Need Help!

[Herkster]

Alright guys and gals, I'm new to the agency side of insurance and I've joined an already established agency. We are in a very rural location, we operate in the same building as a bank (3 locations), and I will be the only agent out of one of those offices.

Besides standing behind the teller line and meeting customers, what else can I be doing? This will be a whole new insurance market for us, the same types of policies that we are currently writing, but in an area where we aren't known.

With corn and bean planting coming to an aburpt halt due to some heavy rains, I still do not want to be out bothering farms (I know that they aren't happy right now!). What, in your minds, should I be doing?

Keep in mind that I was born and raised in the town where the head offices for the bank and agency are, so I know most of the local people. This new location that I am in, while I'm familiar with the area, I'm just not familiar with the people, and they are not familiar with the insurance presence here in the bank....

Wow, I rambled, sorry!

 

[BigIVU]

Are you selling personal or commercial lines? What are your coverage areas of expertise?

 

[Herkster]

My main focus is going to be farm and crop insurance, with the ability to do home and auto. The agency as a whole can do commercial, life, and health as well (I'm just not licensed in those yet...)

 

[b61mack]

Great time to talk crop insurance. Listen to them moan and carry on, Yes them, And pitch them crop insurance. Go to the local coffee shop, sit talk and sell.

 

[xrac]

Great time to talk crop insurance. Listen to them moan and carry on, Yes them, And pitch them crop insurance. Go to the local coffee shop, sit talk and sell.

When it rains go to where the farmers hang out and meet and greet and talk with them.

 

[Herkster]

Both good points in the last two posts, which I have been doing. Since most farmers around here do not have all their crop in the ground and we were just hit with 7-9" of rain, depending on your location, they aren't the happiest people right now! Working on some marketing stuff this morning, getting my face in the local papers so that they know I will be in the new office, sent out some letters to our crop customers that we do not write their farm insurance, etc.

Maybe I was just bored yesterday when I posted this! Thanks for the ideas! I actually have a bit of an insurance background as I worked for Nationwide for the past 5 years, which my last job there was a Farm Underwriter. Neat job, really helps in my rollover to the agency side!

 

[xrac]

Both good points in the last two posts, which I have been doing. Since most farmers around here do not have all their crop in the ground and we were just hit with 7-9" of rain, depending on your location, they aren't the happiest people right now! Working on some marketing stuff this morning, getting my face in the local papers so that they know I will be in the new office, sent out some letters to our crop customers that we do not write their farm insurance, etc.

Maybe I was just bored yesterday when I posted this! Thanks for the ideas! I actually have a bit of an insurance background as I worked for Nationwide for the past 5 years, which my last job there was a Farm Underwriter. Neat job, really helps in my rollover to the agency side!

Why not telephone the farmers who didn't buy crop insurance from you and find out who they are using and if they could use a competitive price from you.

 

[EugeneM]

calling effort is the best way -are you competitive in anything besides farm and crop?

 

[Herkster]

Why not telephone the farmers who didn't buy crop insurance from you and find out who they are using and if they could use a competitive price from you.

We do have a list of the customers with farm and not crop and are working on making those contacts.

I think we are setting up a coffee at the end of this week at a local place. Coffee and cookies on me!
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calling effort is the best way -are you competitive in anything besides farm and crop?

We're competitive all around! The general public just isn't used to an insurance agent in the bank that I am going to be working in. I was hired with the primary focus to grow the farm and crop book, hitting up home and auto when they come around.

Our main competitor is Farm Bureau but from what I've heard, we are relatively competitive in most markets with them.

 

[EugeneM]

there has to be more companies in your area besides farms and crops hahaha

being able to provide other products which coincide with the type of companies in your area could help you supplement your $$$

Would they be apposed to uncovering new lines of business?
Maybe like basic BOPS but over a certain employee count so as to lessen volume of clients but maintain premium volume.