The Daily Juice

5 Insider Facebook Tips You Can't Afford to Ignore

2012-02-13T07:54:00.000-05:00

If you're starting a business, in business, or one of us home party plan consultants, you may want to brush up on what you're projecting to the world. This is especially true on Facebook.

Perception is truly reality in our ever expanding on-line world. You invest in a business, both time and money, so you want to make sure that what you're projecting is helping, not hindering those investments.

5 Insider Tips for Facebook You Can Not Afford to Ignore:

1. Don't share posts/tweets that are whiny, make you seem bored or a frivolous. After a couple times, you will be associated as a whiny, bored and frivolous person. No one wants to do business with this type of person. Period.

2. Did I see F**K in there? WTF?
I wince every time I see this work typed publicly on Facebook, and I can assure you so do others. Your friends won't tell you, and others after a while will just 'hide' your posts from their feed. Great way to become invisible!

3. Don't over post 'commercials' (like requests to book a party, business opportunity, buy this or that, etc.) Too many of these and people just hide your feed because you come off as a hard seller just trying to shove something down their throat. Never post several commercials in a row,

   Tip: limit your commercial posts to no more than one a day, Mix your commercial post well in between personal and informational posts, comments, links, etc.
   Go ahead and add customers, hostesses, prospects, your down line etc to your personal friends list. It's a great way to build your relationship with them! Just keep the posts on your profile one that showcase you as a professional, fun, upbeat, etc.

4. Create a Fan Page for Your Business.
Critical: always add daily good content to your Fan page EVERY DAY, with links, advice, educational tips, educational links, etc. As you are building your friend list on your personal profile page with customers, hostesses, prospects, etc, you then BUILD UP your Fan page by suggesting it your friends!

5. Engage your audience! How?
-Ask thought provoking questions.
-The way to get interest in yourself and your business is to take interest in others first! Make frequent comments to other people's posts. Show interest by asking questions, or offering encouragement and/or congratulations. This is a biggie!
-Give away tokens to the first few posters, or the poster of the day for the question of the day. Make it fun! And remember: when you give away tokens, you are getting or keeping a customer! You get to send them a catalog plus a personal note, personal promotion, etc and directly to their mail box! It's one of the best ways to get a lead, develop a personal relationship and will probably result in a party or recruit.

--Rina Valan

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Reinventing the Wheel?

2012-02-10T08:52:00.000-05:00

Try the one that comes with it first.

Read your basics. Absorb. Shadow. Learn.

Once you got it working, use your creativity to make it go a lot farther.

--Rina Valan

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Rapport is not a Four Letter Word

2012-02-07T08:32:00.000-05:00

Prospects not calling you back? Are calls painful?

Start with talking less than 10 seconds, and then ask a question!

Why?
Because you need to develop a rapport FIRST.

Most people just talk too much at the beginning of any conversation.
You shouldn't share for more than 10 seconds!
That 10 seconds is just enough for you to give them some clarifying information about you or reason for the call.

After 10 seconds, ask them a question.
It doesn't have to be about business, having a home party, or what you are trying to sell.
It could be something personal, if they have kids, or where they grew up, or perhaps they went to the high school in the state you grew up in.
By asking them a question, it forces you to start focusing on them and their needs.
They are giving you information instead!

Key: if you can get them to say 'yes' at least 3 times during the rapport building session, they you can get them to say 'yes' later. This whole techniques works no matter if you're waiting on line in the supermarket, if you're talking to a customer at home parties, a potential new recruit, someone in your down line, or anyone you are doing business with or want to do business with.

Critical: if you want them to call or write you back, you MUST develop the rapport!

RECAP:
*Relationships start when you establish rapport
*Talk less than 10 seconds.
*Ask a question. Get them to give you information.
*Share 10 second responses. Ask another question. Repeat.
*Get them to say 'yes' several times.
Why? Because you focus on them, their needs. And THEN share benefits of your service/product and 'what's in it for them!'

It works.

--Rina Valan

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The Secret to Building a Team

2012-02-06T07:50:00.000-05:00

The greatest good

we can do for others

is not to share our riches with them,

but to reveal their own.

