Pass or Play

This is a great way to get those parties. You have them thinking throughout the presentation so bring them to their decision now.


"Ladies, check out these beautiful coin purses/goodie bags/mini totes I have. What I need you to do is pass this box/bag around and quickly choose a coin purse. Hold onto it but DO NOT open it yet."

"Ladies, the last thing we are going to do is play a real quick game called Pass or Play. I am simply going to ask each of you if you want to play or pass. If you would like to pass, simply put your coin purse/goodie bag/mini tote back in my box/bag and you are all done. If you would like to play, then you get to open the coin purse/goodie bag/mini tote and see what is inside for you. I'll make this real simple for you…I'll tell you what is inside…It says you have won a Featured Product! I'll even tell you what you will win. If you decide to play, you may win our top selling {Featured Product #1} (hold piece up), our adorable {Featured Product #2} or the customer favorite {Featured Product #3}! Now it really doesn't matter which one you win because when I come to your house to do your own personal show…you are going to get all this free and ½ price product (that you outlined in the hostess plan)."

Pause…"Now did everyone get that? If you decide to play then I get to come to your house and show your friends and family the products I've shown here tonight."

"When I met {Hostess} at {Previous Hostess} show, she decided to play and that's why we are here today/tonight. When she opened her coin purse/goodie bag/mini tote, she won the beautiful {Featured Product #1}". This can be yours next time.

Next, go around the room asking each guest if they would like to play. Ask and respond with a smile, "Thank You {their name}" whether they play or not. Always use their names. Start with someone that you already know is going to have a show or is really excited about the product. Never respond when they come up with an objection like I don't know many people, or my house is too small. Let the other guests talk her into it, not you! You simply keep smiling and wait for her decision. This shows that you are not going to pressure them.



Olivia Vidal
© 2009
http://sochicbagboutique.com

Black Friday is coming!

Black Friday (Nov 27th) and Cyber Monday (Nov 30) are just around the corner. You should be preparing those flyers, open house parties, online parties, and ads for these 2 big events.

To help spread the word send Liv's WAHM Blog you ads, sneak peeks, and other Black Friday or Cyber Monday event.

Send the following to disneyandmickeyfan@yahoo.com with subject line "Black Friday/Cyber Monday":

Your full name
Email address
Company name
Company website
Product description
Banner, advertisement graphic, or pictures (limit 5)
Sale type (Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or both)
Sale details

Website must be a legitimate website with a cart (ebay and etsy are allowed).

All submissions must be received by November 23rd.

***Do not list these in the comments. These will be listed in a special post after all information is verified


Olivia Vidal
© 2009
http://sochicbagboutique.com

All Personal Growth Involves Change

Personal growth is the process of responding positively to change. It involves risk as you step from the known to the unknown.

All your growth will depend on your activity.
Your strength and growth will come only through continuous effort and struggle. There will be no development without effort.

Trouble is the common denominator of living.
It is the great equalizer of life.
Your trials, your sorrows and your grief's will develop you.

When good or bad fortune comes your way, you must give it meaning and transform it into something of value.

What happens to you is not as important as your reaction to what is happening.

© 2009 Your Daily Motivation


Olivia Vidal
© 2009
http://sochicbagboutique.com

Getting Started as a Consultant

So you've decided to start working from home. You are pumped! You are excited! You are maybe a bit overwhelmed and even a bit lost as to where to begin.

Before you are off and running lets run down a few things first.

At this point you should have an idea of what you want to do and likely have found a company to join. If you have not I want you to think about this -how many do you know that sell the same product in your area or your networking circle online? If you do not know, start looking and asking. This will give you an idea of what your competition is. You need to know this from the start. If you know 20 people who sell the same thing, you will have a tough time building a business.

Next see how many would actually be interested in the product you offer. As an example lets say you sell southwest home furnishings. Do you live in a place where this would sell? Being unique does not always mean a good thing. You need to be able to sell it. Just because you feel it is great doesn't mean everyone else will. Do your local research as well.

