Life Insurance Leads, Insurance Leads, and the Online Lead Generation Business

I've long wanted to write an article about Internet Leads (Life Insurance Leads, Health Insurance Leads, Homeowner's Insurance Leads, etc) and why they are a waste of money, time, and a drain on the Insurance Industry. Thank you ezinearticles for this powerful resource in communication!

Insurance Agents all over the USA are getting solicitations every single day for one new lead program or another. The newest scam is Internet Insurance leads. Internet leads or leads generated on the Internet are 90% bogus junk…a diamond in the rough (in the forum of a good lead) occurs about once every 20 leads.



That's roughly $400 to get to that good lead - not to mention the biggest expense, labor and time spent on the other 19 leads.

Where are these companies going wrong, then, with their lead generation? Why don't these leads turn into clients? This article will attempt to address these questions.

Interested in knowing which "insurance lead" generating companies I am talking about? Just type in "life insurance leads", "health insurance leads", "mortgage leads" on google, yahoo, or MSN…they are DOMINATING the rankings!

The first problem is the way that these companies are generating leads.



Some are using pay per click (PPC), some use aggressive (technical) techniques to get ranking in a "natural search" and some pay other webmasters to generate leads and send them to the lead company. NONE of them really know much about the Insurance Business…only how to generate leads.

Pay Per Click - There are several companies like adwords.google.com and www.overture.com that will place your link at the top of the page instantly if you're willing to outbid other pay per click participants. On Google, the going price for the key word "life insurance" is about $20/click! The lead generating website will then take that lead and farm it out to about 4 different insurance agents.



All of which will pay roughly $20 for that lead apiece. So the $20 investment there that was made for that click is multiplied by 4 = $80! And what does the client get? 4 agents calling them and trying to outbid each other. All using a variety of tactics, sometimes shady, sometimes legitimate, and sometimes downright outrageous…but that's another story!

Aggressive (Technical) Techniques - Another way that these lead generating websites get their site noticed is by getting ranked highly in natural searches.



A natural search result is the links and description of a particular website that is found past the pay per click sites, about 4 sites down. Go to google.com and type in "life insurance quote". The first 3-5 sites are pay per click, then under that you find the natural search results. Google, msn, yahoo, and the like are getting better at weeding out the spam here, but it still persists and will probably always persist as long as there are SEO (search engine optimization) experts that are getting paid! What I'm getting at here is that these lead generating websites are getting to the top of natural searches NOT by knowing all there is to know about insurance - but by being really really good at technical stuff like SEO, link exchange, and artificial means of gaining prominence.



Lead Brokering - The third and most shady way that these sites are getting these leads to sell is via other websites. Other websites that have prominence and "traffic" can get onboard with companies (commission affiliate brokers) that sell leads at wholesale prices to these lead generation companies. Why is this shady? Because these leads are generated by whatever means possible…SPAM, HACKING into other peoples sites and redirecting them to the affiliate site, buying of dead .coms and redirecting those visitors to the affiliate area, and on and on.



Roughly 1 tenth of the sites that are at the top of a search for any given term know anything about insurance or have any content of value for the consumer!

Another problem with the leads is that they are not screened well (although many companies boast that they screen the leads very well - which, in my experience is just not true!). In my research, 90% of the leads from these Internet Lead Companies either left bogus contact information, they were not truly interested in obtaining insurance, they simply wanted a "quote", or would apply only to say "nahh, I can't afford it" when the policy came in (as applied for!).



This is where the most waste comes in…manpower. Even with meticulous follow-up, the best rates in the business, a dedicated assistant and staff, and all the technological resources and underwriting resources at my fingertips - even this could not make this type of lead program work.

So what does work and where is the Insurance Industry going with all this? I believe that people are shopping on the Internet. They'll even go to these lead generating websites, type in their info, and get an eager agent to call on them in hopes of a sale.



The client, in this way, gets quotes! But that Agent RARELY gets a sale. The Agent, then, is spinning their wheels and focusing their resources on a wild goose. The client, if they do truly want to buy, then takes those quotes and finds an agent in the yellow pages or strikes up a conversation with a friend who then refers them to that trusted agent friend of theirs.

