Agency Nation Radio

It's certainly a question you probably rarely ask yourself. It's also probably more rare for you to intentionally identify a rule you want to break. But, most people rarely get to where they are without doing it, either intentionally or unintentionally. Today is an extra special episode. I took a deep dive into my audio archive and pulled out this nearly three year old interview (from a previous p...

If you're focusing on things that don't get results, there's a good chance you are. When you're getting started marketing your agency, there's a lot of decisions to make about what you're going to do and where you're going to focus your time. Of course, it's in these decisions that may lead you to the breakout idea that takes your agency to the next level. However, you're going to want to make sur...

If you let someone do it full time, it can get as loud as you want. However, if you constantly try to piece it together with extra time and occasional interest, there's a good chance you'll barely hear it. A big part of the reason your marketing isn't making a sound is because you haven't been able to hire someone (with or without insurance experience) to fill it. Much like everything else we do i...

It's definitely and easy way to jump into video, because the hardest part is pushing the button to do it. There's no editing and post production to worry about, instead you have to make the most of the moment. No matter what happens, it will absolutely help you get your name out in front of the people you want hanging around your agency. Live video might require a little extra work upfront, but it...

These two questions couldn't be more unrelated if they tried. I thought it would be fun to open up the mailbag and clear out some unanswered questions. The first is obviously a pressing topic for agents hungry to grow but can't support the business required to get those direct appointments. The other if pure video geek mode talking about a simple lens question every one has trying to buy their fir...

If it's not, then it's missing the entire purpose of what it's suppose to do. One thing is for sure if at first you don't succeed, try again. There's no limit on the amount of tries you get to get it right. No matter how much you read, watch and listen too when it comes to content marking. that means you can try as many cool things as I say so. That's what I talk to Jared Bullmend, of Carolina Liv...

Is all about constantly absorbing information and finding the right people to do something with it. Being a better agent can be as easy as reading a book, listening to a podcast or spending more time with the right people. Those items aren't hard to do on their own, it's the action behind them that's tough. That's where building the right core right core group of agent agents to make that a realit...

Is easy to fall into because so many people told you to do. Even with all of the amazing tools you have today, there's still a lot of selling that needs done. But it's really just a way to generate referrals and interest and far from a hard sell. There's is endless meaningful opportunity in the business that most have been blinded from seeing. It's up to you help them find it. P.S. The most dynami...

It's action that has to find it's way into the DNA of every insurance company. Because if we're not careful, we could just be giving innovation a toke room to create something that will never matter. If it's not dramatically and immediately implemented, there's a good chance those good ideas will go no where. At the same time you have to make sure it's given enough freedom be real in the first pla...

It triggers a ripple effect far beyond just your immediate pain. Either they don't know, or they don't care. I'm not sure which one is worse. But that's the feeling you get when you realize your one of your insurance companies is only looking out for themselves. It's certainly an experience your clients should never be apart of, however are still very much at risk. That's what I talk to Nancy Nick...

This mentality is rarely confused with a legacy independent insurance agency. Mostly because good is better than expected most of the time, forget anything else. To be fair, that's not to say all agents and/or agencies start out that way. The bigger question instead is, was that mentality ability to survive until something could be done about it? That's what I talk to Bogus Handzel, of Handzel and...

It's certainly a possibility you shouldn't underestimate. The faster and easier things get the hard it becomes for you to add value. Of course, there's plenty there, but you have to be looking in the right places to find it. Otherwise you'll be left by yourself having a conversation no one is willing or interested to have. That's what I talked with Justin Fowler, Founder of Ninja Rater, about his...

The information is there, we just have to start using it. Underwriting, claims and coverage are just a few of the ways the insurance process you knew will be turned upside down. The smarter things in your life get, the smarter your coverage and policy get as a result. But, the only catch is, you've got to find a way to dumb down the smart home and That's what I talk to Haley Smith, Director of Sta...

There's just a few question you need to answer before you jump head first into a new commercial niche. The first one is figuring out if you speak their language well enough to sell insurance the way they understand. The next one is if the average annual premium will generate enough commission to make sure you keep the lights on. Finally, you've got to have enough insurance companies who actually w...

Do you know the difference between customer experience and customer service and which happens when? Customer service is when something goes wrong, customer experience however is a much bigger umbrella protecting every interaction with clients in your business. It's everything from how you answer the phone, respond to emails, what it feels like to physically be in your office and certainly what hap...

If you don't stick to your guns, you'll just end up complaining about how many bad ones you have. You constantly have to be prepared to break it off with a client or not get involved with a new one if things aren't right. Not only will this help you from complaining, it might even keep you happy in your business. That's one thing Alex Dopazo, of Dopazo and Associates , isn't afraid to do. P.S. Don...

It's really hard to unmake the choices you inherited from previous generations. While normally fueled with the best of intentions, they often struggle to be relevant to the people waiting to put their name on the door. However, that only tells half the story, because at the end of the day it's up to you to do your best with the opportunities given. At some point you can't let those old and dirty d...

Do you wish you grew up in an insurance world that only let you have a niche? Believe it or not, there's some agents out there lucky enough to do just that. If selling to your niche is your only option, it's amazing how good you get selling in it. In fact, within a fairly short amount of time, you'll be able to own it like no one else you know. That's what my new friend Amanda Schneider, of TrueNo...

If you don't, it will never get done. Lie to yourself all you want, a highly effective piece of content that gets found in search is almost impossible to beat. Because when it starts working its hard to stop. That means a constant new stream of business finding you. The only thing you have to be careful of is making sure you go deep enough. That's what I talk to Woody Brown, of The Rhoads Group ,...

It really depends on what and how you do it. Because there's a very good chance you might be missing an important piece. That piece might technology, it might access to the right company or the thing you want to do just doesn't like it. No matter what, you'll need to overcome them all if you truly want to scale all the way. That's what I talk to Ed Munson, of Munson Insurance, about as he tries to...

Is by making sure we remember to tell each other what we need to win. It seems simple enough, but there's plenty of communication isolation going on all around the industry. Basically there's a lot of preaching to choirs that we allow to serve as validation for inexperienced problems. I jumped behind the mic for a first ever one-on-one monologue of sorts to discuss this problems and few others rel...

How many insurance companies are willing to tear it all down and put technology at the top of the list? The answer we all wish wasn't true is, not many. But that's exactly what State Auto did when Mike LaRocco came on board three years ago. It's also nice that they believe so strongly in us, you know independent agents, and want to make sure we come along for the ride. That's what I sit down to ta...

Is the lack of trust and respect you have for making sure people know you're an expert. If there's one thing you should be doing on the internet for your agency, it's distributing your insurance brain to as many people in as many places as you can. When you're done with that you should feel good about it because too many of us are worried insurance isn't "cool" enough. Just stop it, it is and so a...

If you want to build a business and avoid becoming a slave to your agency, you have to find the next generation of agents. This has to be one of the most important things you do over the next five, 10, 15 or 20 years. You really don't have a choice, because this year alone one out of every four agents will be retiring. It's up to you to make sure that next wave of agents knows how to properly help...

Is by making sure you always know who needs to do what, when. Because when you do, you'll limit the amount on enthusiasm you kill delaying progress. The longer you make something take, the less that will get done. This is also true if you're always trying to do more than you can handle. That's what I talk to Dani Kimble, at The O'Neill Group , about as she tries to figure out how fast her process...