Questions Before Starting

[jody108]

I have an extensive healthcare background and need a change. I am working on a business plan, reading sales and marketing books, and different resources for mailing lists and cold calling materials.

With my knowledge of healthcare I would like to start independent, instead of working for "the man" I want to be "THE WOMAN". I have the support of my husband and a small nest egg to get started.

Does anyone know of any books or resources that would be helpful while planning my endeavor?

Also, how difficult is it to become a GA or Broker?

Any and all advice is appreciated. I reserve the right to ask questions!

Insurance Training – Leading Online Health Insurance Agent Training Resource or robliano ...

yep .. they know their stuff ... at least talk to them!

 

[Frank Stastny]

Whatever you do, do not buy internet leads.

Based on my experience in the senior market I would have to add direct mail leads to your recommendation.

 

[YouGotMyMoney]

Internet leads for newbies is a complete disaster.

YMMV.

Sure if you buy 20-30 leads a day, you can make it work.

Imagine a newbie getting 4 leads:

1. Bogus
2. VM
3. They blow the agent off.
4. They blow the agent off.

(This was what happened this morning to me...lol)


Any newbie agent, would be scratching their head, wondering....what the heck did I do wrong?....when they didn't do anything wrong in the first place.

 

[davidp711]

Internet leads for newbies is a complete disaster.

YMMV.

Sure if you buy 20-30 leads a day, you can make it work.

Imagine a newbie getting 4 leads:

1. Bogus
2. VM
3. They blow the agent off.
4. They blow the agent off.

(This was what happened this morning to me...lol)


Any newbie agent, would be scratching their head, wondering....what the heck did I do wrong?....when they didn't do anything wrong in the first place.

What would you recommend for a newbie then? Because I was considering this myself.

Thanks for the help!

 

[YouGotMyMoney]

Depends on which lines you sell.


Individual health, I would advise you telemarket. Then once you are comfortable on the phone, and have the $$ saved up, buy leads if you want to. Actually if you can gain 3-5 clients a week by telemarketing or doing B2B, just hire 1-2 telemarketers to do the grunt work for you.

If you are going to do Life, I don't know how to help you there, ask Nick Perry/Rick Bronstein, they run the ILIAA.

 

[mszlazak]

Agenttobe, some say that working by referral for Life (don't know about Health) is the most effective, least expensive & labor intensive method. It's basically asking for referrals.

I've seen a video on the ILIAA site instructing an agent in asking a client for the names of people that could be helped by Life insurance. It then goes further and asks the client to call these referrals to introduce the agent. When the agent later calls these referrals then its a "warm call."

Sounds bold and one wonders about negative reactions from the client. However, it maybe all in the way it's presented.

There are better demonstrations of this on the web by Bill Cates. He is author of the book "Get More Referrals Now!" Here is "The Referral Marketing Strategy Made Easy", a YouTube video of Cates in action: