Nina's Party House

I think most of us know where our customers come from.  For instance, most of us get them from our presentations, parties, networking, or vendor events.  But most of us don't have some sort of system for following up.  Yeah, our companies and leadership try to guide us on what we should do, but we can't seem to get over that first "phone call".

With anything, commitment has to be first.  What is the commitment to you, your family, your goals, and to your follow up system?  Have you set a goal for what you want to accomplish from your business?  What will starting your own business do for you and your family? 

Below is an outline of how you can devise your own plan that works for you!

1.  Commitment to Customer/lead follow-up

     a. Contract to yourself to commit to your system (signed document)

     b. Make sure you do at least five things for your business everyday

     c. Find out what is your most comfortable way to contact…email, personal                           notes, phone, face to face

     d. Keep your score…each contact equals 1 point…set your rewards by how many   points per week, per month etc.

2.  Determine your follow up system that works for you, however phone calls are the #1 way to provide follow up…most appreciated is a personal heart felt note

3.  Follow Up System…the idea here is to show customers that you care…basically, nice to meet you…for future hostesses or consultants, set up your meeting, but send a card (nice to meet you)

    a. 24-48 hour Follow up

        1. Email(VERY NON BUSINESS)(nice to meet you)

        2. Personal note (keep very NON BUSINESS LIKE)(nice meeting you)…this should go to every hostess and customer (the most recommended form of follow up besides a phone call)(personal note makes a lead a “Warm” lead)

       3. Invite to coffee/lunch (potential hostess or consultant)…remember, this is the time to listen to what they have to say…this is where you hear how you can help them…

    b. Within 3-4 Days

        1. Personal phone call (keep very NON BUSINESS)(Invite to lunch/coffee)…as part of your business, you select a couple of guests to share feedback with you…

    c. Two-week follow up (when they receive product)…customer service follow up…let them know what the hostess received and offer the hostess program to them…make sure if not now, that you get their permission to call and inform of next month’s specials (customer or hostess)…also, if they show some sort of interest in the business, ask to treat them to coffee or lunch just to get an idea of what they are looking for

    d. One month Follow up (includes your newsletter or product replacement)

Make phone calls for customer service, newsletter viewers, product replacement

    e. Every month thereafter for hostess special reminders…this can be your newsletter or you can make the phone call (very important to get permission for this)

    f. Every Quarter have a hostess appreciation party (or you can keep it to every new catalog)

    g. Every 6 months (the customer that doesn’t really respond to any of the other contact)…this is where you send a note, holiday card, birthday note, etc.

4.  Where do I start?

     a. Current customers and hostesses you have had in the last 3 months, send a note ASAP…only send as many notes as you are going to follow up within the next week

     b. Any customers or hostesses you haven’t contacted in over 3 months, send a note and make phone calls…let’s address something that I believe holds most of us back with the customers and hostess we forgot to call or for whatever reason, we just let time slip away…DO NOT LET THEM GET AWAY…if it has paralyzed you to even think of those folks, find someone who has no connection to the outcome of the call to make them. You will be amazed at your results. Even if you get one show out of a list of 100, that’s one show you didn’t have because of your guilt.

5.  Things to keep in mind:

     a. Habits are formed within 42 day (six weeks)…commit to the six weeks of 5 things for your business

     b. Find yourself an Accountability Partner...someone you know will hold you accountable

     c. Make sure that one of the five things you do for your business is a phone call…everyday, that is doing something out of your comfort zone that stretches you in the growth of your business…after a couple of weeks or when you start to feel more comfortable, increase the number to two, three, etc…

    d. If you can afford it, find someone to make those guilt calls for you to clear the way for more business…there are companies or individuals out there will to be your “personal” assistant for a small fee…in the end it’s worth the peace of mind and the increased business…

    e. There are other companies out there that specialize in customer follow up systems that are great for your type of business

Note: According to a study out of Norte Dame University,

44% of all sales people quit trying after the first phone call

24% quit after the 2nd

14% quit after the third

12% quit after the 4th

...That is 94% of all sales people quit after the fourth call

The study shows that 60% of all sales are made after the 4th call. That means 94% deny themselves a chance at 60% of the prospective buyers, hostesses, new consultants…