- Benjamin Disraeli

--Rina Valan

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After the Party? Go Fishing!

2012-02-03T07:20:00.000-05:00

The Scene:
Phone conversation with an experienced home party sales representative.

The Pain:
When asked how her sales were this month: "I did a fantastic $1500 party last week. There were over 15 people there, but no one booked! I feel discouraged, and can't seem to find new people to book one of my shows."

Thump to Side of Her Head:
Wait a minute! She had found LOTS of new people!
What she didn't find? Fish that jumped into her boat!

And fishing isn't just about throwing a line into the water!
You have to:
---find the right spot
---bait the hook or something interesting for them to nibble on
---cast the line, and not just once, but a lot
---and most importantly: you have to PULL the fish out of the water!

She was suffering from a spear fishing mentality! That's a very hit-or-miss and tough way to stay in business. The odds of getting them on the first shot can be dim. Our home party business is all about building relationships and having 15 people actually see and be with you for a couple hours is an incredible opportunity. It starts when you walk in the door and continues when you walk out the door IF you choose to. That's right! If YOU choose to!

How?
1. A simple email letting them know you appreciated them coming. Tell them to look for another email from you when their orders are about to be delivered.
2. Then, another email when their order/product is about to be delivered. The mention of a tip or product suggestion is a way to engage them in feedback/conversation. Best? Email them on Facebook!
3. You respond, they respond.
4. Repeat.

Because:
---they can continue to be a regular buying customer
---you eventually friend them on Facebook, and never 'lose' them again

---eventually, you might get them to book
---they can turn into a Fan who tells their friends and gets you referrals
---they may even turn out to be you next new recruit

Chuck the spear.
Pay attention to your fishies.
You know what to do.

--Rina Valan

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7 Second Rule: Use it or Lose it

2012-02-02T10:47:00.000-05:00

The scene:

In your car, at a red light.

It turns green.

You hesitate for 7 little seconds.

You get honked!!

Only 7 seconds! Are they incredibly impatient or what?!

Timing is everything, especially in our home party plan business.

It's not enough that you follow up with a call or email, you have to follow up fast enough!

Why?
Prospective customers who don't get immediate follow up/attention lose more than their patience. They just move on to someone else, or worse-another company.

And your current customer who doesn't get immediate follow up/attention lose their trust in you.

So, as soon as you get party interest or lead of any kind, respond immediately to let them know you got their message/request/inquiry-no matter what time of the day or day it is. This could be a simple as a text message, quick email, or quick phone call that says:
"Hi, got your inquiry, and excited to connect with you. Will call//write/whatever later"

Because? Once they get acknowledgment, they stop looking and start looking to hear back from YOU.

--Rina Valan

P.S. Immediate acknowledge is critical with anyone in your down-line, new recruits, prospective new recruits, your hostesses, prospective hostesses, referrals...everyone.

P.P.S. Immdiate follow-through AFTER your party is absolutely critical now too! Make sure you submit your customers orders quickly AND they get quick delivery. Not only is your trust and reputation is at stake, but also any future business!

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The Power of Something Going Right

2012-01-31T12:27:00.001-05:00

There is amazing power in

one little thing that goes right.

Maybe you made a phone call, and they said "yes."
Or you sent an email, and they responded "maybe."

There are days you have to dig, so you hit Google for a motivational phrase. That's OK, because just reading some of them makes you feel good. So that is something going right!

So, what's so amazing about one little thing that goes right?
It's the key that can make more things go right!

Your outlook, your energy and your enthusiasm makes an about face.

Others become drawn to you.

You switched the polar ice caps and the trend is 'right.'

Find or do one thing thing right, right now. There is no time to waste.

Let me see you glow ; )

--Rina Valan

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7 Ways to Swim Out to your Ship

2012-01-26T12:21:00.000-05:00

Your ship is out there.But why wait?
Swim out to YOUR ship, here are 7 ways you can do that right now:

1. Write personal notes to 5 potential hostesses.

2. Write personal notes to 5 of your previous hostesses to offer a 'book now' incentive

3. Call 5 of your last party cancellations and get them to 'pencil in' a new date.

4. Look for 10 of your customers on Facebook and friend them (always with a note to 'refresh' their memory along with the request, and please don't hit them with commercial messages right off the bat!)

