Step 4. Hosting Sparkle Parties

What if you could add an additional stream of income to your business every month, find new and different kinds of leads AND work from your phone or laptop?

Sounds good, right? Well, in comes online sparkle parties!

A Facebook party is a virtual experience where you demonstrate and present the product on social media, instead of in the home.

As you build out the other areas of your social media network and start connecting with people, you need to move them into a buying opportunity. For some, this may be a personal shopping experience, ordering online, doing a one-on-one showcase, a home party, etc. And for others, the right online opportunity for them may be the Facebook Party.

There are many reasons why a customer may choose to host a Facebook Party.

Facebook Parties are great for:

People who live outside your local area

People who aren’t interested in the home party experience

People who don’t have the space to host

Local hosts whose friends live outside their local area

Repeat hosts

Your VIP Group members

Winter months

When you have a busy family or work schedule

As an add-on to a home party

Here is a checklist to help you get off to a fantastic start!

The Day You Book Your Facebook Party

The day you book your Facebook Party is an important one! It’s important to get things going right away for your host while she is excited. Most hosts think a Facebook Party is going to be easier than a home party, but that is not always the truth. It’s important you begin coaching her right away, so she feels secure in moving forward. When you begin coaching your host after you book your party, your host thinks, “Wow, okay. This is serious. We’re really doing this!” The sooner you also set up her Facebook event, the more committed she will be.

Things to go over with your host when you book:

Let her know how the Facebook Party will work and what to expect.

Set up Facebook Event for your host and her event. (If you prefer to use Groups, set it up as a Group. If you choose to use a Group, be sure your host knows not to just add people; she must still invite them personally).

Provide your host a script example of what to message her friends. Be sure that she includes the URL to join the event/group in her message to her friends. Don’t rely on Facebook to notify them.

Remind your host not to copy and paste the message and send it in a group message or too quickly to her friends and family. You don’t want your host annoying her friends OR ending up in Facebook Jail!

Example script for host to invite friends:

"Hey Amanda! I wanted to let you know that I will be hosting an online sparkle party with Kole Jax. They offer amazingly affordable customizable jewelry designs! The party will start ____. (date) I invited you to the event but just in case you didn’t see it, the link to RSVP is here: [insert event and or group link]

We’re going to be talking all about meaningful pieces. Plus, there’ll be some great options for holiday gifts.

Can you be there?"

Leading Up to Your Facebook Party

When you book a Facebook Party, the work is not done! It’s important that you help keep the host and her friends excited leading up to the party. Statistics show that excitement begins to fade after two days, so it’s important you engage her guests, so they remain excited for your event.

Be sure to post leading up to the start of the party so they can get a taste of what they are going to experience at your virtual party. You also want to be sure to ask them questions to learn more about what they are looking for.

Post a welcome post introducing yourself and the company. Make sure people know why this is a party they cannot miss! Be sure to remind them about the uniqueness of these designs.

Ask the guests to answer a question that tells you more about what they’re looking for. This will not only get them to engage with you, you will be able to make suggestions specific for them during the party. For example - they have grandchild that calls them Mimi. You can show them all the customizable pieces that could include this for her.

Post a link to the online catalog so they can look through the products. Ask them to post what is on their wish list. This way, if you have some of those items on hand you can demonstrate them in your video.

Post any sales currently running.

Host Coaching

Host coaching is the most important part of your Facebook Party. Remember, just like your home parties, your hosts involvement is vital to your success. She is your business partner for the week!

Even though hosts think a Facebook Party is going to be easier and less stressful, that is not always the truth. Often times, your hosts can feel left in the dark and unsure of how the party will go if you aren’t providing them with proper coaching.

Most virtual hosts also tend to have less commitment towards their party’s success. Many times, they feel like they don’t have to work as hard to get RSVPs or get their friends engaged. So, host coaching is extremely important. Be sure to follow your regular host coaching training as well as additional tips below.

Make sure your host knows to message her friends personally and not group message.

Be sure that your hosts send the URL to the event/group so it is easier for her friends to join.

