Best/worst State for FE

[SPUR CITY]

She does about $200-$250k. Never bought a lead in her life.

Not bad! I am on pace to double that here in San Antonio this year. Some people might think I'm less of an agent for having to buy leads but I like the appointment system much better.


The $ I am able to make, along with the efficiency ordering leads provides, far outweighs my lead costs.


Example: Yesterday I had an agent who frequents this forum. He drove from Dallas to ride with me and we had three appointments for the day. I worked about a total of four hours in the field. I sold all three appointments for a total of four polices and approx $2,600 AP.

 

[HoosierLife]

I swore I'd never go back to Indianapolis, but I accidentally mailed there in January so started ordering all my TM and Internet leads in Indy for the first 3 months of the year.

I'm a TM lead junkie too. I'm having to buy DM leads just so I can make sure I have 30-40 leads a week consistently, but I think I actually prefer TM leads.

Crazy thing is that I wrote $45K in Indianapolis the first quarter. I know there's so many people that say rural is better than urban, but I think I speak urban ghetto better than rural American. I also get just as many no shows out in the sticks as in the city.

I seem to get along with the inner city folks better too. I seem to be able to build trust with them better too.

I'm pretty laid back and get along with most folks, but I had a son of suspect call me yesterday saying I was rude to his mom. All I did was pack up and leave when I realized she wasn't a buyer. And I had another redneck chase me through town in his big white truck. All because I tried to charge him $75 for porching me??? Rural people have no sense of humor

Everybody's got to find what works for them I guess. I'll give these country folks a few more weeks. Maybe I'll dress down a little. I think I look like some slick city salesman to them.

 

[John Galt]

No question Miami is like La are Atlanta. But the areas you mail 3 hrs north. I bet agents who live there mail 3 hrs west are east. I drive 4k miles a month but I'm never more than 80 miles from my home. There's so many ways to do this job. Everyone has to find there own groove. But there's one constant variable and that's hard work.

And plenty of leads, lots and lots of leads.

 

[VolAgent]

I swore I'd never go back to Indianapolis, but I accidentally mailed there in January so started ordering all my TM and Internet leads in Indy for the first 3 months of the year.

I'm a TM lead junkie too. I'm having to buy DM leads just so I can make sure I have 30-40 leads a week consistently, but I think I actually prefer TM leads.

Crazy thing is that I wrote $45K in Indianapolis the first quarter. I know there's so many people that say rural is better than urban, but I think I speak urban ghetto better than rural American. I also get just as many no shows out in the sticks as in the city.

I seem to get along with the inner city folks better too. I seem to be able to build trust with them better too.

I'm pretty laid back and get along with most folks, but I had a son of suspect call me yesterday saying I was rude to his mom. All I did was pack up and leave when I realized she wasn't a buyer. And I had another redneck chase me through town in his big white truck. All because I tried to charge him $75 for porching me??? Rural people have no sense of humor

Everybody's got to find what works for them I guess. I'll give these country folks a few more weeks. Maybe I'll dress down a little. I think I look like some slick city salesman to them.

I always get a kick out of that. You don't want to buy from me, but you want to bend my ear for another hour? I don't think so.

I remember one woman getting all pissy about it. Told me she couldn't qualify and didn't want it, but she wanted to rant forever about how everyone has wronged her. Eventually I just told her I had to go. She called me later saying never to speak to her again. I guess she just couldn't get the hint that no one wanted to speak with her.

 

[KidsGotHeart]

Not bad! I am on pace to double that here in San Antonio this year. Some people might think I'm less of an agent for having to buy leads but I like the appointment system much better.


The $ I am able to make, along with the efficiency ordering leads provides, far outweighs my lead costs.


Example: Yesterday I had an agent who frequents this forum. He drove from Dallas to ride with me and we had three appointments for the day. I worked about a total of four hours in the field. I sold all three appointments for a total of four polices and approx $2,600 AP.

On a quest for 500k? I'll be rooting for ya, good luck.

 

[Agentguy5]

On a quest for 500k? I'll be rooting for ya, good luck.

He can definitely do it!

 

[Glen Shelton]

It is funny you say that, one of my most successful MGA's is based in Chicago and write a ton of FE for AmAm and have been one of their best agencies for the past 7 years. Funny thing with them.... They do not do Direct Mail or Telemarketing. FE by door knocking and referrals and active with churches.... There is always a way to skin a cat without using traditional lead methods.

Hmm, FE Application update this month with AmAm could change a few things eh?

 

[KidsGotHeart]

He can definitely do it!

You two should have a joint goal of one Million dollars.

 

[Heck13]

Hey Goose, Yea, I have worked in MANY states. In most of those states I have only done short stints while training different agents around the country. By stints I usually mean 2-4 days in a particular area. So the sample sizes I usually see are not large enough to comment on conclusively. That being said however, it does give me an idea of the other markets around the country and lets me know what other agents are experiencing in those areas. I have only found 1 market that I would deem difficult and that was Chicago. All other markets I have worked looked to be pretty easy. South Jersey seemed to be an exceptional market, friendly people and very receptive. Southern Illinois along the Indiana border was a nice spot. NW Indiana was VERY EASY. Denver and Colorado Springs are good markets. Milwaukee is another good one. ALL of Texas is GREAT except for the areas along the border of Mexico IMO. Jackson, Mississippi was another eye opening experience. People were EXTREMELY nice and quick to buy from me. Problem with that area is persistency and I've NEVER had a persistency problem. I wrote 7K in 2 days while I was there and maybe half is on the books. I got no-showed more in Alabama than any other time I can think of so I didn't get to do much sampling there. Many agents did quite well there though. I will try to make it to the NW Louisiana blitz at the end of this month to help train some agents, so I will get a taste of some cajun business then.

Hey spur

What was the issue you faced along the border towns of Texas. Which border towns did you try?

 

[SPUR CITY]

Hey spur What was the issue you faced along the border towns of Texas. Which border towns did you try?

The border towns in Texas. "The Valley" as they call it. Harlingen, Brownsville, McAllen, San Benito and others. A lot of Direct Express people there along with a language barrier. If you don't know Spanish you are in trouble. And although I understand quite a bit of Spanish I could never do a presentation in Spanish.


Are you from a border town? And if so, where?