5 Reasons People Opt for Remote Work - Sales Data Pro

Is physically going to work becoming a thing of the past?

While some jobs require people on-premise, many do not in this technological age. Statistics reveal that 4.3 million Americans work from home at least half of the time.

Why is remote work so popular?

5 Reasons People Opt for Remote Work

Are you considering a career you can manage from home? Keep reading to learn why a growing number of people choose remote jobs!

1. They Can

Up until recent years, the employed population needed to commute for work. They simply did not get the option to work from home.

As technology quickly advanced, this changed. Many jobs no longer require your physical presence.

Mobile phones and high-speed internet with data plans expanded the way we see an office. You can reach out to clients, create documents and spreadsheets, make and answer calls, and so much more, from the comfort of your own home. The further technology advances, the more it connects us from anywhere in the world.

2. Technology Added New Opportunities

Not only did technology make working from home possible. It also added jobs that people never dreamed of.

For instance, today's freelancers can build websites, write blogs, increase Search Engine Optimization (SEO), create databases, develop apps, etc. As people develop new technologies, sometimes from home, they create more opportunities for running lucrative businesses from home!

3. Changing Values

Where people saw value in working hard for the man over the past century or so, newer generations place more importance on creative entrepreneurial ventures that bring them freedom. These young adults see the importance of balance in life.

To understand why this change occurred, look to the trends of today. Exercising, yoga, eating balanced, traveling, and having fun all climbed into the top of people's priority list.

You see it everywhere. The way people dress in yoga pants, healthy restaurants grow in number, you see more adult venues with games, and so on.

Eating healthy and working out do not fit well into a busy office schedule. But, working from home allows you to fit them in better.

Maybe this change comes from the recent recognition of mental health. People now understand the toll of working more than playing and missing out on important social interactions and value happiness more than ever.

So, people opt out of that office life. They choose a workspace that keeps them feeling less anxious and saner.

This also may stem from social media influencing values. One person can post about their wonderful life working from home, and millions might see it, thousands may want it, and hundreds may choose it.

4. Flexibility

Another core American value worth mentioning is time. This did not recently come about, but the way we choose to spend it changed.

Working from home both gives you more time and allows you more options on how to allocate it. Here's how.

Leaving the house for work requires time to get ready, commute, get yourself situated at the office, and more. Working from home saves you this time, and allows more flexibility for when you want to work.

You can work around your doctor's appointment or yoga class. It also allows you to sleep in when you need it and work late into the night when you simply cannot rest.

We see more than 11 million single-parent families in America today. This makes leaving for work difficult, if not impossible for some.

Working from home allows parents to stay home with their children and spend more time with them. This also helps students, people working two or more jobs, and free spirits who simply need an open schedule.

5. It Saves Money

This set-up can save money for both the worker and the employer. Think about the costs of working elsewhere.

You spend money commuting, parking, eating out, hiring childcare, etc. Plus, you lose potential working hours during longer commutes.

Employers save on this too, which leaves them room to pay their workers more. They eliminate expenses like renting office space, purchasing office equipment, and more.

How to Work from Home

Do you want to work from home? Discover your strengths and then choose a career that works for you!

Multi-Level Marketing (MLM)

Extroverts with a business mindset tend to soar in this type of platform. You pretty much aim to grow your team while selling the products and services your MLM provides.

This type of work gives you tons of flexibility and often keeps you working with family and friends. It also hands out tons of incentives like pay bonuses, free products or services, vacations, and other amazing perks.

If you can reach out to people you know, book meetings, present opportunities, train new team members, and continuously work on self-development, then you will rock in this business model. Note, you can, and should pursue other (non-MLM) streams of income at the same time.

Freelancing

Do you possess any special creative skills? Freelancing allows you to use your talent when and where you want, without a long-term commitment to any one company.

You can often pick up contracts while networking your MLM! Some awesome freelance jobs include writing, photography, graphic design, web design, search engine optimization, and bookkeeping.

Wellness Leaders

Capitalize on the nation's current interest in wellness. You can often manage this from home.

Get a degree or certificate for nutrition, personal training, instructing yoga, energy healing, or one of the other many available options that interest you. Again, any of these not only allow you to work an MLM, but also expand your reach for your MLM networking.

Educators

Most educators work from home even when they teach at school. Save yourself the hassle and start educating from home.

Many students opt for online classes because learning from home provides more convenience as well. You can also tutor out of your home for a less intensive and super rewarding experience.

Start Working from Home Today

Does this all sound appealing to you?

Many remote work positions do not require too much planning or setting up to begin. But, they change your life in numerous positive ways!

We want to help you venture out into the unknown and begin your new career at home. Contact us to find ways we can help you with your business.


