This Just in From Ho - Price Increase

[ChefBeckyD]

ME TOO, ME TOO!!! I would love if they somehow could do that. I wouldn't be surprised if they do eventually. We really should email that suggestion to them. I'll have to search for what email address we should use, but they are very responsive for things like this when the demand is high. I would LOVE if they'd do that. I like the variety they've started to have with topics to email through Customer Connections, but I don't want to send 3 emails a month with various info. I'd love to put it all in one, as I do with my newsletter.

The only problem I have with that - and maybe that can be fixed also - is that I know that a large portion of the time, when invitations are sent thru my website, they get dumped into junk mail folders, or never even make it past the ISP........I'd hate to lose out on all those contacts!

 

[Paula R. Lewis]

Many are from HO leads but I'd say at least 75% are from my promoting my site. I have my web address on everythin g- my biz cards, my catalogs, my car...every flyer, every invitation. I also put a flyer in my host packets to promote use of my website - I'll attach it here.

Carolyn,
I absolutely LOVE your flyer!! I can see how this would be a big help to your hosts. I do have a question, though...do you change the password for each show? Do you create a password, or is it done for you?
This might be a dumb question, but do you set up ALL of your shows on the internet? Or just the ones who give you email addresses?
I've been trying to figure out ways to get more people to the website, so I appreciate all your ideas!!

Thanks so much!!
Paula

 

[Kathytnt]

Ouch - My renewal is next month but I find that it is an important tool for my business

 

[krzymomof4]

I talk my website up quite a bit, from shows to newsletters each month. I have only had 2 hosts use it and 2 web orders from the outlet (both from my SIL). I am weighing whether or not to renew.

 

[chefann]

Carolyn,
I absolutely LOVE your flyer!! I can see how this would be a big help to your hosts. I do have a question, though...do you change the password for each show? Do you create a password, or is it done for you?
This might be a dumb question, but do you set up ALL of your shows on the internet? Or just the ones who give you email addresses?
I've been trying to figure out ways to get more people to the website, so I appreciate all your ideas!!

Thanks so much!!
Paula

When you set up a show online, PWS generates the password automatically, You can't change it.

 

[chefjwr]

Carolyn (dannyzmom), What is the 2 paragraph newsletter you send out? I keep trying to put one together and it is really quite long. Yours is so short and effective. Please share.

 

[KellyTheChef]

Carolyn,
I absolutely LOVE your flyer!! I can see how this would be a big help to your hosts. I do have a question, though...do you change the password for each show? Do you create a password, or is it done for you?
This might be a dumb question, but do you set up ALL of your shows on the internet? Or just the ones who give you email addresses?
I've been trying to figure out ways to get more people to the website, so I appreciate all your ideas!!

Thanks so much!!
Paula

I'm not Carolyn, but I will answer from my standpoint!

I set up all of my shows on my website. Even if my host doesn't even own a computer! That way, I can notate on the invitations: "Not able to attend? Visit my website and you can place an order for Suzy's show!" Also, I make sure the host knows that she can direct folks there who are from out of town or who she can't get a catalog to.


I am also attaching some notes on how to get the most out of your website that I downloaded from someone here!

HTH

 

[dannyzmom]

Carolyn,
I absolutely LOVE your flyer!! I can see how this would be a big help to your hosts. I do have a question, though...do you change the password for each show? Do you create a password, or is it done for you?
This might be a dumb question, but do you set up ALL of your shows on the internet? Or just the ones who give you email addresses?
I've been trying to figure out ways to get more people to the website, so I appreciate all your ideas!!

Thanks so much!!
Paula

It's not "my" flyer - I got it from another consultant.

I set up ALL my shows on the web.

HO provides the password.

 

[dannyzmom]

I talk my website up quite a bit, from shows to newsletters each month. I have only had 2 hosts use it and 2 web orders from the outlet (both from my SIL). I am weighing whether or not to renew.

Why give them a choice?

 

[dannyzmom]

Carolyn (dannyzmom), What is the 2 paragraph newsletter you send out? I keep trying to put one together and it is really quite long. Yours is so short and effective. Please share.

What two-paragraph newsletter? I don't send out a 2-paragraph newsletter.
I do use the already-provided-for-us Customer Connection on our PWS though. I am too lazy to reinvent the wheel - LOL

 

[pamperedlinda]

.....I do use the already-provided-for-us Customer Connection on our PWS though. I am too lazy to reinvent the wheel - LOL

For those of you that use Customer Connection on our PWS - are you SURE that your customers are receiving them? I tried this as a sample two days ago and sent one to myself - I have not received it yet. I also added myself to one of my hosts e-vite list a few months ago and sent myself an invite and I never got it either (both were sent to my personal email address not my PC one) I called HO when I didn't get the invite a couple of months ago and the guy I spoke to didn't have an answer for me. I haven't called them about this one yet. I've also had hosts tell me that when they call the guests that they haven't heard from from the e-vite lists that they have a few who said they never received the e-vite. I check my spam and junk folders, so I know that mine aren't hiding in there....have y'all had these issues?

 

[Paula R. Lewis]

Thanks for everyone's input. I think I have a couple of great ideas to use from all of you!!

You're the best!!

