13:02:31 [kaygreen] please introduce yourselves

13:02:59 [Dee] well, Kay - I haven't had an actual product that we could do sample with, etc - so THAT part of marketing is new to me

13:03:04 [Melanie] Melanie Moore ~ Area Director, Petra Fashions

13:03:14 [Dee] we are doing really well - especially with the bashes and auctions over at PN

13:03:45 [Dee] party network (where the bashes are)

13:03:52 [kaygreen] Well I am Kay Green. I am the founder of My Precious Kid - with 100 reps http://www.mypreciouskid.com and http://www.preciouskids.org and http://www.123homebusinessguide.com and http://www.kaygreen.com 

13:04:04 [kaygreen] I am teaching this class today on marketing

13:04:17 [kaygreen] give me your biggest concern or frustration with marketing

13:04:20 [Marg] I'm Marg.....my own biz is slowlyyyy...coming but I am starting with a new Network marketing company coming to Canada next month!

13:05:04 [kaygreen] I see marketing these days in two realms offline and online

13:05:09 [Dee] I'm Dee - I own Dax Development, which includes FaithMinders (my joy!)

13:05:26 [Melanie] My biggest concern is getting people to understand it IS a real job for them

13:05:41 [kaygreen] creating something can bring us joy huh?

13:05:56 [kaygreen] Elaine are you talking about the down line

13:06:06 [kaygreen] sorry for the typos UGH

13:06:11 [Mod-Nancy] Nancy Johnson Founder Director the SmallBusinessReferralnetwork.com Owner ByOurShoeStrings.com Marketing and Business Development LLC

13:06:21 [Melanie] not exactly, talking about hiring more "professional" type of women

13:06:29 [kaygreen] I see many who want to come online and market only online and expect the orders to start rolling in

13:06:52 [kaygreen] recruiting Melanie?

13:07:03 [Melanie] marketing my business to them AS A BUSINESS

13:07:22 [kaygreen] you can run a business purely online but it takes much more time and money to get it going then if you market offline and online

13:07:34 [kaygreen] got it Melanie

13:07:48 [Melanie] not just something to do on the side....

13:07:59 [kaygreen] for product businesses I find we do better with groups of people who can see and feel our products

13:08:27 [kaygreen] Melanie that is a tough one - as I have recruited over 400 people - you never know who will take it and run and who will do nothing

13:08:31 [Mod-Nancy] Doesn't exactly happen like that does it Kay

13:09:13 [kaygreen] motivating recruits is a constant trial - they must want to do it passionately to make it work for them

13:09:33 [kaygreen] my business is almost purely online now - 3 years later but was not in the beginning

13:10:01 [kaygreen] what I teach my reps is this

13:10:11 [Mod-Nancy] business online or off is really dependent on connecting with your customer and partners just like offline

13:10:39 [kaygreen] yes you will also have to probably do more mailing of samples and catalogs to help them SEE your product

13:11:31 [kaygreen] I have always had my best success at home parties/classes - where multiple people come together to see and buy your products. From there I book more classes and sell more products - their is a group buying motivation that happens

13:11:49 [kaygreen] I do online parties too but never sell as well at them as I did at offline parties

13:11:49 [Mod-Nancy] Expos offline are great too.

13:11:58 [kaygreen] YES they are

13:12:10 [Dee] ok, so how do you start doing offline parties?

13:12:13 [kaygreen] so lets all list some places and ways we can market offline and online

13:12:14 [Melanie] I am also interested in alternative marketing ideas --things that are different

13:12:21 [kaygreen] home parties

13:12:22 [Dee] that's something I've been thinking about (we've done fairly well with online parties)

13:12:24 [kaygreen] expos

13:12:26 [Nichole] I'm excited about doing my first one this next month

13:12:30 [Melanie] things that not everyone else is doing in the industry

13:12:34 [kaygreen] Saturday market booths

13:12:42 [kaygreen] Dee I will get there in a minute

13:13:00 [kaygreen] fundraisers for schools and organizations

13:13:03 [Dee] ok, sorry didn't mean to jump ahead

13:13:04 [kaygreen] ads in print

13:13:36 [kaygreen] online parties and bashes

13:13:50 [kaygreen] help me girls where else can we market our products

13:13:59 [Marg] advertising your biz on a t-shirt

13:14:09 [Sylvia] ebay

13:14:14 [Melanie] Contests -- now that is something I would like to learn more about!