Therein lies the answer! Insurance is sold within circles of trusted friends and associates. It is certainly not sold over the Internet to any great degree and it never will be.



My advise is to stick to the old fashioned way of marketing - through Optimist Clubs, Rotary Clubs, LOCAL lead groups like BNI, asking folks "what do you do for a living" in hopes that they'll ask you what YOU do, and so on.

The insurance "leads" companies out there rest easy, though…knowing that they can always say that their leads are worth the money, that they're generated with the purest of intentions, and that they'll refund your money for bad leads. The truth is that these companies commonly blame bad leads on the agent's inability to sell or the quality and competitiveness of the companies that these Agents show these clients.



They more often than not refuse to credit you for bogus leads - often saying that there IS enough contact information (in the form of an email address which never gets answered by the client).

This scenario also leaves the door wide open for fraudulent claims in quoting. Think about it - if 4 agents get the same lead, what gives one agent the edge over the other Agent? Some competing agents will do just about anything to get that sale or outbid the other agent. Outbidding the other agent leads to false claims and unattainable premiums based upon a client's true rating! There are so many variables like accurate underwriting, backdating, A+ or better company usage (or not!), and outright lies that harbor corruption.



Any of these factors can be abused in order to lure the client to fill out the application. And that client is more likely to take the policy once it comes in (after months of waiting) just to be done with the ordeal. Bottom line - the agent with the best quoted price wins, not the agent who quotes the client accurately and with good companies.

So if you're and Agent and you are thinking about buying insurance leads over the Internet, be forewarned. You will spend your time on wild goose chases, you will fill the pockets of these lead generating companies, and you will do the industry a disservice by supporting these companies who are using technology, not expertise in Insurance, to win YOUR customers - customers that can just as easily be obtained by traditional means.



If you are a "client" and you are looking for Insurance of any type, contact me and I can refer you to as many Independent, trustworthy, licensed, Insurance Agents in your area as you'd like at NO CHARGE!

By: Ashley Brooks, CLTC

Ashley is the marketing vice president for the Family Life Insurance Brokerage Business and has a background in Health & Financial Underwriting, Insurance Plan Design, and "best deal" shopping. Brokerage Services carries only A rated (or better) companies in their product portfolio and has been serving the needs of Independent Insurance Agents since 1977.



More Information about Mr. Brooks - Life Insurance Agent

Visit and subscribe my blog and RSS feed - Life Insurance Information

Team up with Ashley for Life Insurance Lead Sharing - Life Insurance Leads

A Refinance Mortgage? Colorado Companies Are Ready, If . . .

You wanted a pre-approved loan in minutes, but are you really ready for the final approval? Prepare for the big day the right way.



Not just paper work



Are you applying for a refinance mortgage? Colorado companies are ready to approve your loan if you've done your homework. Many people who apply for a refinance mortgage online overlook the fact that there are several requirements to meet before their loans are approved. This disregard leads to many delays and frustration on both the borrower and lender.



It is unfortunate that many borrowers do not do extensive research before they try for a refinance mortgage. Colorado lenders have noted that several borrowers make the same mistakes that delay the processing and approval of their applications. Though obviously their fault, many prospective borrowers blame the delay on the refinance mortgage Colorado company that's only trying to help them. Borrowers need to realize that if they want their loan, they have to at least do something about it.



After all, getting a loan is a two-way process -borrowers prepare everything for review, evaluation, and assessment, while lenders review and assess.



Working together



If you're applying for a refinance mortgage, Colorado refinance experts will be dealing with you. This is to make sure that you understand what to expect and what you should be prepared to do until your loan application is approved. The company agent will peruse the documents you have prepared to support your refinance mortgage Colorado application like Sherlock Holmes with a magnifying glass.



Online refinance mortgage, Colorado loans and other lending institutions have to look at a lot of credentials and documents, and all of these must be ready when needed.



