Planning Your Event

Hosting an event is one of the best ways to connect with people and share Nu Skin. This guide will give you a quick overview of some things to consider when planning and hosting your event. It also provides tips on how to follow up with your guests after your event.

WHY

You may wonder if hosting an event is for you. It may seem like a daunting task if you’ve never done it before, but remember that personal relationships and face-to-face interactions are essential to your Nu Skin business and a critical part of Nu Skin’s business model. A live event allows you to meet and get to know people you think could benefit from the Nu Skin opportunity or products. It also allows you to reconnect, or develop a deeper relationship, with those with whom you’re already working.

WHAT

The best practices that will be most useful to you depend on the type of event you are hosting. Some valuable types of events that Nu Skin entrepreneurs often host are:

• Business Opportunity Meeting
  • This is where you present and explain the company’s business opportunity to prospective members.
• Product Demonstration
  
  • This is the simple demonstration of a product that you feel you can sell to prospective customers or use to introduce people to the business opportunity.
• Business or Product Training
  • This is most often used for existing team members or customers to learn more about building their business or promoting a specific product.
• Online Events
  • These are events that are hosted online and are a great way to meet with people all over the country or around the world.* They can help you expand your reach beyond your current group or location and do not require a lot of time or money to set up. You’ll need to find out which platforms are popular in your area, and be sure to consult your policies and procedures for guidelines that apply to social media.

*If you are hosting trainings, product demonstrations, or opportunity discussions via social media, please be sure you know the attendees and that any training occurs in a closed group environment.

Your upline will be a great resource in helping you determine which type of event is right for your business. They can also help you look for opportunities to invite guest presenters, help you host your first meeting, or connect you with other leaders in your area. 

WHERE

Your event location will largely depend on the type of event you are hosting and the number of attendees you expect. There are many options for venues, and each has its own set of advantages and challenges. Consider the following details when selecting a location:

• Centralized, safe location
  • Attendance will be greater the more convenient the location.
  • Guests should feel secure and welcome.
• Parking
  • Make sure there is accessible parking and that your guests understand the parking situation at the location you select.
• Ability to replicate the event
  • Someday, you might help one of your guests host the same type of event, so make sure your event is replicable and stays within a reasonable budget.
  • In many cases, a home-based event is an affordable and viable option. People can be hesitant about hosting an event at home. Don’t be afraid to lead by example and show that you can successfully host an event at home.

Table A

WHEN

There are some important factors to consider when selecting a date and time for your event. Depending on the location, consider the following before committing to a date and time.

• Holidays when people do not work may seem like great opportunities to host an event. However, remember that most people will be making special plans and possibly traveling, so it is best to avoid most holidays.
• Do your guests work during the week? If so, nights and weekends might be your best option.
• Those with families may have evening obligations during the week. 7:00 PM is often an ideal time for mid-week events.
• Consider the traffic and weather conditions your guests may encounter on the way to your event. Try to schedule your event before or after heavy traffic times.
• While weekends are good times to host events, try to consider what people who are busy during the week typically do during the weekend. Avoid meal time (unless you are offering a meal) and be courteous with others’ time. If you schedule your meeting for a whole Saturday afternoon or evening, people will be less likely to attend. After lunch and before dinner—around 2:00 PM or 3:00 PM—is optimal.

HELPFUL TIP: If you have fewer guests, one tactic is to offer two time options and ask which time works best for them. They will often accept one of the two times you offer. Or you can always ask what time they are available.

Make sure to send out your invitations well in advance. Regardless of how you plan to invite people, you should send your invitations no later than two weeks prior to your event.

WHO

Start by making a list of whom you would like to invite. The number of guests and the people you invite will depend on the type of event you are hosting and your venue. You’ve likely spoken to your family and close friends about your Nu Skin business, so adding them to your list is a great place to start. They can even help you practice your hosting and presentation skills prior to the event. If you made a list of possible people that you could talk to about the business when you joined Nu Skin, you can refer to that list to get ideas. Additional sources for potential attendees include:

• Community, church, or volunteer groups
  • These people already know you and often have lists of people you could invite, as well as their contact information
• Work
  • People from your current or past jobs
• Schools
  • People you went to school with and/or people you know through your children’s schools
• Hobbies
  • People with whom you share pastimes or interests
• Businesses
  • People with whom you have an ongoing business relationship, such as bankers, mechanics, accountants, doctors, dry cleaners, hair stylists/barbers, insurance agents, childcare providers, etc.
  • People who have sold something to you, like a car, furniture, real estate, jewelry, computer, etc.
• Motivated Individuals
  • People who might be open to a new opportunity, such as new mothers, empty nesters, graduates, people who have just retired, or people who are looking for a job or recently quit their job
• Existing Contact Lists
  • People to whom you send holiday cards, people you know via social networks, people on your phone or email list, etc. Even an old photo book can help you think of people to contact.

In some cases, you might consider asking attendees to bring a guest or guests. If you do, you may wish to offer an incentive or contest for those who bring additional people to your event.