13:14:23 [Melanie] Getting them to my website

13:14:24 [kaygreen] how about having a coupon in your wallet at all times and when standing inline hand it to another customer of the checkout person

13:14:41 [Ingrid] I'm Ingrid founder of AdminXpress, http://www.adminxpress.com , I offer business, marketing and web site design

13:14:45 [kaygreen] one of the goals is to give them a reason to come to your web site

13:14:58 [Nichole] or even a fast food drive through

13:15:03 [kaygreen] creating a 10 second tag line of what I do

13:15:14 [Marg] exchange advertising coupons/fillers with other businesses

13:15:38 [kaygreen] when you stand in line after saying hello ask them what they do for a living

13:15:57 [kaygreen] good one Marge I sent out 35,000 coupons to mom packs last year

13:16:09 [kaygreen] when they answer they will ask you what you do

13:16:13 [Ingrid] we're talking about networking?

13:16:18 [Nichole] wow, how was the response

13:16:26 [Dee] well, we sent out 100 samples yesterday to a lady who was doing an offline event

13:16:26 [kaygreen] tell them a one sentence line that tells them what you do and why it helps them

13:16:37 [CherylNJ] the coupons what kind of return did you get

13:16:46 [kaygreen] my traffic on the site is up from 150 visitors a day to 450 visitors a day

13:16:55 [Marg] I just joined there...anyone that I cant find through WNC for services I need.I am making coupons..then I will be able to participate once I get my product!

13:16:56 [Melanie] Marketing

13:16:59 [Ingrid] I'm working on my sentence and it's pretty hard to do

13:17:02 [kaygreen] I find people do not turn in coupons well but they visit your site

13:17:12 [kaygreen] many orders who say they saw me in a mom pack

13:17:44 [Mod-Nancy] Well I am reciting business to offer ad packs locally but those will not be free since I will have to pay for the printed bags, companies like Dry cleaners, and other local stores and since I do promotion for a living I expect to get paid for it.

13:17:56 [kaygreen] so your one sentence should be "I do this to provide or fix this for other"

13:18:06 [Mod-Nancy] but the prices will be low enough for local small businesses.

13:18:25 [kaygreen] so everyone give me a one sentence comment of what you do

13:18:29 [Marg] ck your local movie theatre for a Cinebabies program or something similar...for ad adpacks

13:18:50 [kaygreen] I provide safety ID products to protect children and give parents peace of mind

13:18:58 [Mod-Nancy] Don't get into the trap that every advertising should be free. I do well with one local small paper I do paid ads with

13:19:20 [kaygreen] yes I budget $50 a month for ads

13:19:22 [Ingrid] I'm starting to mail postcards to local business, since I cannot afford major advertising yet

13:19:32 [CherylNJ] I help you make any dinner a little more special. With simple tasty products

13:27:47 [kaygreen] so you use that one sentence to get others to ask more questions about your business

13:27:59 [CherylNJ] Or I can help you fill your pantry with items to help make meals special

13:28:17 [kaygreen] you can use that question - what do you do for a living everywhere

13:28:22 [Mod-Nancy] I use to budget $20 a month when I fist started now I spend between $50 and $100

13:28:30 [Mod-Nancy] depending on what I am doing for advertising

13:28:39 [kaygreen] use it to build your customer base - getting to know more people out of your circle

13:28:42 [Ingrid] can I share my sentence and let me know what you think?

13:28:43 [CherylNJ] Yeah I try to remember to use it but I get toooo long winded

13:28:49 [Marg] mine will be "would you like to sniff and smell"...lol...for candles!