Personal Advertising: A Guide to Independent Insurance Agent Marketing

Personal Advertising: A Guide to Independent Insurance Agent Marketing

If you're an independent insurance agent, you need to advertise yourself effectively. Learn some valuable insurance agent marketing tips that can't miss.

Keyword(s): insurance agent marketing

As of 2018, there were approximately 1.2 million insurance agents throughout the country. As the industry continues to grow, you need to ensure you stand out as an individual agent. Otherwise, what reason do prospective clients have to choose you over someone else?

By using the latest insurance agent marketing trends, you can stand out from the crowd!

At the same time, you can improve your lead generation strategies to bring in more clients.

Here are the eight insurance agent marketing tips you need to succeed. With these tips, you can advertise yourself and attract more clients than ever before!

1. Know Your Audience

Before you can start marketing to new clients, you need to know who those people are. Otherwise, you'll fail to make a lasting connection—or strong first impression.

Who do you consider your ideal client? Are they looking for a specific type of insurance? What age range do they fall in?

What works for a 20-year-old client won't necessarily match the needs of an 80-year-old client.

If you have clients that fall into multiple categories, separate them by buyer personas. Determining the demographics (age, gender, household income) and purchasing behavior that sets your clients apart can help you market to each one.

As you determine your audience, take a look at your brand. Does your brand as an insurance agent attract this specific audience? Updating your branding can also help give your insurance lead gen strategies a boost.

That way, you're standing out from other agents while attracting the right clients.

Once you specify your ideal audience, you can avoid leads that will waste your time. Instead, you can optimize your time with people more likely to become long-term, loyal customers.

2. Improve Your Site

The foundation for effective insurance agent marketing is a strong website.

When was the last time you updated your site? It's possible the design and functionality are out-of-date with current trends and standards. This can make your personal brand look old and disconnected, too.

Whether you use digital ads or post on social media, people are bound to visit your website. Make sure it looks relevant and properly displays your brand. You'll also want a site that loads quickly and is easy-to-read.

Updating your site based on the user experience will help you attract new clients.

Once you've updated your website, make sure it's mobile-optimized as well. Otherwise, people will have trouble exploring your site on smaller screens. Our society is always on-the-go, so we often check our phones for information.

By optimizing your site for mobile devices, you can make it easier for people to travel between social media apps and your site, too.

3. Advertise Online

Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising is an effective way to generate new leads. You can advertise on search engines like Google and Bing or use social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.

When advertising online, make sure you have a clear, concise message.

You can target your clients based on:

  • Location
  • Behaviors
  • Interests
  • Connections
  • Demographics

Once you start advertising using PPC, make sure to review the data. You'll need to optimize your campaigns regularly to avoid wasting money.

Using PPC can help you increase brand awareness by boosting your visibility.

4. Stay Social

People want to work with people they trust and connect with. In order to market yourself as an insurance agent, you'll want to show clients you're a real person. One of the easiest ways to build this connection is through social media.

First, determine which platforms your clients are using. For example, older generations use Facebook more often, while younger individuals spend more time on Snapchat. You don't need to use every platform.

Then, post high-quality images and content. Try to appeal to your audience's interests and concerns. Spark a conversation whenever you can.

Using social media will allow you to build and nurture relationships.

Make sure to sound conversational and approachable, so people will start coming to you.

5. Rock Online Reviews

Do you have a lot of happy clients? Give them the chance to speak up.

Adding reviews and testimonials to your website will allow you to leverage social proof. Reviews from happy clients speak to your expertise and their experience. That way, new clients are more likely to trust you above a competitor.

6. Start Rolling with Video

People spend 2.6 more time on websites that include videos. For insurance agent marketing that draws people in, consider adding video content to your website and social media.

Video content gives people a face and voice to associate with your brand.

Videos will also keep people on your site longer, improving your dwell time and clickthrough rate. Improving these stats will give your search engine rankings a boost. When you rank higher on search engines like Google, people will see your site before a competitor's.

A higher ranking speaks to your credibility, too.

7. Strengthen Your SEO

You can also improve website traffic, lead generation, and your search engine rankings using SEO. SEO, or search engine optimization, involves improving your website content based on the phrases your clients are searching for.

Using Google Trends and Keyword Planner to determine your audience's interests.

What terms are they searching for right now? Then, start creating helpful blog posts that review those topics. Writing blog posts will help you attract site traffic and show clients you know your stuff.

As a result, you're increasing leads and becoming a go-to resource in your field.

8. Increase Open Rates

Email marketing can help you nurture your leads. For effective email marketing, you need strong email subject lines that entice people to open your emails.

How can you spark their interest? Try to write a subject line that will generate curiosity. However, you need to make sure your subject line remains professional and aligned with your brand as well.

