It’s no secret that growing a direct sales business can be hard, especially if entrepreneurship is new in your world. But I have a secret tool that will help you transform your direct sales business in a matter of months, and I’m going to let you in on it.
The secret to transforming your business is Host Coaching!
Let’s face it; we are all so dang busy! Between our families, the nitty-gritty of running our businesses, and trying to fit in all that self-care everyone is preaching these days, spending time nurturing our business relationships can easily fall to the wayside. But, honestly, it doesn’t take that long. The amount of time you invest in developing a successful host coaching system could be the difference between making or breaking your business. Implementing this simple practice will transform your business and, more importantly, your relationships.
But let’s take one step back here. If you’re new to the direct sales world, you may be asking, “What the heck is host coaching?”.
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WHAT IS HOST COACHING?
Host coaching, put simply, is making sure that your host has the absolute BEST party experience possible. You want her to feel confident and valued while equipping her with all the tools she needs to maximize the outcome of her party and earn some awesome rewards.
One key thing you need to remember – it’s about her. Host coaching is not about you.
Will your business reap some rewards like higher income and new team members? Absolutely. Should that be your only focus? Nope. Success will naturally happen when you create genuine relationships and care about your hosts.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO COACH YOUR HOST?
In a virtual world, it can be easy to become disconnected. Talking through the screen, or sometimes hiding behind it, can be detrimental to long-term relationship building. So, when you’re focusing your direct sales business on virtual parties, it’s extra important to be mindful of your interactions with your hosts.
If you’re a direct seller, you’ve probably been a host yourself before. Have you ever hosted a party where you’ve felt left in the dust after you signed up to host? It’s the worst feeling in the world, right? You’re confused, don’t know what to do next, and are worried your party will be a total flop because you’re missing something. These are the exact feelings you DON’T want your hosts to feel.
What you DO want them to feel is confident and calm, with no doubt in their mind that their party will be amazing. This is where successful host coaching comes in.
The bottom line of being a successful host coach is thinking through all the details. Every piece of the party experience is essential. You want to be a step ahead of them from the moment they book to when the party is closed.
Now that you know you should be host coaching let’s dig into some of the finer points.
HOW TO GET STARTED WITH HOST COACHING
I know host coaching can sound super overwhelming, but I promise you it isn’t. Once you create your host coaching strategy, it becomes the foundation of your business, and you can use it for every single party you host. It streamlines things and ultimately helps you present yourself like the professional direct seller you are, leading to long-term results.
After years of perfecting my host coaching strategy, I can attest to how important it is to develop a Host Coaching Plan.
HOW TO CREATE A HOST COACHING PLAN
Successful host coaching all comes down to your Host Coaching Plan. To save yourself time and effort, take a day to sit down and knock out your host coaching strategy. Here are my top tips on how to rock your host coaching:
- Set Clear Expectations
Nothing is more frustrating than not knowing what to do. The moment your host books a party, it’s your job to set crystal clear expectations and guide them through the process. Things you’ll want to touch upon are:
- What do they have to do?
- What will you do?
- How do they invite people?
- What will they need to provide?
- What will you be providing?
- Who should they invite and when?
- What platform will they be using – in-person home party or virtual?
- When should they expect to hear from you throughout the planning process?
Virtual pro tip: One question you should always ask is, “Have you ever hosted a virtual party on Facebook?”. Never assume that someone knows something, and you don’t want to make them feel like they need to or should already know it all – that is our job as direct sellers. It’s a good idea to have instructions on how to host a virtual party ready to go!
- Send A Packet
Please, please, please – send the dang packets! Your Host Packet is a host coaching must. Even though more parties are transitioning to a virtual world, not everyone is quite there yet, and you don’t want to make your host feel limited. Your packet is one of your best business development tools. It’s a non-negotiable when hosting parties regardless of platform. Maybe your hosts’ mother-in-law is ready to buy the whole catalog, but she’s not on Facebook and can’t attend the virtual party. Think about the sales you could lose out on if you don’t provide them with the proper tools. Send the packet! My perfect packet includes:
- A personalized welcome letter for a sweet touch
- One catalog for them to mark up and dog-ear to highlight all their faves
- Any monthly specials
- Paper order forms for those who aren’t tech-savvy
- Instructions on how to collect orders through all methods – digital or order forms
- Business info (definitely don’t leave this out!)You want your packet to be an easy-to-understand, well-curated guide – not an encyclopedia that will take her about 90 days to read and will leave her confused. So keep it simple.
