Can You Give Me Your Opinion Around Social Networks

[pdoyle]

Bob, I'm an Independant IMO principal. CPS Gulf States Brokerage. New to Twitter
and found this thread. I'm here to learn and share ideas. It's all good.

 

[somarco]

I had to clean up my Twitter account a few weeks ago. Seems I had half a dozen or so followers who were selling things that would get me in trouble with my wife, and possibly the law. I had to log in and figure out how to delete these ladies, some of whom had some interesting (and revealing) avatars.

Now I pay attention whenever I get a notice from Twitter that someone is stalking, uh, following me. I look at their profile and decide immediately if I want them to follow me or not.

I have had the same issue with Skype. Signed up in May to talk with my daughter while she was traveling in Europe. Don't use it much any more but seems every time I log in someone I never heard of wants to be my friend.

Now if I could find a way to screen the 50 or so Viagra promotions that land in my junk email account every day my life would be better.

Back to Twitter, every time I blog I have my site set up to tweet my followers. Can't say this has brought me any business but I guess it doesn't hurt either.

 

[CHUMPS FROM OXFORD]

So true about Twitter. I bock 95% of my followers. But some followers are genuine. probably because I'm the only health insurance/fantasy football expert that tweets...for now anyhow.

 

[somarco]

I tweet about insurance, and I have fantasy's, but not about football . . .

 

[GreenSky]

I tweet about insurance, and I have fantasy's, but not about football . . .

Oh Bob, you've made me blush.

Rick

 

[Mark]

I sold a husband and wife from Farmtown on Facebook. She was working on my farm and we got to talking about everything and she asked me what I did and she just out of the blue said she need to buy some life insurance on her husband and her....

Damn, I got some good luck. I also sold 1 old friend from facebook.

 

[CHUMPS FROM OXFORD]

I'll never try to sell anybody anything on my Facebook. Well...OK...here comes my shameless plug.

The second annual "Walk Across America For Groat's Syndrome" will be starting next month. Last year, more than $550,000 was raised. If anybody wants additional information, please feel free to EM me. I originated and continue to be a heavy sponsor of this event.


The Muddy Hill Post: Groat's Syndrome

 

[somarco]

Don't flatter yourself Rick. When I fantasize, it is not about you.

Unless of course you look like Catherine Zeta Jones . . .

 

[OrlandoSEO]

That is because you have not yet learned how to use these media effectively. To make more sense of it, think of it this way. How many people have you met at a party talked to for 30 minutes and then they found out you do insurance and you ended up writing them. Most likely a lot of you. That is how you are supposed to use twitter and facebook. Don't go around pushing your business. No one cares. Instead, if you are packers fan, spend time talking to tons of packers fans and casually mention once in a while that you are an insurance agent. If they like you they will request a quote.

I noticed by the response that I think you misunderstood what I meant by casually mention you sell insurance. Eventually, sooner or later people will ask what you do for a living if your are genuine. When they find out you do insurance, their is a good chance they will contact you if they need it. A rule of thumb to go by if you are trying to promote your business on social networks is no more than 80/20. That means no more than 20% of your posts should be promotional. It should really be more like 10%. The rest should be about helping others, informing others, or connecting with people. The same rules of society apply to facebook and twitter.

Let me know if this does not make sense to anyone.
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"casually mention once in a while that you are an insurance agent."

I have never done that (not even once) in 29 years at any party or social gathering. I don't even carry a business card.

Just me and I wouldn't recommend it.

I used to agree with you until I got asked so many times about what I did by someone and then they asked me for a card. I would have to say I don't carry one and they would be disappointed. So now I do, and have built a lot of business from it.

I am probably the least promotional person I have ever met. In fact, when we hired several interns last month to do sales, we trained them to not sell. Instead we train them to answer questions and educate business owners. In my experience, anyone you have to sell is most likely going to have buyers remorse and become a pain anyways.

As a non insurance agent. I joined this forum to get more info for a new insurance client that I started working with last month. I can tell you their is an absolute need to have knowledgeable people educate us on the risks and traps of insurance.

 

[Broker007]

I noticed by the response that I think you misunderstood what I meant by casually mention you sell insurance. Eventually, sooner or later people will ask what you do for a living if your are genuine. When they find out you do insurance, their is a good chance they will contact you if they need it. A rule of thumb to go by if you are trying to promote your business on social networks is no more than 80/20. That means no more than 20% of your posts should be promotional. It should really be more like 10%. The rest should be about helping others, informing others, or connecting with people. The same rules of society apply to facebook and twitter.

Let me know if this does not make sense to anyone.
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I used to agree with you until I got asked so many times about what I did by someone and then they asked me for a card. I would have to say I don't carry one and they would be disappointed. So now I do, and have built a lot of business from it.

I am probably the least promotional person I have ever met. In fact, when we hired several interns last month to do sales, we trained them to not sell. Instead we train them to answer questions and educate business owners. In my experience, anyone you have to sell is most likely going to have buyers remorse and become a pain anyways.

As a non insurance agent. I joined this forum to get more info for a new insurance client that I started working with last month. I can tell you their is an absolute need to have knowledgeable people educate us on the risks and traps of insurance.

Very well put buddy.