Insurance Agent Forum

[Insurance2203]

I just started with an Allstate agency not too long ago and would really appreciate any ideas on effective ways to go about prospecting and generating new business for the agency. Thank you for your time.

[the mayor]

What are you doing now?

[Insurance2203]

Getting ready to take the P&C test. Just would like to hit the ground running ya know?

[robtmccarthy]

Just love how when someone asks a question they are followed up with a question. SOOO HELPFULL

[the mayor]

Originally Posted by robtmccarthy

Just love how when someone asks a question they are followed up with a question. SOOO HELPFULL

Well Einstein....your reply was SOOOO POINTLESS.
The question was to find out what he IS doing now...which looks like not much.

So...for the OP. I was in your position about 1 year ago and I do commercial P&C. Here's what I did:
Hit the phone. It is your friend.
Go to every networking function you can find.( there are a lot of free ones)
Tell everyone you know what you are doing ( don't try to sell them, just tell them)
If you're in a dense area...try drive by/stop ins.
Keep a data base/crm with contacts and x dates.
Know that it won't be easy.
It took about a year...but I am now getting a good flow of referrals and am getting a shot at early contacts that had just renewed.

[agent C]

I wish there was a magical answer and if there is one please let me know. The best advice I can give is just get out there and make yourself known to the public ie. community events and networks. You are going to have to advertise but choose your avenues wisley. I wouldnt waste alot of money on yellow page ads or newspaper ads, join a BNI group, get active with chamber, website, direct mail and just get out and talk to people.

[1manshow]

Better find out what Allstate is really good at in your area and then you have a "target" to shoot at. Some good info posted already. I'd add find a way to provide as much free info. to as many in your target market as possible...truly free...no strings attached. Become known as the expert and the business will find you.

When you're ready send me an email and I'll forward parts of the program that have worked well for my agency.


PS. That database suggestion is good stuff, you have any idea many agents quote a piece of business once and forget it...

[the mayor]

Originally Posted by 1manshow

PS. That database suggestion is good stuff, you have any idea many agents quote a piece of business once and forget it...

When I got into this biz a year ago....a lot of the cold calls got the "I just renewed" and I still always get them. I'm hitting them now...and hitting places that I quoted and lost...because things change.

[SeaDeezKnots]

You're not there yet but you may well be in a year but the prior poster is correct. Everyone I ever quoted is a potential prospect, especially from the prior years.

I keep track of their contact info and in a lot of cases, make note of their renewal date. Make a couple call a year to stay in touch and a couple months before renewal, call 'em up. Things change.

[Air Jer]

Data base/CRM? Which one? I have read a lot about CRM's from the life & health guys but not much from P & C folks. I checked many CRM's out including but not limited to ACT. They just don't look like they work well in a P & C environment. Am I missing something? Currently I am working with an Excel spreadsheet for ex-dtes and Outlook for contacts in certain niches I am attacking. If I am overlooking something that would help I'd appreciate knowing about it. I am a commercial P & C agent working out of my house with the main agency located 60 miles away.