5. Start a Fan page on Facebook for your business.
And if you already do, go 'like' other Pages that are businesses and services in your geographic area--and comment as your Page. The fans on this page are probably within driving distance of your home. GREAT target marketing.

6. Write a personal short story about a product you love, or that is new, and email to 15 of your customers; make sure you end it with an open ended question so they respond back.

7. Book your own romance party or open house show or 'Ladies Night In."

-Swim, swim, swim and keep swimming until you find your ship!!!!

--Rina Valan

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Make Them Talk

2012-01-25T08:34:00.000-05:00

Just because a prospect does not voice a fear or concern does not mean there isn't any. It's often masked as "I'll think about it" or "I'll get back to you."

So, how do you make them talk?
Use the magic phrase: "Tell me about.... "

"Tell me about what you're thinking."
"Tell me about the friends you're inviting to your party"
"Tell me about what you think about our program."
"Tell me about what you're looking for."
"Tell me about what is holding you back."

It's the perfect way to get to the unspoken issue or objection.

You draw it out in a non-threatening manner.

And once they start talking about it, you can identify it, relate to it, address it, then overcome it by giving them a solution to what they need.

It works.

--Rina Valan

P.S. Overcoming objections is absolutely essential if you want to be successful in your home party business, spoken or unspoken. It's key to getting more bookings that you can possibly handle! And, it will turn you into a Master Recruiter!

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When Viral is a Good Thing

2012-01-23T20:40:00.000-05:00

You hear the buzz about 'viral marketing’.
Viral means something that propagates quickly in the cyber world, something that gets distributed quickly in a natural way (i.e. people redistribute by emailing or reposting on sites, click on the site or video or pics, etc) I bet you get those viral type of emails everyday---a joke, a chain email, letter to Fatima, funny or interesting YouTube video, little movies, etc. Wouldn't you love it if something about you or your business went viral and you got tons of attention and leads?
Well...you can!

The easiest way to get yourself viral right off the bat is to look at your automatic'signature line' when you send out an email--do you have one? That's the automatic information you can tell your email program to put at the bottom of every email that you send. Usually people just put their name and contact information (like a phone number and/or website). Make your signature interesting---besides your name and website address, make sure you have an 'attention getting' tag line that makes the reader want to go to click on the website link. Any whatever the tag line is, make sure it is consistent with what you do, a good image, but an 'interesting' image.

Here are a couple of interesting signature tag lines from Fantasia Sales Reps:

“Your Business is Our Pleasure!” Book a Fantasia Romance Home Party with me have the time of your life : http://barbscloset.fantasiahomeparties.com/

"If You're Staying Home at Night, Why Not Make it Fun?"
Book one of my FUN Fantasia Parties and Make it a Night to Remember!"
http://www.fantasiahomeparties.com/

Here’s a great link for hundreds of interesting signatures lines: http://coolsig.com/

Now, here's the kicker. Next time you get one of those viral emails and before you pass it on to people in your email address book, stop and do a couple things. The first is to make sure you have that great email signature. Utilizing the tips I suggested above, send yourself a couple emails to make sure it looks good and reads well. If you don't know how to set up an automatic signature in your emails, you can usually find it under "Preferences" in one of the top tabs of your email program.

Then, 'clean it up' by removing all the junk in the content that's been repeated and any other copy not related to the actual content. (For instance, take out any forwarding addresses, all the other "to" addresses ). It's ready now, and your email besides being something funny, or informative, it now becomes a big subtle ad! Think about this: hundreds, possibly THOUSANDS of people are going to get/read this email eventually---and if your catchy signature line is at the bottom, you would then have all those hundreds or thousands of people looking at what you wrote—and possibly clicking or contacting you! It’s worth the time and teeny bit of effort.

And another link about signature lines and email etiquette: http://email.about.com/cs/netiquettetips/qt/et020301.htm

Get viral. Go ahead and forward those emails---just make sure to add the right message/signature and make it work for you!