Speeding up the loan decision



When you have chosen your refinance mortgage Colorado company, check out the list of requirements needed to support your mortgage application. Print out the list and go through your documents. Place the supporting documents in a waterproof folder to literally save it from a rainy day.



Having the documents ready eases the tension and eliminates the time spent looking for a piece of paper.



When you are given the forms to fill up during processing, be honest about the additional information required from you. Incomplete or falsified information increases the chances of disapproval or takes longer. Act immediately on requests for additional information from the processing officer. Be ready for negative remarks on your credit report. When this happens, bear in mind that the processing officer is only filling up your forms and these are required fields.



Don't hesitate to let the appraiser into your home. Postponing the house appraisal delays the process and extends the agony of the wait.



Refinance mortgage is about the future



Getting the refinance mortgage is not about the speed of the loan decision. Rather, it's about a better chance to cope with mounting debts and savings from lowered interest rates. People who have successfully managed their refinance mortgage, Colorado refinance experts say, have carefully thought out their decisions and relied on the actual statistics of the refinance calculator.



If you think the monthly bill is beyond your means, seek a lower refinance mortgage. Do not forget what goes with payback time.

What is a Fixed Rate Mortgage?

As the term implies, with a fixed rate mortgage the mortgage rate is fixed for a set period of time, so no matter what movements occur in the lender's standard variable mortgage rate, the borrower's arrangement is fixed and, therefore, so are the monthly fixed rate mortgage payments.

A fixed rate mortgage would suit someone who likes to know where they stand. A fixed rate mortgage, as suggested by the name, is a mortgage where equal repayments are made every month.



Fixed rate mortgages allow you to easily manage and plan your monthly expenditure - because the payment will be the same every month and you won't be affected by any rises in the base rate. If the interest rates rise above the fixed rate on your mortgage, you will see the real benefits of the fixed rate mortgage.

A fixed rate mortgage makes it easy to plan ahead, because as the name suggests, the interest rate on your mortgage stays fixed.



This means that as a fixed rate mortgage customer, even if the Bank of England Base Rate changes, the interest rate on your mortgage remains constant over a fixed period of time. This makes your budgeting easier, because you can plan ahead knowing exactly how much your monthly repayments will be.

The fixed rate period can be anything between six months and five years, but it's always best to refer to a financial services professional before deciding what period of fixed interest rate to choose.



The biggest advantage of a fixed rate is that irrespective of fluctuations in interest rates, your monthly repayments remain the same throughout the period of the fixed rate - usually six months to five years.

A fixed rate mortgage is suitable if your mortgage repayments take up a large proportion of your income as it protects you from rises in interest rates. However, you would not benefit from any reduction in the lenders standard variable rate.

Fixed rate mortgages generally incur a penalty if redeemed within the fixed rate period.



The advantage of a fixed rate mortgage is that you know exactly how much your mortgage will cost, and for how long. If interest rates on your mortgage rise, well the fixed rate will not. Conversely, however, when mortgage rates drop, your fixed rate mortgage will not drop with them.

The key benefit of a fixed rate mortgage is that you are able to accurately budget your repayments for a set period of time.



In addition, fixed rate mortgages are an excellent option, if it becomes apparent that interest rates may be rising over the coming years, as you can protect your mortgage repayments against rises by choosing a fixed rate mortgage.

You may freely reprint this article provided the author's biography remains intact:

Lead Generation Systems

You want your business to succeed, but you need to figure out how to get quality leads. Lead generation systems are in place to help you find quality lists of potential customers. They are automated systems designed with one thing in mind - to deliver information to you about potential customers so you can work on turning the names into new clients.

What makes a good lead generation system

A good system requires very little manual effort from your end and is able to run itself intelligently. It has the ability to ?autopilot? its functionalities.



It should also create a positive "relationship of trust" by giving your target market the perception that you are ?the? authority in your line of business.

A good lead generation system also produces predictable results with no surprises. It should be able to generate names, addresses, and even e-mail addresses of the people who respond to and/or are interested in knowing more about your product. It should be able to generate clear statistics about the people who respond to your offers and whether or not you have permission to contact them.



