Out to lunch? Where you eat can actually lead to new business

[myinsurebiz]

I'm too busy writing business as the result of an effective structured referral and network system.

Care to share how the network system is structured? Would love to hear about it . . .

 

[Markthebroker]

I've shared about it in detail many, many, many times. I have yet to see anyone get off their ass and implement it. Go through my old posts.

Plenty of people willing to dic# off at the bar, hoping for the off chance of a client, though. Plenty of people fail at this business too. Coincidence?

 

[WinoBlues]

Be creative in your thinking and prospecting, is what I got from his post.

A truly lost art.

This isht is Chess! It ain't Checkers!!!

Yup.

I was a hunter and trapper. Now I am a rancher and farmer.

 

[titeye]

(yawn)

No, I think I 100% got the point of the article.

I used to do stuff like this before I learned to get referrals from clients, averaging now 3.5 referrals from each client on the spot at the closing appt. To be completely frank, I don't even bother as I don't have time as I am constantly fielding referrals from the network that I have built.

But hey, if you want to got sit at the bar for 45 mins in the hopes that you can find someone interested in talking to you, godspeed. I'm too busy writing business as the result of an effective structured referral and network system.

Then it was me who missed the point. You win.

 

[ValeRosso]

Learn the two card referral method instead. Very little time, very little money.

Explain please?

 

[goillini52]

Now I am a rancher and farmer.

 

[PrivClientSG]

My feelings on this have changed over the years, although I have certain "constants" that have not changed. First, I don't -- except for a very rare exception -- meet a new potential client, for a first meeting -- over a meal. That's just part of my process. Second, I meet current clients for meals, but it's more before or after "the meeting" and it's more about catching up or follow up talk. My client meetings can involve a power-point, a bound planning document or deliverable type of document of some sort, etc., and having a meal is never conducive to working with, reading, reviewing such a document. In addition, my client meetings always involve taking notes (either written or typed), and that too is just not feasible over a meal.

As far as having lunch with co-workers, associates, etc. I started out doing this. It was an opportunity to listen to and learn from perspectives other than your own. It was also good for camaraderie. Then, after my practice grew, most of the time I was out of the office during lunch. When my practice grew even more, and clients were coming to my office, I still didn't go. I usually ate in my office and worked through lunch, read, whatever. Today, it's different. We have our own office, LOL. Although we are in the same building as formerly affiliated company, and we still are ancillarily affiliated with them, our firm is autonomous, sovereign, etc. When I am in the office, I am focused on work, but it is nice to connect and catch up with a fellow producer, associate, friend, etc.

 

[Life Hawk]

Explain please?

Quick overview: There are times when we meet people in places that the best we can do is give them a quick card after a short exchange. The two card referral is a simple way to give and get contact information. (I do not claim to have discovered this, I just stared doing it.)

You offer your card to the person you met (grocery store, gas station, local jail ) then you ask, may I follow up with you, if you get a positive response, write their name and contact information on the back of another business card for future reference.

The beauty is that you just need 2 business cards and a pen. This means if you can keep 2 or 4 extra business cards in your billfold or purse, you have the tools to get a quick prospect/suspect anywhere anytime.

This kind of interaction has more than paid the cost of all my business cards over the years, if nothing else.

Hope that helps.

 

[kevipai]

So spend, what, $25 a day after work? Say 4 days a week? Spend an hour? Let's say your time is valued ad $25/hr, plus $25 on food and drinks. So, $50 x4 days a week x 50 weeks a year. $10,000 a year and time you could actually be spending doing real work or with your family eating a healthy home cooked meal. But instead you are spending all that time and money, and eating less than healthy food in the hopes that you might get a lead. That's a mighty expensive way to go about it.

I understand your concern about the financial and time investment required for frequent business lunches. It's important to strike a balance between networking and efficiency. By being selective with lunch meetings, managing your time effectively, exploring alternative networking avenues, and prioritizing personal well-being, you can maximize the value of your networking efforts while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

 

[Newby]

[EXTERNAL LINK] - Out to lunch? Where you eat can actually lead to new business | BenefitsPRO

Become a regular. Arrive at the same time after work. Sit at the bar and watch the game on TV. Make conversation about the game with the people sitting around you. You should quickly get accepted as part of the group. They will draw you out, asking "What do you do?" You will get to know everyone. Like the luncheonette venue, when people think they have a need, they will start to ask questions. You will get to know them and can draw them out too, but you must be tactful.

There are reasons why insurance and financial service professionals eat lunch at their desks or go out to lunch together. They are missing a business opportunity. Don't make the same mistake.

Now I'm a guy who had made a HUGE batch of sales by walking into a Cracker Barrell once (4- Medicare Plans, 3-Life insurance, 1-annuity and 1-funeral Preneed policy) from a group of people that had bought motorcycles from me years earlier who recognized me and struck up a conversation.
BUT if new agents read posts like this and believe going to eat as a regular is really a viable prospecting method that they should do, they are going to have really skinny kids and a repossessed car.
Buy leads, make calls, knock on doors, learn to web prospect, ANYTHING but this.