Experts in Party Plan, Tracey Edwards & Party Plan Pat Talk About Home Party Businesses!

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Party Planning
Patricia Kagwiria Makhulo asked:


Recently I posed a question to Tracey Edwards, a very successful Direct Sales and Home Party Marketing Expert.  The question is as follows:

One of the biggest obstacles that many direct sales reps. and home party consultants seem to come across on a consistent basis is the constraints that home party plan and direct sales companies place on marketing, promotion and advertising.  What challenges have you faced with regards to this and how did you over-come?

Yes most companies restrict the use of using their names or trademarks.  And you know what; I actually think this is a good thing for you.  You see you don’t want to be seen as the Mary Kay consultant or the Tupperware lady; you want to be seen as an expert in ‘skin care’ or ‘kitchen organization’.  That way if you do ever change companies you won’t lose your business.  You can just say I used to recommend product A, but now I recommend product B.

Most people think that they ‘work’ for their company, but you know what – you don’t.  You work for yourself!  So promote yourself – that is the key to being a success online.

I have pondered on her words.  And there a 5 things I’d like to share with the home party consultant that is looking to boost home party sales and see more R.O.I  for their direct sales business.

Often the question that is asked of me is “Why will people not buy my products”

The answer is simple, you have written a check, which came back with the red stamp mark, insufficient funds! (thanks Martin Luther King Jr. for that one).

You see people buy because:

i)    they know you,

ii)   they trust you

iii)  they believe that you have the solution the problem which the face and

iv)  for status

People don’t buy a product, nor do they buy a feature and the benefits are as they are decided upon by the story they tell themselves.   Your juice drink may help me loose weight.  But the story I am telling myself is that I am going to look sexy, finally that size 0 pair of jeans that I have seen on display for a year will be mine.  I am going to get hit on by men….you get the picture?  So if your pitch is not in line with my story…

How does all this fit into home parties and home party marketing?  Simple, you are building relational capital, by depositing in the bank of getting to know you, getting to know all about you!  And you are not only doing it with one person, no you are reaching out to many in one shot! You know what they say, if one person likes a product or has a pleasant experience they tell 3 people. When they have an unpleasant experience they tell 10 people!

Interesingly enough, 83% of our time is spent communicating.  However successful home party business owners and 6-Figure direct sales consultants will tell you that a Leader is someone who goes beyond communication and bridges the gap to connecting.

Telling about your  features & benefits, doing dog and pony shows that is communicating.  Connecting is as follows:

1.    Ask yourself, How does my prospective customer need to feel first, so that they will will do what I am asking them to do?

2.    Am I remarkable? 

3.    When a need arises for my client, customer, am I the first person they think of, the second or not at all?

4.    Am I easy to imitate?  If you are easy to imitate, you ca quickly see how your value decreases overnight

Now do you see why Tracey’s words are so poignant?

Most [home party consultants] think that they ‘work’ for their [party plan] company, but you know what – you don’t!  You work for yourself!  So promote yourself – that is the key to being a success [in your home party business, both] online and [offline].

A home party plan business is not abou the company.  A home party business is about YOU!



Moises

Comments (0) Dec 29 2008

Home Party Success Revealed! : 10 Deadly Direct Sales & Home Party Plans Business Mistakes - a Review by Therese Ahmad

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Party Planning
Patricia Kagwiria Makhulo asked:


Hi,

My name is Therese Ahmad

Let me point out that this contained in the 10 DEADLY Home Party Plans Business Mistakes is information can be used with any business and must be used if you want to get ahead and out of your 9- 5!

* Do your research, I can’t tell you how many home party companies I have gotten involved with over the years, from Mary Kay to Pots and Pans and even the old Amway now known as Quixtar. It all looks good from Their Standpoint, but what is going to work for you http://www.homepartyplansuccesstips.com/2008/07/08/to-home-party-plan-or-not-choosing-a-home-party-plan-business-opportunity/

* Are the people you work with your only market? Everybody that has kids selling the same candies and cookie dough?

* Have you called the same 5 friends and invite them over and over and over to your home parties thinking that their reasoning will change or the light will finally come on?

* I can remember going to casinos looking for prospects (yeah I live in Vegas, oh the things we do in the name of building a business), rather stalking them waiting for the moment to strike! 3 ft yikes! get away from me!