Are you willing to invest in your business? Many don't realize you will have to invest. This includes advertising, business materials such as business cards and catalogs, demo product, samples. If you aren't willing to invest, this is not the right time to start a business. Create a budget of what you can spend now and sustain over the next 6-12 months. You want to look at up to 12 months because in some cases this is how long it can take for you to turn a profit and not returning it all back into your business.

What are you willing and not willing to do to make your business a go. If you are looking at a party plan but not willing to do parties, this is not the right type of business. Knowing what you are will and not willing to do will help determine a business that is right for you.

Doing a little homework will be very helpful when starting out. You will be more prepared in the long run and better able to take on the challenges you will face.

Olivia Vidal
© 2009
http://sochicbagboutique.com

WAHM Tip of the Week

Keep tabs your customer's birthdays, anniversaries, and send a card. Along with the card send a small gift or gift certificate. The gesture will be greatly appreciated and creates long lasting customer relationships.

Olivia Vidal
© 2009
http://sochicbagboutique.com

BOGO Ad Sale

Advertise on Liv's WAHM Blog

Get noticed with a banner ad campaign here on Liv's WAHM Blog. We have a limited number of advertising spots available now at Liv's WAHM Blog

125x125 banner ad
(available at top and under "Our Sponsors" in sidebar)

$5 per month

Purchase 1 month, you automatically get 2 months advertising! Only $5!
Purchase 3 months, you automatically get 6 months advertising! Only $15 ($2.50 a month)
Purchase 5 months and get a special bonus of 1 full yr advertising! Only $25 ($2.08 a month)

Sale ends November 30 or while ad spots last!

Unlike other blog sites we give you real numbers and real value to your ad space. Instead of adding a flat rate value we evaluate our hits, unique visitors, and return readers. With this information we calculate an average CPM.

Liv's WAHM Blog averages over 7000 (7310) hits per month, averaging 821 unique (brand new) visitors a month. That is over 7000 impressions per month your ad receives.

Our ad rates are competitive with other sites at a low rate of less than $1 per cpm ($0.68 per CPM) for standard ads. CPM is cost per thousand impressions.


Our ad spots are available on a 1st come, 1st serve basis. We do however offer a waiting list so if your preferred ad position choice is not currently available, one will be contacted as soon as your preferred spot becomes available.


How to get your ad placed?

Click on an a "125x125 Banner" and choose your preferred number of paid months. You will automatically get double. Ex. 2 months = 4 month ad campaign.

Once your ad campaign has been paid in full, send an email to disneyandmickeyfan@yahoo.com with "Banner Ad" in the subject line.

In your email please include:

• Website URL
• Banner URL or attach banner in email
• Email address used to purchase ad campaign
  
• Ad position choice (top or sidebar)
  

We accept PayPal (balance, instant transfer), credit card (processed through PayPal), bank account (through PayPal, where available)

As soon as we receive payment in full and email with required information, we will place your banner in your chosen ad position.

If you have any questions, please contact me at disneyandmickeyfan@yahoo.com with "Liv's WAHM Blog Ad Info" in subject line.

Olivia Vidal
© 2009
http://sochicbagboutique.com

Door Prize Drawing

Before a party ends, you want to have everyone's information before they leave. A great way to do so is with Door Prize Slips. After you have collected everyones slip, put them in a box or even a tote bag. Pass this around and make it fun. Start passing this around when guests begin to arrive. As someone says the selected word for the day (purse, handbag, etc), someone passes them the box.

End your show with "Now who has my prize box?" (you started passing this around as guests arrive) This is a box that I have asked the ladies to pass around whenever they hear the word Purse or Handbag. Or you can say, "Okay, now time for a drawing! Has everyone filled out their guest survey sheets?" This gets you past that rare but awkward moment when nobody plays the pass or play game. Draw a name and give a prize!


Olivia Vidal
© 2009
http://sochicbagboutique.com

Right Click Blockers - A Few Reasons They Make It Tough for Customers

As a graphic artist, I understand the reasoning behind right-click blockers, but as a customer/visitor who has often been frustrated by these when trying to navigate a site, I'd like to share a few reasons NOT to use them.