13:28:57 [Mod-Nancy] yep you need customer not just partners

13:29:26 [kaygreen] so that is a tool when out and about

13:29:35 [Marg] thnx. take off from the companies which is "sniff and sell"!

13:29:50 [Mod-Nancy] I did when it would move my post LOL

13:29:58 [kaygreen] so what about actual selling. YOU can use the tools to get customers to your site and use the site to run visitors into buyers

13:30:20 [kaygreen] but where else can you increase sales

13:30:35 [kaygreen] lets talk about parties for a moment

13:30:41 [kaygreen] Dee this is for you

13:30:49 [Mod-Nancy] referrals

13:30:50 [kaygreen] any company can use the party plan

13:31:04 [kaygreen] some companies give you the party plan set up

13:31:22 [Mod-Nancy] yep well I call it networking LOL since I have a service business

13:31:35 [Mod-Nancy] I go to meetings and network offer to speak.

13:31:45 [kaygreen] if not make up your own. I use 10% of sales in free products for sales $100-299, and 15% is sales over $300 plus one half price item per dating

13:32:02 [kaygreen] speaking and writing articles are great ways to network

13:32:21 [kaygreen] call a few people you know offering them free product to have them help you start your business

13:32:33 [kaygreen] if you can date 6 parties you are on your way

13:32:45 [kaygreen] the PARTY PLAN works that is why it is still around LOL

13:32:54 [kaygreen] are any of you currently doing parties

13:32:58 [kaygreen] or classes

13:33:20 [Dee_] only online - I was having a hard time figuring out how to do them offline (since it's my own company LOL)

13:33:35 [Dee_] I do give classes both online and off

13:33:37 [kaygreen] I did mine offline Dee - just made up the rules as I went

13:33:52 [kaygreen] I find better sales at offline parties

13:33:57 [kaygreen] anyone else

13:34:38 [Dee_] lol, Kay - that's what got me excited - because I've had pretty good sales from the online parties....so, if they are better offline (and they should be, since people can feel and handle the products), that would be fabulous

13:34:40 [kaygreen] at each party/class I tell them what they get for free for being a hostess. I ask every customer when doing their order if they want o hold a party and get free products or join the company and buy at wholesale

13:34:52 [kaygreen] they will be Dee

13:35:03 [CherylNJ] I do taste testing parties and booths

13:35:09 [kaygreen] so when I date 6 parties at each party I average 2 more datings

13:35:35 [kaygreen] so you see my 6 parties turns into 10-12 parties and it keep multiplying

13:35:48 [Dee_] Kay, what about combining complimentary companies at parties (that don't have party plans, per se)

13:35:51 [kaygreen] and it quickly gets you more customers out of your circle

13:35:59 [CherylNJ] they are really fun and the host doesn't have to do a thing except invite I bring everything

13:36:05 [kaygreen] great idea Dee - as long as they allow it

13:36:25 [kaygreen] I can usually sell 100-300 in a 2 hour party

13:36:40 [kaygreen] the party plan works

13:36:41 [Dee_] well, the three companies I'm thinking of (two would be focused on) - none of them have a party plan....so there aren't restrictions on it

13:36:52 [kaygreen] any questions about parties

13:37:10 [CherylNJ] You said about guest speaking If you are geared to families you can try mothers groups they are always looking for guest speakers

13:37:15 [kaygreen] great idea Dee - as long as you do it under your business name - you are buying wholesale and selling retail

13:37:36 [kaygreen] great idea Cheryl - speaking and teaching are great ways to network

13:37:57 [kaygreen] fundraisers for events help too - offer to speak - have a table with items for sale and give a percentage back

13:38:05 [CherylNJ] I f you go to http://www.momsclub.org  You may find a group in your area

13:38:17 [kaygreen] be sure that everything you print or give out has your URL on it

