end up signing up that's okay. You have however, made a great impression on them for respecting their distance and you have made a friend.
4. Be Proactive and Share
That doesn't mean you have to spam but all this means is to share what you do. Since we are in the Jewelry Business, don't say: "I'm an Origami Owl, Independent Designer." Because people will automatically think you are trying to sell or recruit them. Instead, why not try and say, "I'm in the business of making stories come alive in beautiful custom lockets.' Now doesn't that sound better and more interesting? You want to gain peoples interest not scare them away!
5. Relationship Building
This can always be the hardest yet the most fulfilling and rewarding! Sometimes as individuals we want to have everyone "Like" or "Share" our business in every aspect of this social society we call Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. And then when they don't we get upset or frustrated and we hound them more. This can turn potential recruits away and run so far out that they can and will eventually just delete you or block any opportunity you might have for them. You will get people who will not want to join our company and thats okay turn it into a positive and learn from it. You can still network with them and share ideas and ask for advice on how to grow your team- you never know by doing this may join later. Recruiting with ethics and morals is quite attractive and people will flock to you.
Direct Sales Booking Tip
Here are 12 great tips that you can use immediately to increase your party bookings.
1. Offer bonuses for dating on weeknights.
2. Offer bonuses for dating on weekday afternoons.
3. Hold multi-host parties to reduce stress for your party hosts. A multi-host party is when 2-3 party hosts pick one location and have one party. Each host invites their own party guests and each host earns free products for having their party. They just share the 'party space" and you only have to do one business presentation.
4. Think "outside the house" and consider taking parties to other venues, such as office buildings where your hosts work, community centers, assisted living centers, the park, bowling alley, your local pizza shop, coffee and donut shop, small cafes and diners, church fellowship halls and daycare centers.
5. Contact past party hosts and offer them an incentive to book another party.
6. Contact your customers and offer them an incentive to book a party.
7. Offer parties in a bag, parties in a box and catalog order parties for party hosts who are too busy to host a party in their own home.
8. Offer to let party hosts use your home to host their party.
9. Get involved in your community events. Set up table displays advertising your home party opportunity. On display you should have some visuals such as: Dating Gift, Host Thank You Gift, Host Booking Gifts, etc. Let your potential hosts see what they can earn for free or for half price! Get out there and meet new people and watch your bookings grow.
10. Party in your trunk! (also known as a 'trunk show'). Take your party on the go: to the park, outdoor music festivals, sporting events, family reunions, neighborhood block parties, flea markets, community yard sale events, etc. The more people see your products, the more apt they are to book a party!
11. Offer mini versions of your home party. If you normally spend 2 hours at the party hosts home doing a home party, come up with a new shorter version. Some party hosts don't want to commit a lot of time hosting a home party, so offer a shorter mini version of your traditional home party.
12. Offer an immediate product reward for booking a party on the spot with you. This should be an inexpensive item from your business product line.
Tips to increase Party Bookings
1. Offer an immediate dating gift to someone who books a home party with you and sets a date for the party within the next 21 days.
2. Half-Price selections are one of your most valuable tools. Let party guests know they can purchase these products at the half-off price by holding a party with you.
3. Reward hosts who have a "Dating in Waiting," a party dated before you arrive. I like to offer a product that retails for $10-$15 as my extra incentive for outside bookings.
4. Re-Bookings. Offer an incentive to your host if she rebooks another party with you, to be held in 90 days.
5. Offer Exclusive Host Gifts. These are products that only party hosts can earn for free or 1/2 price for having a home party with you.
6 Ideas to increase Party Sales
Working as a direct seller requires you to wear many different hats: sales representative, party planner, marketing executive, administrative assistant, etc. It can be easy to get sidetracked with all of these responsibilities, so it’s important to remember that the bottom line of your business comes down to sales. Even if you have built a substantial downline, many direct sales companies require you to meet a minimum number in sales every month to earn you commission.
Here are some tips on how to increase sales.
- Cross-selling is recommending related products that complement others that have already been purchased or are being purchased at the moment. Your customer is likely unfamiliar with your entire line of products, so introducing something that might be of interest based on past purchases can increase the amount of that sale. Using this technique repeatedly can quickly add up. For example, if a customer is buying a baby lotion that is specifically designed for sensitive skin, direct him/her to your company’s line of products that are hypoallergenic and free of unnecessary chemicals. Besides the lotion, the customer may wind up walking away with body wash, diaper cream, and sunscreen as well. As an added bonus, you’ve also demonstrated your attention to the customer’s specific needs, which will make him or her want to buy from you again.
- Best value quick sale is offering products/services that give customers the best value for their money and are ready for immediate delivery. Especially for new customers, this will establish that you’ll sell them products/services of high quality at a reasonable price, and give them instant gratification.
- Business referral exchange program. By partnering or teaming up with other businesses or consultants in your area, you not only generate more brand exposure, but increase sales. Create relationships with other businesses that compliment your products/services where you recommend each other’s services/products and may consider offering special promotions for each other’s products/services to your customers.
- Personalize appointments by offering to meet with people face to face and set up private appointment. It gives you a chance to be more social, develop a relationship and explain the advantages of your products/services related to the customer’s needs.