Improving your email open rate will help you encourage continuous communication with your clients.

Make Your Mark: 8 Tips for More Effective Insurance Agent Marketing

Stand out as one of the top insurance agents in your industry! Start using these insurance agent marketing tips to make your mark today.

Growing your insurance lead gen list? Explore our data plans today to keep your list up-to-date!

Leads That Matter: How to Improve the Quality of Your Internet Leads

Leads That Matter: How to Improve the Quality of Your Internet Leads

Leads That Matter: How to Improve the Quality of Your Internet Leads

When generating internet leads, you need to take measures to make sure they're high quality. Learn how to generate better leads online.

Keyword(s): internet leads

What if you could improve your sales directly from the source?

Solid internet sales come down to quality internet leads. If you want to take your sales to the next level, you need to find ways to improve the quality of those leads.

You don't have to figure everything out on your own. Keep reading to discover our comprehensive guide!

Weed Them Out

Most businesses focus a lot on their ideal customers. In fact, your website probably talks a lot about who will benefit from your services.

However, too much of that can make your company sound like everyone else. Eventually, everything is a hot mess of buzzwords, leaving customers confused and frustrated.

One solution is to "think outside the box" and discuss who your business will NOT be good for. Customers will respond positively to your honesty, and you'll definitely stand out from the competition.

Balance Sales and Marketing

Sales and marketing are not simply different departments. Instead, they are two parts of a balanced whole...right up until they aren't.

Generally speaking, the marketing department works on market-qualified leads and sales works on sales-qualified leads. But the more we think of these as separate measures, the more we encourage these departments to focus only on their own efforts.

Ideally, each division should work closely with the other to refine MQLs and SQLs simultaneously. When done right, this means that both teams are constantly improving the sales funnel for your customers.

And as the funnel improves, your lead generation also improves. And you can even explore other avenues such as aged internet leads.

Optimize Your Site

It's easy to dismiss SEO as just another buzzword. But make no mistake: good SEO is the difference between high customer visibility and virtual customer invisibility.

That's why you need to focus on improving SEO as soon as possible. You should revamp every page to improve the SEO and help your site jump up in the Google Search rankings.

Make sure keywords are featured in your title tags, headers, descriptions, and alt-tags. This isn't overkill. Instead, it's "just enough kill" to help interested customers find your site.

Such customers are already highly interested in your products, making them very solid leads.

Be a Problem Solver

In the eyes of customers, every product is a solution. Before they will buy any of your products, customers must know exactly which problems your problems help solve.

It's worth creating a page that focuses on the problems your products and services can solve. That page should also describe exactly how you solve these things using clear and direct language.

Customers will appreciate this transparency about what your company does (and does not) do. Furthermore, such a page makes it easy for customers to visualize how your company can improve their lives.

Buyer Personas

How well do your sales and marketing teams understand your customers? For most people, simple demographic data is very abstract. It's difficult to look at a series of numbers and descriptions and think of them as living, feeling beings.

This is why your business should create in-depth buyer personas. The purpose of such personas is to put a face on the demographic data while helping your employees understand their customers on a truly granular level.

The best personas will incorporate both demographic and psychographic data. This mixture of customer identity and motivation can lead to breakthroughs in terms of online marketing.

And such improved marketing helps to create the kind of qualified leads you are looking for.

Improve Conversion Rates

Want a really simple tip to improve the quality of your leads? Here it is: you should focus on improving your existing conversion rates.

Sometimes, the problem with leads isn't in your marketing approach. Instead, it's the simple fact that not enough prospective leads convert into customers after they interact with your business.

To improve these rates, you should focus on Conversion Rate Optimization. Conduct a series of A/B testing for different revisions of each online page until you discover what is most effective for your customers.

All In On Video

Let's face it — video is more than a passing trend. Right now, video is the primary way that many demographics such as Millennials and Zoomers consume content.

We're not just talking about video as entertainment, either. Prospective customers are increasingly fascinated by video product reviews, unboxing videos, and other streaming content that helps inform their purchases.

You can take advantage of this by creating your own high-quality video content. Such content helps to improve leads on its own and also gives you content that you can share across various social media channels.

Better Positioning

Sometimes, getting better leads just comes down to better marketing. And the best marketing is a matter of improving your company's position in the eyes of your customers.

This means honestly assessing who your primary customers are and which rival companies they are likeliest to turn to. Now, the big question: what separates your business from your rivals?

When you have an angle on your position and value proposition, you can integrate this into dynamic new marketing campaigns. Every new lead gained from this improved positioning will be of a higher quality than what you gained before.

The Power of PPC

Ever wonder why so many businesses rely on Pay-Per-Click advertising? Simple — because it works!

