Online parties are hot right now. People who are comfortable
with online chats and at ease with online payment options like
PayPal make great online party guests.
With fantastic online party resources like the free chat rooms
provided at Internet Based Moms and the support of groups like
The Party Network and Mommy's Helper Online -Online Party
Resources it is easier than ever to throw an online party and
invite all of your online friends to participate and buy.
I wonder though if many online hostesses and demonstrators are
forgetting a wonderful offline option to boost their total party
sales. Remember the good old 'Catalog Show'? Why not pair the
Online Party with the offline Catalog Show and help your hostess
connect with offline friends and family for orders?
I know that demonstrators are cautious about the additional
expenses of catalogs and postage. The beauty of online parties
is that they do not have to send out paper supplies and can
simply use their ecommerce websites.
The thing to consider is that we still have a large population
of people out there who do not use the web regularly and may
never attend an online party. So why not ask your online hostess
if they would like to receive a catalog and order forms for the
purpose of gathering offline orders in advance of their online
party? If she is not interested in offering it locally, that's
ok, but if she is, you're on!!
Depending on the payment plan that your direct sales company
uses, it may involve an extra step for you and your hostess to
get all of the payments together in one place. If payment needs
to come to the demonstrator for submission, be sure to make
arrangements for an online payment format or include a postage
paid pre-addressed envelope with your catalog and advise the
hostess to collect the money and send a money order ASAP so that
you can close out the show. (Never accept a check from an out of
town hostess, even if you think know them well! It's a headache
that will stress out a friendship!)
Imagine just $100 in extra offline sales added to each of your
online shows. Would the profit on that be worth the catolog and
postage costs? I think so! You may also find that this is a
great way to increase hostess involvement and boost the number
of show bookings!
About the author:
Kelly McCausey is the host of Work at Home Moms Internet Talk
Radio, the original Internet Radio show for Internet Based Moms.
http://www.wahmtalkradio.com