* When you do get your best friend involved, don’t buy the home party product for them to get you a commission that was 1/10 of what you invested (really spent).

* Paying for direct sales leads, never did it, never will. However there was a time when my husband and I got involved with a Real Estate Notes business and they promised us xx number of clicks…. For one year maybe we had one or two then during that last 30 days the numbers were flying and we never made a sale!

* The Product speaks for itself. I always thought that but with Patricia’s guidance I have learned differently. You Must brand yourself!

* This is where F.E.A.R. comes into play. You honestly think they won’t like you, but it’s because the don’t know you. Let them get to know you and they will buy anything that you have to sell.

* I always said I would never go back to school and do homework again but BOOTCAMPS I’ll do in heartbeat! I am a Tom Hopkins graduate you know.

So after all is said and done, get with Patricia. You will be very pleased I know that I am. Thank you Patricia.

Therese Ahmad



Griffin

Comments (0) Dec 26 2008

Is Party-Planning For You?

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Party Planning
Lynn Powers asked:


Do you love a good party? Are you always looking for reasons to throw one yourself? Do your friends call you for advice when planning their parties? When asked, do you jump in to help, without thinking twice?

If you answered “yes” to any of the previous questions, starting up a party planning business may make perfect sense for you. Working from home while doing what you love to do? What could be better than that?

But although others may gush over the wonderfully creative parties you throw for your kids, how can you be confident that you’re qualified to actually get paid for planning their events and celebrations? Here are a few sure ways to tell whether you’re cut out for the party planning business:

? You’re a good listener. Whether planning your own child’s birthday party, an acquaintance’s bridal shower, or a stranger’s retirement party, one thing’s for certain: it’s all about tuning in to what your client is looking for. If you’re good at focusing on others’ needs and clearly visualizing the big picture of exactly what they want, you’re bound to be successful. Although various options and your solid suggestions will be appreciated, people want to know you’re listening carefully to what they want and not trying to force your own opinions down their throats.

? You’re a people-person. If you love to volunteer, prefer crowds over solitude, and are constantly looking for opportunities where you can interact and socialize, party planning would definitely allow plenty of chances for you to do just that.

? You’re detail oriented. Do you pay attention to the little details other people often overlook? Color coordination, theme tie-ins, exquisite extras, etc. Even though the subtle details aren’t always exclusively recognized, when added, they are precisely the things that turn a mediocre party into a memorable one.

? You’re a great multi-tasker. Can you deal with the florist, the caterer, and the mother-of-the-bride at the same time? But, more importantly, can you do it without getting flustered? If you thrive on activity and don’t bat an eye when ten things are thrown in your direction at one time, then you’re already a pro! Party planning is the perfect choice for you!

? You don’t take things personally. If someone screams at you because the flowers haven’t arrived yet or angrily pulls you aside because a typo was found in the invitations, could you keep your cool or would you break into tears? When it comes to planning an event and making it as special as possible, people can get a little testy. But if you can maintain your composure and smooth out the wrinkles with your tone of voice and reassurances, chances are you may receive an apology or two when the day is done. And, hopefully, because you expertly handled the stress, you’ll receive a couple of client referrals, as well.

Party planning is not for the timid, shy, or introverted. For the outgoing and extroverted, however, it can be the ideal work at home career choice. After all, there isn’t much that can compare with actually getting paid to party.



Reed

Comments (0) Dec 23 2008

Casino Party Planning

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Party Planning
Gabriel Kuperma asked:


A casino party can be a great idea for any individual or company planning an event. Different types of casino events include stag parties, Jack and Jills, birthdays, poker tournaments, corporate events, graduation parties, reunions, and more. Finding a casino party planner who specializes in fun casino events in your area does not have to be a discouraging task. In most large metropolitan areas across North America, you will find several companies who specialize in casino entertainment.

There are a few key elements you should look for when you choose a casino party company. First of all, does the company offer a wide selection of casino games? Is the equipment comparable to what you would see at the casino? The casino game tables and accessories should not resemble home edition models that you can buy on Ebay for the same cost of renting them. You want your guests to feel like they are in a real casino!

Event Staffing is another important characteristic of a quality casino planning company. To ensure the success of your casino party, you should have casino dealers who are knowledgeable about the games, very entertaining, and personable with your guests. Hosts/hostesses are sometimes a nice added touch, as well as pit bosses and/or tournament directors.

