Agency Operations

Creating a Sales Environment

Did you know that at least half of all young, good producers leave their jobs after a short time due to their agencies’ poor sales environments? A new producer costs a minimum of $150,000 the first three years with minimal production, so these are very costly losses. How can agencies turn this around?

Close Up Plant in Female Hands. Care of the Environment. Ecology concept

Why Do Producers Fail?

I’m going to give you 25 reasons why producers fail. Some of you will laugh. Some will cry. Some will curse. Some will think I am unfairly picking on producers. Some will think I’ve hit the mark. Regardless of your reaction, the point of this list is the same: Every one of these reasons for…

Producers, Lawn Chairs, and Brothers-In-Law

Start your agency on its way to making money on its sales, rather than losing money. Take a detailed look at ALL of the costs of making a sale. Do not let your brother-in-law or your producers leave you holding the bill for your operating expenses! To learn what producers, brothers-in-law and lawn chairs have…

Losses Loom Large

Not all customers will opt for higher quality services and products, but we can educate our prospects and clients about the genuine risks involved with a lower quality solution and provide true motivation for choosing a higher quality services and products. Here’s how….

Production and Profits

Some agency owners believe they need a producer regardless of whether the producer generates a profit for the agency. They believe they need the business to keep their companies happy and to stay competitive. This is like skinning your knee and asking the doctor for an amputation to stop the pain. Better solutions do exist!

White arrow up to growth success, 3d render, progress way and forward achievement creative concept.

Increase Profits by Getting Rid of Prospects

The time has long passed when every breathing human should be considered a prospect. Most agencies only segment their markets by size and account type, such as personal lines, small commercial, middle market, truckers, high-end personal lines, contractors, and so forth. These delineations still apply, but more important divisions exist.

“River Rock” Sales Management

Many agency owners/managers are like river rocks…solid with rounded edges, they don’t like to cut people the wrong way. Unfortunately, while this approach may work with customers, it may not with staff. Many agencies have producers who are like anchors dragging the agency in the current or, worse, to the bottom of the river. Here’s…

Personnel recruitment and a magnet attracts good employee leaders. Blue background.

Sharks Wanted!

As agencies grow, eventually they require a producer and bringing in a nonowner producer seems to be the Achilles heal of so many very successful agency owners. But, there are two important things you can do: (1) hire a good sales person, and (2) provide sales training. In this article, I’ll give you some tips…

An employer employs people in his company. Help Wanted. Call for help, volunteering. Search and recruitment of new employees for work. Hire staff. Employment Agency. Recruiting, staffing.

Torpedo & LU Producers

I spend a lot of time with insurance agency owners and producers. So I see and observe a lot about sales. Based on these observations, I believe producers generally fall into four categories: (1) Lazy and Undisciplined (LU’s), (2) Stalwarts, (3) Charisma Maniacs, and (4) Torpedoes. Do you know in which category your producers fall?

New ideas creativity and different innovative solution. Business concept. A group of paper airplanes, one plane is flying in the other direction, different way.

What Business Are You Really In?

What business are you in? The answer is not always obvious. If your answer is selling insurance then prepare your agency for a slow demise. No future exists in selling insurance. Going forward, traditional P&C insurance will become less and less important. Insurance is only one means for protecting assets….

Business image of wooden tree with people icons over blue table, human resources and management concept