Personal Websites Have Arrived!

Right now, the leader team is experimenting with the personal websites. You can see mine at www.wendythecandlelady.partylite.com.au.

So, now that I have a website, what will I do with it? Here are some hints and tips for you.

1. Add the web address to my email signature.
2. Suggest to my clients that they save my website in their favourites so they can easily contact me to reorder or to book a party.
3. Include a link to it in my thank you emails to guests.
4. Send the link to hosts so they can share our online catalogue and guest specials with their friends and collect some outside orders.
5. Send it to potential consultants so they can see the marketing support that PartyLite provides and so they can read my story.
6. Add it to my  business cards the next time I have them printed.
7. Update my Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn accounts with the new site address.
8. Include a link to it when I make candle related updates on Facebook.

The benefits of using the personal website instead of the company website are incredible. When we  to send out the PartyLite website, we are sending the client away from our personal business and potentially losing them to another consultant. Of course, if the client already knows you, they will probably find you, but if they are a new person to PartyLite or a new contact you've made, you want to keep them in your sights.

The biggest benefit to having your own website is in networking away from the party arena. When you meet new people and they have not experienced you or PartyLite, you want to be able to give them information about your business, get them excited, and ensure that they contact YOU for more details. Having your own page is so much better than making them look you up.

The second benefit to having your own website is that, you can bet your bottom dollar, we will eventually have online ordering like they do in the US. Your clients will be able to order from your site and you will get the commission. You want your clients to get used to finding you online now. Tease them with what the future holds....

When the sites are released to consultants (estimated to be in January 2013), read the instructions clearly, enroll ASAP, update your details, add your picture, and keep it up to date. Then launch it with a big fan fare. (It's a great reason to call people.)

Practice getting people to your site now and you will be learning marketing skills that will work very well for growing your business as PartyLite continues to expand our online capabilities.

Persistence is the Key to Success

Seth Godin (a hero of mine) recently wrote, "Consistently showing up on the radar of the right audience is more highly prized than reaching the masses, once then done."

He inspired this post.

Persistence.

When you start your candle business, you go out and tell lots of people about your new adventure and you ask them for help in getting started.

Some consultants start with a bang and then get stuck. Where to next? What do I do?

And if it's all seeming too hard, they might... just... let... it... go....

Persistence is a word that comes up a lot in my Unit Meetings, New Consultant Training, and Weekly Coaching calls.

Here are some hints on how to persist.

1. If you didn't do this when you started, do it now. Seriously, write down a big long list of people who you are going to tell about your business and contact them on the phone or in person to tell them about it.
2. Use the Connect 25 strategy every week after you start. (I'll write a blog about that strategy soon, but ask your Leader if you don't know what it is.)
3. Ask each person in #1 and #2 if they would like to receive your monthly email update on specials. (I just assume you have signed up for Candle Connection - the easiest, simplest, and cheapest way to touch every one of your clients on a monthly basis.)
4. Add every contact who says yes to receiving your monthly email update into your customer database on the CBC (not just guests at shows... everyone you meet who wants it). Include, at a minimum, the email address and phone number. (Including the home address if you have it will really help your host when she makes deliveries later.)
5. Have a special book of lists where you write down people in categories. Want some examples? People who collect elephants, love blue, don't have school age children, told you they'd love to  be a consultant someday... just not now, love Mystery Boxes, want to buy the GloLites (but only on sale), don't like to have parties (but love to order), book a party every time there is a 30% hostess credit offered.... There are lots of lists.
6. Read the specials each month when you get them and use your lists to make a new list of people who you know would want a personal call to highlight them. (For example, if their favourite colour is purple, this month we have 3 beautiful pieces in purple that are only $10 each.)
7. Read the specials each month when you get them and use the CBC to look up every client who bought those products in the past. Print those lists and contact those people to let them know that those items are on sale.
8. Each week (at least), look at your order tracking online and call the hosts who received their orders. After each show, call every guest and thank them for coming. Tell them you have placed the order and can't wait for them to get their stuff. Ask them how they are doing with the unpacking, bagging, and pick-ups/delivery. Give her advice.
9. After your host has delivered all the guest orders, contact each guest to make sure she is 100% happy with what she got. (Buy more ROF forms in your next consultant order.)
10. Wear your PartyLite Pin everyday.
11. Read a book on successful network marketing. (Don't just buy it, read it.)
12. Re-read a chapter of your Consultant Guide each month.

