New Agent

[briankoe]

Hello, my name is Brian. I am 22 years old, fresh out of college, and I got a job with Farmers in St. louis, MO. I just got my P&C and L&H licenses, and I have to get a series 6 & 63 before I go as a career agent. In between studying I have been writing policies for my friends and family, but I realize they will run out eventually.

I have decided to mainly focus on auto and home in the beginning, and I am looking for some inexpensive marketing ideas. I am dedicated to cold calling a few hours a day, and possibly willing to buy some online leads. I have heard networking with real estate agents, auto body shops, etc. works well too. I might try the law of large numbers thing too. Maybe if I grow a pair of balls I'll go downtown before a Cards game and hand out a couple thousand business cards.

Just wondering if any of these marketing ideas work, and I would be happy to hear any other inexpensive ideas I could use. I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you,
Brian Koenig

 

[MIBizInsurance]

Brian, first welcome.

What you may want to do is take a couple hours and read the threads already covering this subject.
Take your time and read any and all marketing threads in any of the forums here on marketing, buying leads,advertising....etc. Probaly enuff threads to keep you reading for at least a couple hours.


Good luck.

 

[CHUMPS FROM OXFORD]

Brian....Wow, that sounds familiar. In 1980 I graduated college and concentrated on P&C. It works. I'm still here.

 

[Agent Jeff]

Hello, my name is Brian. I am 22 years old, fresh out of college, and I got a job with Farmers in St. louis, MO. I just got my P&C and L&H licenses, and I have to get a series 6 & 63 before I go as a career agent. In between studying I have been writing policies for my friends and family, but I realize they will run out eventually.

I have decided to mainly focus on auto and home in the beginning, and I am looking for some inexpensive marketing ideas. I am dedicated to cold calling a few hours a day, and possibly willing to buy some online leads. I have heard networking with real estate agents, auto body shops, etc. works well too. I might try the law of large numbers thing too. Maybe if I grow a pair of balls I'll go downtown before a Cards game and hand out a couple thousand business cards.

Just wondering if any of these marketing ideas work, and I would be happy to hear any other inexpensive ideas I could use. I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you,
Brian Koenig

Of the methods you have mentioned, referrals from real estate agents are known to be solid and low-cost. Nobody will deny that. Definitely what you are after. Maybe not enough volume to live off of by themselves though.

I have a question for you: what marketing methods is your agency (or district) manager suggesting you use? Does he seem to have much of a feel in what happens to be working right now in your town?

I'm suppose you'll be told by some here to telemarket and that it will be the magic bullet that makes you rich since P&C agent X got rich by telemarketing. Caveat: I am not sure the best methods used to sell Farmers' Insurance Group products would be the same where you are in midwest as they would be, say, in California (since, for one, those companies have a higher market share and name recognition in the west).

 

[briankoe]

My agency manager has mentioned a few things about marketing, such as the networking with real estate agents and the telemarketing. I've gone through all of the product training already, but he wanted to hold off on the marketing training until I pass my securities exams. They kind of preach the telemarketing up by saying we should telemarket ourselves for a couple months, and then hire telemarketers down the road. (not just working hard, but also working smart.) I guess I'll find out a lot about their marketing plan, once I finish these tests.

 

[Agent Jeff]

My agency manager has mentioned a few things about marketing, such as the networking with real estate agents and the telemarketing. I've gone through all of the product training already, but he wanted to hold off on the marketing training until I pass my securities exams. They kind of preach the telemarketing up by saying we should telemarket ourselves for a couple months, and then hire telemarketers down the road. (not just working hard, but also working smart.) I guess I'll find out a lot about their marketing plan, once I finish these tests.

You do have one advantage that most of us do not have in that Missouri's state do-not-call law is more liberal than that of most other states. You can call anyone in the state who is not on your company's do-not-call list for the purpose of setting an appointment without fear of being sued even if they are on the state or Federal DNC lists.

 

[GRCinCA]

Spend an hour or two on the agency dashboard exploring everything under the marketing tab. There are tons of ideas.

also, focus on 1 to 3 of our affinity groups and get after them (teachers, cops, firemen, scientists, engineers, etc).

Also - as much as I hate it - cold calling is always a good way to get good xdates and new clients.

 

[wildcat]

Find your most competitive product, auto or home. Hammer the phones, and walk into business.' Then cross sell individual and group health. If you don't have to get your series license don't. Too many regulations for the pennies you will make. VUL will make a little money but whole life is a better product.

 

[senior-advisor-indiana]

You do have one advantage that most of us do not have in that Missouri's state do-not-call law is more liberal than that most other states. You can call anyone in the state who is not on your company's do-not-call list for the purpose of setting an appointment without fear of being sued even if they are on the state or Federal DNC lists.

I'd watch what you have been told. The Federal Do NOt Call supercedes State DNC unless the State DNC is more restrictive.

 

[TXINSURANCE]

Its funny your "managers" are getting a cut on your production and offer nothing in the way of marketing. Typical insurance business.

Bottom line - it takes money to make money, any business I don't care what you do - that being said hit your "managers" up for some FREE LEADS and tell them to INVEST IN YOU.

Seems to me like they are not coughing up any dough.

Good luck.