Will your vision board event sell out? The best strategy to find out

The first time I hosted a paid vision board event, I was pretty scared.

I was afraid that no one would buy. I feared that my friends and family would get tired of seeing my posts daily on social media. I thought that all of my email subscribers would unsubscribe because I kept selling them stuff and I felt terrible about selling at the time. 

… but each day I’d wake up and more sales would come in! 

I couldn’t believe my eyes. 

I decided to create an event and people were paying real dollars for it! 

Now that I teach many vision board party hosts to sell tickets to their events, I’ve learned that this is not exactly the norm. 

There are many event hosts out there who create their first event and put tens of hours into creating a beautiful experience only to push the date back due to no registrations or not enough paid tickets to cover the costs. 

Not enough tickets sold. 

No one knowing about your event coming up. 

Family and friends making excuses about why they don’t want to attend your event.

That is the norm...

… but it doesn’t have to be the norm for you. 

In this article, I’m going to share how you can test your vision board event idea before you’ve created it to verify that you have an audience that will pay for tickets to your vision board event. 

How To Test Your Vision Board Workshop Idea

Talk to your potential attendees

You likely have an idea of the people you want to reach with your event. These are the people you want to help the most with your stories, life lessons, and activities. 

As a vision board party host, I have always wanted to reach the woman who has had the door slammed shut in her face far more often than she’d like to admit. She’s an overachiever with high hopes and a strong work ethic, but despite her inherent strength, those closed doors have made her feel like there’s no reason to keep trying. 

However… there’s a faint voice coming from within that whispers…

“keep going.”

I work hard to talk to this woman at every stage of my vision board event creation because I want to know what her challenges are so I can help her find the path to clarity. 

When you talk to your potential vision board party attendees, you actually learn what they need and can create an event that accomplishes just that. 

Create an outline of an event that you could create

Now that you know what your audience wants, it’s time to create the event that they want. In your event outline, include the speakers they’d want to hear, the stories that would resonate with them, and the big ideas they’d need to learn to close the gap between where they are today and their destination.

When you do the discovery work, creating the event that people want is easy. 

Build a landing page for your event and actually sell tickets

Now that you have an outline of the event that you’d like to create you can put that exact event in front of your audience to test whether they’ll actually pay for your event. 

You don’t have to create the event quite yet, just see whether people will actually pay to attend the event and spend some time marketing the event as if it were going live. 

If you don’t sell any tickets, you’re exactly where you began. Except you didn’t waste hours creating an event that your audience was not willing to pay for.

If you do sell tickets, then you know that your event is something people will find valuable and that they’ll pay for it! (Woohoo!) That means you can go forth and finish creating the event without fear. 

Creating events can be profitable, but you want to create the event that your audience wants and is willing to pay for. This strategy will help you validate whether your audience is interested in purchasing tickets to your event before you’ve spent your valuable time creating an event that will not sell.

What kind of vision board event would you like to host?

Want To Start Planning Your Vision Board Party? 

1. Download the FREE vision board party planning checklist.

2. Craft your inspiring vision board workshop talk with our FREE High Impact Storytelling Journal Prompts.

3. Plan, promote & host your first (or next) professional & profitable vision board workshop with our signature course, Sold Out Vision Board Parties.

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About the author

Cyrene is a fun and accomplished workshop facilitator, learning and development guru and Human Resources professional. Being at the helm of Thrive Lounge has been a long-time dream. Through vision board workshops she plans to accomplish two-way learning. Sharing her vast years of knowledge to motivate and encourage others; while simultaneously getting the reward of great energy, ideas and questions to ponder back from each group. A super win-win. Please join our Thrive Lounge community so you too can benefit!

Why you should start with small vision board parties (and how to do it)

I have never been afraid of an ugly beginning. In fact, the beginning of Thrive Lounge was VERY ugly! 

My first vision board event only had two people show up - and it was FREE! It was a potluck and only one person brought food so we all crowded around one single plate of chicken wings.. and water. 

The next year, eight people attended our vision board party and over the years, it grew to an audience that would fill a college auditorium. 

I know growing small isn’t the sexiest thing in the world - especially when many hosts dream of selling out large conference rooms. However, there are several reasons why starting small is a beautiful thing. 

You can make mistakes while no one is watching. 

Let’s be honest, the first time you do anything the outcome will not be perfect. You will find things that can be done better, differently or not at all. You’ll find things that you love and don’t love about the process. You’ll say things you don’t love and think to yourself “I definitely should not have said that!” 

The same goes for a vision board workshop. Maybe you tell a story you don’t love the first time you host an event. Maybe you don’t get the right foods or overspend on the decorations. That’s all apart of the learning process. 

You can test your stories and activities with a small group.

You’ve likely heard stories about huge comedians like Dave Chapelle or Jerry Seinfeld testing out their new jokes on a small audience in tiny “hole in the wall” clubs. They do this because they want to see how real audiences will react to their jokes. 

No one wants to go straight to a Netflix special with jokes that haven’t been tested on a live audience! How do you know people will even laugh? 

