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You're going to get a lot of advice about how to get off the ground in this business. I deal with a lot of "ok, I just got appointed yesterday and need internet leads - oh, and I want my website to generate leads to - oh, and...."
Stop.
Study. As in, a lot. Study your products and underwriting. Then when you think you know it, start over and study more. I'll go ahead and say that the knowledge your prospects perceive you have or don't have is most of the battle.
For health, study the HIPAA and COBRA laws. You should know the options for people expiring COBRA. Know the PCIP rules.
After you've studied....don't buy shared internet leads. First, you'll likely get clobbered by senior agents. Secondly, you won't be building any prospecting or marketing skills.
The worst that can happen is you actually close a few. That's like a hit off the crack pipe and you'll be chasing that forever. 2 years later you'll be curled up in corner with your laptop trying out the "8th" lead vendor. This isn't to say "never buy leads." Just don't buy them now.
Selling online? Ok - are you FANTASTIC on the phone? Are you fluid? Can you convey confidence and not rush it? Then you may want to start out with face to face meetings. Set appointments and drive on out. With very, very few exceptions the biggest producers on this board started out face to face. I understand online app weren't available back then, but they built up their chops.
I got off the ground by driving to appointments with my manager. If they would have kicked me out of the office without training and said "sell online" I'd likely be showing people where the power tool section is right now. If anyone wants to be a millionaire, start a "learn and drive" business where you take new agents on appointments they set for independent agents. In theory captive shops still do this - although that depends on "your manager."
A sales manager once told me that if I learn how to create my own business I'll never be out of work a day in my life. He was right. Learn to cold call. Learn business to business and telemarketing.
Prospecting is mainly free, so as you slowly get off the ground at least you won't be wasting hundreds a week.
Onto SEO. Forget about it for now. It's a mental diversion you don't need when you're brand new. Your sole focus should be on learning your products, generating your own leads through prospecting and running presentations. Focusing on getting on 1st page Google is a mental time suck you can't afford. That comes later.
Stop.
Study. As in, a lot. Study your products and underwriting. Then when you think you know it, start over and study more. I'll go ahead and say that the knowledge your prospects perceive you have or don't have is most of the battle.
For health, study the HIPAA and COBRA laws. You should know the options for people expiring COBRA. Know the PCIP rules.
After you've studied....don't buy shared internet leads. First, you'll likely get clobbered by senior agents. Secondly, you won't be building any prospecting or marketing skills.
The worst that can happen is you actually close a few. That's like a hit off the crack pipe and you'll be chasing that forever. 2 years later you'll be curled up in corner with your laptop trying out the "8th" lead vendor. This isn't to say "never buy leads." Just don't buy them now.
Selling online? Ok - are you FANTASTIC on the phone? Are you fluid? Can you convey confidence and not rush it? Then you may want to start out with face to face meetings. Set appointments and drive on out. With very, very few exceptions the biggest producers on this board started out face to face. I understand online app weren't available back then, but they built up their chops.
I got off the ground by driving to appointments with my manager. If they would have kicked me out of the office without training and said "sell online" I'd likely be showing people where the power tool section is right now. If anyone wants to be a millionaire, start a "learn and drive" business where you take new agents on appointments they set for independent agents. In theory captive shops still do this - although that depends on "your manager."
A sales manager once told me that if I learn how to create my own business I'll never be out of work a day in my life. He was right. Learn to cold call. Learn business to business and telemarketing.
Prospecting is mainly free, so as you slowly get off the ground at least you won't be wasting hundreds a week.
Onto SEO. Forget about it for now. It's a mental diversion you don't need when you're brand new. Your sole focus should be on learning your products, generating your own leads through prospecting and running presentations. Focusing on getting on 1st page Google is a mental time suck you can't afford. That comes later.