Keep in mind that not everyone you invite will be able to attend. Even those who RSVP may have a last-minute change of plans. You should always invite more people than you intend to host. To get an idea of the right number of people to invite, refer to Table A.

HOW

After you pick a date and have your venue and list of attendees finalized, it’s time to pull it all together. Here is a simple checklist of action items to bring your plans to life.

• The Invite

There are many easy ways to invite people to your event. Consider one or a combination of the invitation types in Table B, depending on your event details.

Table B

If you’re issuing your invite in writing, remember to keep it simple, but don’t forget the details (location, time and date, special info or instructions). Here are some ideas for how to present your event.

• You are cordially invited to…
• Learn how to start your own home-based business…
• Come hear about the latest innovation in…

HELPFUL TIP: A great way to encourage attendance is to offer light refreshments or even a free product for attending. If you plan to offer food or products to your guests at the event, make sure to mention it in the invitation.

Remember to be transparent in your intentions. Don’t advertise your event as a casual barbecue if your real purpose is to talk about a business opportunity or demonstrate a product. Also, make sure you comply with Nu Skin’s brand and legal guidelines. If you plan on using the company logo or other branded information, make sure you use the correct and current high-quality versions.

HOW CONTINUED

• Supplies
  What you need will largely depend on the type of event, but you should have the following items available during your event.
  • Sign-in sheet to capture contact details (name, phone number, email address)
  • Your business cards and other business materials like product catalogs
  • Enrollment forms and pens (you could have tablets available for your guests to use when signing up or ordering product. Make sure your venue has WiFi access as well)
  • Products for sampling or for sale
  • Any presentation aids like a computer or projector screen
• Set Up
  • Ambiance is an important part of the event experience, so consider playing some soft music to make guests feel welcome. You could also defuse an Epoch Essential oil to create a spa-like atmosphere for your venue.
  • Set up your venue so that there is ample seating for your guests.
  • Arrange couches or chairs so that everyone in the room has a good vantage point and can hear all presenters.
  • Set up a beverage station or refreshment station that is easily accessible to your guests.
  • Make sure restroom facilities are clean and easily accessible.
• Agenda
  • Make sure to always welcome your guests and do a personal introduction.
  • Begin your presentation on time.
  • Issue a call to action. You might invite them to purchase an item or join Nu Skin. However, you could also invite them to take a brochure or catalog or visit a website where they can learn more.
  • Thank your guests for attending.
• Closing Your Event
  • The primary purpose of your event is to have your guests order product, sign up as a distributor, or provide new leads.
  • For guests not interested in joining Nu Skin or purchasing products, remember to ask them about friends or family who might be interested.
  • Let your guests know you will follow up with them individually to answer any questions.
• Follow-up
  • You should reach out to your guests within 48 hours. Contacting them via phone is optimal, but methods like email, social media, or text are popular as well.
  • Thank them for coming. You can also reach out to those who couldn’t make it, tell them you’re sorry they were not able to attend, and send them a link for more information about the product or business. You can also ask if they would like to set up a time to meet with you in person.
  • Ask your guests if they had any questions they didn’t get answered or if you can meet with them again to talk more about the business or products.
  • Don’t assume someone isn’t interested simply because you weren’t able to connect with them on the first try.

   

  Hosting an event is a great way to expand your professional and personal network. Just because someone doesn’t attend your meeting or join your team doesn’t mean they can’t become a friend or customer. In the future, things may change and they may become more interested. Many leaders in the industry have expressed that patience and building relationships are important to long-term success. Our business is built on relationships and sometimes nurturing those into business partnerships takes more than one interaction. Show your guests that you are genuinely interested in them and their lives—you never know what kinds of opportunities will open up in the future if you do.

   

  ADDITIONAL TIPS

   

  • A good rule of thumb is to plan on 50 percent of your invitees attending.
  • If you’re hosting a business opportunity meeting or product demonstration, consider sharing testimonials and personal stories of your close friends or leaders in Nu Skin, in addition to your own, to capture a broader audience.
  • If your home is too small to accommodate all of the guests you plan to have, consider renting a space on AirBNB.com (or similar website) for one day. Make sure the property owner is aware of your plan for the space.
  • Guests may decline the meeting if they can’t find someone to watch their children. If some of your potential guests have children, consider asking a family member or close friend to watch and entertain children in a separate room during the meeting. Then make sure to note in your invitation that childcare will be available.
  • What if only one person attends? Don’t get frustrated or assume you’ve failed. Execute the meeting as planned and remember that the key to a successful meeting is making sure the experience is the best possible for each of your guests. Provide your guest with exceptional one-on-one service, listen to him or her, and engage in meaningful conversation.
  • Take pictures of your setup before the event to use as a reference when hosting future events and to share with others who might need help planning their events.
  • Soon after the event, make a note of what went well and what you would change. Ask any close friends or family members who attended for their feedback as well.

   

  Best of luck with hosting your own event!