Agency Nation Radio

Because at the end of the day that might be the only thing you need for people to find you. Until you start creating playlists on your YouTube channel it's hard to see what your real focus has been. At that point, the numbers don't lie and there's no hiding from your real video marketing passion. The only question you need to ask then is if it's something you should continue doing. That's what I t...

That depends on what's included in the total package. If it's not a highly useful set of tools that's when things get questionable. Because simply paying for the possibility of future updates is a tough ask. It's even harder when you realize going with a local option rarely offers the latest and greatest. That's what I talk to Nick Thalhammer, of Cincinnatus Insurance , about his overall approach.

The process should actually start long before you find yourself needing it. When your agency is always on the lookout for the next person, you're always ready for what's next. Because then you'll have the luxury of essentially viewing their application in realtime. Having observed their career from afar you'll know excatly what they are made of. That's what I talk to Kimiko Donahue, of Everything...

Sometimes all it takes is a good talk to help line up the great ideas you want to record. Because that's the only thing left after you completely commit to video marketing at the highest level. Dedicating physical space and company culture to the idea are the two biggest way to really get things started. The only thing that's usually left is to give yourself permission to create mediocre for a lit...

It doesn't matter how many you have, every single one represents a massive achievement. That's hard to fully appreciate on a small scale when the weight of each one feels too light to notice. However, when you approach your agency with the mentality of a master builder, you'll probably know where everything needs to go. The problems start when you refuse to think beyond what you can do (or sell) b...

It certainly improves your chances the more intentional you are about the people close to your agency. Because it's great to be able to toss a wide insurance net, but it's also just as effective to shoot one that's specific. No matter how long you've been in the insurance game, it's always interesting to talk about the best place your business could go. Not to mention what could happen if you expa...

It really starts with honesty and making sure it's treated like a real partnership. There's a decent chance a previous generation taught you to keep all your insurance companies at arm's length. Of course, it depends on the day that you want to decide your general proximity to any one of them. Because there's also strong logic for more transparency when it comes to the type of business they're hun...

It seems like an obvious thing to do yet remains fairly elusive in execution. Bringing out the humanity in your on-camera personality can happen a number of different ways. It could be as simple as starting with a basic one-to-one video addressing a specific client. Or it could take the shape of the many problems your clients have when trying to buy insurance. That's what I talk to Zach Basner and...

Things get really interesting when you realize you had it the whole time. It was just up to you to do something about it in a consistent and effective way. That can start by simply putting existing components together in a unique way to create something new. It's during that assembly process that you'll discover a new idea people can't stop talking about. That's what I talk to Alex Salmon, of The...

Because you should spend most of your time and effort on other things. Things like crafting a compelling message that makes people take action on what you want. That is something that can easily happen when you're able to create pages for their specific needs. It also helps if you can ask for the information you need to decide how serious they are and do something about it. That's what I talk to J...

Starts with the fact they are now the largest generation of adults in the country. If that's not enough, it turns out they value a trusted and experienced advisor as much as anyone. The problem is they're looking to start that relationship online and communicate through channel's we often neglect. Surprisingly though, they want someone to help properly explain their coverage and know exactly what...

Starts by finding a way to disrupt ineffective processes and reduce as many redundancies as possible. If you can do that, you'll have provided your clients with an application experience they'll never want to come back from. Because it's the annual redundancies and unnecessary information that ultimately take a toll on your their patience. No matter what, the more streamlined you try to make it, t...

You're able to start a conversation based on something much more than just insurance. If approached with enough dedication, it has the potential to resonate for an extended period of time. The biggest challenge beyond that dedication will be your proficiency to execute it effectively. Because it has to come from a pretty deep place of authenticity to actually work. That's what I talk to John Stuar...

If not, you could miss a solid opportunity to put your competition out of business. Regardless of how aggressive you get, there's something to be said for knowing your numbers. It's this information that makes sure you're making the most of every policy you sell. It's also the best way to know if and when you're wasting your time on that new policy. That's what I talk Alex Dopazo, of Dapozo Insura...

We are already dealing with a flow that would put most industries out of business. Because nine times out of 10 customers demand to be provided with the best experience. Up until now, we've been able to get away with one that nearly does the exact opposite. The real test will be to see if we can all get on the same page before it's too late. That's what I talk to Billie Jo Galle, of TRICore Insura...

Might need to become something you do no matter what for it to really take hold in your agency. The most interesting part about the whole thing is it will only be the start of the one-off pieces of content you create. That means you should get comfortable with the idea because it's an easy way to do something people don't expect. If you really want to go all in on the idea, it might have be a skil...

If it does, then you make it a lot easier for people who want to do business with you. Because no matter what, they will Google your agency and will find what you've decided to provide them. It's also important to have the right mindset and understand the reality of your current situation. There's no way you'll instantly start generating hundreds of leads a month (without paying), instead it will...

You realize that it was a big ask for you to only have one insurance company in the first place. Not only was your limited inventory a challenge, so was finding the right people that it would fit. The most exciting part about planning a successful breakout is it allows you to fully explore your insurance potential. Which could mean doubling down on what you know best, or trying to discover a new c...

If you do, they normally have a chance to last your entire career. These relationships are usually formed with people who have the ability to influence (see send) consistent business to your agency. However, if that's the first and only way you approach them, there's a good chance it won't make it that long. You'll know it's working when you have enough people sending you all their business with y...

It all depends on where you want to go and how long of a trip you're willing to take to get there? There's nothing wrong with living in that wheelhouse, in fact, most agents have a hard time staying long enough. It's important to talk about what you know really well, but there are no rules about what you need to know before you talk about something else. It's starting as simple as you can and taki...

That opportunity comes in the form of allowing clients to self-serve as much of the insurance experience as they want. Those experiences could be as simple as ID card requests, or simply getting started with the quoting process. The biggest challenge usually comes in deciding what parts of the process will be mandatory. Because there's an infinite see of time waiting to be saved when you stop doin...

The hardest part is finding someone dedicated and ambitious enough to build it from scratch. If you can, the easiest way might be to allow them to put it together one piece at a time. If you remain dedicated, you'll look back one day and marvel at what has been created. Because when it's fully operational, it should start pulling people in automatically. That's what I talk to Dshanya Reese, of Wat...

Is certainly something that's not easy to do inside a family agency that has other ideas in mind. As the insurance world continues to get more specialized (see niche), it becomes a bigger challenge to properly balance everything you do. The best part about the whole experience is the level of expertise you can build with a very specific group of people. Especially when that newly found proficiency...

It starts by figuring out a way to bring consistent value to them in a way that makes their life easier. Of course, that can happen in many different ways, but you'd be surprised at how a little education can go a long way. Most of the time your referral partners are savvy enough insurance consumers to know which policy provides the best value. All you need to do is help them understand that in th...

The real answer is going to depend if you're interested enough to find one that will. Because it's easy to get restless with the thing you're good at and get distracted by something you're not. That something is twice as dangerous when there isn't enough premium to go around. The scariest liability is allowing it significantly distract from the business you know how to sell. That's what I talk to...