My downline Business Challenge this month is to put together some recruit packets in advance. Many of my group discovered for the first time this year how Sale A Bration greatly increases the attention of interested potential recruits, and were left scrambling around for information, trying to print off forms, and figure out how to do the various add-ons and discounts.Now, a perfect upline would have held this challenge BEFORE Sale a Bration… add that to my yearly, chronologically-laid out calendar for next year!
Imagine this all-too-real scenario at a coffee shop:
Interested Ida: "…And you know, I talked to Handsome Harry, and I'm really thinking about it."
Daisy Demo (squeals): "That's so awesome! I'm so excited for you! I just love being a demo."
II: "Yeah, I'm excited, too. I'm not totally positive yet, but I think I might want to do this."
DD: "I can get you some info and some forms so you can see how you can personalize the kit…" (rummages in purse for dog-eared business card.) "This is all I have with me right now… do you have a catalog already? I have one in the car I can give you, but it's a little sticky…"
II: "Oh that's ok. I can wait. I picked up a little pamphlet thingy at your show, but I think it was outdated, because it had a stamp set from two years ago in there."
DD: "Oh, that might be… I will be sure to get you a new one. I have a whole packet I hand out to people (thinking: or I will, as soon as I pull one together!). I can run it by your house this week."
II (getting ready to leave): "That would be great. I want to read up and make sure Handsome Harry's really on board. I'll be watching for the packet. Great seeing you again. "
DD (makes mental note to swipe a decent looking school folder from her oldest to put everything in): "Ok! It's a deal! I'm so glad we ran into each other! Bye! Oh, wait, I need your address! Here, write it on this napkin!" (rummages for pen and pulls out a broken crayon)
How much more professional and impressive would it be if you had a folder all ready to go, that you could just pull out of your bag or your car when someone expressed interest? That you knew in advance had all the collected information, up to date forms, and the latest brochure? And you could carry on the recruiting conversation without sounding like an idiot while your mind raced ahead in panic?
Here are some collected tips for that wonderfully awkward, exciting moment when you realize someone is truly interested in learning more:
- Presentation is important! Don't just hand them a wad of papers to look through. Get a nice folder and embellish it with a wheel stamp, or use the ones available on a supply order. Put the materials in the order you want your potential recruit to look through them.Fun things first, then the forms, and finally the IDA.
- Include something fun in with all that business material–a handstamped card, a card kit, a sheet of quick card layouts, a template, old Inspiration Sheets, etc.
- Even if you plan on signing people up online, print out the Starter Kit Order forms. This will give them a worksheet for choosing how to personalize their kit, and show them everything they will be getting. If that is filled out, the online sign-up process will be a piece of cake.
- Create a handout that specifically sends them where they need to go to sign up online and lists what they will need to have ready in order to complete the process, with your contact info and assurances to be there if they have questions.
- Use the most current, up to date recruiting brochure from Stampin' Up. These were recently redesigned to be less specific as to kit contents, so they can be used from year to year. However, when there are significant tweaks to the Career Plan, you will need new brochures. Make sure your contact info is on the back.
- I have a form letter that tells my personal story and shares a few of the highlights of demonstratorship. At the end I let them know the various ways I can be contacted for more info, and assure them I will be available every step of the way.
- Write a personal message on a large sticky note and put it on your form letter or inside the folder. Let them know you're excited for them to be thinking about starting the journey. Mention a characteristic or asset they already possess that will help them be a great demonstrator.
- Put a Stampin' Up sticky note on the front of each packet. Then, when you hand them out, ask the recipient to write their address and contact info on the note and give it back to you. This will prevent the ball from being left entirely in their court, should they fail to get back with you.
- Keep a recruit packet in your car, protecting it from mishaps with a Craft Keeper (I also keep a catalog and mini in there as well.) Put a note on your planner to check it once per quarter to keep it up to date, or replace a damaged envelope.
- Keep another recruit packet in your workshop tote. Don't leave home without it! I take mine out during the show, tell everyone what it is, and leave it right on the display table so that anyone who is interested can take it home with them.
- Consider making up a smaller, simpler recruiting info packet for events where you will be handing a lot of them out, such as a craft show or vendor fair. These don't need all the heavy-duty info reserved for very serious potential recruits, as they are likely only getting picked up by casual shoppers. Make them cute and fun, with just enough info to spark more interest–and of course, your full slate of contact information.
- Don't forget to replenish your stock of recruit packets when you get low. You've done well, purposefully planning ahead for your success. Don't let disorganization end badly what started so well!
A little organization and effort before the need arises will pay off in many ways later on, not the least of which is your own feeling of accomplishment when you successfully and professionally snag that new recruit. Feel free to share tips about recruit packets in a comment below.
Dream BIG!