When done right, PPC helps you really stretch your marketing budget while putting your company in front of more eyes than ever before. And platforms such as Google Ads and Facebook Ads have built-in features that help you target your exact demographic rather than advertising to the masses.

With PPC, you can focus on exact phrases to help lure in customers searching via that phrase. If a campaign isn't working, you can instantly retire it; and if you want to bring a classic ad back, you can do so with a single click.

Finally, PPC has the analytics you need to monitor your campaign progress and improve your advertising from month to month.

Better Internet Leads: Achievement Unlocked

Now you know how to access better internet leads. But do you know who can help you improve every lead?

We focus on improving leads for businesses just like yours. To see what we can do for your business, contact us today!


Salesperson Mistakes: 5 Sales Tactics You Need to Avoid

Salesperson Mistakes: 5 Sales Tactics You Need to Avoid

Salesperson Mistakes: 5 Sales Tactics You Need to Avoid

Some sales approaches haven't stood the test of time and need to be done away with. Learn seven sales tactics you should avoid at all costs.

Keyword(s): sales tactics

We all know it: salespeople get a bad rap. We get the reputation for being pushy, dishonest, and self-serving. To be honest, we also have each dealt with a salesperson ourselves who fit that stereotype.

Hope is not lost. Your personality and reputation is a powerful part of your success in sales. You can start earning your customers' trust and repeat business by setting rules for yourself.

In fact, success is as much about learning what not to do as it is about learning what to do. Start by steering clear of these outdated and ineffective sales tactics.

1. Keeping Customers in Front of You

There is an old sales strategy that tells salespeople to keep the conversation going with a customer for as long as possible. The theory is that the more time a customer spends with you, the more likely they are to buy.

That doesn't work anymore. Your customers are busy people and if they feel stuck in a conversation they don't want to be in, all it will do is turn them off.

For cold calls and meetings alike, start off your conversations with a quick summary and elevator pitch. Only give customers as much information as they need and want.

From there, let them set the tone for how long the conversation goes. If they seem engaged, you can ask more questions and go into more detail. If it looks like they're ready to end the conversation, bring it to a close.

No matter how the conversation ends, always set up a "next step." If the customer hasn't made a purchase yet, let them know when you'll be reaching back out.

2. Pursuing Whales Only

Have you ever contacted a salesperson to buy a product or service, only to get a clear message that your business was too small for them to care about?

Most of us have, and it's a terrible feeling. That's the last thing you want to do to your customers. Not only does it burn your bridge to them, but it means that you lose out on a sale even if it's a small one.

At the same time, you don't want to invest too much time pursuing small-time customers.

It's all about finding a middle ground. When you first come into contact with a customer, qualify them. Get a sense of their interest level and their buying power.

While you want to focus most of your energy courting big customers, don't ignore the little guys. Be responsive to them and make them feel heard. You can do this in a surprisingly small amount of time, earning new business without a large investment of your time.

3. Spending Extensive Amounts of Time (Or No Time at All) on Small Talk

Small talk is a necessary part of sales. It's a path to earning your customers' trust. The challenge is finding the right balance.

Some salespeople believe that the more time they spend on small talk, the more their customers will know and trust them. Others cut out the small talk entirely and expect to get in and out with fast deals.

Most salespeople lean toward too much small talk and too much talking in general. In fact, in the average sales meeting, the salesperson is talking 81% of the time.

There is no single magical amount of time to spend chatting before you "get down to business." Instead, learn how to read your customers and notice the difference between them being engaged and impatient.

A helpful way to do this is by focusing more on asking them questions and learning about their needs.

Not only does this help you meet those needs but it helps you read them. Someone giving one-word answers wants out of the conversation. Someone who goes more in-depth is engaged and interested.

4. Saying "Yes" Now and Figuring It Out Later

Another of those outdated sales tactics is to agree to whatever the customer wants and figure out later how to make it happen.

All it takes is one experience with this strategy to see why it doesn't work. You make promises to customers, then you can't deliver. You find out later that what you agreed to is either impractical or impossible.

On rare occasions, you might find a way to deliver on your promises. More often, though, you'll wind up with unhappy customers who feel duped. You could even get into legal trouble.

There is no shame in telling a customer, "Let me get an answer on that and I'll get back to you within 24 hours."

This shows the customer that you're genuine. They've dealt with those "yes" salespeople before, and they'll be grateful to know that if you promise something, it's because you can make it happen.

5. Pushing, Pushing, and Pushing Some More

This one shouldn't come as a surprise, but in our own experiences, plenty of salespeople are still using it.

The era of the pushy salesperson "winning over customers with their persistence" is over. Today's customers are wary of being "sold to." The more you push, the less they'll trust you.

In addition to making your customers feel irritated, this strategy also makes you look desperate. Customers will start to think that if you're desperate for customers, your product or service must not be very good.

