Looking for a mentor in sales

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jacko

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2024
1,205
708
113
#1
Anyone willing to help a brother? I've started a new career in sales. All lines of insurance including auto, property and casualty and life and annuities, soon will add health insurance to the lines stated. I need some guidance on how to get it going? Strategies, etc.
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
27,910
9,805
113
#2
Anyone willing to help a brother? I've started a new career in sales. All lines of insurance including auto, property and casualty and life and annuities, soon will add health insurance to the lines stated. I need some guidance on how to get it going? Strategies, etc.
I can't help you with that, but I do have a question. What kind of price can you give me for health insurance? Single guy, mid-forties, doesn't drink or smoke, reasonably good health right now.
 
Nov 14, 2024
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#3
Anyone willing to help a brother? I've started a new career in sales. All lines of insurance including auto, property and casualty and life and annuities, soon will add health insurance to the lines stated. I need some guidance on how to get it going? Strategies, etc.
The only advice that I can give you is to treat your customers right. Word of mouth will inevitably be one of your main means of advertising. In other words, happy customers will inevitably tell people in their sphere of influence good things about you and your business, and unhappy customers will inevitably tell people in their sphere of influence bad things about you and your business.

I am sorry, but that is all that I can offer. I hope that your business is successful.
 

Eli1

Well-known member
Apr 5, 2022
5,386
2,373
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#4
Anyone willing to help a brother? I've started a new career in sales. All lines of insurance including auto, property and casualty and life and annuities, soon will add health insurance to the lines stated. I need some guidance on how to get it going? Strategies, etc.
Sorry, I’m in IT but from what I’ve seen here you seem like a positive and determined person who loves God so I’m sure you will figure it out with God’s guidance.

I didn’t learn anything in college about computers or Java programming or html coding or anything needed for real life which the school is supposed to prepare you for.
I learned it all on my own staying late with little sleep.
 

JohnDB

Well-known member
Jan 16, 2021
6,323
2,581
113
#5
Anyone willing to help a brother? I've started a new career in sales. All lines of insurance including auto, property and casualty and life and annuities, soon will add health insurance to the lines stated. I need some guidance on how to get it going? Strategies, etc.
Retail?
Uggghhhhh. I hate retail sales. B2B is where the money is at. Not that retail can't pay....but you need an ADVOCATE to rely upon, for their advocacy for you to get any volume.

Such as payroll deduction...
That is a form of advocacy. Small businesses usually rock for this.

But that scenario is also going to require a NASD cert for investment products....(Which also pay)

Otherwise you aren't much better than a mall kiosk.
 

jacko

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2024
1,205
708
113
#6
Retail?
Uggghhhhh. I hate retail sales. B2B is where the money is at. Not that retail can't pay....but you need an ADVOCATE to rely upon, for their advocacy for you to get any volume.

Such as payroll deduction...
That is a form of advocacy. Small businesses usually rock for this.

But that scenario is also going to require a NASD cert for investment products....(Which also pay)

Otherwise you aren't much better than a mall kiosk.

Open to all suggestions, B2B would work too, but I dont know many business owners!
 

jacko

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2024
1,205
708
113
#7
As far as a mall Kiosk, I'd be working from home to reduce overhead until I can get it going.
 

jacko

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2024
1,205
708
113
#8
I can't help you with that, but I do have a question. What kind of price can you give me for health insurance? Single guy, mid-forties, doesn't drink or smoke, reasonably good health right now.
I don't have my health, but as soon as I did. I can give you a free quote. My value proposition to save people money of course... or what is the point!
 

jacko

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2024
1,205
708
113
#9
Sorry, I’m in IT but from what I’ve seen here you seem like a positive and determined person who loves God so I’m sure you will figure it out with God’s guidance.

I didn’t learn anything in college about computers or Java programming or html coding or anything needed for real life which the school is supposed to prepare you for.
I learned it all on my own staying late with little sleep.
God is the senior partner taking the first 10% gross. So I pray he blesses the fruit on my hand.
 

JohnDB

Well-known member
Jan 16, 2021
6,323
2,581
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#10
Open to all suggestions, B2B would work too, but I dont know many business owners!
Sales is ALL about relationships.
First rule of sales:
"They are not buying your products as much as they are buying you!"
IOW...you need friends yesterday who will promote people buying your products over someone else's. You need to be well known and liked in your community....known as someone generous, trustworthy and well liked by everyone.

Lots of places to go buy insurance. Even online with no person to annoy you into buying more. Answer questions about various products or what happens when you need to use it....even years later.

Every Agent I knew that was successful had exactly that reputation....on and off the golf course, gym, church, charitable organizations and social clubs.
 

jacko

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2024
1,205
708
113
#11
Sales is ALL about relationships.
First rule of sales:
"They are not buying your products as much as they are buying you!"
IOW...you need friends yesterday who will promote people buying your products over someone else's. You need to be well known and liked in your community....known as someone generous, trustworthy and well liked by everyone.

