How to Hold Fun, Easy Facebook Parties That Get you Sales and New Leads for Your Direct Sales Business
Holding virtual parties in a Facebook group is a fabulous option when you can’t get together in person.
Some of the benefits to you, the consultant, include:
- you don’t have to leave home
- you can have multiple parties going at once
- very time efficient
- can help the reach of your other Facebook posts, too, when the alorithm sees lots of engagement on your party posts
- guests from out of the area can easily attend
Some of the benefits to your hostess include:
- fun girl time
- she doesn’t have to clean her house
- she doesn’t have to figure out something else to do for her spouse and kids
- it’s a private group, so only those she invites can be part of it
- nobody cares what anybody else looks like … the only one they ever have to see is you during the Facebook Live portion of the party
- whatever hostess program you offer to receive free or discounted products
- she looks like a superstar to her friends for introducing them to you
Once you have a hostess who agrees, follow this step-by-step guide to having a fabulous virtual party in a Facebook group:
Steps to a Fabulous Facebook Party
Step 1: Set the date and time for the Facebook Live portion of the party
This is when you’ll walk them through using their samples and answer any questions. You can work backward to schedule everything else to work toward the live event.
Step 2: Create a Google Form for guest registration
This form is what you’ll use to collect names, addresses, and other info to send personalized samples to each of the party guests. I created a “master template” and then use it to make a new form for each individual party. This makes it easy to stay organized and keep the guests straight as to who belongs to each party group.
Click here to view my Google form.
I make a copy of this form and change the title to include the hostess’s name for each party. This helps the guests know they’re in the right spot, and makes it less intimidating for them to fill it out.
Step 3: Create a group cover image
You’ll need to upload a cover photo when you set up the party Facebook group in step 4. Having the image first is time efficient so you can upload as you’re setting the group up instead of having to go back and do it later.
The 2020 size for a Facebook group cover photo is 1640 x 859 pixels, and you’ll see most of that when viewing Facebook on a mobile device (phone or tablet). However, Facebook will crop the top and bottom of your image when viewed on a computer so keep that in mind and don’t put anything critical in the 100 pixels across the top or bottom.
Step 4: Create the Facebook group
This is a private group that will be ONLY for this hostess and her party guests. You’ll set up a new group for each and every party that you run.
Click or tap the Groups icon to go to your Groups Feed. From there, you can click or tap on the [+ Create New Group] button.
Name the group using your hostess’s name. It doesn’t have to be cute or fancy. For example, Michele Peterson’s MK Party Group … assuming your hostess’s name is Michele Peterson. Remember, use your hostess’s name, not yours. Her guests know her, not you.
Cover Photo: Upload the group cover photo image you created in step 2.
Privacy: Private. Only members can see who’s in the group and what they post. This is to comply with Mary Kay legal social media guidelines as well as to maintain your guests’ privacy.
Invite Members. Don’t invite anyone to join the group quite yet. You’ll want to write your group description and your first post announcement so guests have something to see when they accept your hostess’s invitation to join the group.
Step 5: Write your group description.
This will show up in the About area when viewed on a computer.
Here’s an example of my party group description:
Welcome to the PARTY GROUP! Think of it like a party bus … but virtual and with the comfort of your own couch! 😘😃 (BTW – Ordering online is safe and easy at https://www.marykay.com/michelepeterson)
Here’s how the virtual party works …You’ll get a free 🎀 PINK LOVE package in the mail full of personalized skincare samples so you can participate in the guided live pampering session on [date] at [time].
I’ll be the one on camera guiding you through using the samples and answering any questions … you’ll see me, but I won’t see you … so you can get as comfy as you want! Nobody will care what you look like! 😊
In the days leading up to the Facebook Live stream, I’ll be posting various things to get us ready for the party. When you comment on the posts, you’ll get entered to win free prizes.There’s no obligation to buy anything, but as your hostess, [hostess name] gets hostess credits if you do decide to make a purchase, and she’ll receive FREE [hostess free product incentive] if the party reaches a minimum of $300 in orders!
