Every time I work with managers, we discuss their challenges in coaching new advisors on prospecting and appointment setting. "They don't have enough appointments" is the most common sentence I hear.
But in asking a lot of questions, I narrow down the general problem to its core. And here it is: Advisors don't have enough new names on a continual basis. A friend who recently retired from being an agency manager warned me about something when we first met.
"Gail, don't say the words 'lead flow' or my agents will throw tomatoes at you." Apparently, he was constantly nagging, cajoling, begging and coaching them around more names — all the time.
Fifteen years ago, acquiring mailing lists or researching new mortgage names from the county clerk's office were viable options. Even, heaven forbid me from saying it in print, buying cold lists made new agents feel like they had people to call.
All of these ideas don't work as they used to. Here's what I told a group of rookies: "Most advisors don't spend enough time out of the office meeting new people. The key to this career, in our current phone environment, requires you to get out there and meet people face to face."
Later in the day, I got the wonderful newsletter from a professional friend, Kevin Knebl. He is a true LinkedIn genius and has coached me on using LinkedIn effectively. We share a philosophy around building a practice in today's society and he talks about it eloquently.
Now, you may be thinking that I'm talking semantics. Or that this is just a clever use of words. Nope. This is major. Slow down and really get this. Thinking in singularity versus plurality is a major key to having a successful business, job, or career regardless of the industry you're in.
You have to work your marketing plan around meeting people one-at-a-time, writes Gail Goodman. (Photo: Thinkstock)
It's always about just one person. The person you're communicating with whether online, offline, at a networking event, trade show, wherever.
