Finding someone to join your Avon team is just the beginning. Once a new team member has signed up, your most important job begins. As their upline mentor, you have a tremendous opportunity to positively impact each team member’s experience with Avon.
Your support, enthusiasm, availability, and willingness to share your skills and knowledge can all go a long way towards helping your team members to build successful businesses and to reach their personal goals with Avon. And when your team members are achieving (or exceeding their goals), they will stick around longer, which will ultimately help you to continue growing a beautiful, successful team.
When you’re just getting started with a team, you may find it fairly easy to keep track of welcoming, training, and recognizing all of your team members. As your team grows, it’s helpful to have a consistent routine for monitoring, supporting, and motivating your team members, to ensure that you’re meeting the needs of your team members in a regularly and consistently.
Always remember that when you help your team members to be successful in reaching their goals, YOU will become more successful at reaching your own! Focus your energies on helping your team members achieve success. Your own success will follow as a result!
In this blog post, I am going to outline a routine, which I believe covers the most important actions to take each day, each campaign, and each month, in order to successfully and consistently support your growing team. This is not a comprehensive list of everything that you could or should do to support your team, but it is an outline of the things I believe are the most essential for effectively mentoring your beautiful team!
TIP: The MY TEAM section of avonnow.com contains tons of helpful information and reports, which you can use to monitor and support your team members.
THINGS TO DO DAILY
Welcome New Team Members – Each of your team members has a Profile under the MY TEAM section of avonnow.com. Their profile contains all of their contact info and also shows an overview of their sales and account transactions. You can find your team member’s profile by searching “Team Contacts” under the MY TEAM section or by selecting “Team Reports”, then running a “Representative Search” report.
- Send welcome email – Send an enthusiastic welcome email as quickly as possible after a new representative has signed up.
- Mail a welcome letter – Be sure to include all of your contact info and some helpful tips in your letter.
- Make a welcome phone call – Whenever possible, call the same day or the very next morning to welcome your new team member. Introduce yourself, find out a bit about what brought your new team member to Avon and what their personal goals are, offer to answer any current questions and let them know that you are available to support them when their kit arrives and as they get started with their new business.
- Record notes on their profile – Use the Notes feature, on each team member’s profile (under the MY TEAM section of avonnow.com), to record when you have mailed the welcome letter, made the welcome phone call, etc. Record notes about your welcome call, which will be helpful to remember about your new team member’s personal goals, concerns, interests, etc. Routinely recording notes can help you to personalize your connections with each team member, which can help you to build long-term partnerships and friendships with your team members.
Train New Team Members – Use the Pending Report (under Team Reports) to identify your team members. Contact them to answer questions and provide tips for getting started. Provide info about the flexible order schedule, earnings, Pathway to Premier bonuses, finding customers, following up with customers, tips for building sales, promoting their online store, etc. Direct them to the helpful “Shortcuts to Success” course in Avon U Training.
Welcome 2nd-5th Generation Team Members – After allowing a day or two for the immediate upline mentor to welcome their new team member, send an email to introduce yourself to new team members in your 2nd – 5th generations. Offer support, invite them to join your team Facebook group, and let them know that you work together with their immediate upline to help support all members of the team. TIP: Create a reusable email template for welcoming 2nd-5th generation team members.
Support New Leaders – Checking the “Pending” report daily will help you to see if someone on your team has recruited their first team member(s). Congratulate your new leader and guide them step-by-step through the process of welcoming and training their new team member. Treat these new team members as your own and offer them a high level of support, as you mentor the new leader on your team, until they become confident and independent at welcoming and training their new team members. The goal is to ensure that all new team members get the support they need, at the same time as teaching your new leader how to effectively mentor they team.
Recognize 1st Orders – Use the “Additions” report to identify when a new representative has placed their 1st order. Send an email or text to congratulate them on their 1st order. Celebrate their success. Check this report daily in order to provide the most timely recognition and support for your newest team members. If you notice a new team member has sales that are close to qualifying for a Pathway to Premier bonus, be sure to let them know! TIP: Create a reusable email template for recognizing first orders and providing tips for next steps.