As a motivator, we’re doing exactly the same thing. 

We learn over time what stories and phrases make an audience nod their head, viciously takes notes, and ask you to repeat because the message was so good! 

We also learn what stories were met with blank stares, what questions confused people more than they helped. 

You will build your presentation ability. 

Some people are natural speakers. They woke up one day and were able to tell stories that inspired and convey an internal strength that resonated with crowds. 

Even these people need to practice.

As vision board workshop hosts, it’s our job to lead others to clarity and help them create a vision rooted in their purpose. 

You don’t achieve that by simply being a good speaker. You must learn what your audience needs and figure out how to deliver exactly that clearly and effectively. 

That level of service to an audience takes time. 

How To Start Small with Your Vision Board Parties

Invite a group of people who you know to your first event.

Your very first event can start off with a small group of people that you know. You can invite friends from school, a social group, church community or online community to your first event.

Speaking to people you know for your first event can take a lot of pressure off of you because these will be people that know and trust you. This is a great place to practice your stories and activities, and build your confidence in front of a live audience. 

Create an event and workshop as if this were a professional event. 

I used to sing in the school choir. There is one piece of advice that stuck with me: practice as if you’re in front of an audience. Even though we were in a classroom and there was no one watching, we would belt out those notes as if someone needed to hear us from the back of an auditorium. 

Practicing as if this is a real event prepares you better for the real thing. 

Take an event for your friends and family just as seriously as you would a real live event for a larger audience. Creating a professional even will help you see what it really takes to create an event at the level that you’d like to produce for others. 

Host a real professional event and show up 100% no matter how many people are in the room. 

My very first event had two people show up. I could’ve cried and left the room. I could’ve ended that night believing that big vision board parties were only a dream.

BUT… I didn’t! (That goodness.) 

I embraced the two people that did show up with open arms. I cherished their presence in my home. 

I treated them like the million-dollar people they were and we had an amazing time.  

Vision board events are what you create them to be. No matter how large or small - there are lives to be changed, people to be impacted, clarity to be found. You can be the agent of change in your community, no matter the size of your audience, the size of your impact is unlimited. 

Who can you invite to your very first vision board event?

Want To Start Planning Your Vision Board Party? 

1. Download the FREE vision board party planning checklist.

2. Craft your inspiring vision board workshop talk with our FREE High Impact Storytelling Journal Prompts. 

3. Plan, promote & host your first (or next) professional & profitable vision board workshop with our signature course, Sold Out Vision Board Parties.

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About the author

Cyrene is a fun and accomplished workshop facilitator, learning and development guru and Human Resources professional. Being at the helm of Thrive Lounge has been a long-time dream. Through vision board workshops she plans to accomplish two-way learning. Sharing her vast years of knowledge to motivate and encourage others; while simultaneously getting the reward of great energy, ideas and questions to ponder back from each group. A super win-win. Please join our Thrive Lounge community so you too can benefit!

The Key To Selling More Products and Events without sleazy Marketing Tricks

Ever wonder how your favorite YouTube star can post their merch and people beg to buy? 

Or how the influencer on Instagram creates a planner and sells out overnight? 

Or a blogger can host their first event and people run to purchase tickets? 

It seems like people with an audience can create almost anything and sell out overnight. 

Do you want to know the truth?

The sales might seem overnight, but building the audience took time, sweat and (sometimes) tears. 

We only see the “Sold Out” stamp on the sales page. That doesn’t mean a lot of work wasn’t done. Maybe the merch, planner or events might be new, but their service to their community is not. 

And you must serve them over and over again honestly, and authentically. That’s what we call online community engagement. 

If you’d like to see success with your events, courses, and books, then you’ve got to create the content that allows your people to find you, start conversations with your audience. 

What is online community engagement?

Online community engagement is where you develop an open line of conversation through an online medium such as email, social media or live video.

Benefits of online community engagement

Increase the know, like and trust factor with your audience. 

Chatting with your audience online shows them that you’re invested in their success and that your consistent with your message. The people who continue to follow you will learn more about you and develop a personal connection. 

Repeat purchases.

The more you communicate with your audience, the more opportunities you have to tell them about the products and services you offer without seeming spammy! Your ideal customers will get excited when you have a new offer to share with them.

Word of mouth and social sharing.

One of the problems most people have with selling their products is marketing them. When you have an engaged audience that you’re in contact with personally, they’ll be excited to share your products for you with people who need it most. 

Learning more about your audience.

Prioritizing community engagements opens a direct line of communication with your audience so you can talk to them directly. You can ask better questions and hear their stories. These personal conversations can drive the free content and paid offers you create. 

Strategies to Perfect Your Online Community Engagement

Email

Sending an email newsletter to my audience is my favorite way to connect with my audience through stories. I love telling stories, but I also like getting super personal within a private setting. Sending a weekly newsletter tells your audience that you’re still here and you’re still providing value.

Join the social media conversation.