Have your host send reminder texts during the party and toward the end of your party.

Have your host comment on all posts and throughout your Facebook Live. The more your host engages, the more likely her friends will, too. Let her know that this is most important!

Facebook Live

The best way to run contribute to the virtual party is to utilize Facebook Live. This way, you are able to mimic your home party as closely as possible. Plus, studies show that people are much more responsive to video over texts/graphics. You will also be able to keep their attention longer.

You will want your Facebook Live to be approximately 20-30 minutes. Remember, you don’t have their full attention, so it’s important to keep this short and to the point.

Use the checklist below for helpful tips:

Use Facebook Live for your party

~Start speaking right away once you go live, you don’t want dead air! Remember, the majority of your live viewers will miss the first minute or two of your Live, so be sure to talk to replay viewers.

~Use a ring light if possible, to help make the video look better. You can set up your phone on the attachment.

~Be sure to test your video before you go live.

~Have your laptop beside you just in case.

~Have your jewelry ready and easy to grab. You don’t want to be searching through your stuff looking for what you want to present.

~Put together some looks based on their needs. You will have found this out during the pre-party posts.

~Be yourself and have fun!

Facebook Live Opening Script

Hello everyone! Welcome! My name is __________________ and I’m an Independent Stylist with Kole Jax. I’m really excited to be here with you guys tonight to talk about this meaningful jewelry.

If you’re here with me right now, I can safely assume you’re one of the replay viewers. Welcome! I’m sorry that we missed you. However, be sure to comment below so I know you were here! Plus, engage throughout the video because I always go back and respond to comments. That way, I know how to assist you better.

(Now, people should be getting on).

Now that we have some people getting on, I’m going to go ahead and get started. Welcome (host name) and guests. I’m so glad you’re here tonight! I know we’ve been chatting already in this event, so I’m excited to get your questions answered.

Again, for those of you who don’t know me, my name is ____________________ and I’m an Independent Stylist with Kole Jax. And this evening I am going to be talking about our designs.

(We repeat the paragraph because your live viewers will have missed your beginning introduction.)

So, with that, let me welcome you to the wonderful world of Kole Jax!

Share your example designs, "QVC style" with the viewers and replay watchers. Share about the sparkle box and explain how we also have a monthly subscription available!

ProTip:

You can use this script for all of your Facebook Lives, with slight modifications!

Closing

Closing a Facebook party is the part most Consultants struggle with. Because you don’t have the “kitchen table experience”, it can be more difficult to collect orders that evening. Follow the tips below to assist you in closing your Facebook Party.

Let them know the last day to order from you during your Facebook Live.

You can offer special incentives for closing your order out with you that night.

Offer valet check-outs over the phone (this is where you take their order over the

phone. A great way to give an extra special touch and shopping experience to your viewers)

Provide hostesses link to shop.

Offer one-on-one video chat consultations for those who need extra help. Be sure to get these scheduled that night.

Follow-up with everyone who attended Live.

Follow-up with everyone who was unable to attend the Facebook Party and let them know they can still watch the video.

Follow-Up Script Examples

For those who attended live:

Hey Melissa! Just wanted to reach out and thank you for attending last night! I hope you had a great time. You were all such a fun bunch! I just wanted to check in and see if you needed any assistance with your order. You can place your order online or I can assist you – I know finding what you need online can be tough! When is a good time for you to chat?

For those who couldn’t attend live:

Hey Anna! My name is ____ and I am the Stylist for [host name’s] Facebook Party. I just wanted to reach out to you as I know you couldn’t attend live. Which is no problem! The awesome thing about Facebook Parties is that even if you can’t attend the night of, you can still go back and watch the video! I want to make sure I offer you the help you need, so why don’t I follow up with you in a day or two after you’ve watched the video?

Here is the link to watch it:

I’ll check back in a few days to answer any questions you have and help you with your order.

Remember, follow-up after a Facebook Party is extremely important because not only will it help you close an order, it will give you the one-on-one opportunity to talk to her about becoming a host or learning more about the business.