Engage on Facebook – Engage with your team in a team Facebook group. When your team is very small, you may wish to just be sure your team members are in your upline’s group(s) and make yourself a visible, active participant there. Once you have a handful of team members, you may wish to set up your own Facebook group too. Facebook groups are a great way to be engaged and social with your team members. Post in your group often with tips, motivation, information, and strategies. Try to generate engagement in your group by asking questions. Respond to anyone who asks questions in your group. TIP: Use Avon Social to schedule a variety of posts for the week, to ensure regular, daily engagement.
Respond to Contacts – Reply quickly to emails, voicemail messages, texts, etc. Be sure to check for messages often and respond as quickly as you can. If you’re unable to call someone back right away, send an email or text to let them know when you’ll be in touch. Being easily available for your team members will help them to feel well supported.
Grow Your Team – Take steps to grow your team each day by reaching out to prospects, promoting your business online, and practicing the 5×5 model of making 5 contacts, 5 days a week to share Avon products and the Avon opportunity with others. Follow-up with all recent leads with an informative email, personal call, and mailed postcard, recruiting booklet, or letter.
THINGS TO DO EACH CAMPAIGN
Beginning of Campaign
Send a Campaign Newsletter Email – Once a campaign, send an email to your team as a sort of campaign newsletter. Include info on a few of your favorite upcoming products, offer sales tips, share info about current incentives, recognize successful team members, and offer your support. TIP: Create a reusable email template for your newsletter, which you can easily update each campaign.
Upcoming 1st Orders – Use the “Pending” report (under Team Reports) to identify new team members who have their expected 1st order coming up, or who missed their expected 1st order in a previous campaign. Reach out to to offer 1st order tips, reminders, and support. Provide tips and strategies for passing out brochures, following up to collect orders, promoting their web store online, etc. Offer encouragement and reminders about their order timeline. TIP: A simple text can be a great way to check in on your new team members and offer the help they may need to launch their business.
During the Campaign
Check in with Pathway to Premier Reps – Use the Representative Search Report (set to LOA 0-7) to identify your team members who are eligible for Pathway to Premier bonuses. Offer them updates on their progress towards “stepping stone” and “milestone” bonuses.
Text a Quick Tip – Texting can be a very effective way to contact many team members. Once a campaign, send a quick sales tip and offer of support to your team members. Keep it short and sweet. For example: This is Amy, your Avon upline mentor. Quick Tip: Our new Avon Social tool makes promoting your business online fast and easy. Check it out! Contact me if there’s anything I can do to help!
Try to Re-engage Inactive or Removed Team Members – Use the “No Orders/Inactivity” report and “Removals” report to identify team members who have been inactive or removed. Reach out to offer support and motivation. Share info on any new programs, supports, or incentives, which may motivate and encourage them to get back on track.
Take Advantage of Training Opportunities – Participate in the training opportunities, webinars, workshops, and conference calls which are offered. Not only does this model the behaviors of a successful representative for your team members, but it is also the best way to stay in the loop about all of the upcoming products, incentives, and resources available to grow your own business and to help your team members grow theirs.
Mentor Leaders – Throughout each campaign, stay in touch with the leaders on your team. Help them to develop a plan for achieving their goals. Coach them in developing their mentor skills and supporting their team. Continuously look for new leadership potential within your team. Reach out to those team members to discuss the leadership opportunity and the steps for getting started.
End of the Campaign
Last Call for Orders – A few days before the flexible ordering campaign window is about the close, use the “Sales” report to identify anyone who has not yet placed an order that campaign. Send an email to let them know that they still have time to place an order. Let them know when the campaign window will be closing. Offer support for finding customers, building sales, and placing orders. TIP: Create a reusable email template to remind team members when the campaign ordering window is about the close.
Recognize top sellers, title advancements, incentive achievers, etc. – At the close of each campaign, use the Team Reports to identify top sellers (Sales Report), leaders who have advanced in title (Action Alerts Panel), and team members who have earned incentives (Recognition Report and/or Static Reports for each incentive). Recognize them on your team Facebook page, email, and/or a personal message.
