Top Tips for Booking Success: Unlocking the Number One Strategy"

[melaniepc]

is the number one thing you have done ( that worked) to get bookings?

 

[wadesgirl]

Just ask! A lot of people are not going to come out and tell you they want to book, that's why you have to ask them. Talk about the show benefits during the show including the current and next month's host special. When they check out, ask them if they want to get their friends together sometime soon. There is no "magic" to it, it's just asking.

 

[Kattyschack]

I found that the more I talked about it and asked, the more shows I got. It's true that people are waiting for you to ask. and just b/c they aren't ready now, doesn't mean they won't ever be. ALWAYS follow up with people whether they said yes or no.

 

[chefmeg]

PICK UP THE PHONE and call those leads and ask, ask, ask! I HATE to have to "cold call
people so I use the Customer Care Script on CC...it works!

 

[cathyskitchen]

Ask at the show, and don't let the drawing slips make you decide who you will ask or not ask. Tell the guests you haven't had a chance to look at the drawing slips yet, and were they one of the people who said they wanted to have a show? You can say that you just want to know so you can make sure the host can get the past host special at their show if they decide to have a show in the next 6 months. That usually gets them thinking, "oh, I could probably have one in the next 6 months" and then when they say they may have one in the next season, ask them "which month is better for you, August or September?" and go from there. I find by pinning them down right at the show, and getting a date, even penciled in, on the calendar and handing them a host packet, really helps to keep them as a solid booking and from cancelling later. GL!

 

[DebbieJ]

Asked everyone.

 

[jenboswood]

I just challenged myself to a 24 in 24 challenge. I emailed everyone and made 55 phone calls on Thursday. I didn't meet the 24 but I scheduled 15 catalog and home shows. Not bad in a days work!!!

 

[raebates]

Don't assume "No" means "Never." When someone tells me no, I say, "That's just fine. Just so I'm clear, do you mean, 'Not now,' or do you mean, 'Don't ever ask me that question again'?" It usually gets a laugh, and it's amazing how often people say, "Oh, I wouldn't mind doing one, but this month is horrible." About half the time the no becomes a booking for two or three months down the road.

 

[KellyTheChef]

THEME SHOWS...and ask everyone!

 

[melaniepc]

very nice tips. I definately have to get brave and start calling people. I don't know many people though and so far I have had four shows with just family and friends.

 

[heather223]

Ask everyone. Even people you think will never have a show.

 

[finley1991]

Are you looking for ideas or specific words?Ideas: Theme Shows are great... focus on the FUN! The #1 reason people host is FUN. But most consultants focus on the free... that should be a secondary bonus.As far as what to say, I was in a bookings slump a few years ago and here is what I did. I sorted through PP all of the people who lived in my town and the two just outside of mine (it was winter and being in MI, I didn't want to travel far for shows due to the weather). Then I started calling... making 5 calls a day. (Some I got a hold of and some I left messages for) and I said, "Hi Mary, it's Colleen calling from The Pampered Chef. I'm calling to see if you'd be interested in hosting a show. I'm doing (insert theme show here) shows right now that are a ton of fun and wanted to see if it was something you might be interested in?" I jumped right into it as soon as they answered... no small talk. It wasn't easy to do but I got great results. I got 3 shows after one week of calling (25 calls) and the bookings I got from those shows kicked off my spring show schedule. Also, two of the bookings were people I left messages for who called me back. Lots of people didn't call me back.So like everyone said above, just asking is what works.

 

[BethCooks4U]

Ask everyone at your shows and get a date on your calendar. Don't even look at the DPDS - you don't want to prejudge anyone. I ask and often they say "maybe some time but not now". Ask what that means - one told me yesterday that it meant not summer. Tell them the host gets credit for a show held within 6 months and that you just need their most probable date. Then book the date and tell them that if they get home and see that the date won't work to please call you immediately so you can open the date for someone else. The majority of those dates stick.

CALL. Call all those leads you have. Build a relationship and ASK. Offer info about the business, hosting, ordering, customer service. Go with the flow but if you don't ask you won't know. Some people need you to ask or they don't think you want to do a show for them.