If you're a regular reader of this blog, you probably have a fairly decent party presentation. I routinely tell you how to increase the results from your home parties and there are a ton of easy to implement and simple tools you can use during your live presentations to make sure you're getting bookings, sales, and sponsoring leads at every home party you do.
But what about after the party? Follow-up tends to be the one area where most of us drop the ball and consequently lose some great booking, sales, and recruiting opportunities. I can be as guilty of it as you are, so I thought I'd give you a little nudge and reminder, as well as a few simple ideas for making sure you follow up with every paying customer after every home party you do.
Making Customer Service Calls Is Easy
I know getting on the phone can be a challenge and it's often uncomfortable to make a call to ask someone to do something (book a home party, learn more about your opportunity, etc.). Follow up calls that are specifically for customers from your home parties are actually easy to make, however, because they're purely customer service driven.
All you're doing it following up with those who purchased once they have their products, checking in with them to make sure they're satisfied and answering any questions they may have. The beautiful thing about this is that it often leads to a conversation about an add on purchase, booking a party themselves, or learning more about your opportunity, and that conversation flows seamlessly out of the reason you called – to support them.
Use The Wish List For Follow Up
If you're using a wish list during your home parties, it can become a great tool for you to use to follow up with customers who didn't purchase something they put on their wish list. Is it on sale next month? Is it a host gift or special right now? Connect with that customer and let them know how easy it would be to purchase it at a discount or earn it for free. You might consider keeping an index card for popular items and writing names and phone numbers of interested customers on those cards after each party. That way you'll have an instant list of people to call when that item comes up on sale or on the hostess gift list.
Schedule Your Follow Up
Whether you're making phone calls, reaching out with a Facebook message, or sending a text, it's important that you schedule a reminder so you'll actually follow up. Go to your calendar on the day you submit your host's order and flip ahead to the date you're fairly certain she can expect her order to be delivered. Then move out another week and create a reminder to follow up with every customer who ordered. If you don't schedule it, it's much easier to just forget to do it (or choose not to). If it's on your schedule, you'll do it more routinely. Trust me, this works.
Follow up With Your Host
Finally, make sure you take the time to shoot a hand written thank you note out to your host (if you need an easy, affordable way to do this that even allows you to schedule it ahead of time, click here) the week after her party. This acknowledgement solidifies your relationship and makes it easier for you to follow up in six months or so to book another party with her. You'll also want to make sure you call her around the time her order is scheduled to arrive to make sure she received it and answer any questions she might have about getting the items distributed to her guests. Remember, your host is the catalyst for your success, so you want to make sure she always feels valued and taken care of.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on after-party follow up. What do you do to make sure you're taking advantage of this important opportunity?
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN PRINT OR ONLINE?
You may, as long as you do not alter it and include the following information (with active links as appropriate):
Julie Anne Jones is direct sales corporate consultant, coach, and trainer, and the CEO of Julie Anne Jones, Inc. She is known for her authentic and easy-to-use scripting and specializes in specific language and tools for success in direct sales. To learn more about Julie Anne and her products and services, and to read her weekly blog posts, visit her at www.julieannejones.com.
Do you get many calls back when you leave messages? If you're like most people, the answer is no, and it's frustrating for you. Let's look at a simple solution that will change your results.