Lots of places to go buy insurance. Even online with no person to annoy you into buying more. Answer questions about various products or what happens when you need to use it....even years later.

Every Agent I knew that was successful had exactly that reputation....on and off the golf course, gym, church, charitable organizations and social clubs.
Yes totally agree, but everyone has to buy auto, and has to buy homeowners if they own.
So it's much easier sell that Life insurance, where some people don't see the value in it. Need a value proposition, which is of course saving dollars.
 

JohnDB

Well-known member
Jan 16, 2021
6,323
2,581
113
#12
Yes totally agree, but everyone has to buy auto, and has to buy homeowners if they own.
So it's much easier sell that Life insurance, where some people don't see the value in it. Need a value proposition, which is of course saving dollars.
But WHY are they going to buy from you?

All-State, State Farm, Farm Bureau and even Flo.....they sell insurance. WHY are they going to come looking for you?

Money for premiums are NOT everything....actually only a third of the equation for most people when making a service/blue sky purchase.
I've known guys/girls with the best product vx price and absolutely failing miserably because nobody knew or liked them. So nobody would buy anything from them.

I once was looking to lease a property for a commercial business venture. And we found one that would suit our needs. But when it came time to ink the lease we discovered quickly that we kept getting an "icky" feeling from the guy....we did not feel that we could trust him to not interfere with our business in an ongoing manner. So we dropped the deal....a 5 year deal. And to this day his property remains empty. Not a penny of rent in years. Otherwise he would have had hundreds of thousands of dollars in his pocket.

Getting the picture?
 
Mar 4, 2024
993
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#13
Anyone willing to help a brother? I've started a new career in sales. All lines of insurance including auto, property and casualty and life and annuities, soon will add health insurance to the lines stated. I need some guidance on how to get it going? Strategies, etc.
What about Amway?
 

jacko

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2024
1,205
708
113
#15
But WHY are they going to buy from you?

All-State, State Farm, Farm Bureau and even Flo.....they sell insurance. WHY are they going to come looking for you?

Money for premiums are NOT everything....actually only a third of the equation for most people when making a service/blue sky purchase.
I've known guys/girls with the best product vx price and absolutely failing miserably because nobody knew or liked them. So nobody would buy anything from them.

I once was looking to lease a property for a commercial business venture. And we found one that would suit our needs. But when it came time to ink the lease we discovered quickly that we kept getting an "icky" feeling from the guy....we did not feel that we could trust him to not interfere with our business in an ongoing manner. So we dropped the deal....a 5 year deal. And to this day his property remains empty. Not a penny of rent in years. Otherwise he would have had hundreds of thousands of dollars in his pocket.

Getting the picture?
I get it, so what's the answer or solution?
 

JohnDB

Well-known member
Jan 16, 2021
6,323
2,581
113
#18
I get it, so what's the answer or solution?
What I explained earlier....
You need to be more popular than any politician. Better thought of than a preacher....and really really liked by everyone.

You need to be a massive part of your community. Someone everyone knows and likes. However you can make that happen you need to make that happen.

So much so that people are literally creating excuses to come talk to you and seek your advice or approval on subjects.

There's a huge amount of group dynamics and social dynamics that goes into this sort of thing. There was a guy I knew that had a pizza shop. Every time I came by to bring him supplies he made sure I got a slice of pizza at least to eat. No big expense on his part....
But to me, and I was not alone, if I had need of italian food I was in his door with a group of friends talking up his food as the best in town. Because I considered him a friend. And it wasn't just the pizza he gave me....it was the smile and kind words he always had when seeing me.

A lot of people find kind feelings when you ask for help with something they take a lot of pride in doing. Like asking a carpenter for assistance with fine cabinetry work you are doing. That carpenter is going to look at you as a friend because he believes that you understand him on a personal level that few other can or ever will.
Sure, you are selling insurance....and you make commissions. But people are tired of being sold. What they want is a friend who will help them navigate the community they live in.

There's salesmen and there are friends you buy things from....the salesman is always getting another set of products to sell. Friends are just friends who you never mind helping.
 

maxwel

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2013
9,690
2,745
113
#19
Anyone willing to help a brother? I've started a new career in sales. All lines of insurance including auto, property and casualty and life and annuities, soon will add health insurance to the lines stated. I need some guidance on how to get it going? Strategies, etc.
Did you develop a sales and mktg plan before embarking on this new career in insurance?
.
 

jacko

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2024
1,205
708
113
#20
Did you develop a sales and mktg plan before embarking on this new career in insurance?
.
I will tell you the truth. I'm taking a leap of faith so the answer is no. But I do feel the Lord is leading me on a new path and I'm not sure this is it. But I do know that it isn't my old path. I prayed and prayed and prayed to be sure and now I am sure so I left the old and moving forward .. with faith. I pray the Lord can guide my steps, like Noah didn't know how to build the ark either. God spoke to me through a message I heard online, I'm only responsible for the imputs (effort) and since I can't control the rest, It's on the shoulders of the Lord.