Finally, what other party services does the casino party company offer? A good casino event planning company may offer many additional party services that will compliment your event. This can save you time and money if you are able to get a full-service, quality package from one provider. Ask the casino event planner about extra services such as delivery, event planning consultation, lighting, additional entertainment, and more.



Haley

Comments (0) Dec 15 2008

School Reunion

Posted: under Arts, Entertainment and Music.

Your school reunion can be a blast from the past or make you feel like a male dog that was dropped off at the vet and came back with less than he went in with. Feelings from the past tend to come back as memories rush forward making them feel like they just happened yesterday.

Regardless of what your high school experience was like, you can still have a blast at your school reunion. Make a decision to have an awesome time and you will. It’s just that simple.

School Reunion Funnies

Tell different people different things about yourself that are totally made up and see how long it takes for the rumors to get around and everyone be confused. Tell one person you’re a doctor. Tell another person you’re a lawyer. Tell someone you’re married and tell someone else you’re not. Say you have four kids. Say you have no kids. Tell someone about your expensive home and tell someone else you still live with your mother.

School Reunion Connections

You can reconnect and stay connected with your old school buddies long before and long after the reunion. Even if you’re not in charge of planning the reunion, you can still connect everyone online by creating a web page about your school reunion and inviting them to the page.

Simple create your own online networking forum for your entire class, through use of Web 2.0 technologies. They’re user friendly, extremely simple to use, and best of all, free.

Start by creating a school reunion web page. This will act as your invitations because you’re going to send links to the web page electronically through emails that will take your past classmates directly to your web page.

Personalize the page through use of over 60 multi media tools that are so easy to use, you could have used them when you were in high school. You can include old senior pictures of your past classmates and throw in some video of a pep rally or a debate. Add some music that is from back in the day and post old sayings.

When they come to your page, they’ll see the guest list and maybe even pictures of themselves beside their names. They’ll be able to respond and see how others have responded. They’ll also see that they can network and offer suggestions for the school reunion. They’ll be reintroduced, start networking and getting excited about the school reunion way ahead of time.

You can also cross reference other school reunion online groups and network with them too. There is no limit to how many groups you can network with. Nor is there any time frame on the web page. Keep the page and keep networking for as long as you’d like.

Whether you are coordinating the reunion or not, you can help the coordinator out through use of the task manager. Lay out previously agreed upon tasks and assign coordinators to them. Send out automated email reminders about the tasks and the school reunion itself as the days to it count down. You can even post a budget online and manage it from there. With over 60 multi media tools to use, there’s nothing you can’t cover. Remember these tools are so simple anyone can use them. And again…they’re free. Events Listed thought of everything.

About the Author:

Simon Ford is an Internet Entrepreneur who specializes in Event Launch Marketing applying social media and internet marketing strategies. “he initially started writing to attract traffic to his websites and has since become hooked”. If the content of this article interests you, you may be interested to visit his website learn more about the latest strategies for
party planning and publishing multi media rich web pages for events, strategies you can adopt to make any event like school reunion or students party’s more memorable.

Comments (0) Dec 15 2008

Ideas For Company Christmas Parties

Posted: under Arts, Entertainment and Music.

Ideas for company Christmas parties are plentiful if you just use a little creativity. Don’t plan a huge, formal dinner at the boss’ house. That will make everyone uncomfortable, including your boss. Plus, it’s sure to be a snoozer. Find a neutral ground and have your rockin’ company Christmas party there.

Regardless of where you have the festivities, know that you can’t please everyone, but you can please the majority. Below are some tips that are sure to break the ice and get everyone relaxed and in a great mood.

Ideas for Company Christmas Parties to Get the Festivities Going

* As each person comes in, slap a Santa hat on them with their name on it and announce something funny they did at work.

* Have a Christmas stocking with your company logo for everyone. Have them draw numbers for different stockings and don’t allow them to open until everyone has one. Then they open them together only to find out they all have the same gifts.

* Play Christmas Pictionary. Use all Christmas related words and get silly with them.

* Have a “Christmas in Scotland” (or any other country) theme and not only evoke new cultural exposure and education onto your guests, but give them a unique, exciting company Christmas party that they’ll never forget.

