Startup Costs For Telesales

[Newby]

Whats a "Facebook agent" and why/how are they confusing and frustrating clients?

Agents are all over a Facebook. The ones that are calling me are saying they click on ads thinking they are getting info but get called and pitched. I'm sure they sell a lot. But a lot of the other ones they get scared and confused. Or their kids get concerned about what mom is telling them.

But the bottom line is that the call Ins have increased by multiples this year. And it's not any advertising that I have done. We basically just maintain our existing base.

 

[goillini52]

If your point is, that some (many) people do not answer their phone, that is absolutely true. But at least I did not have to drive an hour to have a door knock go unanswered. As a matter of fact, in the two hours it would have taken me to drive there and back (not counting a stop at Starbucks to read the Wall Street Journal) I could call 100 prospects. It's a treasure hunt.

I'm also making the point that a certain amount of your leads are serial responders. Every type of lead has them.

I wouldn't drive an hour to knock on one door. If I only have one lead and drove an hour, because I know how to door knock, there would be plenty of other prospects.

Don't be close minded like Barry. There are so many way to do this business that work. I've tried them all(not done much telesales, but have done plenty of my own telemarketing)I like a mixture.

I wouldn't want to be tied to the phone all day. I like to get out and smell fresh air and cat piss.

 

[HoosierLife]

There's always going to be people that want to do business face to face.

There's always going to be people that will buy on the phone. But you better make sure your phone doesn't get flagged by the carriers as Spam lol.

Anyone seen that?

 

[marc82much]

I'm also making the point that a certain amount of your leads are serial responders...I like to get out and smell...cat piss.

Yes, that is true. Just like some like to fill out those cards and send them back. Serially. And, you can have the cat piss.

 

[BarryNY]

Ring ring.....click.....LOL

Yep...and all that from the comfort of my gorgeous warm home with my trusty Boston Terrier Henry snoring by my side and in my PJs....that next prospect call only takes a second....

However - if you work the real time leads correctly and call the newest lead immediately upon receipt then the odds of the phone getting answered skyrockets...

Like Marc says:
"If your point is, that some (many) people do not answer their phone, that is absolutely true. But at least I did not have to drive an hour to have a door knock go unanswered. As a matter of fact, in the two hours it would have taken me to drive there and back (not counting a stop at Starbucks to read the Wall Street Journal) I could call 100 prospects. It's a treasure hunt."

Now - all those miles you are logging on your car, the wear and tear, the expenses, the repairs and (even though you are argumentative) the god forbid potential accident that you may have (more miles logged = more chance for accident)...how can you compare the 2 methodologies?

What happens when you run out of prospects from your DM campaigns that are close (less than 2 hours drive each way) to you? You gotta start prospecting to a bigger and bigger circle of distance...soon you'll be like those carpetbaggers that go into a new lower income town 150 miles away and spend a few days at the Motel 6....just to go door knocking (trick or treating) for 9 hours straight....

Me - all I have to do is add another non-resident state for $60 and I now have another 500,000 potential prospects...and now you won't believe this.....I'm still in my PJs enjoying my home...nice and cozy....

 

[PA Bill]

I'm also making the point that a certain amount of your leads are serial responders. Every type of lead has them.

I wouldn't drive an hour to knock on one door. If I only have one lead and drove an hour, because I know how to door knock, there would be plenty of other prospects.

Don't be close minded like Barry. There are so many way to do this business that work. I've tried them all(not done much telesales, but have done plenty of my own telemarketing)I like a mixture.

I wouldn't want to be tied to the phone all day. I like to get out and smell fresh air and cat piss.

Not to mention the ability to steer clear of that bong calling your name.

 

[goillini52]

Yep...and all that from the comfort of my gorgeous warm home with my trusty Boston Terrier Henry snoring by my side and in my PJs....that next prospect call only takes a second....


What happens when you run out of prospects from your DM campaigns that are close (less than 2 hours drive each way) to you? You gotta start prospecting to a bigger and bigger circle of distance...soon you'll be like those carpetbaggers that go into a new lower income town 150 miles away and spend a few days at the Motel 6....just to go door knocking (trick or treating) for 9 hours straight....

I don't do that much DM and I rarely work more than 30 minutes from home.

I like to work targeted data lists. I call the ones not on the DNC registry, and knock the ones that are(90%). I never run out of someplace to go, and if necessary I could always canvas...but I haven't done that in a few years, it's not as efficient.

Like somebody just said in another thread..."different strokes for different folks". You run your business your way, and I'll run mine the way I want to.

By staying home, you're missing out on a lot of good cat piss and bug stories.

P.S. I hate Boston Terriers!!!

 

[BarryNY]

How can you not love him....
He snores, he farts and smokes an occasional stogie.
And...unlike my wife - he listens and does whatever I tell him!

 

[Todd King]

Door knocking isn't for the meek and it's not going away. If anything, it's coming back.

Why on EARTH would you believe door knocking is coming back? Ask any successful P&C agent working in the brick & mortar agency model and they'll tell you the biggest challenge they have is overcoming the trend in the insurance world of online and phone buying. The same is true for final Expense sales.

Couple that with a demographic that's becoming more and more comfortable using the internet and their smartphones to make purchases and we find ourselves with an ever increasing online market in the final expense industry.

Do you honestly think door knocking is making a comeback in 2019? The same market we are all selling to is the same demographic sharing every single fear mongering post on social media. They are becoming more and more comfortable doing things online and via phone because they're growing more and more paranoid about safety. These people don't want people showing up at their door trying to sell them anything - ESPECIALLY Final Expense life insurance that they forgot they were interested in three-four weeks ago when they filled out and returned that card advertising state-regulated programs that can pay for their burial. The ones that will let you in and listen are going to be pissed when they find out your card misled them into thinking the state was going to pay for it for them. You and I know the card wasn't meant to mislead but perception is reality and the prospect's perception is that they were misled.[/QUOTE]

P&C has always been a brick and mortar thing. But the Gov'ment say you gotta have it, so not a good comparison to use.

If you haven't been in this business long enough, then you might not realize it, but less and less phones are being answered, so that's why door knocking is coming back.
Yeah, you can believe it.

 

[BarryNY]

[/QUOTE]
P&C has always been a brick and mortar thing. But the Gov'ment say you gotta have it, so not a good comparison to use.
[/QUOTE]

Yep...my son is at a large Allstate agency...they have a gorgeous storefront that no one ever walks into- it's ALL phone!