3 Simple Things You Can Do To Increase Guest Attendance

Hostess coaching for increased attendance is one of the secrets to holding successful parties, but ‘Bring a friend!’ might not be as effective as it used to be. Truth is, we all tune out when we hear the same thing over and over and over again. It’s kind of like listening to Charlie Brown’s teacher….

Wah Wah Wah Wah Wah

Time for a change. I started to implement new strategies to increase guest attendance and made 3 simple changes that had huge results. They worked so well that guests started to apologize to me when they weren’t bringing a friend. Kind of crazy, right?

Before I share the simple changes I made to my Hostess coaching, let’s talk numbers so you have a reference point to start with.

Do you know how many guests (on average) attended your parties last year?

That number is called a key performance indicator, defined as, “a measurable value that demonstrates how effectively a company (you) is achieving key business objectives.”

Knowing how many guests (on average) attended your parties last year lets you know how effective your hostess coaching is, so you can make changes to improve and get better results. If your direct sales company does not provide that number for you in your back office, simply divide the total number of parties you held last year by the total number of party orders. That might not be totally accurate because some party orders come from outside of the party (example: passing around the catalog at work) but it’s a starting point.

I made a printable for you, too. And it’s really cute.

Get a free Key Indicator Worksheet here to start tracking your numbers monthly and yearly.

For example, let’s say you averaged 6 guests at each party last year. That number tells you there’s room for improvement. I recommend you set a goal for 8 guests at every party this year. That’s only 2 more guests…totally doable, right?

But here’s the exciting part.

While ‘2 more’ doesn’t sound like a big deal, it is. Take a look at how adding 2 more guests per party can impact your results at the end of the year.

2 more guests per party with an average order of $50 = $100 more sales per party*

If you hold 5 parties per month = $500 per month in extra sales!*

That’s 10 more guests per month. And guess what? I found that when a guest brought a friend, it was the friend who was most likely to book a party. That helped me book 2-3 more parties each month!

And 10 new guests = 10 more people you can help start a biz, which can lead to 1 new sponsor each month.

At the end of the year all these numbers can really add up:
$6,500 more in sales*
30 more parties
12 new sponsors

*Use your average party order to adjust these numbers for your business.

Go beyond ‘bring a friend’ and use these 3 simple tips to increase guest attendance at your direct sales parties right now:

Coach your Hostess to encourage guests to bring someone she doesn’t know: If you follow my training, you know I’m all about coaching your Hostess to send personal invites – because it works. But there’s something you need to tell her to increase attendance so you can meet more people beyond her circle of friends and family. Instead of saying, “Tell guests to bring a friend,” say, “Tell guests to bring/invite someone you don’t know.” That simple verbiage change lets the guests know it’s OK to invite new peeps to the party, even people who don’t know the Hostess.

Here’s the exact verbiage I give my Hostess for her personal invites:

“Hey (name), What are you doing next Wednesday? I’ve fallen in love with (your product) and I know you will, too! Come on over and wine-down with us!”

For an online party change the last sentence to; “Come to my Facebook party and wine-down online with us!”

Once your Hostess gets a yes RSVP, coach her to follow up with:

“Yay! So glad you can come! My consultant is doing a prize drawing if you bring someone I don’t know. Can you think of anyone who needs a night out?”

For a Facebook party change bring to invite and change the last sentence to: Can you think of anyone who loves (your product or the problem you solve)?

Coach your Hostess to invite both local and long-distance connections: Whether you’re partying online or in person, don’t assume your Hostess is thinking outside the box about who she can invite to the party. This is not your Mama’s party, and thanks to Facebook Live, you can broadcast the party to anyone, anywhere in the world. Go live in the event during an in-person party (“LIVE from Alyssa’s house!”) for a quickie product reveal and Q & A so long-distance friends and family can participate – and buy, book a party or maybe even start a business. Then do the opposite for your online party! Encourage your Hostess to think beyond her Facebook friends and invite local friends/neighbors over to her home to watch your live broadcast. With the new smart TV technology, she can even broadcast the online party on her TV. That’s right. You just created your own home shopping network. And by the way, I was doing this way before Facebook Live came around. When bad weather prevented me from driving on icy or snowy roads I saved many a party by using “Google Hangouts” to broadcast myself on the Hosts TV (she plugged her computer into the TV) –  with neighbors and local friends tuning in from her living room. We called it Lynn TV.

Challenge the guests to bring a friend for a bonus prize drawing. But don’t say, “Bring a friend.” Instead, say, “Bring/invite someone who loves (your product/problem you solve)!” For example, if you sell products that help people stay organized say:

“Bring/Invite a busy Mom who would love some organizing help!”

The more specific, the better. That will help your guests think of someone who will be more likely to buy and book a party vs. bringing a friend who just shows up for the food and wine at a home party or the prize drawings on a Facebook party. Been there.

Watch this video replay of my Social Girl LIVE show to learn more tips to increase guest attendance at your direct sales parties:

Which of this ideas are you going to use to build attendance at your parties? Let me know in the comments below!

Ready to really rock your direct sales biz?