What is an Online Event?

An online event (also known as a Facebook Party or Instagram Party) is a virtual party where you showcase and teach about the product on social media, instead of at someone's home or at a place of business. 

How do you find hostesses?

Reach outs! Message people to find out if they'd be interested in trying our product or want to get items free and discounted. 

Do not spam. Be genuine in your messaging.

When you message others online, you want to be real.

You should always be aiming to:

• Make real and lasting friendships

• Connect online in a genuine way

• Show that you care for others

• Be the real you

• Compliment others and help them feel good and have a better day 

• And so much more

Remember, direct sales is a relationship business. 

Message others with the following ideas from How to Get Customers Fast from Social Media by Lindsay Tompkins

20 Direct Message Conversation Starters

• Hey Amanda, long time no talk! How have you been?! 
• Hey Samantha, thought about you the other day! Wanted to check in
• Hey! OMG! Saw your post on your Facebook Page…
• Hey Mike! I know you’re really good at _______, I was wondering if _________
• Hey Andrew! I am looking for a __________ and I figured you may know someone. P.S. How have you been?!
• Omgosh. Guess what came up in my Facebook memories today!!!
• Hey! Saw it was your birthday and just wanted to wish you well! Anything special planned?
• Hey Jenny, where was that restaurant you and your husband went to last week?
• Hey Linda! I always see you post about _______ and I’m actually looking for one! Where did you get yours?
• Hey! OMG – I just saw your vacation pictures, they are beautiful! I’ve actually been looking into traveling there myself. How did you find it?
• Hey! You posted a recipe a while back for _______. Was wondering if you wouldn’t mind sharing it with me!
• Hey Ash. Girl. For real. I just wanted to say thank you for your post today. It felt like you were talking to me. Needed to hear it today. Thanks girl xo
• BAH! Where did you get those __________?
• Hey! I just wanted to say thank you so much for hopping on my Facebook Live the other day and commenting. I really appreciate your support.
• Hey! Just wanted to follow up on….
• Hey, I saw you asked __________ the other day, so when I saw this, I totally thought of you!
• Hey! I saw you posted ________________ and I just wanted to say congratulations!
• Hey Jackie. I just wanted to send you some love, girl. I saw __________ (something that happened to them that they posted about). Let me know if you need anything 30
• Hey! Miss you! Was wondering if you wanted to grab coffee or dinner sometime? I saw you posted __________ and I want to get caught up on your life!
• Hey! I’m interested in____________________ (purchasing from them)

Once you begin the convo and there's a natural lead in to talk about ZYIA, ask if they've touched or tried ZYIA before! If they haven't, offer a small discount on their first purchase. I offer $15 off their purchase of $50 or more. If they want to host and haven't tried the products, you'll have to work around that with her and make sure she knows how to overcome objections as well as yourself during the party!

It is so important to let them know they can accomplish holiday shopping by hosting this party with YOU! They'll be able to get things cheaper and make their holiday dollar spread further by hosting this party. Make it all about them and what they'll receive and watch a great party/event commence!

You have a Hostess for the Holiday Season..NOW WHAT?!?

How does she invite and get people to "attend" virtually?

Example Hostess Invites:

Get Ready to Party!

First: Set up the party in your back office under Events. Then create the party on Facebook or Instagram

• Decide if you want the party on Facebook to be a Group or Event
• Decide if you want the party on Instagram to be in a private page or on a message thread
• You'll have to do some test parties to see which platform you prefer. The key is TO DO THEM! Do not stress if they are perfect...JUST DO THEM!

Second: Make sure she has personally invited people to the party. The above posts for social media are great, but for personal messages give her something like this to text or message out

Example script for host to invite friends:

Hey Amanda! I wanted to let you know that I will be hosting an online party with ZYIA. They have THE cutest activewear. The leggings stay up, don't fall down and don't go sheer! The party will be from Tuesday, November 8th at 7pm until Thursday, November 10th @midnight and will be held right on Facebook. I invited you to the event but just in case you didn’t see it, the link to RSVP is here: [insert event link] We’re going to be talking all about how amazing you'll look and feel in these clothes in or out of the gym. Plus, there’ll be some great options for holiday gifts as well. Can you be there?