13:38:28 [kaygreen] moms club is great - I have spoke for them

13:38:57 [kaygreen] the goal is to get your URL out there offline - the customers you service offline will bring you online visitors and orders

13:39:14 [kaygreen] it is possible to work only online too

13:39:40 [kaygreen] but it is harder and cost more - need to still get your URL out into the hands on people - giving them a reason to visit you

13:39:52 [kaygreen] using your signature line in emails always

13:40:05 [kaygreen] use your URL email address instead of aol or hotmail

13:40:21 [Mod-Nancy] My local group is doing ad packs on of our members is a Candy Lady she takes them to shows all around the area

13:40:23 [kaygreen] writing articles (like speaking) on your subject

13:40:38 [kaygreen] awesome idea Nancy

13:40:55 [kaygreen] getting your material into the hands of your target audience is so helpful

13:41:21 [kaygreen] the photo studio at babies r us is now putting my catalogs and coupons in every photo package

13:41:39 [Mod-Nancy] well I am also working on local advertising for pay but smaller prices I will be offering ad packs through my local portal since I will have to mail them they cannot be free for everyone but if I do the printing I will probably include them free

13:41:48 [kaygreen] I made a special coupon that says Kiddie Kandids Coupon with 10% off and free shipping on my children's safety products

13:41:59 [CherylNJ] Most moms clubs have newsletters that go out to all of their members and you may be able to advertise for a yr for very little my club its $35 of ra yr.

13:42:03 [kaygreen] awesome Nancy

13:42:22 [Mod-Nancy] I want to start offering contests for business on my Local Oregon Portal too

13:42:32 [kaygreen] but it took me a year and a half to get her to do that - and this time it was her idea LOL

13:42:53 [kaygreen] questions so far

13:43:54 [Mod-Nancy] I have to get ready to go here soon be sure to head back to the main expo chat when you done'

13:44:16 [Dee_] Kay, suggestions on samples?

13:44:27 [Marg] targeting your market outside of "normal" moms groups as well....hit those ppl that work outside of the home.through their workplace

13:44:31 [Dee_] oh, wait - do samples work better in the coupon pack type things than coupons?

13:45:31 [Marg] Dee...do u have a food biz?

13:46:04 [Dee_] no - one of them is faith based products, and the other biz that I'm helping market is a bath and skin care product biz

13:46:16 [kaygreen] I use coupons instead of samples just because of shear numbers - I do so many. I do use samples when do a target set - like Julie needed 50 for a moms event - I sent a coupon with a sample and magnet

13:46:22 [kaygreen] thanks Nancy

13:46:24 [Marg] .lol..how did I get food!!...sorry

13:46:34 [Dee_] the bath and skin care biz isn't mine - but is owned by my parents

13:46:42 [kaygreen] keep your cost down as much as you can

13:46:54 [Dee_] Kay - that's what who we sent to!

13:47:18 [Marg] how about small shavings of soap in something....like an inexpensive potpourri type thing

13:47:18 [kaygreen] LOL

13:47:47 [Dee_] my trouble was for faithminders - I ended up sending little ribbons with crosses on the end

13:47:56 [Marg] yes....really target market with the samples..

13:48:11 [kaygreen] or things with your URL on it - sucker stickers - pens - stickers - magnets

13:48:14 [Dee_] we sent out one use packets of milk bath for the bath and skin care company

13:48:22 [kaygreen] perfect DEE

13:48:49 [Marg] ribbons would be good...bookmarks..kept around not tossed!

13:48:50 [Mod-Nancy] Ok Great Chat Kay

13:49:16 [Dee_] I have pens on order to send out with our journals - but, those would be for people who purchase from us

13:49:27 [Dee_] and I want to do more for people who haven't HEARD of us!

13:51:06 [kaygreen] well have I given you some ideas deee

13:51:37 [CherylNJ] great topic Kay thank you for all the great ideas from everyone

13:51:38 [kaygreen] we have 9 minutes left ladies - any other questions or needs

13:51:52 [Dee_] I appreciate it, Kay

13:51:57 [Dee_] writing everything down!

