We have ALL experienced what you are about to read.  I have not read a truer article in a very long time and I think Julie Anne Jones does an exceptional job explaining to us why it’s so important to “get real” with your direct sales business.

In- Home parties are a great way to market your home based business. For one, you are invited into someones home and are now a trustworthy contact for their friends and family. Secondly, you are now a friend and someone they can trust. Sales boom when customers feel like you are “one of them”.

However, just because you are invited into someones home, doesn’t mean that every party will be worth your time. Here are a few tips to make sure that this event is a great success for both you and your hostess.

Hostess Coaching:  Work closely with the hostess to invite her guests. Give her an attendee goal and help her with the invitations. For example, I would recommend inviting through several means: phone calls, snail mail, evite, facebook, or text. People respond to different medias and you want to make sure they feel personally invited to the party.

Speak with your hostess at least 3 times before the event.
1. To explain how a party is run and the hostess benefits. Perhaps give her an attendee goal!
2. To discuss her created guest list and ensure that all invites have been sent out.
3. To gather a guest count and remind her of her hostess benefits.

Gather the names, phone numbers, and emails of the guests and contact them the night before to remind them of the party and see if they have any questions.

Do not be nervous to call the guests who have not RSVPed. People are busy! If they haven’t gotten back to you, it doesn’t mean that they are not interested. It simply means that they are busy and forgot to reply, or maybe they have questions regarding your product before they commit to attending a party at their friend’s home.

Successful In – Home Party Presentation:  Have fun! This is a social gathering of friends, as well as a product demonstration. This is a time to build relationships, ask questions, and get to know your guests needs.

Keep it simple. Keep food to a minimum. You do not want future hosts to feel like they have to provide a buffet for their 2 hour home party.

Be organized and have a clear plan so the guests know what to expect.

Party Follow – Up:  It is important that you follow up with your guests several times over the next few months.

Remember the 2/2/2 rule:
1. Two days after the event to thank them for coming and see if they would like to book a party,
2. Two weeks after the event to make sure they received their order,
3. Two months after the event to see if they have any questions and are still pleased.

This follow up is an important piece of the puzzle as you build relationships and gain more business!

If you’re truly looking to have a lucrative and fun home party, the above tips should get you off to a great start. To learn my BEST secrets for having a great in-home party, check out the following link: In-Home Parties

Denise Walsh is a direct sales expert and certified Life Coach. You can read more about Denise at her blog, I’m Loving Life

Making money through home parties is great way for great revenue… party preparing has significantly became popular amongst one on one retailers and people within the multi-level marketing online community since it is proven to become possibly the best methods to gain effective deals. Sales and profits throughout party planning are actually really powerful. Through holding a sociable celebration, it is possible to make use of the big event to show and present your products or services for your guest visitors.

When the party is really a financial success, you may take on orders placed for your merchandise prior to the get together closes. The main prospecting method for home party plan product sales is through the home party by itself. Here are several tips you need to bear in mind to throw not only a fantastic party although the one that really sells!

Making money through home parties & Time period – An additional issue in organizing parties will be the precious time. Day time events throughout the week wouldn’t be readily available for folks who work all through normal business time. Week-ends could be a little bit challenging as well because many might have by now arranged it to see relatives time. The key for this issue would be to think about what type of men and women you’ll be getting over so you can prepare and plan a party that a lot of these if not all will probably be readily available for.

Making money through home parties & the right place – It is crucial to determine a spot that’s available to you and your guests and even one that’s favorable for that party. In situations where you will find that there’s insufficient space in your house, contact a good friend or a family member and request to get the meeting over at their location.

Making money through home parties & Party style – choose regardless of whether or not to opt for official cuisine of informal tea afternoons. Set in your head that far more official occasions are likely to frighten many people today from going to. It might be ideal to come up with a concept that would certainly be comfy for everybody.

At the end of this article I will show you were to get the hottest information about the best and easiest ways to make money through home parties.
Making money through parties & your Attendees – The guideline is easy: invite as many folks as you possibly can. A few people may get prior obligations; other people may merely not be fascinated. So it is usually much better to come up with an extended checklist so the probabilities of good turn-outs are great. Recommend on your own invite that folks bring in along a buddy. Anticipate about fifty percent of your checklist to appear.

