What is the best way to get noticed while in the process selling standard property and causality insurance.?

Focus on what you want to target first. If it is home insurance, then begin networking with mortgage companies, mortgage brokers, realtors, and title companies. Let them know what your criterias are for the best rates (i.e. 1996 Block home not along the coastal areas)

If it is auto, then begin focusing on your local region first and target families of 2 cars or more. If it is commercial, visit the companies and the people who make the decisions. Do these one at a time and develop them well. Trying to do them all at once leads into a disorganized mess and does not help you become an absolute expert at any one of them becuase of the scattered focus.

Customer CARE weighs far more than anything else. Come across as an agent to the people and you care about their lives, their livelihood, and their future. Know the tricks of the trade. What does it take to give good quotes on insurance? Set yourself apart from the pack.

Here are examples of what I do for my industry.

1. I understand how banks and lenders function with mortgages and their requirements needed on an insurance policy. This makes a lender ecstatic and the homeowner is grateful that I am able to navigate some of their lender's issues regarding insurance notice letters from them. I play the "interpreter" even though it is not my job to understand mortgages, but I bothered so I am considered a "hero"

2. I explain all things in layman's terms. Comprehensive - things not related to collision. Dwelling is pick up the house and hang it upside. Loose stuff on the ground is Contents, all other things nailed in, glued in, screwed in or somehow attached is Dwelling

3. Tell funny true stories to the coverage definitions. I say about animal liability is more than animal biting. Come visit my house, the black streak racing towards the door is my cat. Let it in first as I don't want you tripping over him. It took me 10 yrs of cat ownership to get trained that I as the owner am not first. I no longer dislocate my hips or back. Also, don't pet my fish, I hate to hear we are amputating your hand because of infection from the bacteria in the water because I still haven't posted the sign on my tank, "Don't Pet The Fish" as my ding bat friend was doing exactly that. Also, don't visit me with your $2,000 Gucci purse as my Goofy dog who still doesn't act Pluto like will say in his brain, "I have never tasted $2,000 cow leather! Is it better tasting than the $10 shoes I steal?" BTW, all of these are true stories actual events in claims . True stories of hold more weight and people remember the crazy stories applied to the definition of coverages

Using real life scenarios whether funny or not helps people relate to what it is you are talking about, but the giggles makes them like you more. It humanizes you.

4. I dress not over the top business that it appears I am unapproachable but I don't dress too casual that I am not taken seriously. After all, we are professionals.

5. I tell all my clients I am policy number phobic. I prefer names. If I ask for a policy number, it is because the dumb system is being its usual electronic uncooperative self.

As to their names? I keep a list of all my clients on a master sheet. It shows last name, first names of all named insured's, address, phone number, and insurance carrier names. This way, when someone calls? I do a quick find on my Excel sheet by any search parameter (I have unnamed insureds who sometimes cannot tell you the named policy holder, but at least they can give me the address), bring their policy up, and I know everything about them and it makes them feel good. I bluff well. Actually, I do remember about 2/3 of my clientele in my head and I know the history of their property and family. The other 1/3, the excel does wonders for me.

So, because of my one on one take with everyone, my willingness to take time and layman's terms explain the policies and applications, and my time to know them and their family, I get more mouth to mouth referrals than I don't spend on advertising. I am simply in the yellow pages for easy location for my customers to contact me. Also, I leave lollipops (tootsie rolls or dum dums - no off brand) in the office lobby or some other goody reminiscent of childhood as a show of customer appreciation (the lollies does wonders, reminds adults of being a kid), once a year calendar magnet with agency name and phone number (I tell them so they can find Kim easy without figuring where my darn card is at), and the periodic phone call campaign of am I doing a good job and do you have any questions. I usually say, "this is a courtesy call to let you know I am still breathing and how are you? Am I doing a good job and do you have any questions that you thought about at 2 am in the morning but forgot to call me later because as you know, I am not in the office at 2 am!."

My clients are used to my quirky style and love it. I didn't want to come across as a droll person who only knows insurance language jargon. So insurance carriers are "dum dums or ding dings" and their requirements are "hurdles we must meet to give them warm fuzzies". This way I come across as being sympathetic with the pain in the butts things they must face as I am a consumer too.

Good luck