1st Steps after Joining Paparazzi Accessories
This guide has been put together to help you with steps to work smarter, not harder including tips, tricks, and training to get you on your way to a successful start to your new business!
While you are waiting for your kit to arrive, here are a few things you can start setting up now to get your business off the ground:
Contact Information - You'll want to create a dedicated email address for your new business because you will begin to build your contact list of new and potential customers and party hostesses. There are many free email services available and many people use yahoo or gmail.
Product Displays & Supplies - You will need to start thinking of how you want to display your jewelry at home shows and events. There are SO MANY options available so choose what works best for you. Just make sure it is easy to set up, organized and clean. You can choose to use pegboard displays, traveling cases, baskets, necklace busts, etc. Plastic tubs are great ways to carry your Jewelry and Hair Accessories… Make sure it is pretty, organized and CLEAN! You should also invest in a 6' folding table and have a nice table cover. Some events don't supply a table so it's good to have your own. Click here to see samples of displays and ideas.
With your first week as a CONSULTANT we are going to focus on building the Foundation for a very stable, successful business. We will learn the basic practices and tools that will be used in every aspect of your business.
Marketing Materials & Advertising - You will want to invest in marketing materials to get your name out there to potential customers. You can make these items yourself or have them made professionally. I recommend www.vistaprint.com. They offer great prices and do an excellent job.
While you are waiting for your kit to arrive, here are a few things you can start setting up now to get your business off the ground:
Contact Information - You'll want to create a dedicated email address for your new business because you will begin to build your contact list of new and potential customers and party hostesses. There are many free email services available and many people use yahoo or gmail.
Product Displays & Supplies - You will need to start thinking of how you want to display your jewelry at home shows and events. There are SO MANY options available so choose what works best for you. Just make sure it is easy to set up, organized and clean. You can choose to use pegboard displays, traveling cases, baskets, necklace busts, etc. Plastic tubs are great ways to carry your Jewelry and Hair Accessories… Make sure it is pretty, organized and CLEAN! You should also invest in a 6' folding table and have a nice table cover. Some events don't supply a table so it's good to have your own. Click here to see samples of displays and ideas.
With your first week as a CONSULTANT we are going to focus on building the Foundation for a very stable, successful business. We will learn the basic practices and tools that will be used in every aspect of your business.
Marketing Materials & Advertising - You will want to invest in marketing materials to get your name out there to potential customers. You can make these items yourself or have them made professionally. I recommend www.vistaprint.com. They offer great prices and do an excellent job.
- Order Business Cards - These are a must! I would recommend getting these professionally made, however, you can make your own. VistaPrint does an amazing job and you can get as little as 100 to get started for usually around $10. Be sure to include your name, phone number, email address, facebook page and your website address. Self-made business cards, no matter how great your printer is, cannot compare to professionally made business cards. With companies like VistaPrint there is no reason not to order business cards and they will usually have a promotion going on where you can get them at a very inexpensive price or even free. They will look much better than homemade cards and you will be respected as a business owner, not just someone who works at home. *You do not want to put your home address on your business cards. You would hate for someone to mistake you as a retail store and knock on your door! Instead, put a short line about our business opportunity or hosting a party!
- Create a Facebook Page - You definitely want to create your own Facebook Business page. Many people look to Facebook to find people and if you don't have a page...they can't find YOU! This will help you reach people that you otherwise would never have met. People will share your page with their friends and it’s valuable when your hosts have a party to show their potential guests what cute things they can get for only $5! You will also find ladies that are interested in joining your team and being part of this amazing company. After you get 25 people to like your page you can name your url. Do it right away and put it on your business cards. Be sure to post things to your page every day or two so your fans stay interested in your business.
- Create a Facebook VIP Group - It’s easy! Post Daily and invite your Friends to join. Make sure you invite them and don't just add them to add. Give VALUE and Have giveaways! To learn how & why to create a Business Page, Click Here.
- Join Facebook Groups - You will want to join some of the really great Facebook Groups that are for Consultants only. The information you gain from these groups is INVALUABLE! You'll find so many ideas and information there because everyone is so welcoming and willing to share and answer questions you may have...about anything. When you join my team, I will automatically include you in some of these groups.
- Set Up Your Website - When you join Paparazzi you automatically get a website for your customers to shop from. This is called your "Replicated Website". This is the site you will send your customers to to shop. Be sure to always include your Consultant ID number with the website address otherwise your customers will not be directed to YOUR site but to the general Paparazzi website. Your link should look like this: www.paparazziaccessories.com/28606. This will direct people to MY site, meaning that if they buy something, I will earn a 45% commission on their purchase. You will use the same link but replace my ID # with yours. You will also use this website to place your jewelry orders, check on your commission earnings, see information on your personally sponsored team members and more. When you get to the website, you will click on the Consultant Login button. You are now in your "Back Office". You will see all kinds of information about your orders, payments, commissions, etc. Many new Consultants are confused about where this mysterious "Back Office" is...well you found it! :) Once you log in, make sure to update your profile with a photo of you and write a little blurb about yourself in your "My Story" section. It's important that your potential customers & hostesses get to know who you are.