Instead of using repetition and continuing to push, give customers a deadline. For example, tell them the product will only be available until a certain date or that you only have a select amount of the product in stock.

This helps your product look more in-demand, and their reaction will tell you whether or not they're serious about the product.

Bringing Your Sales Tactics Up to Date

Selling is a complex job, and a large part of it comes down to psychology. As our world changes, so do the thought patterns our customers have. For this reason, it's important to get rid of your old sales tactics based on outdated theories.

Before you can put these tips to work, though, you need great leads. Learn more about our sales data plans to kick off your new, more successful strategy.


7 Effective Insurance Agency Marketing Strategies to Grow Your Client Base

7 Effective Insurance Agency Marketing Strategies to Grow Your Client Base

7 Effective Insurance Agency Marketing Strategies

When open enrollment approaches, your agency needs to be ready to advertise. Learn seven effective insurance agency marketing strategies to grow your business.

Keyword(s): insurance agency marketing

Need help with your insurance agency marketing? In an ever-competitive world, it’s not surprising you do. Insurance is a vast market, and in some cases, like health insurance, it is required by law.

Your insurance agency needs to stand out from the rest, and entice people to choose your company over another. It could also mean offering better deals to sway people from their existing agency to yours.

Why Effective Insurance Agency Marketing is Important

It may seem like a no-brainer, but breaking through the noise of advertising and marketing to reach potential customers is no easy feat. Maintaining and keeping those customers is another difficulty too.

But keeping customers means you’re keeping them happy, and if you keep them satisfied, then they're far more likely to recommend you to friends, family, and acquaintances. Thereby growing your client base.

One of the difficulties nowadays is that people don’t like being sold to. They want to do their own research, comparison shop and come up with their own unpressurized conclusions.

They also are naturally inclined to be skeptical of insurance companies, so building trust is critical.

But how can you effectively market your insurance agency? Here are seven ways to effectively grow your client base. Let’s take a look.

1. Make Your Website Appealing and Accessible

Your agency’s website is often your potential customer’s first experience of the company, so it needs to be a good one.

Studies show that websites have less than 15 seconds to leave an impression, and if the visitor can’t see what they want at that time, they go.

Shopping for insurance is stressful, so if your website isn’t seamless or easy-to-use, then they won’t hang around long enough to get a policy with you.

Customers nowadays, like instant, seamless, and sophisticated shopping. It’s no different from insurance shopping.

2. Brand Consistency

You need to ensure that the company’s information is consistent across each platform and channel- website, review sites, social media, etc.

Make sure this is monitored regularly, so there aren't any cross-information or brand inconsistencies.

Alongside this, make sure the customer’s experience is consistent too. This means each client or prospect is given the same experience and info regardless of where, how, or when they found the agency.

Be sure that you have a team that can respond to questions, messages, emails, and phone calls. If people see that your brand cares and is diligent, they will be more trusting.

3. Blog

Consider creating a blog for your website. Blogs not only generate more traffic for your site, but it also shows customers that you have authority on topics.

This helps build trust and makes prospects feel reassured that the company knows its stuff.

Having a blog also allows space for clients or potential clients to have their say and open up a discussion. By actively engaging with people, you can build trust and a positive reputation.

4. Everyone’s on Their Phone

Everyone is on their phone, so utilize that. To have the best chance of growing your client base, you need a mobile-friendly website.

If potential clients try to access your company website on their mobile phone and find it a hassle to use, or incompatible, then chances are they will give up and look elsewhere.

Don’t miss out on potential customers- improve their mobile experience. In fact, according to research, searching the internet with mobile phones has now overtaken using a desktop.

Facebook is the most-used social media platform, with 1,149 billion users only using their mobile phones.

5. Social Media for the Win

As mentioned above, Facebook is the most-used social media platform. This means a lot of potential customers if you advertise on there!

To broaden your reach, your insurance agency should advertise on several search engines and social media platforms.

Of course, Google is the most popular search engine, but this doesn’t mean other platforms should be neglected.

You want your insurance to appeal to a wide demographic. By using different search engines and social media platforms, you are more willing to reach people of all ages and lifestyles. Test out different ads and styles to see how they perform.

6. Don’t Be Boring

A big mistake many insurance agencies make is that they only post boring posts or information about insurance. Create content that is engaging, valuable, and can prompt interaction with potential clients or existing customers.

You could post prompting or interesting questions and request people to leave their comments. Showing interest in people’s opinions shows that you care about people, which instantly boosts trust.

As noted above, having a blog where customers can read up on specific topics, comment, and discuss these subjects is a great way to engage with people. Having employees to respond to their comments is also invaluable- be sure to respond!