Christmas Parties Invitations

Another spicy element to add to the party is to create completely personalized invitations, made personally by you online. Yes, you. With easy to use multi media tools, you can add numerous elements to your web page. When we say easy to use, that is exactly what we mean. Anyone can use these tools.

Decorate your web page for the season, add your company logo and as many Christmas decorations as your heart desires. You can also add pictures of the boss and the staff and add some Christmas videos. Have Christmas music or Christmas bells playing from your page. The personalization possibilities are endless.

You can post comment walls, have a Q&A, or add a poll for your guest to participate in. Once your page is complete, simply send out the invitations electronically via email containing a link to your page. Your guests will love seeing their names on the guest list, especially if you add their pictures beside their names.

They’ll be able to respond on if the are attending or not and see what others have responded. They’ll also be able to communicate and network with each other. You can even network with other social groups networking about company Christmas parties, but in no way do any of you have to stay on topic. It’s just a great way to find others in your niche and expand your horizons.

After the party, update the page to reflect activities from the party. Add a photo album and video from the party. And then keep networking. Don’t stop just because the party’s over.

Simply visit Events Listed and create your page today. Plus it’s free! Merry Christmas from Events Listed.

About the Author:

Simon Ford is an Internet Entrepreneur who specializes in Event Launch Marketing applying social media and internet marketing strategies. “he initially started writing to attract traffic to his websites and has since become hooked”. If the content of this article interests you, visit the events listed website to learn more about the latest
ideas for company Christmas party. Check out the latest in FREE web2.0 party planning applications.

Comments (0) Dec 14 2008

Cooking Party Invitations

Posted: under Food and Drink.

Cooking party invitations for all the chefs in your life. Sounds fun and yummy. We’ve got what you need for your invitations and we’ve also got some great tips for you to make your cooking party go smoothly and be a success.

* If you are doing one big uniform meal, assign your guest certain groceries to purchase and bring with them. This keeps the costs down for you.

* If you are doing different food themes (Mexican, Italian, Chinese, etc.), then assign one person to be in charge of each theme and have that person assign the grocery list within each group.

* Whatever dishes, pans, or utensils you don’t have that you need, assign someone to bring instead of you buying. Keep the costs down.

Personalized Cooking Party Invitation

Why not whip up some invitations that you’ve created and personalized to match your cooking party theme? You can easily and for free through Events Listed. With over 60 multi media tools available for you to completely personalize your web page, it’s the perfect recipe. You create the web page first so it can act as your invitation.

All of the tools are in a simple to use Web 2.0 environment, ready for you to completely personalize your page to your cooking party theme. Include pictures, videos, audios, surveys, and more. Pop in video of Rachael Ray or Gordon Ramsey. Add some music and even put up a timer that counts down to the party.

Be sure to post the date and time of the cooking party and any special instructions for your guests, such as “no MSG.” Just kidding. You can also post a poll for your guest to vote on which dishes they’d like to create. How about adding a map and directions to the cooking hot spot?

Party Invitations-All Eyes On the Guest List

Once your page is complete, you then invite your guests to go to your page by sending electronic emails with electronic links to your page. They click the link and arrive on your page. They’ll have eyes on the guest list and they’ll be able to respond to your invitation as well as seeing how others have responded. They’ll be able to see who’s ready to cook, who has 86ed themselves, and who hasn’t responded yet.

Your guests can also start networking together online as soon as they wish and you can even promote more networking by cross referencing other cooking unique party online groups. Get great recipes and cooking tips right there on your own web page.

Take advantage of the task manager to assign who is bringing what groceries and/or cooking supplies and post what group they are in. Send out preset, automated email reminders about the party date and time as the date draws nearer.

What about posting a budget for each person or each group right on the web page and manage it from there? There’s so much you can do with you web page, why not do it? It will make your life a lot easier. And again, it’s free, from Events Listed. Spot on!

About the Author:

Simon Ford is an Internet Entrepreneur who specializes in Event Launch Marketing applying social media and internet marketing strategies. “he initially started writing to attract traffic to his websites and has since become hooked”. If the content of this article interests you, you may be interested to visit his website where you will learn more about the latest strategies for party planning and publishing multi media rich web pages for events, strategies you can adopt to make any event like school reunion or kids birthday’s more memorable.