I could go on. There are so many ways to persist. One of the best ways is to always attend your Unit Meetings. Always.

So what is pushy? Calling someone without a reason. Not taking no for an answer (of course you need to learn how to overcome objections, and how to offer alternatives, but you also need to take no for an answer). Calling the same people over and over again without a targeted, relevant message (friends and family will start to avoid you if you don't have a specific reason for approaching them again). Sending people email they didn't ask for. All of these are pushy. None of them feel right. Rarely do they work.

You have the power. It's your business. It's not just about shows. You need to give yourself customer service jobs to do to make it grow. That's what the list above is all about. Growing your business. Making it worth your while. Making it something you enjoy AND something you benefit from.

Keep spreading the light.

The Joy List

We have just launched a new 3-month promotion to support new people becoming Independent PartyLite Consultants. Instead of booking 6 shows to start, a new consultant can start with 2 firm dates. With free training for new consultants, we can teach new consultants how to turn those first 2 shows into a reliable income stream.

A few years ago, my friend Angela and I learned about a list of all the benefits you get when you start a PartyLite business. We call it The Joy List. Here is the letter we created. Feel free to adapt it to your business.

The Joy List
"Find what brings you Joy and go there." 

You deserve the freedom to have...

• Quality time and a career that you love and enjoy!
• Flexible working hours
• Quality family time
• Time for you and your passions
• No deliveries

Starting your own business as an Independent PartyLite Consultant is simple! With no costs at all (simply host a Starter Show with $550 in sales) and by investing about 10 hours a week of your time you will receive:

1. A selection of PartyLite current best selling products worth over $600 in your Starter Kit
2. An immediate income (start at 22% of all your sales) as soon as you join
3. A comprehensive training guide and on-going support from your Leader from day one
4. Literature, stationery and a fragrance set free to compliment your business
5. Monthly unit meetings that are fun, informal and encouraging
6. Gifts worth $112.50 when you hold six shows in your first three weeks of business, Sponsor in your first month you will receive another $73.50 of gifting.
7. Products, gift certificates & commission of approx $3,000 when you are a bonus earner* in each of the first three months of your PartyLite business
8. Consultant discounts on every product in the catalogue (40% off everything)
9. A subscription to Reflections, PartyLite’s monthly Consultant magazine
10. Access to Candle Connection, PartyLite’s monthly E-newsletter for all your clients
11. Free $50 hostess gift vouchers in your first month of business
12. Direct online access to PartyLite’s internal website (CBC) for news, updates and events
13. Online ordering and credit card processing (offline still available if you prefer)
14. Direct access to your own personal sales information and client management database
15. An invitation every year to the PartyLite Annual Conference (Aug 2-4, 2012, Sydney Convention Centre, Darling Harbour)
16. An opportunity to receive a free vacation (Hayman Island in May, New York in June for PartyLites’ 10 years in Australia!)
17. Your own personal business coach… me!
18. PartyLite is about enjoyment. You run your business and invest the time that suits you and your family. There is no pressure, you simply choose how much you want to earn and your Leader will support you to help you achieve the goals you set for yourself and your business.
19. On top of that, you get paid weekly 22% profit of all your Sales from your shows and independent orders. Bonus earners* get 28% profit.

And finally, you work when you want to work. Family and personal time comes first. And that's the way it should be!

• How much difference would an extra $100 a week make to your life?
• How much difference would an extra $1,000 a month make to your life?
• Does your job pay enough for you to live the life you want?