Third: I strongly suggest if possible to do a home party in conjunction with an online party where possible. If your hostess is at a distance that is not an option. Which is fine! 

Fourth: Make sure you go live once a day of the party.

• First day, do a welcome live where you tell everyone how you know/became acquainted with the hostess and WHY you started with ZYIA. Also, share your three favorite ZYIA items, ie fav legging, fav bra, and fav top/tank.
• Second day, go live about the new releases. Explain how ZYIA gets brand new items every week. Share bottoms like leggings, everywhere pants, shorts and bras.
• Third day, go live about the end of the party. If you've done a giveaway annouce the winners TONIGHT and talk about tops.
• There are example Facebook Parties on line. Please ask your sponsor to be added to the teams example Facebook party and any parties they've done so you can get a feel of how they work and what to do

Lastly:

• This party is about the HOSTESS! Post a pic of her and ask everyone to post a GIF of how they know her, play other fun games about her and make her the center of the party...because she is! 

Hostess Coaching

• Ask her what pieces/items her guests would be most interested in learning more about
• Make sure she knows to individually invite her guests and not do a group message
• Send her the URL/Link to the party so it's easy for her guests to join the party by clicking the link
• Ask your hostess to send a reminder text to her guests a few days before the party starts, a day before it begins and the morning of the party 
• MOST IMPORTANT info is that she knows she HAS to engage on the party. She must like and comment. The more she does, the more her guests will. 

Facebook Lives Scripts

*TIP*

Post when you will be live in the party so there is more interaction.

Opening:

Hello everyone! Welcome! My name is __________________ and I’m a rep with ZYIA Active a premium activewear company. I’m really excited to be here with you guys tonight to talk about ZYIA and what makes us so unique and special to other brands like LULULEMON and Athleta.

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, if you're here live with me, be sure to comment below so I know you were here! Please, 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. So, with that, let me welcome you to (hostesses name) ZYIA ACTIVE party! 

Closing:

Closing a Facebook party can be a struggle for many reps because you don't have the kitchen table experience to help the guest select items and check out.

Here are some tips on closing out your Facebook Party

• Let them know the last day to order or when the party will be officially ending during your Facebook Live Closing video. (Keep parties shorter than longer. Excitement fades after 2 days, so make sure your close date is not more than 2 days after your Facebook Party unless the hostess has said there are people just needing a little more time).

• You can offer a special incentives for those who order on opening day/night

• Offer valet check-outs over the phone or through messenger (this is where you take their order over the phone. This is my absolute favorite way to close an event!).

• Post, Post, Post a link to your website to shop

• Offer one-on-one personal shopping on a video chat for those who need just a little extra help. Be sure to schedule these opening night.

• Follow-up with everyone who attended any of the Lives.

• Follow-up with everyone who was unable to attend the Facebook Party and let them know they can still watch the videos on the products. If needed you can tag them in a video specific to the items they are most intersted in purchasing.

Follow Up Scripts

Script for those Facebook Live attendees:

Hey Melissa! Thank you so much for joining Mary's ZYIA Active Facebook Party. Just wanted to thank you for attending her party! I hope you had a great time and found some items you MUST have. This was such a fun group! I just wanted to touch base  and see if you needed any help ordering or had any questions? You can place your order online here (giver link) or I can help you place the order – I know ordering and selecting the perfect size can be tricky and I'd love to help you get the perfect item in a perfect fit! Would messaging on Facebook be best for you?

Script for those who did not attend the Facebook Lives:

Hey Anna! My name is_________ and I am the rep for [host name’s] Facebook Party the last few days. I just wanted to connect with you because I know you weren't able to attend the live party. Which is no biggie at all! What I love so much about Facebook parties is that even if you couldn't attend you can still go back in and check things out!! Are you interested in finding out more about ZYIA? Would you be interested in watching one of the Lives to see what we are all about? I love sharing this brand and want to make sure everyone who joined the party has a chance to get the info and help they need. Here is the link to the party with the videos__________. I'll check back in a day or so. Would that work for you?

Remember, the fortune is in the follow up!!!!

Follow-up after every Facebook Party!!! Even if it is a "dud". This is so important because not only will it help you close more orders, it will give you the one-on-one chance to talk to her about being a hostess or learning more about joining your team.

*Tip*

Be flexible and change what success means.