2008 Lead Company Update

[themarcgroup]

how about needalead.com?

 

[CHUMPS FROM OXFORD]

Never heard of them. Just for the heck of it...I just called them and asked the person that answered the phone how long they have been in business. She said she did not know. It was not an answering service either.

Oh well.

 

[TXINSURANCE]

I don't think a BK is much relection of ones true character in most cases - $#@! happens, escpecially in this business. I wouldn't hold a BK against anyone unless of course I am loaning money to them, then it becomes a risk factor which diminishes with time.

 

[Chkndinner14]

John,

At one point you said you would post data regarding many of the lead sources you have tried for you association.

Has this been done? Is it on another thread?

Thanks,

 

[djs]

John,

At one point you said you would post data regarding many of the lead sources you have tried for you association.

Has this been done? Is it on another thread?

Thanks,

In truth, it doesn't really matter, unless you are in the same geography as John.

Even taking credible (not the same as good) lead sources such as Insureme or netquote, you'll find agents who do very, very well, and agents who can't get anywhere with them.

You're market, your approach, your offering have a LOT to do with whether or not a lead works. I've known agents who can work old leads and do well, I've known agents who couldn't sell water in the desert.

It's always fun to hear about other peoples experiences with lead companies, but it really isn't that indicative of how well you may or may not do.

What is important is when lead companies have significant changes, such as bringing in a lot more agents, changing the credit policies, etc. Some changes are good (and rarely get mentioned) and others are less than stellar.

In the end, lead sources normally work for a period of time, and then become significantly less effective for a while, and then will work for a while again. Part of this is the lead company 'tweaking' their system, part of it is your process, part of it is some new hungry agent just started getting the same lead you do (or just stopped getting leads).

It's all a cycle. If you wait for someone else to say the cycle is at it's peak, you'll get started on the downhill slide.

Dan

 

[CHUMPS FROM OXFORD]

"such as bringing in a lot more agents"...which is exactly what NetQuote did last month by slashing lead costs in half.

All of a sudden, all of my areas had eight (YES...8!) agents getting leads, so I suspended the account.

I just checked back today and they said that my areas were suddenly back down to the 3-4 range.

I asked for a listing of "how many" agents were working my zip codes (not their names). They offered to tell me on the phone but would not put it in writing. However, they did furnish me with a list of additional zip codes I could buy leads that had three or less agents.

I want to believe them...but...

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

John,

At one point you said you would post data regarding many of the lead sources you have tried for you association.

Has this been done? Is it on another thread?

Thanks,

while putting together the association I knew members were going to want us to recommend leads sources - so yes, I bought batches of leads a wide variety of lead companies.

Using my better judgement I'm not going to post detailed results for the companies that simply did not work for me since in fairness, those same companies do work for others.

In one example, I skunked on 30 leads using a source that one of my friends does well with. I literally got 3 people to answer. Simply horrible. Go figure.

I simply experienced poor results with some sources and did quite will with others. Not exactly sure if it would be fair or accurate to post the "ABC lead" company has "bad" leads or what potential liability that would create for the association.

Let's leave it at this. Working the leads myself these are the companies we have recommended:

Benepath
Leads4Agents
Producer Pipeline
Leadco

As Al likes to say, YRMV

 

[bill3173]

Well you posted it. ABC leads was the worst service I ever used.

 

[CHUMPS FROM OXFORD]

I like Leadco...BUT they have refused to answer my repeated requests regarding the EHealth link that is provided to prospects and the subsequent encouragement to get an instant quote from them.

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

What I liked a about Leadco was factoring in no charge for under 24, no charge for major conditions and a very liberal return policy the "per lead" cost went down significantly.