- Stay Connected
In a world where technology connects us more than ever, it also tends to disconnect us more than ever. It’s easy to hide behind a screen and get overwhelmed by the number of people you’re working with daily. But don’t let that get in the way of you connecting with your amazing hosts!
Leading up to the party, make sure they have everything they need. I personally loved a quick phone call to walk through all the party details. For me, it was faster than Messenger and better at building that host-consultant relationship. During this call, you can set those expectations we talked about earlier.
Virtual Pro Tip – If you don’t love phone calls, include some videos or voice clips so they can still hear your voice and see your face. These go a long way to connecting with your host!
Then, a few days before the party, be sure to check in and keep that contact throughout the party. A simple message checking in with words of encouragement, asking if they have questions, or a funny GIF to get them excited will go a long way.
When the party kicks off, don’t ghost. If it’s a multi-day party, make sure you’re interacting in the party, checking in with them via text or Facebook Messenger, and letting them know what they should be posting.
Finally, after the party, don’t forget about them! Ask them how everything went, if they had fun, and help them get all of their awesome party goodies seamlessly. Make sure their experience is stellar from start to finish.
- Make It Easy
Making it easy all comes back to communication. Do you see a trend here?
For virtual parties, provide them with a schedule of posts with text and images to share so they don’t have to stress about what they’re going to post the next day. Give them a simple script they can use for invites or even a fun Facebook Live.
Virtual Pro-Tip: Do a Facebook Live challenge with your hosts! Give them an extra gift if they go live in their party and share their favorite products. Trust me. It normally does wonders for your party sales and guest engagement!
When it comes to the invitations, layout exactly who they should be inviting, let them know when the invites should go out, and when the RSVPs should be received for a home party.
Don’t forget a shopping list if they’re hosting a home party! Tell them when you’ll arrive and what you will be bringing, along with what you expect them to have ready.
When you make it easy, your hosts will have SO much fun and will never think twice about hosting another party with you.
- Send Some Love
This is a little bonus. While it may seem like a gimme, many people forget to give their hosts a little love! One of my favorite parts of direct selling was sending some happy mail to my hosts after a party. A hand-written note and something fun will put a smile on their face every single time. I loved to snag little goodies from the Target Dollar Spot that didn’t break the bank but made them feel so valued. It’s always nice when someone appreciates and celebrates you, right?
While sending things should always be driven by a desire to say thank you – it typically has some business benefits too. Many hosts will take what you’ve sent them and share a photo on social media, tagging you and your business. Simple gesture, big results. As a direct seller, your hosts are the lifeline of your business. Treat them that way!
- Have Fun
Now, all this can be slightly stressful when you’re managing multiple parties at once – and once your business grows, you will be. So, don’t get in your head and just remember to HAVE FUN!
We got into this business in the first place to make new friends by sharing awesome products. It’s a fun industry, and it’s important we don’t forget that. Goof off, send memes and gifs – we aren’t in a corporate office, so just be yourself and have fun!
WHAT TO EXPECT
Your business will grow if you treat your hosts with care and build those relationships. Want to know the best part? It’s so stinkin’ fun! What’s better than gaining new friends through funny GIFs and catch-up calls with your hosts? I have built so many lifelong relationships and friendships with my hosts through this practice, and it helped me build my business along the way.
If you’re not Host Coaching effectively during every party you book, you’re handicapping your business. In short, it is in your best interest to be clear, keep it simple, stay connected, and give your hosts the love they deserve.
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Want a proven plan for growing your direct sales business without feeling like you're chasing your tail? The Direct Sellers Business Blueprint explains the 4 key areas you must master to build a simplified, systematic business. It will even tell you which area to tackle first, so you can stop feeling overwhelmed or confused about what to do next. The best part? It's completely FREE!
Mary Haynes is a highly successful direct sales leader turned strategist and coach. Her passion is helping party plan people streamline and scale their businesses using simple, proven strategies. Her goal is to eliminate business overwhelm so direct sellers know exactly what to do and when to do it. Mary is also a homeschooling mama that lives in sunny Florida with her husband, 4 kiddos, 2 dogs, and various other backyard animals.
