Home Party Plan Consultants Join Chamber
No matter the size of your home party plan business, the local Chamber of Commerce can provide you with vital support. They will also give you advice and services that help ensure your business is the success that you want it to be.
Why Home Party Plan Consultants Should Join Local Chamber of Commerce
If you have recently started a home party plan business, it is recommended that you join your local chamber of commerce. Your local chamber of commerce provides small businesses with the necessary advice and tools to ensure the business grows.
In the last decade there has been a significant rise in the number of people starting a home party plan business. They are particularly popular among stay-at-home moms or rather work-at-home moms.
A home party plan business suits work-at-home moms as this type of business typically has flexible working hours and demands the kind of creative skills that moms have. But that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be treated as a serious business.
Many large successful businesses started at home, businesses like Mary Kay, Avon, Pampered Chef, 31 Gifts and Tasteful Treasures to name a few. But none of these businesses would have grown into the successes they are today without assistance from the local chamber of commerce. A home party plan business should be treated with the same level of professionalism.
Party Plan Business Try Small Niche Chamber of Commerce
If your “official” local chamber is above your party plan business budget, then you may also consider some of the niche chambers if they are appropriate. Most metropolitan areas have smaller chambers that services smaller specialization markets. You may have as Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, a Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and more that you are not even aware of. You do not necessarily have to be gay or Hispanic to join these groups. (They will take anyone’s money.) When you join a niche chamber the important thing is that you are welcoming to that niche. As long as your business is willing to serve the gay and lesbian market (and it is a big one) then it would be appropriate to join.
Of course chamber events provide many opportunities to network and in addition can be a vast source of advice to suit your needs. Both the main chamber of commerces and the niche groups provide the small business owner with a range of additional services including legal and accounting services, financial services, design and print services and office supplies.
They will also have services that will help you to devise a home party business plan which helps point you in the right direction and make sure that your home party plan business is a successful venture and not a party flop.
Using Technology To Keep in Touch With Your Customers
The Internet provides direct sales business owners a very simple and convenient way to stay in touch with their clients. When you are involved in direct sales, keeping in touch with your customers is an excellent way to ensure good customer service. And good customer service means they might be more willing to book a party with you and make repeat purchases. If you keep a list of your customer’s favorite products you have an excuse to let them know about any sales you have, too.
Here are a few ways that you can use the technology of the Internet to keep in touch with your customers.
Blogs
Start a blog to keep in touch with your customers. A blog is basically an online journal and a great place to inform people about what is happening in your business. Include informative articles related to your product and your customers will see you as a valuable resource. Use your blog to keep your customers informed of product specials that both your company and you personally are offering and allow them to make comments about your posts should they have any questions. WordPress and Blogger are two popular blogging platforms to try if you don’t already have one.
We recommend MomWebs.com hosting with a WordPress.org blog.
Forums
Start your own online forum to communicate with your customers. Starting a message board is simple to do and you could even incorporate it with your blog. Having different forum threads to deal with customer questions on specific products, customer complaint issues, product specials or just chat with your customers about any topic could be a great resource especially if you have a large client base.
Email Discussion Group
Similar to a forum an email discussion group like the ones available through yahoo or google is yet another way that you can keep in touch with your customers. You can make your group available for discussion or use it to release a monthly or even weekly newsletter to inform your customers about your business.
Mailing List
A mailing list should be the first thing you start after opening your doors for business. Pass out information cards or forms to each guest at your parties and make sure they give you permission to add them to your list and contact them. You might even include a box on your form for specific items like receiving a monthly newsletter or special sales notices. Be careful how you use your mailing list so you aren’t considered a spammer. If you’re unsure of what spam is do a quick internet search and study up. It will be worth your time.
We recommend Aweber.com as a mailing list management system.
There are many tools technology has provided the home based business owner and these are just a few of the more common ones. Don’t be afraid to use them to grow your business.