Being creative, sharing content, and engaging with people is invaluable, regardless of whether they are looking for a policy now or not.

Creating a good reputation is a must, and word spreads fast if a company is diligent and friendly with their interactions.

7. Reviews Matter

Reviews matter, a lot. In fact, they have the power to make or break your company. How so? Here are some quick statistics, according to research:

  • Consumers read roughly ten online reviews before trusting a company
  • 57% of people will only choose a company that has four stars or more
  • 89% of people look at a company’s response to reviews
  • 91% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.

This clearly shows that getting good reviews is essential to growing your client base. How to get good reviews? The simple answer is- provide excellent service, be diligent, and make your customers happy.

Also, let your customers know that their reviews are valuable to you. Reach out and ask them to take the time to leave a review. Be proactive in addressing any negativity and monitor these review sites regularly.

Are You Ready to Up Your Marketing Game?

Insurance agency marketing doesn’t have to be super tricky. If you want to grow your client base, remember that website appearance is vital, mobile-friendly access is crucial, and interaction with people is invaluable.

Show people that your company is professional, trustworthy, and friendly. Want more information? Click here to contact us.


What Are Aged Internet Leads and How Can They Benefit Me? - Sales Data Pro

What Are Aged Internet Leads and How Can They Benefit Me? - Sales Data Pro

 

Have you heard of aged internet leads?

If so, you might be wondering what they are and how they can benefit your business.

While they're not perfect for every industry, in finance and health insurance they can be a valuable addition to your usual methods.

Read on and we'll explain what aged internet leads are so that you can decide whether they're right for your company.

So, What Are Aged Internet Leads?

The majority of sales leads sold online are "real-time" leads. The essence of the business is this: a company gathers leads through whichever method they use and sell them within 24-48 hours of gathering them.

When there aren't enough buyers within that relatively small window of time the leads become "aged" as the individual behind the lead may have already made their decision.

It can be a loss for the marketing company involved, but they're an excellent opportunity for those who are in the right business.

Aged leads are usually anywhere from 3-90 days old. Fresher leads are generally considered better, but you shouldn't discount older leads in slow-selling fields like life insurance or mortgages.

The Advantages of Aged Leads

The biggest advantage of aged leads is that they're cheaper than those sold in real-time. Often by a wide margin.

The cost of aged leads is often so low that even a 0% conversion rate isn't a big deal but most companies will do much better than that.

Being able to snap up a lead which was warm only a few days before for pennies on the dollar is a great prospect for anyone.

For businesses that don't revolve around snap-consumer decisions, they can be a great addition to collecting newer leads.

They're also a great way to increase your list size, and some salespeople specialize in what they call "resuscitation marketing."

Are There Any Disadvantages?

The biggest disadvantage of aged leads is that the person may have already made a decision or gotten cold-feet about the sale in the first place.

Most people will end up using an auto-dialer and getting a much lower conversion rate than they would with newer leads. That can lead to a lot of disappointment for the seller if they don't know what they're getting into.

You'll have to expect a much lower conversion rate when trying to re-engage aged leads. 1-3% is actually doing pretty well depending on how old the leads are.

They're not perfect and aged leads aren't something to build your whole sales strategy around. Instead, they should be used as a complement to what you're already doing to bring in leads.

They're also not really viable for business models where a customer is likely to make a purchase immediately.

Converting Aged Leads

There are some tricks to bringing back old leads and the process differs quite a bit from hitting leads while the iron is hot.

For the most part, you'll want to separate your sales attempts from those which are for newer leads.

Don't drag out the sales process either, especially if you're using e-mail as your primary method of communication with possible customers. Taking weeks to get to the sales attempt will just lose their interest.

In general, things need to be done differently during the approach if you're looking to actually get a decent conversion rate out of old prospects.

Forming Your Content and Pitch

Hopefully, you've done research on your target demographic.

If so, you should already know what problems you're trying to solve for your customers and what may have turned them off of the service in the past.

Your goal should be to reassure them that you're "not like the rest of them" from the outset. Offering simple things like a free insurance quote or a slight discount can get things going when you're after customers that didn't purchase the service in the past.

If your industry lends itself to it a free e-book offering information is a great idea. Grab a decent ghostwriter for the process and you'll be headed in the right direction. The book should have valuable information, not just be an extended sales pitch.

Remember: an aged lead which has conversion potential hasn't made their purchase yet but they were interested in the past. Key in on their problems and you're on your way.

Don't Get Pushy

There's nothing that will turn a potential customer off faster than a pushy sales pitch.

Oftentimes that's why they haven't made the purchase in the first place. Keep things lighter than you would with a newer lead but not quite casual.

When you demonstrate your willingness to help rather than sell you stand a very good chance of winning the customer over.