1. They keep customers from opening up parts of your page in other tabs--which is really useful when you are deciding what items you want to buy. Blocking this feature also forces people to leave your site to visit links you have, rather than just opening these in another tab or browser window.

2. If you advertise on traffic exchanges, the blockers keeps exchange surfers from breaking out of the traffic exchange frames so they can bookmark your site. A site on an exchange I was recently surfing lost me as customer for this reason.

3. If you have an "E-mail Me" link that does not include the actual text of your e-mail, than people with web based e-mail accounts like hotmail or gmail or yahoo can not e-mail you because they can not right-click to copy your e-mail address. An easy fix is to type out your e-mail: Put janedoe@email.com in stead of "e-mail me" so that customers can copy/paste it.

4. If your right-click blocker has a pop-up with a message like "Don't steal my images!" than you offend customers who were merely using right-click for the legitimate reasons listed above and have no intention of stealing your images.

5. Right click only protects your images from people who don't know how get them another way. Anyone can use print screen and a simple graphics program to crop them out of the image, and there are several other ways to get around this. So it's not even an effective protection for your images!

So, my advice? Put a copyright statement on your page, and leave the right-click blocker off. But if you feel like you have to have one, than at least spell out your e-mail so customers can contact you, have a "bookmark this site" link on your page if you use traffic exchanges to advertise, and make sure your pop-up messages are polite.


Gale Langley is part time work at home mom who creates art for t-shirts, greeting cards, and other gift items. You can find out more about her and her artwork on her blog at http://scribbleprints.blogspot.com


Olivia Vidal
© 2009
http://sochicbagboutique.com

Make Positive Change A Positive Part of Your Life

You must avoid breaking when things don't go your way.
You'll always be secure to the degree that you accept change.

True security comes from being able to bend your insecurities.

Recognize and accept that change will inevitably take place. You'll become secure, not by standing still, but by growing, moving, and staying energized.
Be secure in the knowledge that you can deal with anything that happens to you.

Have the courage to bet on your ideas.
Take some calculated risks and act on your dreams.

There is no permanent security on this earth, there is only opportunity.

© 2009 Your Daily Motivation


Olivia Vidal
© 2009
http://sochicbagboutique.com

Floor Game

Give each guest three pieces of paper and ask them to put their name on each piece. Collect all papers and put them in a bag or bowl. On the floor, place three or four small prizes. These can be wrapped, placed in gift bags, or wide open. Use products from your business inventory to get guests excited about winning a product. Start calling names from the bowl. When each name is called the guests have to pick something from the floor. When the items are gone off the floor, they have to take from each other when their name is called. When all the names have been called three times, the guests left holding a prize wins.

Olivia Vidal
© 2009
http://sochicbagboutique.com

WAHM Tip of the Week

Have extra inventory? Know other WAHMs who are in the same boat? Hold a shared party. You each have a great guest list that will be combined for a great turnout. Share in the refreshments. Have cash and carry inventory ready for the party and take orders. With the holidays fast approaching this is a great way to assist customers with easy, fun, shopping.

Olivia Vidal
© 2009
http://sochicbagboutique.com/

Are you asking me or telling me?

A big problem with newcomers to marketing is knowing how bring traffic to websites. Part of that is the language used to entice people to visit. Are you asking me or telling me?

When you ask someone to visit your site you are just letting them know it is available. 99% of the time they won't. The other 1% will because they are curious or being courteous. Doesn't look for sales does it?

Internet marketing is tricky. Everything is written so it is hard to convey your feelings through the written word. Asking someone if they want to look at your site makes you sound unsure, unexcited, inexperienced. This is exactly what you do not want to portray.

Internet marketing and sales is addressing an issue and solving it. You need to tell those potential customers you have exactly what they are looking for. Don't ask them if what you have will work. You are the expert in this area.

Assume your potential customer wants your business card, catalog, flyer, samples. If they truly do not want what you have to offer they will decline giving you an opportunity t overcome the objection professionally and without pressure. Online you do the same. Automatically ask for an email address so you can email them a digital catalog, flyer, brochure. Along with these offer a coupon.