- Create contests or promotions to market your products. Whether your company has a featured product for the month or if you have some excess inventory you’d like to unload, contests are a fun and effective way to draw attention to certain products and make them stand out from the rest. With spring almost over and summer close upon us, it might be a good idea to get a jumpstart on your summer-related products with a raffle. For every dollar your customers spend on beachwear in the month of May, for example, they will receive one entry into a drawing for a family-sized beach tote filled with goodies for the kids to enjoy while playing in the sand this summer on vacation. Specific promotions like these allow you to control what products are highlighted, draw focus to featured items, and give customers the opportunity to purchase something now that they may have held off on by offering them a fun incentive.
- Reward your customers by implementing a referral program. In direct sales, word-of-mouth goes a long way, especially when there is a lot of competition. Make sure you have some way of learning how each new customer found you: you could ask them when making a transaction face-to-face, create a space for it on your order form, make it a question on a post-purchase web survey, etc. Every time a customer refers you to someone who in turn becomes a customer, reward the original customer to show your appreciation. Some consultants make their own rewards cards a la Subway, while others give away vouchers, coupons, or free gifts. Whatever you decide, make sure you always follow through and that your customers, especially the new ones, know that such a rewards program exists.
Increasing sales requires planning, creativity, and knowledge of your company’s product line. Focusing on your existing customers is a great place to start, and always make sure they know that you appreciate their patronage and that you will always do your best to make them satisfied and happy they chose you.
Want to increase home party sales?
1. Attendance Specials. Provide an incentive for hosts who have 10 guests at their party. Provide an additional incentive for hosts who have 20 guests at their party.
2. Encourage party guests to bring an uninvited friend to the party. One way of doing this is by labeling the party invitation with the bring a friend to the party information. I personally reward guests with a 10% discount off their personal order for bringing along a friend.
3. Offer several Purchase with Purchase Specials, also known as Bonus Buys.
example: With a $50 purchase, you can add-on xyz item to your order for only $10.00 or with a $100 purchase, you can add-on xyz item to your order for only $25.00
Enticing customers to buy more to receive a special offer is a great way to increase party sales.
4. Have plenty of items to demonstrate at your home parties. The more items guests see, the more they will buy.
5. Make your parties fun and interactive. Get your guests involved in the party. Play a few games, offer some great prizes and more importantly, make sure you enjoy yourself.
By offering incentives like these, it helps to increase party attendance, which in turn increases your party sales. When you have satisfied hosts and guests, they will in turn, book parties from you!
Booking Checklist
Better Booking Checklist
___1. Build Party Attendance - It is hard to book a party or earn money with a chair, sofa or lamp so remember, the more people at the party, the more potential for prosperity (for you and your Host). Make sure your Host is talking up the benefits of attending the party. Emphasize the education, as well as the fun factor, as the combination draws a bigger crowd.
___2. Challenge Your Host To Help - Ask your Host to have a booking waiting for you before you arrive. Enlist the Host to help you and make it worth your Host's worthwhile.
___3. Offer To Call Each Guest Before The Party - As a service to your Host, offer to call each guest to confirm their attendance, and in doing so encourage them to bring a friend. Making a personal connection with potential guests prior to the party helps you build the "know, like and trust" factor and establishes your standard of customer service. Even leaving a voice mail can highlight your professionalism and show how you support each Host. Most direct sellers overlook this step, so making pre-party calls will set yourself apart.
___3. Arrive Early To Be Booking Ready - Arriving before guests allows you to not only to set up early and chat with your Host but also frees you to greet guests when they do arrive. Take advantage of the opportunity to build rapport. Ask your Host to share a little about each guest with you. Who likes to have parties? Who is involved in organizations? Who might appreciate free products or want to earn some money? Make notes on your guest list.
___4. Greet Guests With Interest - Learn something special about each guest in your pre-party chat. What do they do? Where do they live? How do they know the Host? How familiar are they with your product line?
___5. Remember Guest Names - When you sincerely address guests by name, you communicate that they are important to you. If you cannot remember everyone's name, consider using name tags.
___6. Decide To Deliver Booking Bids - Determine before you start when you will deliver 3 booking bids to the group. This means deciding when you will invite others to consider booking and what you will say in each invitation. Be prepared, not scripted or robotic. Be direct or you might drive home and realize you forgot to ask.
___7. Promote Your Host Benefits - Promote the benefits of being a Host through both your verbal and non-verbal communication. Pass around Host specials. Refer to the Host program. Inform others what Hosts can earn when they open up their homes for a party.
___8. Highlight Your Host - Make each Host feel genuinely appreciated and special. Without their hospitality you would not have a vehicle to build your party plan business. Publicly acknowledge your Host today and others will be more inclined to Host in the future.
___9. Party With Play - Always remember, it is a party you are promoting. Infuse fun and laughter into your party process and bookings will follow. The more your guests enjoy the time together, the more they will want to repeat the experience and get their own friends together. It is up to you to create the party atmosphere.
___10. Give Personal Invitations - Ask each guest individually to be one of your special Hosts. "Would you be willing to invite me into your home to host your own party [or get together]?" Do not pre-determine who will and who won't say yes. Ask everyone. This single practice boosted my booking results tremendously.
With practice, you will increase your bookings and build a business with solid confidence. Develop your style so that you are using the most effective word choices that work for you. Challenge yourself to get to a point where if your calendar ever looks slim, you have the power to rebuild it. With this knowledge you will attract others intentionally to schedule with YOU!
Erica Southerland, Independent Designer, Team Leader
Email: erica.southerland11@gmail.com
Website: ericasoutherland.origamiowl.com
Location: Maryville, TN
Phone: 423-340-1889
Facebook: facebook.com/erica.southerland112611
Twitter: @esoutherland11