There is a worldwide conversation happening online. You can join a conversation that’s already happening in a Facebook group with your audience hangs out or start a Facebook group of your own. 

Hop on the phone with them.

How often do you pick up the phone to call people anymore? A phone call goes a very long way in directly engaging with your audience. This shows your audience that you’re a real person and that you really care.

Take it offline

Every year, I host a new beginning brunch at the beginning of the year and a mid-year brunch to meet in person and talk about what we’ve been up to for the year. It’s an opportunity for me to meet with my audience on a more personal level.

Engaging with your community online is the best way for you to build a stronger relationship with your audience over time. This is how you invest in your audience and how you show them that you’re someone who will be there for them when they’re ready to get the type of clarity you offer. 

What community engagement strategies sounds most exciting to you?

Want To Start Planning Your Vision Board Party? 

1. Download the FREE vision board party planning checklist.

2. Craft your inspiring vision board workshop talk with our FREE High Impact Storytelling Journal Prompts. 

3. Plan, promote & host your first (or next) professional & profitable vision board workshop with our signature course, Sold Out Vision Board Parties.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cyrene is a fun and accomplished workshop facilitator, learning and development guru and Human Resources professional. Being at the helm of Thrive Lounge has been a long-time dream. Through vision board workshops she plans to accomplish two-way learning. Sharing her vast years of knowledge to motivate and encourage others; while simultaneously getting the reward of great energy, ideas and questions to ponder back from each group. A super win-win. Please join our Thrive Lounge community so you too can benefit!

Five Mistakes That Decrease Your Vision Board Party Ticket Sales

I’ve been teaching life coaches and educators how to host vision board parties for their audience for several years now and there’s one question that breaks my heart. 

“My event is next weekend, how do I fill the seats?”

I see this question far too often from vision board party hosts that had high hopes and planned their event with the best of intentions only to realize that selling tickets don’t just happen. 

Selling tickets to your event is how many event hosts cover their costs and take away an income for themselves when the event is over. 

In this blog post, we’re going to dive into the top five mistakes that vision board party hosts make that are decreasing their ticket sales - and what you can do to fix it.

Mistakes Vision Board Party Hosts Make

Pricing the tickets

Many aspiring vision board party hosts either do not charge money for their vision board parties or they charge far too little. 

To create a high-quality vision board workshop, you will plan your event for weeks, likely around your day job. You will spend a lot of time shaping your story to inspire a large audience. You will lead others to grand life change in a transformative event. 

This is worth money. You, my friend, are worth it.

Complicating the buying process

One thing that makes Amazon so successful is that they’ve really nailed the buying process. They make it easier than it’s ever been to make a sale. They allow you to buy with one click. They pre-populate your card and shipping information. They make buying easy. 

If you want to sell more tickets to your event, you must work towards simplicity in the buying process. 

Don’t ask for your guests to email you and jump through hoops to purchase a ticket. Give them a simple link that captures their payment information in simple, clear steps.

Marketing the event

Marketing your vision board workshop is easier than you think. The problem is - many people don’t market their event at all. 

In order to have a great event, you must have people in attendance to share your story with. You must have butts in seats to change lives. That means you should talk to everyone you know (who’s willing to listen) about your event. 

People can’t attend your event if they don’t know about it, so you must work to get the word out. 

Not investing in your audience

Success with vision board workshops rarely comes from simply making the decision to host an event. Anyone can decide to host an event. But what makes your attendees want to show up for YOUR event? 

It’ll be the relationship that you’ve built with them over time. You cannot build a relationship with an audience if you haven’t invested in their success. It is only through learning about your audience can you truly serve your audience with a vision board workshop.

Only hosting one event

Have you ever wondered how people can consistently sell out their events? Well, having great events provides you with the rocket fuel to host many more. 

Think about it. At your first event, you may not have testimonials, you don’t have pictures or video, you might not even be confident about what you’re teaching. (Everybody starts somewhere.)

But if you commit to continue serving your audience with vision board parties, you will become the go-to person for vision board events. You’ll learn more from your audience over time. And you’ll learn how to tailor an experience to the people who want to hear from you most. 

You must spend an equal amount of time on marketing your event as you do planning your event and your talk. Remember, your event cannot change lives if you don’t do the work required to make sure people are there to hear your message. 

In the comments, share what you’ll change about your event marketing to make sure you sell out.

Want To Start Planning Your Vision Board Party? 

1. Download the FREE vision board party planning checklist.

2. Craft your inspiring vision board workshop talk with our FREE High Impact Storytelling Journal Prompts. 

3. Plan, promote & host your first (or next) professional & profitable vision board workshop with our signature course, Sold Out Vision Board Parties.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cyrene is a fun and accomplished workshop facilitator, learning and development guru and Human Resources professional. Being at the helm of Thrive Lounge has been a long-time dream. Through vision board workshops she plans to accomplish two-way learning. Sharing her vast years of knowledge to motivate and encourage others; while simultaneously getting the reward of great energy, ideas and questions to ponder back from each group. A super win-win. Please join our Thrive Lounge community so you too can benefit!