Paula

 

[pamperedalf]

I don't soley rely on evites, I use this tool as a reminder because I learned the hard way that they didn't go out.Like Carolyn I don't give my hosts a choice on whether or not to use the site, I have about 90% of my hosts use my site.I also tell all my guests that there will be a new recipe on my site monthly and to bookmark my site and check back often. It works I get tons of compliments on the recipes that are posted.Also when you are doing fairs/booths advertise your webpage. I constantly get people coming up to me saying I don't want to have a show, I don't want to go but can I order. If I can't get an order there I make sure they have a recipe card w/ my webpage & a catalog of some sort (OLD/MINI), and direct them to my website. I received a $100 last December from a lady who picked up my catalog at a street fair I did a month into the biz(1 1/2 years before) and she went to my site later. It takes time, your website will not promote itself, and you will not see results right away. It's just like our biz, what we do today will show up on
our paycheck in 90 days.Yes I was bummed when I read the email today, but I just thought I need a couple extra orders a year and that will cover the increase.Okay off my soap box, sorry it's so long!

 

[ivykeep]

If I had one wish ... I could use my PC website as my monthly newsletter. I have been thinking about subscribing to a newsletter service but I feel having the PC website I should be able to use that as my newsletter. The PC website just doesn't give me the flexibility I want. I wish there was a "newsletter" drop down that we could use when sending out e-mails from our PC website.

Send it as a suggestion -- I sent in an email with three suggestions I'd like to see on the website today after I got the increase email (I'd like to see a direct link to the outlet on the home page -- I've lost at least three outlet sales because my customers couldn't easily find it even with specific instructions so they ordered from PC.com and I didn't get credit for it; I'd like to be able to upload files and have my hosts be able to download them - like the HO OOF that I'd added my info to, some of my hosts have problems with email attachments so it would be convenient if they could go to my website and down load from a library; and my third suggestion was for notification of a saved order -- if a customer starts entering an order, but doesn't finish, I'd like to be able to know who they are so I can follow up. My invitations business has this capability so it is technically possible and is VERY helpful.)

 

[ivykeep]

Carolyn,
I absolutely LOVE your flyer!! I can see how this would be a big help to your hosts. I do have a question, though...do you change the password for each show? Do you create a password, or is it done for you?
This might be a dumb question, but do you set up ALL of your shows on the internet? Or just the ones who give you email addresses?
I've been trying to figure out ways to get more people to the website, so I appreciate all your ideas!!

Thanks so much!!
Paula

I set ALL of my shows up through my webpage -- even if the host doesn't have email (then I use mine in the field), she may have friends or family members who can't make it and I put my web address on the invitations with a note that outside orders can be placed through the website. The website automatically assigned the host password when you set up a new show.

 

[ivykeep]

Why give them a choice?

I set everyone up, but not everyone chooses to use it. You can't force a host to go to the website or send out electronic invitations. I send them their host password as part of the host coaching (both in an email from the website AND in my host instructions that I mail and email from my personal website),

 

[ChefBeckyD]

For those of you that use Customer Connection on our PWS - are you SURE that your customers are receiving them? I tried this as a sample two days ago and sent one to myself - I have not received it yet. I also added myself to one of my hosts e-vite list a few months ago and sent myself an invite and I never got it either (both were sent to my personal email address not my PC one) I called HO when I didn't get the invite a couple of months ago and the guy I spoke to didn't have an answer for me. I haven't called them about this one yet. I've also had hosts tell me that when they call the guests that they haven't heard from from the e-vite lists that they have a few who said they never received the e-vite. I check my spam and junk folders, so I know that mine aren't hiding in there....have y'all had these issues?

Linda - that is what I was saying (but it might have been in a different thread) Sometimes the invites and letters from CC don't even make it past the ISP - and then they don't get bounced back to us - they get bounced back to PC. So we never know if someone has received an email from our website. We can check to see if it has been opened - but that doesn't tell us if it is actually sitting in their mailbox.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

Carolyn (dannyzmom), What is the 2 paragraph newsletter you send out? I keep trying to put one together and it is really quite long. Yours is so short and effective. Please share.

That was me! I send out an email that is just a couple paragraphs long - here is my one from August:

(remember - it's not pretty - just effective! I just sent it out yesterday - and already have an order for $45, and 2 bookings)

 

[krzymomof4]

How do you not give them a choice in using your site? I set up the show, tell them their password, etc. I don't know how to "make" them use it.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

How do you not give them a choice in using your site? I set up the show, tell them their password, etc. I don't know how to "make" them use it.

You can't make them use it - but if the show is set up online - then there is more chance of it being used......I put my web address on every invitation, with a little blurb about still being able to order from the show even if you can't be there. I have had hosts be so excited when they get notification of an online order - even though they didn't think anyone would choose that option.

 

[krzymomof4]

I too would like the newsletter option. Would definatley make it worth the extra $$.

 

[pamperedgirl3]

I would just like to have a choice to send the host an email that doesn't already have that "in the meantime" part to it. I like that I can tell if they've read it, but sometimes it's to remind about a guest list or something, so I have to use my regular email.

 

[PCGINA]

Well at least for those of us renewing in August - we get to enjoy a discount a bit longer (until we renew in February). I have to say it so worth the $6.50 per moth for me. I have orders placed online every month and I love the wedding registries online.

I guess an additional $2.50 per month, .62 per week, .08 per day will be worth it

 

[Christ Follower]

Many are from HO leads but I'd say at least 75% are from my promoting my site. I have my web address on everythin g- my biz cards, my catalogs, my car...every flyer, every invitation. I also put a flyer in my host packets to promote use of my website - I'll attach it here.

Did anyone ever make one of these for catalog shows? A "what can my web-site do for your catalog show?"

 

[momoftwins]

Ugh - I was kind of shocked at this email. I do understand that prices need to be increased but wow! I just renewed in April for a year and now may only do it for 6 months next April due to finances.