- Create Signs & Lead Forms - Before you have a party or event, make sure to have signage! One of the best selling points of Paparazzi is that everything is only $5.00. Make sure to let your customers know that with signs! You'll find several choices here that you can save and print, or get creative and make your own. You will also need to have Lead Slips. These little forms are very important and should always be available for your customers to complete at your party or event. This is how you will gain leads to new customers and hostesses.
- Order Car Signs or Magnets – Making your car a moving billboard can produce massive results – and is great for tax time! You can also find car magnets at Vistaprint.com or www.facebook.com/decaldazzlebycarol does window decals for a great price of around $10-$15. White lettering usually shows up best. Be sure to have some sort of contact info on it whether it’s your email, website, or phone number if comfortable.
- Get out into your TOWN!! – The more people you talk to – the more business you will have! Getting out and talking to people is both fun and rewarding. Check your local newspaper for local events or clubs. Take your children to the park and talk to other moms. Add people as friends on facebook!
- Hand Out Business Cards – Set the goal to hand out 5 business cards each day. When you are out think of all the people you come into contact with: Waitresses, bank tellers, gas station attendants, retail clerks – anybody! Best way to start a Conversation? Give out a Compliment! Genuine Compliment!
- WEAR PAPARAZZI – wear your items everywhere you go – it’s free advertising and is a great conversation starter!
- Attitude and Appearance – It is so true what is said about first impressions! When you look like a business owner, you will feel like a business owner. Body language and tone of voice are also very important. Remember these people are inviting you into their living rooms and giving their money to you. Class, honesty, integrity, and being personable are essential elements to building your business.
- Make Your FRANKS list – This is a list of people you already know. Whether you know them by name or not, sit and brainstorm all of the people you know. It is estimated that each person knows 250 people – you just need to remember them all. The FRANKS list – Friends, Relatives, Acquaintances, Neighbors, Kids, and Spouse) will help you remember everyone.
- IMPORTANT* Do your facebook live parties from your wall, but once you have built a following make sure you transition to your business page. Check out ours: Click Here.
Set Up Forms of Payment - Once you get your new Starter Kit, you'll need to have a way to collect payment when you start selling your jewelry. Obviously cash will exchange hands at parties & events, but what about those online sales or people who want to pay by credit card? Those are potential sales you don't want to lose because you don't accept credit cards as a form of payment! You can sign up to take credit cards for free using Square or Paypal. I personally use Paypal for online sales and I use Square for my events. They are both very easy to use and are very comparable in their fee structure. They are free to sign up but you will be charged a nominal fee per transaction. It is well worth the cost of fees to accept this form of payment. Go to www.squareup.com or www.paypal.com to sign up and they will ship you a free card reader and once you get that, you are ready to go! Be sure to use me as a referral so we can both earn discounts when you sign up!
Develop Your Work Schedule – You will want to design your “office hours” early. One of the greatest things about our industry is truly the ability to make your own hours. Remember that you get out what you put in – so design your schedule around your life and family, but also your goals. It will make it easier for you to have a schedule, and your clients will know early on what to expect from you. Be sure to include your family in this process! They are the most important! Each month you will want to first write out birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, ball games, graduations, etc. in your calendar.
Read the Paparazzi P&P's – You want to make sure you understand all of the Do's & Don't of being a Paparazzi Consultant, so while you are waiting for your kit to arrive, make sure you read the Paparazzi P&P's. This is a very important step that you do not want to skip. It would be very unfortunate for you to get started on this amazing journey and then lose it all because of a violation that could have been prevented if you took the time to learn the rules. Please be sure to read them and ask questions if you do not understand something. Paparazzi can be very strict on some of these!
Need more ideas? Here is a Check List: Click Here
Develop Your Work Schedule – You will want to design your “office hours” early. One of the greatest things about our industry is truly the ability to make your own hours. Remember that you get out what you put in – so design your schedule around your life and family, but also your goals. It will make it easier for you to have a schedule, and your clients will know early on what to expect from you. Be sure to include your family in this process! They are the most important! Each month you will want to first write out birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, ball games, graduations, etc. in your calendar.
Read the Paparazzi P&P's – You want to make sure you understand all of the Do's & Don't of being a Paparazzi Consultant, so while you are waiting for your kit to arrive, make sure you read the Paparazzi P&P's. This is a very important step that you do not want to skip. It would be very unfortunate for you to get started on this amazing journey and then lose it all because of a violation that could have been prevented if you took the time to learn the rules. Please be sure to read them and ask questions if you do not understand something. Paparazzi can be very strict on some of these!
Need more ideas? Here is a Check List: Click Here