Results and Actions: Week 1

Here is my weekly update on my progress. This is more for me than for you. I've been honest. :)

Goal: Have 10 shows
Status: Now have 7 booked in March (2 complete, 5 to go). Still want 3 more. I did follow-up on the 5 potential parties discussed last week at my networking group. Booked 1 for a show in April and 2 for shows in May. Got an order from one. Still waiting for a date back from another. Great result.
Actions: Follow up with hosts who postponed in January and February, follow-up with people I've sent information to, book a home show.

Goal: Lose 4 kilos
Status: Oops, didn't weigh in last week, so I can't report results. Did shop for food and cook at home, did watch my portions, did write down what I eat and drink (that helps a lot), drink lots of water.
Actions: Weigh myself in the morning. Add yoga to my diary for Wednesdays, add group fitness 2x other times per week, watch my portions, write down what I eat and drink, drink lots of water. Keep cooking at home.

Goal: Hold 8 latte appointments
Status: Still only have 1. Did offer the business opportunity to my Saturday host and to one of her guests. Have sorted heaps of door prize slips and should have an easy time making a list.
Actions: Make a list of people who told me they might be interested this year (look on door prize slips for my notes), call (don't email) each one, invite people to my Unit Meeting, follow up with excellent candidates after a show and offer them a free coffee for 20 minutes of their time.

Goal: Practice my guitar for 3 minutes everyday
Status: Getting better, Wendy. Didn't play everyday, but the guitars are organised and one is permanently plugged in and ready to go. Easy to pick it up.
Actions: Keep it up.

Goal: Follow-up every lead
Status: Cleaned office. Yay! Even used my label making machine.
Actions: Organise a way to capture business cards (my husband says there's an App for that), referral slips, sms, emails, and facebook requests for information/orders, use Outlook to capture next steps required. I've got this started. Expect more progress this week.

Goal: Complete my 2011 taxes
Status: Cleaned office. Yay! Have one drawer with 2010/2011 and one with 2011/2012. Ready for next step... Excel. Made appointment with Accountant for March 15 (a full one week early).
Actions: Collate 2010/2011 receipts into Excel file on Friday. Before EOM, do through February 2012 to be ready for 2012 taxes in July.

Goals versus Strategies

In February, I went on a 2 week holiday to the USA. After a big January (which I can barely remember because my brother got married, turned 40, and then came out to visit), I set my February goals to bonus before I left, to help Angela prepare for the Unit Meeting, to complete New Consultant Orientation for a few new Rainbows, and then to leave and RELAX.

Done and done.

So here it is, March 1st, and I’m back from my holiday and raring to go. My goals are to have 10 shows, lose 4 kilos, hold 8 latte appointments, practice my guitar for 3 minutes everyday (ask me why if that sounds silly), follow-up every lead, and complete my 2011 taxes.

Notice, I didn’t say HOW I was going to do each of the above. Sometimes I hear people ask how I achieve all I set out to do. Well... first of all, I don't. But I like to set aggressive goals anyway. However, the real reason it looks like I achieve so much is that I do actually think about HOW I'll achieve it and then I schedule time and activities that will move me from where I am to where I want to be. After I make the list of WHAT I want to achieve (sometimes that's the hardest part), I then put a little effort into HOW I will make it happen.

This month, I've decided to blog about the HOW.

Goal: Have 10 shows
Status: Currently have 5 in my diary
Actions: Follow up with hosts who postponed in January and February, contact people I've met through my networking and offer them the opportunity to host a show, follow-up on 5 potential parties discussed this morning at my networking group, book a home show.

Goal: Lose 4 kilos
Status: I ate lots of food in Colorado and Arizona. I need to eat less and exercise more. One kilo per week.
Actions: Shop for food and cook at home, add yoga to my diary for Wednesdays, add group fitness 2x other times per week, watch my portions, write down what I eat and drink, drink lots of water.