Order online at https://www.marykay.com/michelepeterson and get FREE SHIPPING on orders over $50. I can’t wait to party with you! xoxo, Michele Peterson – your fun, fabulous Mary Kay friend 💖💖💖
Step 6: Create and publish the first post
This is the post guests will see first if you pin it as an announcement to the top of the group page.
Much of this is a repeat of the description, so you can copy and paste what you just wrote.
For example, here’s mine:
Welcome to [hostess name]‘s PARTY GROUP! 
Register TODAY for your free samples!
Here’s the link to register for your free PINK LOVE package of samples: https://forms.gle/J9rGS6eFqHq5Eqic8
Please register TODAY so the samples can get to you in time for the live party on [party date]. We’re going to have SO MUCH FUN pampering you!
I’ll be the one on camera guiding you through using the samples and answering any questions … you’ll see me, but I won’t see you … so you can get as comfy as you want! Nobody will care what you look like! 
In the days leading up to the Facebook Live stream, I’ll be posting various things to get us ready for the party. When you comment on the posts, you’ll get entered to win free prizes. 
There’s no obligation to buy anything, but as your hostess, [hostess name] gets hostess credits if you do decide to make a purchase, and she’ll receive FREE [hostess free product incentive] if the party reaches a minimum of $300 in orders!
You can order online at https://www.marykay.com/michelepeterson and get FREE SHIPPING on orders over $50. I can’t wait to party with you! xoxo, Michele Peterson – your fun, fabulous Mary Kay friend
After you publish the post, click the three dots in the upper right corner of the post and click/tap “Mark as Announcement” to pin it to the top of the group page so that people will see it first whenever they view the group page.
Step 7: Invite your hostess to join the group.
Just your hostess. Let her know that she can now invite her friends to join the group as well. Coach her how to do this if she isn’t sure. Make it easy for her!
Pro tip: Go to your Group Settings, then scroll down to Membership and tap Automatic Member Approvals. Select “Friends With Members” so that any friend your hostess invites will automatically be approved into the group without having to wait for you to manually admit them.
Step 8: Schedule posts for the party.
You can do this manually in Facebook, or you can use a scheduling app. I use Post My Party, because it saves so much time setting up multiple parties! (BTW, if you sign up for Post My Party using this link, I’ll receive a small affiliate commission. Thanks so much!)
Step 9: Welcome new guests to the party.
You can easily get a list of who has recently joined the group by clicking/tapping “Members” (easiest on the computer). You’ll see “New Members This Week” showcased at the top, along with an “easy button” that says [Write Welcome Post].
Click/tap [Write Welcome Post], and you’ll get a post pre-populated with your guests names already tagged for you. Simply add a friendly welcome message and a cute image, then click post.
For example:
Welcome to the party!
[autopopulated tagged names]
🤩🥳💖 We’re so happy to have you join us!
Step 10: Engage with guests
Give them a thumbs-up or a heart on their comments. Even better, reply to their comments with a comment of your own. Answer questions, but do not sell. Not yet. Unless they ask specific questions for a sale.
They’re still getting to know you. And they haven’t even tried the samples yet. There will be a time and place for closing the sales later.
Step 11: Send samples
Monitor your Google Form and send samples as soon as a guest registers. In addition to the samples, include your business card and a single sheet of paper that tells your story on one side and showcases the opportunity on the other side.
This is what mine looks like:
If you’re sending just the strip of TimeWise 3D samples with the Microdermabrasion Plus and Charcoal Mask samples, you can use a regular business-size envelope. Make it cute and fun by getting pink envelopes.
If you’re also including a sample of the Hydrogel Eye Patches, I recommend using a bubble mailer. When I sent the eye patch samples in the business-size envelope with everything else, some guests reported that the sample pack had burst open and the patches were torn.
Step 12: Party Time!
You can run the party on a virtual meeting platform like Zoom or Teams, or even as a group Messenger video chat. However, I’ve had the most success with having the party on Facebook Live.