13:52:01 [kaygreen] you are welcome - I teach a class here every Tuesday afternoon too

13:52:08 [Melanie] Thanks sooooo much!

13:52:11 [kaygreen] one caution

13:52:17 [CherylNJ] where

13:52:28 [kaygreen] I see those who mail out everything to everyone - coupons, flyers, catalogs

13:52:32 [kaygreen] HERE

13:52:45 [CherylNJ] duh thanks

13:52:56 [kaygreen] but forget to do the follow up calls - when you mail something call back in 5-7 days - people forget

13:53:01 [Melanie] This was great (what I got to see of it!)

13:53:01 [Mod-Nancy] well most of us got booted so some of it is lost

13:53:05 [kaygreen] 1 pm PST

13:53:26 [kaygreen] the follow up calls are so important - asking for the sale or the dating or the class or the recruit

13:53:27 [Melanie] Thanks Kay -- you are awesome! I WILL be back!

13:53:59 [Marg] Melanie....just an observation...in your quest to find recruits I went to the main company website of Petra fashions and don't see prices....now are consultants allowed to have their own websites with prices or not?

13:54:19 [kaygreen] doing the person to person contact is the best thing you can do for your business - even calling the online customer to verify order and answer any questions

13:54:40 [kaygreen] people like to feel appreciated

13:55:00 [CherylNJ] I also started sending little thank you notes after a show with my biz card

13:55:05 [kaygreen] join some yahoo groups and the Small Business Referral Network to help your business

13:55:09 [bonnie] hi Kay, sorry for being so late - had to take car in for new tires

13:55:37 [Mod-Nancy] I am going to get to meet Nicohle today who was hear earlier at this chat

13:55:42 [Mod-Nancy] in person even

13:55:45 [Mod-Nancy] BYE

13:55:46 [kaygreen] but after mailing it then call and ask how you can help them

13:55:51 [Melanie] Thanks Kay -- bye ladies! Gotta get on a CONFERENCE call now! LOL!

13:55:58 [kaygreen] be of service to them

13:56:30 [kaygreen] can you imagine if Meier and Frank called you after you purchased to be sure your stuff was ok and did you need any help with anything else

13:57:05 [kaygreen] do not just mail and email - call or talk face to face with people - that is where the business is

13:57:49 [kaygreen] here is a free link swap I found today with a site that has a page rank of 5 http://www.moneymakingmommy.com/linksdirectory/add_link.html 

13:57:56 [kaygreen] I added mine

13:58:23 [kaygreen] I have lots of articles on ways to build your business at http://www.123homebusinessguide.com/

13:58:50 [kaygreen] be sure to read change links to coupons and add your coupons there too

13:59:28 [kaygreen] small business referral network has lot of help and also the yahoo group WomansNetworkingCommunity

13:59:57 [kaygreen] I also have an active group for Christian wahms at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/1ChristianWAHM/ 

14:00:58 [Dee_] thanks so much, Kay - this was wonderful

14:01:00 [kaygreen] and join me for marketing chats here every Tuesday afternoon 1 PM PST

14:01:07 [kaygreen] 4 pm EST

14:01:12 [Dee_] I really appreciate you taking the time to teach the class today!!

14:01:17 [kaygreen] you are most welcome - I am glad it was helpful

14:01:24 [kaygreen] HUGS

17:11:04 [kaygreen] free advertising here http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WNC-Chat-Advertising/ 

17:11:13 [kaygreen] and http://www.123homebusinessguide.com 

17:11:55 [kaygreen] and on Monday at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/1ChristianWAHM/ 

Chat by Kay Green of http://www.MyPreciousKid.com  , http://www.123HomeBusinessguide.com  , http://www.KayGreen.com  at kay@mypreciouskid.com We meet every Tuesday 1 pm PST, 4 pm EST
http://smallbusinessreferralnetwork.com/chat/phpMyChat.php3