If you are really trying to have a profitable and exciting home party, the above mentioned tips should get you off to an excellent start off! To learn my Very best secret for having a great in-home party, just go to the following link: http://marketingclassesonlineblog.com/making-money-through-home-parties/

When people attend direct sales parties, they have certain expectations. There’s probably an expectation to have a good time. However, you can go further than that. Here are a few easy tips to make your direct sales parties more fun, to make sure everyone has a great time.

1. Include A Contest – One great way to get the party off to a fun start is to host a contest to get people talking and mingling. For example, if you’re selling makeup, you can have a “name that lipstick” contest to see who can come up with the most creative or interesting name. If you’re hosting a party for home goods, you could choose one of those items whose job isn’t apparent and hold a contest for people to guess what the item is used for. You can also fill a jar with money, ask people to guess how much is in the jar and give them the jar as a reward – a jar full of money will put anyone in a good mood!

2. A Smile Goes A Long Way – A good, old-fashioned genuine smile is contagious and it’ll spread like butter on a hot day. Welcome each guest like you would a long lost family member and make them feel welcome and appreciated.

3. Use Background Music – Parties can lull and when they’re too quiet it can become awkward. Have some festive music playing to set the mood – not too loud, of course, because you want people to be able to hear each other speak.

4. Use Decorations – Decorate a bit to make the party feel like a party. Now you don’t have to put up balloons and streamers, but a beautiful bouquet or two of flowers, some candles and smaller decorations can make it feel like a party. And hey, if you want to put up some balloons and streamers, go for it!

5. Food…Always Food! Feed them! Food has a way of bringing everyone together and it can make an average direct sales party a superior one. A few tasty appetizers and some decorative cocktail napkins is a nice touch.

6. Have Plenty of Product Available – Let attendees handle the products. People love to be able to touch, examine and explore products and many sales experts agree that once a product is in the hands of the customer, the sale is almost guaranteed. Let your party attendees handle the products. In fact, if you can display them on a table and let people explore that’s a great way to decorate too.

7. Play Games – Play a game or two. We already talked about contests; however, a game can also lighten the mood and make a direct sales party more fun. For example, a hostess scavenger hunt is a fun way to get people to work together and have fun.

Making a direct sales party fun just takes a little planning and a desire to make each party you hold the best it can be.

And now I would like to invite you to receive Free Instant Access to my niche marketing and advertising blog, The Project Marketer. It is your complete resource for absolute victory in marketing and advertising online: http://www.ProjectMarketer.com

While you are a direct sales professional one of the hurdles you will likely have to climb over is how to sell to people who aren’t in your general area. One of the most basic concepts of direct sales business organizations is the home party strategy, nevertheless you can extend to a much wider amount of people and expand your earnings if you take your online business online and present your social in a chatroom. How’s that work, you ask. Let us show you how to host a direct sales party online!

Step-By-Step Plan To Throwing A Direct Sales Party Through the Internet

1) Attendance – Create a listing of individuals who attend your party. Similar to a home party, you may likely desire to go with a coordinator and allow her choose the attendees.

2) Online Webinar – Opt for a chat room to host the party on or an online conference room. A chat room will allow you and your partygoers the option to remain at their desktop computer and type to be a part of the conversation while an online conference offers people the option to listen in and take part with the help of their home phone, Skype, or by computer typing according to the webinar room features and functions. Likewise, there are outfits that specialize in hosting online direct sales parties.

3) Pick A Date – Mark well the time zones your party guests live in to plan when hosting the party will be the most convenient for all guests.

4) Send Out Invitations – You can post your party invitations via e-mail and make sure to add instructions on how to get access to the chat room or online meeting room.

5) Before the Party Preparation – Ahead of the party ensure you’re prepared with links to your products and product descriptions. If you’re employing an internet conference room relatively often you will be able to include photographs, PowerPoint slides and provide clickable website links right on the screen throughout the demonstration. You may also mail materials to all your attendees prior to the party so they have easy access to the material you are presenting.

You may likewise wish to generate a script for what you are going to point out and what you would like to do throughout the party. This will help you stay on the subject and keep the party to the elected amount of time.

6) Party Time. – Make certain you log into your party ahead of your program. You won’t want other people to get there before you show up. Once almost all of the people have turned up, you will have to introduce yourself, thank your guests for coming and you can even play a game to get each person prepared. A basic game to play on the web is a search the product directory game. Give prizes to the winners.