DO NOT and I repeat DO NOT add your potentials to your address book without their permission. There is nothing more damaging than spamming a potential customer right off the bat. You might as well check that person off your list if you engage in this behavior. There are better ways to get potential and current customers on mailing lists which we will discuss at a later time.

So next time you advertise or talk with a potential customer, don't ask them. Tell them. You will have far more accept than if you ask.

Olivia Vidal
© 2009
http://sochicbagboutique.com/

Successful Action is Cumalitive in Results

Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.
Many people take the first step and then stop.
Yet, with every additional step you take, you enhance immensely
the value of your first step.

All masters of success are chiefly distinguished
by their power of adding a second, a third,
and perhaps a forth step in a continuous line.

There is no royal road to anything.
One thing at a time, all things in succession is the rule of life.
That which grows fast, withers as rapidly.
That which grows slowly, endures.

Do not despise the bottom rings in your ascent to greatness.

© Copyright 2009 www.yourdailymotivation.com

Olivia Vidal
© 2009
http://sochicbagboutique.com

Tea Giveaway!

Tea Time with Liv is having a tea giveaway!

Come see how you can win a free tea gift pack or tea sample pack

http://teatimewithliv.blogspot.com/2009/10/tea-giveaway.html

Olivia Vidal
© 2009
http://sochicbagboutique.com

It's Your Game

In business you either follow the rules or write the rules. So it begs to ask the question - who's game is it?

This is your business. Your game. You are the boss. You are in control. There is nobody to answer to.

This is hard for some as we have been trained to take orders and do as we are told. There was always someone else to handle the problem. Now it is all on you.

You may think this does not apply to you as a consultant but you are wrong. The company you represent provides the product, materials, training, but you market and make the money. That makes it your business. You control how much or how little you earn.

Take control. Use the tools provide and go beyond. Think outside the box. Stand out and own your future.


Olivia Vidal
© 2009
http://sochicbagboutique.com

WAHM Tip of the Week

Next time you pack a shipment, use real air popped popcorn. Not only is it easy on the wallet, it is safe for the environment including animals. You don't have to store this. You pop what you need when you need it. Do not use salt or oil on your popcorn as this can damage products. Popcorn is extremely light weight so your shipments will not be weighted down with heavy packing materials. Best of all if you have a little left over, you can sit back and relax with a popcorn snack.


Olivia Vidal
© 2009
http://sochicbagboutique.com

Send it Out

Outsourcing is becoming widely popular especially in the WAHM world. Outsourcing can be email marketing, taking customer calls, invoices, web design and maintenance, maid service, grocery shopping.

Outsourcing is a general term for contracting another to take on a necessary task you are unable to complete. This can be anything so don't limit your thinking to work related only.

When considering outsourcing a task, think about is it worth doing yourself or hiring someone. A good way to look at this is figure out what your time is worth. Lets use for example you are worth $25 an hour based on your current income. If it takes you 3 hours to complete a new flyer at your rate of $75 but another only charges $30 to complete this task, this is worth the cost to outsource. You can then work on other tasks.

At the same time if you don't know how to do something such as graphic design, it is best to outsource and get a professional to do the work. Cheap is never professional. Don't pretend it is.

As a WAHM you may want to consider a personal assistant. This sounds glamorous but it is more affordable than you think. I can hire in a personal assistant for $10 an hour 10-20 hours a week. This assistant can take care of my errands such as dropping off bills, packages at the post office, picking up my prescriptions, throw in a load of laundry, answer phone calls. Maybe that assistant can take my young ones to the park and act as a part-time nanny. How much work can you accomplish with a short period of being kid free? This frees up my time to focus solely on business. The more time I have for business, the more time I have to make money.

Not ready to step into the personal assistant world? Consider a VA or Virtual Assistant. This is fast becoming another WAHM business. Other WAHMs are willing to take on those pesky admin duties you push to the side and get them down in a timely manner. Turn those time consuming tasks over to a VA and you focus on making money.

Before you say no, crunch those numbers and see where you can outsource saving time and money.


Olivia Vidal
© 2009
http://sochicbagboutique.com