--Rina Valan

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Home Party Games: 5 No-Fail Tips

2012-01-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

Games and warm-ups for your home parties are really important. They serve as ice breakers, connect you and the others together, and your guests have fun!

Here are some key points to make sure they work for you:

1. Length: don't drag on forever. Keep the game lively, and moving!

2. Type: quiz games are good when while you're waiting for the party stragglers. Action/movement games don't work too well in very tight quarters.

3. Act like a game show host: tell everyone what the game is, how it's played, how to win, and what they will win. Direct people to teams/sides/places if necessary. Be light but confident---that's important. People feel silly at first, but a confident "C'mon, you'll love it!" and they will follow.

4. Timing/among: one game in the beginning is great as an ice-breaker. Perhaps another after a refreshment or bathroom break, excellent for helping to get them back into the group. Remember: once you have their attention, immediately move forward in your presentation.

5. More little prizes are better than just one big prize. I ran out of goodies one day, so I bought candy bars on the way to my presentation. People just love 'to win', so a token is all you need.

Tired of playing the same ones? Here are some great links to find a new game or two for your next demo.

Home Party Plan Network
Direct Selling Opportunities
The Adult Home Party Association blog ( CAHPA )

Have fun!

Rina Valan

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Just Give me This or That!

2012-01-09T12:41:00.004-05:00

Have you tried to buy a a pair of jeans lately? It's insane!
There's mid rise, low rise, boot cut, straight leg, short, tall, full hips, no hips, stretch---it is so overwhelming I walked out of the store!

Choices are nice, but frankly, all I wanted was someone to come up to me and say "You want the low rise with a boot cuff or straight leg?"

The same can apply when you're trying to book future parties from your home party demos.
You want to turn your customer's thought from "Do I want to have a party?" to: "Oh, I see, I have the choice of this or that date!"

How do you do it? Here's a great technique:

1. Just take a wall calendar, and on the days you are already booked or are not available mark with a big "X." You don't have to put the particulars on any of the dates, just mark them off with an "X."

2. At the end of your presentation, give your brief pitch about booking a party.

3. Then. pass the calendar over to one person and say "OK everybody, here are the dates I have available. Pencil in your name and number with your choice."

Works like a charm!

--Rina Valan

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Fruit Transportation

2012-01-04T06:10:00.001-05:00

Plant your seeds...

BUT always go back to harvest what you sow!

Part of growing your business is making sure you have a way of retrieving all those seeds

from the business cards, catalogs, flyers, emails, phone calls, and Facebook posts you planted.

'Waiting' for someone to call or write you back?

Fruit rarely jumps from the tree on to your plate.

--Rina Valan

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Inspiration 101

2012-01-02T08:03:00.002-05:00

Waiting for something to move you?

Bad news: inspiration seldom generates action.

Good news: action always generates inspiration.

-Rina Valan

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Life Is from a Wise Woman

2011-12-27T08:26:00.000-05:00

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is bliss, taste it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.

-Mother Teresa

Overheard from a Wise Man

2011-12-24T09:56:00.001-05:00

Honor the past.

Live in the present.

Create the future.

Competitors: Eat my Dust!

2011-12-19T08:02:00.001-05:00

Psst.

You can secretly plot in the next few days to do something your competitors in the home party business won't be doing.

Most in business are gift giving, sending thank you's and yes, it is one way of showing your customers and hostesses that you value them. But I'm not talking about sending or mailing a gift or note right now. That's right, you heard me- not now.

The killer make-them-eat-your dust advice?

Think New Year instead.

You have a much better chance of getting their attention! So instead, you concentrate on sending good karma for a New Year.

Important: you want to time it right so it arrives right before the New Year.

It doesn't have to be costly. A note, along with a coupon for something special next time they see you, maybe a discount, product samplers, etc. More important than an immediate sale or booking, you build and maintain an ongoing relationship.

If you get whatever it is into an envelope and mail it, it's even more powerful.