Know the Market

One thing which people often forget about aged internet leads is that the potential customer is likely to be more informed than those who are looking for the first time.

In some cases, they may have talked to a half dozen or more other companies in your niche before you contact them. The average consumer may not know much about health insurance, for instance, but someone who's been shopping around likely has a good idea of average costs and practices.

Treat the customer like they're well-informed from the outset and you'll get better results.

Ready to Give Aged Sales Leads a Shot?

Aged internet leads are an excellent complement to more expensive real-time leads. In the right industries, they can be a big moneymaker but you'll want to make sure that you're treating these potential customers the right way.

Does another revenue stream sound appealing?

Our costs are low and the data can be a huge benefit for your firm in the end.

Why not see if one of our low cost, month-to-month plans is the right choice for your business?


Compelling Cold Calling Tips and Techniques - Sales Data Pro

Compelling Cold Calling Tips and Techniques - Sales Data Pro

Are you looking to polish up on your cold calling skills?

In today's day and age, cold calling is used by many businesses and individuals to grow their business. As compared to other sales tactics, cold calling is relatively inexpensive and it can easily be incorporated into nearly any daily routine.

If you want to ensure that your cold calling abilities are the best possible, you're going to want to read this. We're uncovering ten simple yet effective cold calling tips.

After reading this, you can look forward to having better, more productive conversations with potential clients.

1. Research Your Callers

First things first, it's time to research the people and businesses in which you plan to call.

Unless you know a thing or two about the person you're calling, they're unlikely to take yourself or your preposition seriously. In researching a business or person, you'll get an idea as to how and why you can help them.

This is going to make for better conversation and more personal experience for each call. With a little information, your cold call suddenly is going to feel a lot more warm and personal.

2. Create a Goal

Next, it's time to create a goal for yourself.

Consider the amount of time that you're going to spend cold calling as well as what you'd like to get out of it. For example, you might plan to spend three hours cold calling in the afternoon and hope to get two follow-up calls and one in-person meeting.

Knowing your goals ahead of time is going to motivate you to match these numbers by the end of your calling session.

3. Create a Basic Outline

When you begin a cold call, it's always helpful to have a basic outline of your conversation.

In terms of your questions, it's best to plan these questions well in advance. In doing so, you can have fast and effective rebuttals to the most anticipated questions.

Remember, you don't want to overwhelm your prospect on your first call. Keep this in mind when creating an outline that provides enough information and food for thought without causing your prospect to feel uncomfortable.

4. Begin with a Strong Introduction

When it comes to a cold call, your introduction is everything.

Research has found that you only have 27 seconds to make a good first impression. This means the first half-minute of your phone conversation is the most important aspect of your call altogether.

Focus your energy on creating an opening pitch that is strong and informative.

5. Appear Confident

There's no denying that cold calling can be downright uncomfortable.

Whatever you do, it's crucial to present yourself as a confident business man or woman. If the person on the other end picks up on your discomfort, they're naturally going to feel that same discomfort.

On the other hand, when you appear confident and comfortable, they're going to feel more comfortable remaining on the line with you.

6. Don't Attempt to Sell on the First Call

Remember, the goal of your first call isn't necessary to close the sale.

In fact, you should avoid the prospect of selling altogether during your first phone call. This can also come across as too pushy and too desperate from the perspective of your prospect.

Simply put, try focusing your energy on scheduling that next phone call or your first meeting instead.

7. Provide Your Contact Information

In the event that nothing promising comes from your phone call, always try to leave your contact information with the caller.

Let's consider the example of a real estate agent calling a certain neighborhood in search of sellers. Even if the person on the other line isn't interested in selling at that very moment, you can leave them your contact information for future use.

From the perspective of that person, they're all the more likely to take your contact information rather than provide you with alternative ways to contact them.

8. Don't Take It Personally

This next tip is incredibly important and incredibly difficult at the same time.

Whatever you do, resist the urge to take negative feedback or poor interactions personally. When you take these negative interactions to heart, your cold calling efforts are going to be short-lived.

Remember, people on the other line often feel powerful due to the lack of face-to-face contact. As a result, these people will likely utter hurtful remarks they otherwise wouldn't say in person.

9. Practice Makes Perfect

At the end of the day, it's all about practice.

Take time by yourself to practice your script until you have developed as much confidence as possible. Try rehearsing your script in the shower, on your way to work or even with friends and family.

You can also practice and perfect common rebuttals to better prepare yourself. The more confidence that you have in your script, the more positively you're going to present yourself to others.

10. Keep Going!

Most importantly, don't give up!

There's no denying that cold calling can be an intimidating experience. After all, research finds that it takes 18 calls on average to connect with a buyer. It's easy to see how this can get old pretty quickly.