Welcome Back Team Members – At the close of each campaign, use the “Additions” report to identify when a former team member has reinstated their account. Reach out to them to welcome them back and offer support as they get back on track with their business. TIP: Create a reusable email template for welcoming back team members.
Recognize Pathway to Premier Achievers – At the close of each campaign, use the “Sales” report and/or the “Celebrate” section of the Action Alert panel on your Leadership Dashboard to identify new team members who have earned Pathway to Premier bonuses and celebrate their success!
THINGS TO DO MONTHLY
Anniversaries/Birthdays – Use the “Avon Anniversaries” and “Birthday” reports to identify upcoming anniversaries and birthdays. Send an email or e-card to recognize these milestones. Bonus points for the personal touch if you mail an actual greeting card!
Follow-Up with Prospects – About once a month, reach out to all leads and prospects, as far back as you can go. Send an email which shares something new and exciting that is happening at Avon (new incentives, new products, new tools, etc.). Offer to answer any questions or provide additional information. Provide the http://www.startavon.com link and your reference code. You never know when the time will be right for someone to start their Avon business!
Team Meetings – Host some sort of team meeting once a month, online and/or in person. The new Meeting-in-a-Box (available to Bronze Ambassadors and above) is a great resource for hosting the meeting.
THINGS TO DO PERIODICALLY
Check-In – Check in with all team members to see if they are satisfied with their business and/or whether their goals have changed.
Generate Engagement and Fun – Host fun events (in-person or online) to generate engagement and enthusiasm. Things like “Team Appreciation Week” or “Giveaway Day” can motivate team members to join and/or check in on your team Facebook group. Use the increased activity as a way of sharing a few important tips and updates.
Host Trainings – Offer learning opportunities, such as webinars, conference calls, or video meetings on specific topics, based on your team members’ interests and needs.
Help Plot a Course to Success – Generate excitement about new incentives and help team members to plot a plan for achieving them.
GENERAL TIPS
#1 – Remember that people come to Avon for different reasons. Take steps to get to know each of your team members and to understand their personal goals. (Use the Notes feature on each team member’s profile as a way to keep track of goals.) Focus your supports on each team member’s personal goals, regardless of whether they simply want to save on their own purchases or build a full-time business.
#2 – Offer support without pressure. Remember that we are each the boss of our own business. Not everyone wants to build a massive sales business or start a team. That’s the nice thing about Avon – they don’t have to! Be sure that all of your team members know what is possible, but then try to tailor your support to meet their personal goals.
#3 – Communicate with your team and offer support in a variety of ways to best meet the needs of your team members. Different people have different communication preferences. Use phone calls/conference calls, emails, texts, Facebook, live videos, recorded videos, images, etc.
#4 – Don’t over-email or over-text. Your team members are also receiving emails from Avon directly and other uplines. Too many emails can be overwhelming. Be judicious and try to keep information clear, relevant, and accurate.
#5 – Use the HOW TO AVON section of this blog to support your team members. There are a number of resources there which answer the most frequently asked questions, provide tips for brand new reps, and offer step-by-step tutorials on topics like placing a first order.
#6 – Don’t assume that someone has gotten the information just because you have emailed it. Some people do not check emails regularly, some emails may get sent to a spam/junk folder, and sometimes people intend to read an email at a later point, then lose track of it. If you’re emailing something important, follow up with a text and/or phone to call ensure it’s been received.
#7 – Be consistent with your communications. Your team members should always know that you are available and eager to help.
#8 – Provide your newest team members the highest level of support. Communicate most regularly with your newest team members. The first few campaigns are a great time to get to know each other and establish the basis of a long-term partnership.
#9 – Be easy to reach and fast to respond. Make sure that your team members know how to reach you. Check your email and voicemail messages regularly. Reply back as quickly as you’re able.
#10 – Be a role model for successful sales and leadership – Teaching your team members to be successful with their sales starts with YOU. Each campaign, make an effort to grow your own sales. Practice what you preach. Try out new strategies for finding customers and growing your sales, so that you can then share those ideas and experiences with your team members.
Look, Feel, Live Beautiful 