Here’s why:
- none of the guests have to be self-conscious about being on video
- no extra links to remember for guests to join the party
- Facebook will remind guests that the party is happening
- Facebook will tell guests that their friends are watching, which will encourage them to join as well
- guests can view the replay at their convenience
- Facebook prioritizes Facebook Live videos, so more people will see both the live party and the replay
Setting Up
Get a mini tripod that’s adjustable so your phone is held securely and at eye level. (I like this Extendable Selfie Stick Tripod.)
Be sure you have good lighting so you look your best. Consider using a Selfie Mini Ring Light … it makes a big difference.
Check your background. If you’re going live in your bathroom like I often do, make sure your towels are hanging neatly. Put the toilet seat cover down. Clear your counters. Remember, you’re inviting guests “into” your home, make it cute and inviting so they have a good experience.
Practice “making eye contact” by looking directly at the camera lens instead of yourself. Focus on speaking directly to each individual guest watching on the other side of the screen. There may be two or three, or two or three dozen … but they’re all watching as individuals. Speak to them as such.
Going Live
Your video title/description should invite viewers to stop scrolling, click in and participate, but you need to be brief and to the point. It can be as simple as “Party Time! Join us for the fun!” Try different words to see what works best for you.
Facebook gives you a 3-2-1 countdown, and then you’re live. Don’t waste the first few seconds waiting for your live viewers, just jump right in with a special message for the people watching on replay. Because they’ll be seeing it right from the very beginning. I like to say something like this:
“Hi! My name is Michele Peterson, and I’ll be your beauty/skincare consultant for this party. I’m so glad you’re watching! While we’re waiting for the people coming on live, I have a special message for you here on the replay …”
As guests start watching, greet them by name and ask them to drop a comment so you can make sure you’re seeing the comments. You could ask them to comment “Hi!” or where in their house they’re watching from or how their day was or anything really. The goal is just to get them commenting as soon as possible.
Their comments do a few things. Other friends in the group will see that they’re commenting, which encourages them to check it out, too. Facebook sees the engagement and shows your live video to more of the people in the party group, which encourages them to check it out, too … both when you’re live and for the replay. And the more people seeing your live video, the more orders you’ll get from the party.
Treat the Facebook party presentation like you would an in-person party. Walk the guests through using the samples and romance each of the products as they’re using them.
Since you can’t see what they’re doing, consider demonstrating on yourself. This makes it easy to talk about what you love about using the products and how it feels.
TIP: Don’t just talk about the features of the products, talk about the benefits. Talk about how your skin feels when using them, but don’t stop there. How does it make you feel to have a self-care routine? Remind the guests that they’re worth it, that they deserve to take a few minutes each day to take care of themselves, too. Make them feel important. Even the most confident women need to hear this.
As you go, encourage your guests to write down the products that make their skin feel good and that they’ve enjoyed trying. This will become their wish list as they decide on what to order.
As you wrap up and move into the close, ask the guests to comment how their skin feels. As you’re waiting for the comments to come, offer your own observations of how YOUR face feels. (Another benefit of demonstrating on yourself.)
Give the guests clear direction on their next steps for placing their orders. If you have a website, remind them they can shop online 24/7. Offer to have personal consultations by private video chat (Messenger video chat works great for this!) so you can answer any questions and help them develop a custom skincare/beauty routine personalized for their specific needs.
Tell them when the party is closing (usually the next day, or two days at the most) and encourage them to order before the party closes so that their order counts toward the hostesss rewards. They are feeling best about the products right after the party, so you want them to order right away before those good feelings fade away.
Don’t forget to mention the business opportunity throughout the party and then again at the close. And also encourage guests to schedule their own parties by stressing how fun and easy it is to do so.
Step 13: Follow Up
The fortune is in the follow up. Post public Thank you for your order! posts to recognize guests who have ordered. And be sure to tag them in the post. It’s polite to say thank you AND it encourages others to place their orders, too. Here are a few of mine:
Follow up on Facebook Messenger with guests who watched the live party to see if they have any questions about any of the products or the opportunity.
Follow up by text and/or email with everyone who received samples … whether they watched the party or not. Not in a pushy or salesy way, but in a genuinely helpful way. I’ll say it again: the fortune is in the follow up.