Insurance Agent Forum

[GetInsurance]

There have been MANY new posts in the past few days that have to do with live transfers. People pimping that service must be starting new accounts and then answering those threads at one point or another to make it less obvious.

[rbrewer]

Boy's will be boy's you all just try to keep the Old Boy's network alive and well, and always have your mind in the gutter or also known as porn.

[Laurie]

Has anyone had any experience doing postcard mailings?

[skbass]

Great stuff from everyone. We all need the feedback and ideas, especially in today's economy. Thanks to everyone.

[Bwana Bob]

Sounds like you joined a "professional" recruiting-style agency filled with “magical” answers. Did they sell you all that stuff (at a discount)?
Yet, seems like you desire all of the right things so have you also prepared yourself solutions to your other needs? Like do your providers have competitive products that you believe in?
The most successful agent I ever met passed out his business cards to everybody, everywhere all the time when he was just a rookie. He absolutely believed that he could provide some good for anybody! Starting out, though, he did not really have a budget for all that nice stuff you have.
Perhaps he followed the Civil War example of Ulysses S. Grant who could not measure up either to the tactical ability of the noted Southern general and gentleman, Robert E. Lee. Nevertheless, Grant won for the North because of this motto: “Be there the fusest with the mostest.” Grant actually ground down the resources of Lee, yet it was not without high cost to his armies. It took awhile to win.
Making contact with as many people as possible seems to be the pivotal key to success here. This will also take some time. Have you prepared yourself for the long haul?
That rookie I knew had prepared himself for an extended program and after three years became the agency's top producer--all without using any other “magical” prospecting tools. To his credit, he also was young, single, personable and more importantly, possessed the stamina to follow through with his relatively simple and inexpensive game plan.
Can you?
To be successful is not just about knowing what to do. It also requires being in the right time and at the right place. Fortunately, that rookie was in his “comfort zone” and partnered with his own intense desire and drive lasted long enough to reap success.
How about you?
Good hunting.

[somarco]

passed out his business cards to everybody

A GOOD business card is a 3.5 inch billboard about your business.

Amazon.com: Here's My Card: How to Network Using...
A smart marketer will use BOTH sides of their card to their advantage.

Small business marketing ideas and strategies | Duct Tape Marketing

Business Cards - 9 Common Mistakes You Should Avoid

[rbrewer]

I just made new business cards I did use both sides. I think I put to much info on my main side and the print is to small. I am used to seeing a basic card with large print. They will really have to read this card plus I put my picture on it, I have heard people will do business with you when they can see who they are doing business with. Any advice?

[somarco]

A picture on the biz card is a good idea. Too much info, small print is not.

Think of it as a billboard.

Billboards have few words, big print. You have to convey your message in seconds as people whiz by.

Same for biz cards. People will glance at your card and make a decision in a matter of seconds as to whether to keep it or toss it.

[EDM]

My old sales mentor would glue a penny(20 years ago) to the back of his business cards with something catchy on it. People would never forget his card and the majority of people aren't going to throw away money so they always kept his card.

[mikekariko]

Hi, I just started my Insurance Agency Last month and i never thought it would be this hard to sell insurance, I am an exclusive agent with Farmers Insurance Group and they are teaching me a lot. I tried to put a commercial on the radio station and it did not help at all i didn't get one call yet. Can some one tell me some tips and tricks about the business so i can get it to take off a little please?

[The Wise Buck]

They all work and they all fail HA?

What i mean is nothing is so easy that it's a cinch. But every method works for some people.

There are some people who shun a method b'c they are uncomfortable and others who build their entire business around it.

Case: My business partner build her entire pension clientele through tele marketing, aka Smiling and Dialing! Personally, you'd have to perform surgery on me to cold call these days.

So, be leary of those with the happy happy joy joy answers and just as leary of those who swear this or that doesn't work these days.

They all work for certain people who choose to work.

[stuy119]

Originally Posted by Laurie

Has anyone had any experience doing postcard mailings?

Laurie, I'm considering it but am not sure what message I'll be working to send at this point. I'm planning on 4-6 mailings to 1,000 prospects, and I want to target them in a successive pattern to maximize the return.

But that's all I know at this point. Well, that and direct mail is increasingly effective in the down economy because there isn't as much junk being sent. Now is a great time to get on this.

[mikekariko]

Thank you EDM i will try ever thing i will think of and see what will do good for me. I hope i can make it in this business.

[RossWolf]

Hey guys, I am new here and not sure where to post this message, so any ideas or suggestions are appreciated.

I have been in the insurance business since 1991. I did my time with the big three and have tried many ideas/programs over the years, but the reality is, people like insurance, they just hate paying for it. Additionally, the largest market to sell life insurance is also the most underserved, seniors without any extra money. But what if you could give these people the money to buy all the insurance products they want?

By accident I found a way to get these seniors the cash they need or at least free up hundreds if not thousands of dollars per month and therefore sell more life, LTC, med supps and annuities than I ever thought possible.

Sell Reverse Mortgages, or better yet, let me sell them for you!

Why me? Because I know how to sell insurance AND I am awesome at selling Reverse Mortgages. Furthermore, I am a Branch Manager for a 50 state FDIC bank and can therefore do Reverse Mortgages in all 50 states. If you want, we can possibly even get you hired on as an employee of the bank and pay you part of the commission on the Reverse Mortgage, legally!

Now comes the good part. Since you have changed these seniors lives more than anyone else ever could, they LOVE YOU! They will offer you money, gifts, one of my clients even offered to give me 5 acres of land! Obviously we can't accept anything like that. What we can do is help them spend part of the money on things they want, like insurance products!

The reality is the origination fees for the Reverse Mortgage are between $2,500 and $14,000. The commissions on the insurance products has been as high as another $35,000.

So if you want people asking you to sell them insurance and annuity products and NEVER have any competition or lack of prospects, SELL REVERSE MORTGAGES!

I will show you how (it's easy), help you do them and show you how to help a lot of people that everyone is blowing off.

In all my years of selling insurance I have never had a client cry because they were so happy with what I did for them. It happens all the time nowadays.

Email me at Ross@pacificfa.com if you are interested.

[arnguy]

Ross, do you have any connection with the company that advertises reverse mortgages on CNN with Robert Wagner as the spokesperson (my how he has aged)?

[4milliondollaragent]

Originally Posted by MIBizInsurance

We really need to make a marketing sticky thread.

Agreed!

[RossWolf]

We are the bank, they are a lender. They sell Reverse Mortgages through their own employees as well as brokers. Yes we sell their products but not much right now since MetLife is by far the best for clients at this present time. Ironicaly, the product that gives the most money to seniors is the fixed rate loan but it does not offer a credit line or monthly income option. They have to take all the money at closing. So if they want a guaranteed stream of income that they can't outlive what are they to do besides buy an annuity!

[CHUMPS FROM OXFORD]

Nm

[daryllenriquez]

Originally Posted by Laurie

Has anyone had any experience doing postcard mailings?

Im also considering a postcard campaign. Im still thinking of the design and message that could definitely get some response.

[iPhoneInsuranceDude]

We have had some limited success with postcard marketing but I think from here on it is about tweaking and testing the content of the postcard rather than a case of "it does work" or "it doesnt work"