But, it's important to remind yourself that one call could result in huge potential. Remember, cold calling is also an incredibly effective means of gaining new clients and a great way to develop enhanced people skills.

If you can develop solid cold calling experience, you're going to be highly equipped for nearly any sales job in the future!

Cold Calling Tips and Tricks

There's no denying that cold calling isn't a walk in the park.

Unless you're properly prepared, cold calling can feel incredibly daunting to some. After all, you're putting yourself out there all with the likelihood of being rejected.

However, cold calling is also an inexpensive means of gaining new clients. In a matter of minutes, you just might have the potential of new clients. In a world where competition is so fierce amongst businesses, gaining new clients on a routine basis is critical.

All in all, cold calling is an important skill for any sales position. In conducting routine cold calls, it's safe to say that you're going to develop strong sales tactics. These tactics are going to be incredibly rewarding as you move forward in your career.

Could you use some help in the cold calling department? If so, don't hesitate to contact us today.


7 Tips on How to Grow Your Email Marketing Database - Sales Data Pro

Email marketing is hugely beneficial for your business because it helps build relationships with current and future customers, attracts more leads, and gives you a platform to speak directly to them.

Potential customers like email marketing because it lets you interact with them on their own time. Your email marketing is right in their inbox waiting for them when they want to view it.

You also have so many different options when it comes to creating email campaigns to send to your email list. But how can you build and grow your email marketing database?

Keep reading for our seven tips on how to grow your email list to reach even more people!

1. Facebook Ads

A good way to get more emails for your database is to spend a little money and post an ad on Facebook. This isn't as simple as asking for emails through an ad so you're going to have to put in a little bit of thought on how to persuade people to give you their email address.

The best way to do this is to offer people something useful in exchange for them giving you their email address. Facebook also has many different ways for you to optimize your ads so your target audience will see it.

Give your ad about 48 hours to run before you study the results. The results will show you how many people clicked and gave you their email address. This way you can see what works for Facebook ads and what doesn't work.

2. Offer a Discount Code

Most people will give you their email address if you offer them some sort of discount code for your products. This discount could be anywhere between 10% and 20% off; the sweeter the deal the more likely someone will submit their email address.

The best way to go about this is to have a popup when new customers look at your website. Make sure you let them know that they will be getting a discount as long as they enter their email address. This is an awesome way to add more emails to your database and make a sale because it gives potential customers an incentive.

3. Gated Content

Gated content is content that is on your website but cannot be accessed until the visitor provides their email address. This method is simple and will easily get you more emails to add to your list.

To pull this off successfully you need to generate good content on your website and then promote it with an ad or on other forms of social media. That way potential customers will click and be directed to a page where they must enter their email address before they can see the content.

Promoting your gated content will look organic and natural on social media accounts such as Facebook or Twitter. By promoting it through social media it won't seem like an ad. More people may be willing to view your content since it is as easy as entering an email address.

4. Host a Giveaway

Hosting a giveaway is a great way to get people to do exactly what you want. Make sure that you are giving away something relevant to your brand that people will actually want to win. If you're a company that sells products or services, then giving one of those away is a super cost-effective prize.

When hosting a giveaway you need to set up rules such as submitting an email address to enter. You don't want there to be too many things for a potential client to do because then they may not enter at all. Asking for an email address and a follow to be entered into a giveaway is an awesome way to get more followers and build your email list.

5. Invest in Internet Leads

Another great way to get more email addresses for your niche audience is to look for ways that you can invest in them. Sales data pro is an awesome company that can get you thousands of leads as long as you can pay for them.

Investing in leads is a great way to get more people on your email list as well as generate more clients buying your products. There are tons of different plans so you can start small and work your way up. You'll be purchasing more leads as time goes on because you will see how effective it is.

6. Use a Call to Action on Each Post

Having a blogging component to your company's website is a great way to generate more traffic organically and you need to use it to your advantage. A call to action is a sentence usually at the end or in the middle of the post that gets your reader to do something.

Your call to action needs to be something that potential clients can get in exchange for their email address. Your call to action could be about subscribing to your blog so posts regularly go to their inbox. Or you could give them some form of media that they can download in exchange for their email address.

7. Ask People

A great way to grow your email database is to just ask people to sign up. Let people know that you regularly send out news and deals through emails. If they always want to know what's going on with your company, then they should provide their email address.

Asking people to join your email list is the most organic way to build your database. Make sure to be straight forward with potential clients. Let them know if you send weekly or daily emails so they know what they're signing up for.

Grow Your Email Marketing Database

When it comes to figuring out the best way to grow your email marketing database you will need to research and see what influences your target audience. You can try a few of these methods and see what works best.

If you're interested in getting more leads quickly or have questions about what we can do for you, then contact us today and a team member will reach out to you.