You control the cost/investment, and how many you want to do. No one says you have to do all of them! You can spend as little as $1 and on only one hostess (and/or customer.) If you consider that you may only need about 40 regular party hostesses to keep your business thriving, nurturing even ONE means a lot!

So, get out your list! Your customer and hostess list that is! And let all the others eat your dust!

--Rina Valan

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Lead the Way

2011-12-14T06:32:00.000-05:00

Lead the Way

Fail Often.

No Way

Fail always.

-Rina Valan

xxx

Here is Your Rock

2011-12-13T05:33:00.000-05:00

Look at what you have, and you will find more -Rina Valan

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It's Nuckin' Futs Time of the Year

2011-12-12T09:17:00.000-05:00

Someone asked me yesterday if I was going crazy.

Maybe they noticed the juggling of typical end of year tasks a home party business goes through while being in the middle of busy season.

Or maybe it was the little white jacket with the very long ties that gave it away!

I bet you're going through the same thing too. It's challenging enough to keep your business tended to and growing while working a day job, taking care of family, kids, holiday shopping...you might have one or all of these on your plate!

But, there is one very simple key to keep your sanity plus keep your business afloat.
It doesn't cost a dime.
It is simply your "To-Do-List"

It's saves my day, every day, the most effective way to prioritize.
More importantly, you can actually get everything you need and want done!

The way I like to do it?

Every night, before I leave my office, I list any action I need to take the next day.

And every morning, before I dive into the business day, I take a look at that action list.

Important:
make sure what you write is an action, not a goal.

For instance, my list last night list included:

*Decide theme for new package deals

*Write catalog copy for new toys

*Finalize January customer and hostess incentives

Notice they were not goals like:

hire new recruits, get more business, book more home parties, increase sales, etc.

Try it.

Put 2 or 3 very focused actions on the list, like:
-call a prospective hostess
-write a thank you note
-mail a catalog
-set the date for my Valentine open house...

Make your list part of your daily routine! Do it! It works!

--Rina Valan

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5 Ways to Swim Out to Your Ship

2011-12-06T08:56:00.000-05:00

1. Call 5 of your last party cancellations and get them to 'pencil in' a new date.

2. Book your own romance party or open house show or 'Ladies Night In." Start the New Year right!

3. Write a personal short story about a product you love, or that is new, and email to 15 of your customers; make sure you end it with an open ended question so they can respond back.

4. Look for 10 of your customers on Facebook and friend them (always with a note to 'refresh' their memory along with the request, and please don't hit them with commercial messages right off the bat!)

5. Start a Fan page on Facebook for your business.
And if you already have a Fan page, go 'like' other Pages that are businesses and services in your geographic area, and comment as your Page. The fans on this page are probably within driving distance of your home. GREAT target marketing!

-Swim, swim, swim and keep swimming until you find your ship!!!!

--Rina Valan

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Give Them Good

2011-12-02T13:48:00.000-05:00

Everyone you do business with or hope to do business with,
wants to feel good. So, give them that...
and you will never have to remember you are selling.
-Rina Valan

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
I have found that to be true in every experience in my life.
- Maya Angelou

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Want to Recruit? 5 Basic Tips

2011-11-29T13:35:00.000-05:00

Want to recruit someone into your home parties business?
It's a great way to increase your income in your direct sales home party business.

Building a down line doesn't happen overnight, but is well worth your effort. It's an investment in your business future- both in overrides and in more people being attracted to your business in general.

5 Essential Tips:

1. Talk about what you do to everyone, but don’t try to recruit everyone.
There is a difference. But do not overlook anyone either. You want to look for people who are outgoing, ambitious, fun-loving. Give everyone you can the opportunity to decide for themselves.

2. Listen for a need, their needs.
It's not about “what’s in it for me” when it comes to recruiting. That is the hard way. If you listen to people and hear what their needs are, and if your opportunity can help them, then you have a great chance of recruiting them. Listen, then establish rapport by relating honestly to their situation and particular need. Bottom line: help others, and you get helped in return.

3. Do not overlook or prejudge people.
Different people possess different qualities and talents. Look for qualities like: liking people, love of your products or service. Most can develop the other business qualities they need to succeed, if they are willing to learn.