Comments (0) Dec 12 2008

Barbeque Party Invitations

Posted: under Arts, Entertainment and Music.

Barbeque party invitations mean somebody’s grilling up some great barbeque. Tell us when and where and we’ll be there. Just kidding. But we can help you give your barbeque lovin’ guests the skinny on the when, the where, and much more.

You’ve got the party planned, got the food, the sauce, the tongs, and the pit. Now what? How about the barbeque party invitations? You wouldn’t want all of that food to go to waste, would you? Then invite some people over, man!

Make your invitations yourself for free through Events Listed. With over 60 multi media tools that are so easy to use anyone can do it, you can make the perfect barbeque party invitations. Add your flair and your personal touch and spice them up exactly to your liking.

You actually create one web page that acts as your invitation and communication portal. You create this page in a Web 2.0 environment that includes the web tools. Completely personalize your page to your barbeque party theme. Include pictures, videos, audios, surveys, and more all personalized to your theme. Add some music and some videos of some world-class grill masters.

Be sure to post the date and time of the party and any special instructions for your guests, such as “BYOB.” You can also post a poll for your guest to vote on which foods will get barbequed. Why not use the task manager to assign side dishes, deserts, and drinks to your guests? And the ice. Someone needs to bring ice.

Party Invitations that are Finger-Lickin’ Good

You will electronically invite your guests to your page by sending emails with direct links to your page. Once they open the page, they’ll see the guest list as well as the RSVP status in real time. They’ll also be able to respond to your invitation and see how others have responded. They’ll be able to see who will be wearing aprons, who can’t stand the heat of the kitchen, and who hasn’t responded yet.

Your guests can also start networking together online as soon as they wish and you can even promote more networking by cross referencing other barbeque party online groups. Hey, you may end up with some great recipes that are finger-lickin’ good.

For those who can’t attend, they can enjoy photos, micro blogs, video feeds, and more being implemented during the party. Anyone can be at the virtual party, even if they are on the other side of the world. They just can’t taste the food is all. Too bad you can’t send the smell through the web either or you could make them froth at the mouth for some of your barbeque. Dang!

Automated Party Invitation Reminders

You can also send out preset, automated email reminders about the party date and time as Father Time slims down the days and hours to your party. You can also post a budget right on your web page and manage it from there. Awesome.

Go ahead and use these Web 2.0 technologies to your advantage and create the most unique barbeque party web page you can. It’s free and it’s easy and you’ll get the perfect, interactive invitation. Now will the food come out perfect? That’s entirely up to you, friend. Entirely up to you.

About the Author:

Simon Ford is an Internet Entrepreneur who specializes in Event Launch Marketing applying social media and internet marketing strategies. “he initially started writing to attract traffic to his websites and has since become hooked”. If the content of this article interests you, you may be interested to visit his website learn more about the latest strategies for party planning and publishing multi media rich web pages for events, strategies you can adopt to make any event like student parties or kids birthday’s more memorable.

Comments (0) Dec 12 2008

Party Planning 101

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Party Planning
George Meszaros asked:


Planning a successful party can be a complex project. There are many factors to consider to minimize embarrassing mishaps or possible conflicts. The more import the party you are planning the more attention you should pay to the planning. A 50th wedding anniversary party is usually going to require more complex planning than a small backyard barbeque party.

The first and most important aspect of party planning is to determine the reason for the party. The reason for the party usually determines the size, the budget, who is invited, and how many people you want to accommodate.

Setting your budget is crucial. The size of your budget can determine how many people you invite, the kind of food you serve, etc. You can do some very creative things with limited budgets; so modest budgets should not deter you. The most important thing is not to spend a dollar until you have your budget.

If money is an issue you may want to partner with someone to pay for the party. For example, if you are planning a birthday party you may have your party with a friend whose birthday is close to yours. Celebrating two peoples’ birthday may be even more exciting. When you are faced with a problem try to think of it more as an opportunity instead of a problem.

How many people you invite has not only to do with your budget, but your location. If you plan the party to be held in your house, you should know how many people you can accommodate. You can invite about ten percent more than you can accommodate since some people may have to cancel in the last minute. When you invite guest to your party, try to avoid inviting people who can’t stand each other. You want people to have fun, and you should do everything you can to avoid fights.



Pamela

Comments (0) Dec 06 2008