My downline Business Challenge this month is to put together some recruit packets in advance. Many of my group discovered for the first time this year how Sale A Bration greatly increases the attention of interested potential recruits, and were left scrambling around for information, trying to print off forms, and figure out how to do the various add-ons and discounts.Now, a perfect upline would have held this challenge BEFORE Sale a Bration… add that to my yearly, chronologically-laid out calendar for next year!
Imagine this all-too-real scenario at a coffee shop:
Interested Ida: "…And you know, I talked to Handsome Harry, and I'm really thinking about it."
Daisy Demo (squeals): "That's so awesome! I'm so excited for you! I just love being a demo."
II: "Yeah, I'm excited, too. I'm not totally positive yet, but I think I might want to do this."
DD: "I can get you some info and some forms so you can see how you can personalize the kit…" (rummages in purse for dog-eared business card.) "This is all I have with me right now… do you have a catalog already? I have one in the car I can give you, but it's a little sticky…"
II: "Oh that's ok. I can wait. I picked up a little pamphlet thingy at your show, but I think it was outdated, because it had a stamp set from two years ago in there."
DD: "Oh, that might be… I will be sure to get you a new one. I have a whole packet I hand out to people (thinking: or I will, as soon as I pull one together!). I can run it by your house this week."
II (getting ready to leave): "That would be great. I want to read up and make sure Handsome Harry's really on board. I'll be watching for the packet. Great seeing you again. "
DD (makes mental note to swipe a decent looking school folder from her oldest to put everything in): "Ok! It's a deal! I'm so glad we ran into each other! Bye! Oh, wait, I need your address! Here, write it on this napkin!" (rummages for pen and pulls out a broken crayon)
How much more professional and impressive would it be if you had a folder all ready to go, that you could just pull out of your bag or your car when someone expressed interest? That you knew in advance had all the collected information, up to date forms, and the latest brochure? And you could carry on the recruiting conversation without sounding like an idiot while your mind raced ahead in panic?
Here are some collected tips for that wonderfully awkward, exciting moment when you realize someone is truly interested in learning more:
- Presentation is important! Don't just hand them a wad of papers to look through. Get a nice folder and embellish it with a wheel stamp, or use the ones available on a supply order. Put the materials in the order you want your potential recruit to look through them.Fun things first, then the forms, and finally the IDA.
- Include something fun in with all that business material–a handstamped card, a card kit, a sheet of quick card layouts, a template, old Inspiration Sheets, etc.
- Even if you plan on signing people up online, print out the Starter Kit Order forms. This will give them a worksheet for choosing how to personalize their kit, and show them everything they will be getting. If that is filled out, the online sign-up process will be a piece of cake.
- Create a handout that specifically sends them where they need to go to sign up online and lists what they will need to have ready in order to complete the process, with your contact info and assurances to be there if they have questions.
- Use the most current, up to date recruiting brochure from Stampin' Up. These were recently redesigned to be less specific as to kit contents, so they can be used from year to year. However, when there are significant tweaks to the Career Plan, you will need new brochures. Make sure your contact info is on the back.
- I have a form letter that tells my personal story and shares a few of the highlights of demonstratorship. At the end I let them know the various ways I can be contacted for more info, and assure them I will be available every step of the way.
- Write a personal message on a large sticky note and put it on your form letter or inside the folder. Let them know you're excited for them to be thinking about starting the journey. Mention a characteristic or asset they already possess that will help them be a great demonstrator.
- Put a Stampin' Up sticky note on the front of each packet. Then, when you hand them out, ask the recipient to write their address and contact info on the note and give it back to you. This will prevent the ball from being left entirely in their court, should they fail to get back with you.
- Keep a recruit packet in your car, protecting it from mishaps with a Craft Keeper (I also keep a catalog and mini in there as well.) Put a note on your planner to check it once per quarter to keep it up to date, or replace a damaged envelope.
- Keep another recruit packet in your workshop tote. Don't leave home without it! I take mine out during the show, tell everyone what it is, and leave it right on the display table so that anyone who is interested can take it home with them.
- Consider making up a smaller, simpler recruiting info packet for events where you will be handing a lot of them out, such as a craft show or vendor fair. These don't need all the heavy-duty info reserved for very serious potential recruits, as they are likely only getting picked up by casual shoppers. Make them cute and fun, with just enough info to spark more interest–and of course, your full slate of contact information.
- Don't forget to replenish your stock of recruit packets when you get low. You've done well, purposefully planning ahead for your success. Don't let disorganization end badly what started so well!
A little organization and effort before the need arises will pay off in many ways later on, not the least of which is your own feeling of accomplishment when you successfully and professionally snag that new recruit. Feel free to share tips about recruit packets in a comment below.
Dream BIG!
