subject: A Baker's Dozen of Booking Tips For Party Plan Businesses [print this page] A Baker's Dozen of Booking Tips For Party Plan Businesses
The money you make, the number of recruit leads you have, even additional bookings, all depend on what is on your calendar right now.
There are ways to get more bookings without having to beg your family and friends to have another party for you. So let's take a look at thirteen ways, a baker's dozen, to get more bookings.
Tip #1: Let everyone you come in contact with know what you sell. Have your products in your home. Have a catalog out. Wear your products and if you have products you can't wear, then a shirt with the company logo on it. Be creative and get your products in front of people.
Tip #2: Have your elevator pitch memorized and be ready to give it. An elevator pitch answers the question, "What do you do?" If you respond by taking the easy way out and saying, "I'm a teacher, I'm a secretary, I'm a social worker, I'm a waitress" you are leaving money on the table. Have a short response to the question, "What do you do?" that encourages the listener to ask more questions.
Tip #3: During your presentation ask a former hostess what she received "just by having a party." Showing what she actually received takes Stacking the Hostess out of the hypothetical, this is what you MIGHT receive if you have a party and puts it in reality. This is what someone right here DID receive because she had a party.
Tip #4: Always start your presentation with your highest priced item. Those items are there to encourage people to book to get them. Once you show it, and they fall in love with it, tell them how they can get this item free or at a reduced price "just by having a party."
Tip #5: Always use a door prize slip and when you get to the question about booking their own party tell them, "If you are interested in having your own party go ahead and mark yes. If you have questions about having a party go ahead and mark maybe and we'll talk later." Sometimes people won't ask you a question about having a party if you don't give them the opportunity to ask you privately.
Tip #6: Always ask your current hostess if she would like to have another party with the new catalog or a year from now.
Tip #7: When you're on the phone calling people to get bookings use the special the company is providing you. You can say to them: "Hi Sally, this is Ruth from XYZ Company. We met at Lisa's when she had her XYZ party. Do you have a couple of minutes for me to tell you about a special XYZ is having on Product A? I noticed the night of Lisa's party you had written on your door prize slip you would be interested in that product if it ever went on special. I don't know if you'd be interested or not, but I didn't want this special to end and you not be aware of it. Just by having your own party you can receive Product A, (then tell her about the special) plus you can take advantage of our hostess program to get all the other things you're interested in. Sally, is this something you would like to take advantage of?"
Tip #8: You can use the above dialog with a special you are creating to get more bookings. Use your door prize slips to see what product they would like to have if it ever goes on special. Then create your own special to match what they want.
Tip #9: Get your name "out there" by doing vendor events. Have a vendor event special if they book a party during that event.
Tip #10: Have an open house, but instead of doing it by yourself, ask other consultants from other companies to hold an open house with you. If you have four other consultants plus yourself all sending out invitations to your client base, you'll have a significantly higher turn out.
Tip #11: Let people know the different types of presentations you do. If you don't tell them you can do bridal showers you are never going to book a bridal shower.
Tip #12: Offer a gift certificate that is redeemable only through you (not home office) for door prizes or auctions for various charities. When the person redeems their gift certificate, ask them if they would like "more bang for their gift certificate buck" by having a party, and using the gift certificate to help pay for the half-price or discounted items.
Tip #13: Does your company have fund raisers? Go in and talk to the secretary at your local school to find out who does fund raisers. Take a gift of one of your products, and give it to the secretary for helping you get in contact with the right people. This is a great way to get your products in front of people. If possible, include a booking flier with each order.
So there you have it. Thirteen ideas, a baker's dozen, to get more bookings in your direct sales party plan business.
For more ideas for growing your direct selling party plan business go to http://www.booksellrecruit.com/sq
