- Staff
- #31
Forum Suggestions
- Thread starter Thad.Sipple
- Start date
- 10,853
I think that getting rid of signatures would be a HUGE improvement for the forum. There have become more IMOs and lead vendors on this site than actual insurance agents. That is more true in some sections than others. But the life sections of the forum have taken a huge change in direction over the past couple of years due to an increase in vendors pimping their services and boosting backlinks. Many of those vendors could care less about making this industry better, they just care about making as much money as possible. So a lot of good agents no longer post on here due to all of the BS that has come to the forum.
Getting rid of signatures would be a big step in the right direction for this forum.
Getting rid of signatures would be a big step in the right direction for this forum.
Won't happen because if they can't use the forum to promote their offerings, they would quit posting and the forum numbers would drop which would have an effect on the profitability of the forum. The primary purpose of the forum is to make money for the owners and not to make the industry better.
- 11,997
It certainly would result in a change and I have a bias towards that not happening for obvious reasons.
A nice thing about a community like this is that folks can vote with their keyboard. If folks wanted to regularly post and discuss quality content organically that would dilute the amount of signature advertisements.
In a given year I probably talk to hundreds of agents based off of my presence here. A common piece of feedback I get, and not surprisingly, is that folks don't want to post on here because of how hostile it can be. I'm sure at least some of you are thinking "if their skin is that thin, this probably isn't the right industry for them", but the fact of the matter is that while the tone of this forum has improved, there is a reason why there are so many recruiters/vendors on here.
How often has a new poster been told "use the search function"?
How often has a thread just resulted in a bitchfest between two or three people?
There is an extremely short list of non-vendors/no-recruiters that actively post quality content relative the the amount of other noise. I'm sure I'm missing some and I apologize for that, but DHK instantly comes to mind. Folks come on here and ask questions and he gives long, well thought out, experience-based responses. AllenChicago makes really interesting posts about healthcare with links to sources and actively follows the threads. WinoBlues provides a unique perspective on life insurance relative to the endless supply of folks talking about FE. While we're on the subject of FE, JD has probably given more quotes for FE on here than a first year agent does in the field.
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- 10,853
Im not so sure about that. If the bs, drama, and hostility was cut down then I think you would have a lot more actual agents join the forum and participate. A lot of potential members never join because of the current atmosphere.
- 7,012
I know folks were tough on me when I was new. Knowing what I know now, I was asking the same questions that every newbie does every few weeks.
You have to have tough skin in this biz. Most of the recruiters were posters before they started recruiting though.
Things change. I don't know if this is good or not for the site or insurance.
Now I use the forum app, so I don't see signatures anyway.
- 2,960
Isn't this against the forum rules?
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I'm referring to Stirbrokers post about p@$$y.
- 10,853
I think that you would be surprised. I have done business with multiple vendors on this forum, actively do business with one still. None of them had a signature link for their business.
Think of it like organic SEO with quality articles vs. PPC with brief landing pages. If you provide quality content and just occasionally let people know what you do then they will come to you.
I approached the vendors because I knew they are smart and know their stuff. Not because of a link and a quick blurb about making huge amounts of money.
I think that just with your avatar, regular posts, & occasionally dropping a link, you would still get just as much business from this forum.
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Also Josh, dont get me wrong. There are some vendors on here who provide great content and I would hate to see go. There is a lot of quality info that IMOs keep up with that agents do not always. Same with lists, leads, software, etc.
But some of the most drama on here comes from vendors who are only here to make a buck.
Depends on if he was referring to cats or not...lol
- 2,960
Lol. .