7) Give Your Presentation. – In addition to offering your products, make sure to speak about special deals you have taking place like cost-free shipping for purchases over a specified amount or a free product with every purchase. Consumers relish special prices and giveaways, use this and make your party attendees feel important and valued simultaneously.

Finish the Party On Schedule. – It’s important to keep the party to a stipulated period of time. For many, an hour or so with the computer and/or phone is plenty of time. Say thanks to everyone for coming, let folks know how they can get involved and develop into direct sales consultants themselves and be sure to give your contact details and web site address once more. also beneficial if you let people know they have a day or two to place their order and still receive your special promotion.

9) Continual Follow Up. – It’s definitely helpful to send a thank you to people who go to your online party. In your thank you make sure to include your web site address, your contact details and a reminder about particular product offers they can benefit from.

Hosting an internet party is much the same as hosting a house party except they are generally a bit more cost effective for you, you do not have to purchase products to demonstrate with, and you do not need to get cleaned up to attend. Indeed, you can host an online party in your underwear. Ultimately, they are an excellent way to broaden your customer base and connect with friends and family everywhere throughout the world.

And now I would like to invite you to visit my online marketing success blog, The Project Marketer! Visit our Direct Sales section and learn even more about throwing successful online direct sales parties: http://www.ProjectMarketer.com

You’ve either found or are seriously considering a direct sales opportunity that fits you well, therefore you are obviously going to want to tell people about it. Plan an open house launch party so that everyone you know gets the opportunity to come and support your new venture. Below are some suggestions for preparing, planning and presenting your first direct sales launch party.

Whether you’re selling candles, gourmet food/spices, jewelry, home decor, makeup or any other product line an open house format will work best. This will be your official launch party for your new business so you can showcase and roll out the entire line you will be selling. Referrals will be a wonderful tool in your business; so if people don’t know about your offerings, they won’t be able to give your referrals. Start with a date.

Prepare
Carefully consider the date for your launch party. You want maximum exposure, therefore choose a day when the majority of your invitees can come. Remember that no matter what date you select, it won’t be good for some people; just accept that. Be sure to over invite. You could invite 150 people and have 12 people show up, and that’s actually a good number of guests!

Weekends tend to work best. Stay away from holidays unless you know people don’t mind coming. More people will come if you give them at least a two or three week window before the event. Ask for R.S.V.P.s so you can get a head count for food. If you don’t get a R.S.V.P. (and chances are you will not receive many) it is vital that you follow up with a personal phone call. History has shown only those who R.S.V.P. or whom you actually speak with will show, and even then you’ll have some no-shows.

Once the date is set, the fun begins. It’s time to plan your strategy for the party. Keep a few goals in mind that you want to accomplish at the party:

• Let people know about the products
• Provide a non-threatening atmosphere with no sales pressure
• Have products available for sale
• Have recruiting information available
• Provide simple snacks

Most direct selling companies provide a starter business kit so that you will have enough supplies to have a show of your own. You don’t have to keep an inventory for your open house. It is okay to use your products as advertisements and take orders; just allow enough time to for delivery of the orders for those who purchase for the purpose of gift giving.

Planning
Above all else, keep it simple. For an open house, there is a window of time when people talk with you, mingle, eat and look at products. It takes the pressure off since you don’t have to be standing in front of a group the entire four-hour period.

Have a table with your products prominently displayed as well as marketing collateral including business cards (and samples if applicable) to give visitors a way to contact you later if they find that direct sales is an opportunity they are considering. A table for the food and drinks also keeps you from feeling like you’re waiting on your guests and gives them an opportunity to do as they please according to their time frame.

Present
On the day of your launch party, decorate your mailbox with balloons and/or yard signs to alert all attendees. Also place a sign on your door that invites guests to "come on in." Your main assignment for the day is getting introducing your new business and the product line.

Use this opportunity to book hostess parties, sell products, and let people know who and how easy it is to order. If you have a website or webstore, encourage orders online. More importantly, relax; have fun; you don’t have to have all the answers; and remember to keep it simple, as you want others to see how easy it is!

About the Author: Laurie Ayers is a WAHM from Michigan and a Superstar Director with Scentsy Flameless Candles. She enjoys helping others start and maintain a candle business in the US, Canada, Puerto Rico, Deutschland and the UK. You can find Laurie at http://www.ThrivingCandleBusiness.com