Anyone Making A Living Coldcalling?

[alphawave2k]

I really don't care if you believe it or not. When you do your job right, the referrals come, and you don't have to beg.

OK, wrong choice of words, and please allow me to rephrase..."I do believe people will give you referrals without asking". However, the point I was trying to make is that you might, just might, get most people to better respond when they are prompted...and what's wrong with doing that...if you do it tactfully, gracefully...and with a smile on your face, AFTER you've earned it? Hopefully you will agree...nothing wrong with it.
The point I was trying to make again, was that being a little more proactive might, just might give you better results. I am not forcing this down anyone's throat, and I am trying to change my stripes here Bob, I'm that newbie you spoke with here in ATL recently and I'm grateful for your help and suggestions. I'm also probably the least aggressive and most passive sales person on this forum, and possibly the world. And let me make one thing clear about me, because it's all about me after all..... I am not here to bash anyone's ideas...I'm here to learn and share. Have not been long in this profession, but I don't think this totally disqualifies me from bringing my own experience in a different sales arean dealing with people, after all this is a people business, and blend in some of my own thoughts. I've learned a lot since joining this forum, and hope to learn more because there is a lot of industry specific information that I am missing.
I appreciate all suggestions, all comments, and all ideas whether good or bad. "Do not judge lest you be judged"....Thank you, and all you all for sharing.
Alph-red-o

 

[theinsuranceman]

The agent who asks for referrals will get more referrals than the agent who does not ask for referrals. This is not rocket science. How you ask for referrals and how much the prospect likes you will influence how many more referrals you actually get.

 

[Frank Stastny]

...if you do it tactfully, gracefully...and with a smile on your face, AFTER you've earned it?

That makes it much more clear especially with the "AFTER you've earned it".

I "ask" all of my clients for referrals with the PS I put at the bottom of each correspondence I send them. So I guess I do "ask" for referrals, just not the way most agents do.

"PS If you know anyone else who I can help with their insurance needs I would appreciate it if you would give them my phone number"

 

[somarco]

What you do, Frank, is similar to me. I recently changed my sig from "Referrals are ALWAYS appreciated" to "If I have helped in any way, please feel free to pass my name along to your friends!"

Not so subtle, but not in their face either.

Which airline was it that said they had to earn their wings every day? That is pretty much the way I approach my business, knowing that I must do something every day to earn the trust and respect of the people I encounter, and not just the ones who buy.

 

[bill3173]

Yes, too much frosted flakes can cause a problem if their bowel is not large enough to handle it.

True, and since it is a common practice to put the cereal in the bowl first, you would need to have some grasp of the displacement caused by adding milk and whether or not you intend to use a soup spoon, or a normal sized tea spoon.

Just because you can carry the bowl from the counter to the kitchen table or wherever you intend to consume it, doesn't mean that you are free of bowl trouble.

The additional displacement of inserting an over sized spoon into the bowl can cause spillage on the intial displacement. Add to this fact, your wife walks in right as the spillage occurs, and she's not in the best of moods. You could end up having to leave the kitchen or den or wherever, just to keep from saying something that would ruin the day for both of you. Now you're without breakfast and your wife is ticked off.

It can be a very complex problem, mathematically and socially, just getting your day started.

 

[somarco]

You put milk on corn flakes? I thought everyone poured beer over their flakes.

 

[ABC]

ABC-

Solid advice. Thanks for the post. Its not my intention to do nothing but coldcalling, but I think that it has its merits. I also think its a great way to cut my teeth at dealing with gate keepers for later attempts at walk and talks. Do you have any thought on the walk and talk approach ?

thanks
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You are actually selling in my state so I know exactly what you are going through.
There is no doubt you will cut your teeth dealing with gate keepers but those are not the people you want to cut your teeth on. You want to talk to decision makers.

Walk and Talk can be a good way to pick up business but you want to choose the small business that is going to be most receptive. It is very difficult to walk into a 40 life group and get to talk with a decision maker. Now if you walk into a 5 life group you might have a better chance. I have knocked on doors in most of my city with very little success.

What products are you selling and what carriers?

I have no idea what the hell the rest of these posts are talking about.

We are talking about selling group benefits right?

 

[briko3]

The easiest way I've found is to call and set an appointment and go visit the right person. Walk and Talk doesn't work well for me and the businesses are too spread apart to make it efficient.

 

[somarco]

Walk and Talk doesn't work well for me and the businesses are too spread apart to make it efficient.

Take longer strides.

Problem solved.

 

[Full Throttle]

With 9,500 posts its obvious that the way you find new members for your little site is by sitting on here poaching all day, but do you really think sniping people with negative thoughtless posts is the best way to achieve membership? I would never join an organization or worse yet, pay to receive responses like the ones you spew out. Do us all a favor and take week off or something.

I have to say John's association is a reputable and worth while service for the low entry fee. I belong to other industry associations and never got as much value out of them (for two to three times the membership price) as I did from the IHIAA. If you sell with a health insurance focus, its a no brainer in my opinion.