You know how excited you get when you have someone who wants to learn more about oils? You want to give them a sample to try and get excited with all the possibilities for this person. YAY!!!
Until…you never hear from them again. Ummm, what went wrong here? #WAfail
Well, there are at least 4 possibilities. Let’s go over them and what to do instead, shall we?!
1. Giving away too many samples
Sometimes we want to REALLY support someone. We see all these oils we know they would love so we give them 3, 4, or 5 samples to try.
Often in this situation, one of two things happen. They either 1) never use the samples due to overwhelm or 2) they use them, love them, and come back for more.
Since we are so giving and happy they loved the oils, we give them more. Maybe, JUST MAYBE, this person will buy their own oils! We hope…
Why but the cow when you can get the milk for free? I was this person once. My peeps usually fell into the category of not ever using the samples.
What to do instead
Offer 1-2 samples after having in depth conversations about their expectations. Listen to their needs and keep things super simple for them.
2. Giving away to just anyone
We’ve all done it: the mail carrier, the crossing guard, the teacher. We sample people becasue we want to HELP them. But it’s one thing to sample people you see often or have connections with. It’s quite another to sample to complete and random strangers.
Take this example: I did an event once where it was required that I offer 100 samples into the gift bags. Not only did it cost me in 100 sample vials times 15 drops per vial (omg…that was a LOT of oils), but even with my info attached and usage information, I never received ONE SINGLE response!
Actually, that’s not true. I did have one person reach out to me saying she didn’t want dōTERRA, but wanted to know where she could buy the fragrance at WalMart. #notmykindofcustomer
What to do instead
Qualify people. Asking them questions and gauging their TRUE interest.
I remember trying to sample 6 people in the mall because I was doing an online challenge and need to get sample in people’s hands. That’s when we’ve lost our way. We’re not serving people, we’re serving ourselves. Oops.
3. Giving samples that don’t offer immediate effects
When sampling people, it’s so important to offer them something that will give them an immediate result.
Wanting some respiratory support? Give them a sample of Breathe. Tummy troubles? Here’s some DigestZen. Tension? Peppermint. Anxious feelings? Serenity. You see my point.
If we know someone is looking for weight management support, giving them a wee vial of Slim and Sassy will not be enough to help them notice results (unless you give them more than a vial…in that case, let’s refer back to #1). They need to be using that oil LONG term. So think about that when you sample!
What to do instead
Avoid offering oils that they need long term and allow them to have an immediate and positive experience.
4. Giving samples without asking for their contact info
We’ve all done it. We are waiting in the line at the grocery store and there’s the person behind us…our future rockstar leader. We just KNOW it. She’s everything we imagined!
We whip out our Peppermint roller and roll it along our temples, knowing full well she’s watching. And then it comes.
“Mmmm smells like peppermint!”
“Oh, yes, that’s me!” You fake, as though you had no idea.
You start up this awesome convo and then it comes; the moment to ask ‘I actually have some samples on me if you’d like one?’ It’s like asking someone out on a date. You’re so scared at the answer. But she says yes! So you bust out your sample and business card.
It’s now your turn to check out and you’re SO pumped about this awesome new connection! It’s not until you drive home, repeating this glorious new relationship in your head, that you realize you forgot to ask for HER contact info to follow up. And you never hear from her again.
What to do instead
Sometimes I fake like I don’t have business cards on me.
“Oh, you know what, I must have handed out my last one! Why don’t I grab your contact info so I can send you the directions on exactly how to use your sample?”
Perfection.
Ask for their contact info, always. It’s just your new rule now, k? Then let them know they can expect an email from you and follow up as you promise!
To summarize, if you’re sampling people, be sure to qualify them, offer them only one or two samples that will offer them immediate effects and be sure to grab their contact info to follow up!
SHARE WITH ME IN THE COMMENTS: What’s been your greatest sampling success? How about your epic sampling fail?
