Yellow Pages Advertising

schealthagent · 08-01-2008, 08:29 AM

Are there any regulations that would prevent a licensed agent from saying that they provide medicare supplements in their yellow pages ad. Not making any other claims etc. Thank you.

dandan · 08-01-2008, 09:12 AM

Nope

schealthagent · 08-01-2008, 12:06 PM

Thanks.

MedSuppPro · 08-01-2008, 03:20 PM

Yup, it's an advertisement and mentions Medicare... Read your regs. However, most states look the other way. I'd file it!

Alston · 08-01-2008, 09:22 PM

Advertising in the Yellow Pages may not be profitable, by the way. I did it a couple of years ago and got a horrible ROI.

With the Internet in everyone's home today, the public doesn't the use Yellow Pages as much now. Med Supp may be different from individual health to some degree, but a lot of seniors are online today. My guess is that many of them that aren't online probably ask their daughters and sons to find an agent online.

I'd dip a toe in unless I got a strong recommendation from an agent I trusted who had a good experience with the Yellow Pages.

theinuranceguy · 08-01-2008, 09:32 PM

You can advertise med supp but you will have to fight some red tape to advertise med advantage.

dandan · 08-01-2008, 10:29 PM

True, but asked Med Supp, not advantage. Med Supp pro what are you talking about?

DarrylVK · 08-02-2008, 01:13 AM

I know most of us are on the net but many seniors are not. Nothing wrong with a small ad. I used to do it with dental until the company I sold for changed the rules to no more yellow page ads. Always got calls.

Originally Posted by Alston

Advertising in the Yellow Pages may not be profitable, by the way. I did it a couple of years ago and got a horrible ROI.

With the Internet in everyone's home today, the public doesn't the use Yellow Pages as much now. Med Supp may be different from individual health to some degree, but a lot of seniors are online today. My guess is that many of them that aren't online probably ask their daughters and sons to find an agent online.

I'd dip a toe in unless I got a strong recommendation from an agent I trusted who had a good experience with the Yellow Pages.

MedSuppPro · 08-02-2008, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by dandan

Med Supp pro what are you talking about?

dadan ==> I'm not sure what your question is. I'm talking compliance at the state level. All Med Supp advertisements need to be filed and or approved with you state insurance department. Yellow pages mentioning MedSupp would be an advertisement. I've been there and done it.

Personally, I will never place my advertising buck$ into a yellow pages advertisement. It's old school!

Frank Stastny · 08-02-2008, 02:18 PM

Although I have never tried a Yellow Pages ad, the agents I have know who went that route really didn't feel that the production they received justified the cost of the ad.

Running a small add in small town, local papers has worked very well for me.

If you are marketing in a large metro area then that may now be very cost effective for you. It works best in small town, local papers. The cost is a lot less and more people are inclined to respond in my experience.

The Rabbi · 08-02-2008, 04:47 PM

I could see a consistant ad in a weekly ad could pay off. I have one in a 8,000 unit senior comm and don't get any calls. I'll give it till the end of the year for only $56 month. I was going to rent a bus bench but the salesman never followed up.

Your ad could say 'providing Medicare recipients with their options'.

Frank Stastny · 08-02-2008, 07:16 PM

Originally Posted by The Rabbi

I could see a consistant ad in a weekly ad could pay off. I have one in a 8,000 unit senior comm and don't get any calls. I'll give it till the end of the year for only $56 month. I was going to rent a bus bench but the salesman never followed up.

Your ad could say 'providing Medicare recipients with their options'.

You are a very inventive and creative agent who isn't afraid to spend a couple of bucks to try something new. That is a good thing.

Agents who are afraid to invest in their business are going to end up in the "also ran" category.

I respect you efforts and I'm sure you have your S*** together.

Good job.

schealthagent · 08-04-2008, 10:34 AM

Thanks for all the input. I have shied away in the past because of the cost but it is a special deal and is only going to cost $25 per month for one categry (health) and $15 for each additional. It is a book for the best part of my territory.

xrac · 08-04-2008, 07:24 PM

Originally Posted by schealthagent

Thanks for all the input. I have shied away in the past because of the cost but it is a special deal and is only going to cost $25 per month for one categry (health) and $15 for each additional. It is a book for the best part of my territory.

I don't know where you are located at but in our area we have three different books: (1)the traditional AT&T yellow pages, (2)the competing Yellow Book, and (3)a third book AT&T has came out with to compete with Yellow Book. I consider Yellow Book to be a junk phone book. It's listing are incomplete and when I get the new one I throw it in the trash. I think it is nearly a complete waste as far as advertising because every time I look for something in it I can't find it. Are there multiple books in your market? What book are you advertising in? Is it something like Yellow Book? Is that why it is cheap? Keep in mind when you list in the yellow pages be ready to get hit by telemarketers.