Let’s be real. Summer can smack you around a little bit if you’re not ready for it. Often, our hosts are busy just like we are because, hey, they want to have fun during the summer too!
Most likely, they’ll be traveling, going to the beach, and goofing off, so they’re not all that focused. And when you’re out of routine, sometimes you lose your mind a little bit. Here’s what we have to do once we get them to book – we have to keep them engaged and focused on the party. We want to make sure that they have a good experience and we have a good experience and keep the doors open and all that fun stuff.
So how exactly do we keep our hosts engaged over the summer? And when I say engaged, I mean, how do we keep them connected? How do we keep them focused and not squirreling all over the place for their party?
I’ve got five different tips for you. Ready?
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KEEP IT SIMPLE
I cannot stress this enough. Don’t over-complicate the host coaching process and make it difficult to host a party with you. Please keep it simple and give them clear instructions. Don’t send them 15 messages in one day – you’ll totally scare them away. Don’t send them novels over messenger. Keep it simple, to the point, and be something that they can easily do without stressing out. Keep it easy peasy so that they can engage with you and have a good experience.
If it’s complicated, your host will check out because it’s summer, and she just wants to wear her flip-flops and sit by the pool. So make sure that it’s super simple. Your hosts are not consultants; most of them are not direct sellers. They don’t understand the lingo, nor do they understand the process. It could be their very first time hosting. So we have to make it super simple. Try host coaching a family member. See if they understand the process. If it’s too complicated, then you need to take it down a notch, mmmkay?
SET CLEAR EXPECTATIONS
This next one kind of goes along with keeping it simple: set clear expectations. Not just for your host but for you too. So what can your hosts expect of you, and what do you expect of your hosts? When should they plan to hear from you? If you don’t communicate and aren’t consistent in communicating with your hosts, they won’t know when to expect to hear from you.
What do you expect them to do? Do you expect them to post in the party? Are you going to supply them with those posts? Do you expect them to collect outside orders? Are you going to give them the tools to do that? When do you expect them to close the party? This goes back to communication. You have to make sure that you’re communicating what you’re going to do and what you expect your host to do before, during, and after the party.
GET THE HOST INVOLVED
Make sure you involve your hosts in the party. Have your hosts be a part of the planning process and get them involved in the party process.
Get your hosts involved by letting them pick the theme for their party. Empower them to post before the party, after the party, and if they are comfortable, to go live during the party. Give them the tools to use, encourage them, and assure them they are doing a fantastic job (especially if they are nervous.) Do what you can to get your hosts involved in as much of the party process as possible. Make sense?
KEEP IT FUN
This is a party. So we need to keep it fun. If you don’t make it fun to host a party, guess what? Your hosts are going to be like, “I don’t want to do that again. That was complicated. I had no idea when I was going to hear from her. I didn’t know what she wanted me to do and then I was bored. I was bored, and I got distracted by the beach, flip-flops, and sunscreen.”
So make sure that you’re keeping it fun. If it’s fun, your hosts will want to come back and host again. And if you’re keeping it fun, guess what? She’s going to tell her friends. She’s going to be like,
“That was the easiest and most fun thing I’ve ever done. You’re going to have to go host a party with Sally because she was amazing, and she did all those things, and it was super fun!”
One thing to keep in mind. If our host coaching is poor or we have a less than stellar host, we tend to get frustrated, right? And that frustration can slip out in the language we use with our hosts. It’s easy to start talking to them like their mom – let’s not do that. We need to make sure we’re not using mom language because the last time I got fussed at by my mom, it wasn’t very fun. And I know my kids don’t like it when they get fussed at by me. So part of keeping it fun is to go with grace first, okay? Give grace first. Your host could just be having a bad day.
SEND SAMPLES
Another way to get your hosts involved and to keep it fun is to send product samples. If you have a product where it’s easy to send samples, send them along with the host packet or send your hosts some samples before the party. Ask your hosts to try out the sample and then post about it in the party. This is a really fun way to get your hosts involved, and they have the extra perk of trying out some amazing product, right?
So let’s review really quick!
(1) Keep your host coaching process simple. Bring it down a notch. If having a party with you is complicated, your hosts will get frustrated, and they’re going to check out.
(2) Provide clear communication. When can your hosts expect to hear from you? What do you expect them to do? What are you going to do for them? Set very clear expectations.
(3) Involve your hosts in the party. Send them some samples, encourage them to post, ask them to comment and play games and get them involved in the process. Even if they are not doing exactly what you wanted them to do, keep it light. Don’t go into mom or teacher mode and start whacking that ruler around.
With these easy tips, you’ll be able to keep your hosts engaged this summer – I have no doubt about that! They’ll be partying with their friends virtually while sitting poolside with an umbrella drink and have a blast with you!
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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.
