great post Healthagent I agree with you 100% you earn those referals...now I don't think there is any harm in saying something along the lines of, 'if I have been an asset or help to you I hope you will refer your family/friends to me when they are of need' type statement but NEVER to ask for referals straight out! _________________ Have you been helped by a poster? Do you want to show your appreciation? YOU CAN !! Just simply click on the donate button and send them some coin!
now I don't think there is any harm in saying something along the lines of, 'if I have been an asset or help to you I hope you will refer your family/friends to me when they are of need'
That was kind of my point in the beginning. I have never received very many referrals that I didn't "ask" for.
Working a lot in the business market, I have even asked a business owner to call an associate while I was still in his office. This personal introduction sure helped me get past the receptionist.
People will give you referrals if they like and trust you. _________________
I think it is important to keep up with your clients, living in the same neighborhood, shopping in the same stores and having more in common than the policy itself will build rapport between you and your customers also.
I thought the football schedule was a real good idea, used to be a deck of cards right?
Sometimes you can ask for referrals without appearing to be asking. Quarterly newsletters (via email or hard copy) will catch someone's attention.
A friendly birthday call or an annual review of their policy.
All great ideas, and IMO the ''offer'' perhaps years to review their coverages 'to ensure the are properly protected'''as I mentioned the fact that mine always took the time to drop by the funeral homes and sign books or come to visitation, or send a care in a time of sorrow really meant a lot to me..... _________________ Have you been helped by a poster? Do you want to show your appreciation? YOU CAN !! Just simply click on the donate button and send them some coin!
Check out the Insurance Agent Rating Bureau online for an inovative idea for referrals! _________________ Register Now to have your Insurance queries solved.
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 1:31 am Post subject: insurance
Speaking as a 'consumer' ( of course..) , i think 'we' should be known NOT just as a Policy Number, but,,as individuals ( hope this makes sense). ...it doesn't matter WHAT kind of insurance you have or where you have your policy. I remember dealing with an insurance company, that I had my car insurance from. I had some concerns about my policy. The next day, I called the insurance company again and talked to the SAME person I talked to the day before. He din't even remember the conversasion. THAT 'turns people off', too. Just giving some my experience on the subject.
I agree with you sd, I can send an email to my agent and she will clearly know who I am, even though I have only dealt with her on the internet and on the phone. I have discussed the common cold with her last winter, her hubby was really sick. I feel like I can ask her anything and she will get back to me. Even though she does not deal with me face to face, I feel like she has my best intrest in mind.
Speaking as a 'consumer' ( of course..) , i think 'we' should be known NOT just as a Policy Number, but,,as individuals ( hope this makes sense). ...it doesn't matter WHAT kind of insurance you have or where you have your policy. I remember dealing with an insurance company, that I had my car insurance from. I had some concerns about my policy. The next day, I called the insurance company again and talked to the SAME person I talked to the day before. He din't even remember the conversasion. THAT 'turns people off', too.
I am an insurance agent and oftentimes when I call an insurance company, the CSR doesn't remember talking to me two days before.
Most companies have diary systems in place where they are required to make a note of your call and can look it up, but these people talk to hundreds of people on a daily basis and to actually remember a particular conversation would be extraordinary. If you had called the agent, things would probably have been different.
Our insurance agent should be our first line of communication and then if we don't get results, the company.
I certainly agree with all of the suggestions about asking for referrals.
If we are to be professionals in this business, we must keep in touch with our customers, whether it be by newsletters, direct mail, or a regular phone call.
If we wait for our customers to call us and request an insurance review, well, they will probably never get one.
Here is a suggestion that we use that might not work for everyone
when we are closing a sale, we ask the client to take out their cell phone and program our customer service number in their phone (P&C company) then when they do that we ask them for referrals of some people they have in there phone while they have it out.
(this is in a short form)