Goal: Hold 8 latte appointments
Status: Currently have 1 in my diary
Actions: Make a list of people who told me they might be interested this year (look on door prize slips for my notes), call (don't email) each one, invite people to my Unit Meeting, follow up with excellent candidates after a show and offer them a free coffee for 20 minutes of their time.

Goal: Practice my guitar for 3 minutes everyday
Status: I am haphazard about practicing and need to develop a habit.
Actions: Keep guitars out, pick up one everyday, play for a minimum of 3 minutes (FYI, I can't do that... once I pick it up, I usually play for at least 30)

Goal: Follow-up every lead
Status: I am pretty good at following up on my leads, but I am horrible at documenting what I've done and what the next step is. I think I'm letting things slip through the cracks.
Actions: Clean office, organise a way to capture business cards, referral slips, sms, emails, and facebook requests for information/orders, use Outlook to capture next steps required.

Goal: Complete my 2011 taxes
Status: Room full of paper
Actions: Make appointment with Accountant for third week of March, schedule 4-5 one hour time slots to collate receipts into Excel file. Do through February 2012 to be ready for 2012 taxes in July.

Okay... there you go. On the interwebs for all to see. I'll write an update next Thursday and let you know how I'm going.

Rainbows Meetings 2012

Never miss a meeting or coaching call and you'll be well on your way to a successful business.

January 28, Saturday - 10:00-3:00 – Regional Meeting - Blair Athol
February 21, Tuesday - 7:30-9:30 – Angela’s House
March 9-11 – CANDLE CAMP NSW/ACT
March 21, Wednesday - 7:30-9:30 – Wendy’s House
April 23, Monday - 7:30-9:30 – Regional and Unit Meeting – Wendy’s House*
May 22, Tuesday - 7:30-9:30 – Unit Meeting – Angela’s House
June 20, Wednesday - 7:30-9:30 – Unit Meeting – Wendy’s House
July 23, Monday – 7:30-9:30 – Regional and Unit Meeting – Angela’s House*
August 2-4 – CONFERENCE
August 22, Wednesday - 7:30-9:30 – Unit Meeting – Wendy’s House
September 25, Tuesday - 7:30-9:30 – Unit Meeting – Angela’s House
October 13, Saturday - 10:00-3:00 – Regional Meeting - Blair Athol
October 24, Wednesday - 7:30-9:30 – Unit Meeting – Wendy’s House
November 20, Tuesday - 7:30-9:30 – Unit Meeting – Angela’s House

* The webinar regionals can be attended via the web if you cannot make the meeting in person.

All of these dates are on Google Calendar http://rainbowsandcandles.blogspot.com.au/p/unit-meeting.html.

Location information is sent out in personal emails to active candle consultants. If you would like to attend a meeting, visit, or invite a guest, please contact wendy at wendy @ wendythecandlelady . com.

Hints and Tips for Online Invitations

Today, PartyLite launched online email invitations for our hosts. I have been using these for the past month and have the following hints and tips.

1. Read the instructions before setting up your first host. This is a professional service and you need to know how it works before sending it out.
2. When you get the booking, offer your new host the option of email and postcard invitations in addition to facebook and SMS.
3. Explain clearly that the set-up is completely private; you will never have access to the email addresses she enters.
4. Write a confirmation email to your new host and reiterate your two available options to assist her in inviting guests.
5. Test the system once with a friend as the host so you can see what happens on the host side and explain it more clearly for other clients.
6. Make the benefits all about THEM not you. DON'T say, "It's cool because I can see how many people you've invited." DO say, "It's cool because the emails are beautiful, you can see who has responded, and you can send out reminders automatically a few days before."
7. Give your hosts incentives to use the online email invitations. For example, if they invite 25 people using e-invites let them know you'll buy them a box of tealights.
8. Encourage them to use the online email invitations as just one of their invitation methods. Personally, I use email, facebook, SMS, and postcards for every show. Not necesarily for every person, but different people get different invites.

I hope these hints help you. Let me know what successes and suggestions you have with online invitations. Happy selling!