4. Approach, don’t wait for someone to approach you.
Don’t think of recruiting only at parties, potential recruits are everywhere you go. Just listen to people in everyday conversations, like standing in lines at the store or bank, maybe making a comment how high everything is and how glad you are doing parties because it's really helping out with the bills! Listen to their needs, and then tell them how your company can fill them. Be real, let them know that they can do exactly what you do, and you will help them along the way.

And most importantly...

5. Don't chase, attract!
If you are upbeat, enthusiastic, and excited, you will attract people as potential customers and potential recruits! This is just as important ONLINE and offline. People are attracted to people with winning attitudes and energy--so show it! Get re-excited about your products, your service, about the fun you provide others! It's all about what you project!

--Rina Valan

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X Marks the Spot

2011-11-25T08:55:00.000-05:00

The most important part of our party plan business?
Hostess Coaching!

If you are getting low attendance, or a lot of cancellations, maybe you're not making the right type and/or right amount of phone coaching calls and actions!

6 Essential Hostess Coaching Actions

1. Mail her catalogs, a hostess letter, invites and anything else important that will help her plan get guests to attend her party, right away!

It's critical you mail her hostess pack right away, even if her party is scheduled months ahead. Getting your packet in the mail makes it 'official' plus you want to make sure what she's telling her guests is what you want her to be telling her guests. AGAIN: do not delay in the mailing of this critical information pack.

2. Call your hostess 3 days after you booked her.

She will have verbally checked in with most people on her list, and if she hasn't done so, it will prompt her to do so. This preliminary check of compatible party date will give you time to change the date SOONER than later and will be less likely to cancel in general, While you're reconfirming the date, remind her about tip/action number 3 below...

3. Her email or postcard invitation should only serve as a follow up reminder to her verbal invitation-let her know that and remind her of that from time to time. She cannot rely on email or a postcard to get a response--this is an essential point to get across!

4. Connect with your hostess off line.

Add her to your friends list on Facebook and then post a comment here and there on how excited you are about doing her show. Build a relationship and you build a hostess for life! Futhermore, she will less likely cancel. TIP: see if you can encourage her to 'create an event' for her party on Facebook and invite you as a guest (that way you can see the invitee list and make comments along the way.

5. Your personal contact and enthusiasm is a contagious element that passes on to your hostess, and in turn gets attendance up.
If your hostess 'hasn't heard from anyone' coach her to know it is not unusual for people not to respond one-way or the other! It doesn't mean they're not interested. Encourage her to keep up her Facebooking, send reminder emails, and then--that final reminder call!

6. The most important call of all? Yours to her the day before to encourage her to make a final reminder call about the party. IMPORTANT: ask her to make a final courtesy call to all her guests, even if they have said 'yes'--as everyone is very busy and often forget! This last call from her is the one that can make or break the attendance for your party! Get her to make it and you will have less postponements or cancellations.

--Rina Valan

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The Rule of Three

2011-11-22T08:53:00.000-05:00

There's a rule in our home party business that works no matter if you are speaking to one person, a group, or a huge crowd.

It's actually called The Rule of Three:

1) Tell them what you are going to say

2) Tell them

3) Then, tell them what you just told them

This rule is absolutely essential when you sell at home parties.

For example:

"Hi, my name is Mary and I'm going to tell you how about how the party is going to go tonight.

I'm going to pass everything around, starting over here, ending over there, please taste, touch, smell.

We're going to have a blast, so I'll start here, pass everything around, please touch, smell, feel, and pass them all around to over there."

Try it when you give your brief pitch to guests at a party to book a party.

Example:

"I'd like to tell you a little bit about booking your own show. It's easy, fun, most of my hostesses get an average of xyz shopping credits and you hostess gets an extra xyz bonus. You would have so much fun having your own, because you could get at least xyz shopping credits and your hostess tonight would get an extra xyz bonus."

But this rule of three also works when you are trying to make something stick in a person's mind:

-like training a new recruit

-coaching a team member

-writing an ad

-note or email.

Get it?

Got it?

Good.

--Rina Valan

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