There are plenty of lead generation systems available: direct mailing, buying leads from lead brokers and leads companies, buying leads from Internet search engines, advertising, and using referrals. The best system for you depends on the nature of your business and the lifestyles of your target market.

Rewards

When you do find the lead generation system that works for you, you will be rewarded with a larger customer base. They say it is easier to keep a customer than to find new ones. So, while you are trying to generate new leads, make sure you don?t ignore your current customers.



It may take hard work and money to get those initial clients and customers, but once you do, your business will grow.

Lead Generation provides detailed information on Lead Generation, Sales Lead Generation, Mortgage Lead Generation, MLM Lead Generation and more. Lead Generation is affiliated with Insurance Leads.

A Commercial Mortgage Broker Can Save You Money On Your Mortgage

Even when you have taken the fact into account that you will have to pay fees for the luxury of getting help choosing your mortgage, you can still save a great deal of money with a commercial mortgage broker. One of the biggest advantages of allowing a broker to search on your behalf is the amount of time that can be saved when it comes to getting borrowing. A broker can do this easily as they will know where to look and can go directly to the lender who specialises in the type of mortgage you are looking for.



When it comes to saving time then the broker has many advantages over you looking yourself. The majority of lenders will work far more quickly with a broker. This is usually down to brokers sending a lot of business their way and if dealt with quickly the lender will be at the top of the list. However despite the many bonuses that a commercial mortgage broker can give, around 70% of those looking for commercial finance stick with high street lenders. One of the reasons could be that they do not want to add on costs or that they are too proud to let anyone know they need help.



However the costs of the broker can be outweighed by the huge savings that a they can give you. Lenders will usually give the best rate of interest to brokers through negotiation. The high street lender will almost certainly quote you a much higher rate of interest than a specialist could find you. Even if you chose to shop around yourself for the cheapest deal you probably would not have access to the same lenders that a broker does and it would take a great deal of time.



Financial matters are usually confusing and a commercial mortgage is no exception.



There are terms and conditions which must be read and understood and along with this there can be hidden costs associated with the mortgage. A broker will be aware of these and also will understand the technical jargon and so choose mortgage quotes that offer the best value with no nasty surprises attached.



If you want to find a commercial mortgage broker then look online, a specialist can help to find you the best deal while at the same time offer valuable information on all aspects of commercial mortgages.



However while the broker will find you the quotes for your mortgage it is down to the individual to go through the terms and conditions to ensure that they have the right commercial mortgage. Finding and understanding information can seem like looking for a needle in a haystack but it should be all laid out for you on a specialists website. Never jump into the deals that the high street lender offers until you have looked into what a mortgage broker can find for you.



It can make the difference between hundreds of pounds over the term of the mortgage.

Avoid Foreclosure With These Helpful Tips

Nobody likes to talk about foreclosures especially if it is their own. Unfortunately, foreclosures are occurring more than ever in every part of the United States.

Need some advice on avoiding foreclosure?

Here is some general information about foreclosures.

Several states have a record number of foreclosures, such as Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

CNN Money reports that adjustable-rate mortgages, especially mortgages that are considered, sub-prime adjustable rate mortgages, continue to contribute to foreclosures.



According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Americans borrowed $2.2 trillion dollars through attractive adjustable rate mortgages between 2004 and 2006.

These adjustable rate mortgages were hard to pass up with low monthly payments.

Unfortunately, these ARMS (adjustable mortgages) cannot last forever. Experts explain that these adjustable rate mortgages need to reset themselves in order to make up for the difference through higher rates, which means a higher mortgage payment.



You don't need to be an expert in real estate to figure out that when the banks significantly raise someone's mortgage payment, you are going to see many foreclosures.

It's also predicted that as these mortgage loans reset, 1.11 million homeowners will lose their homes. This prediction was reported following a study completed by First American CoreLogic, a firm that documents home mortgage risks.

If your mortgage remains unpaid after the due date for a payment, the lender has the right to start a foreclosure.



Many banks will allow you a "grace period," so as not to start any foreclosure process.

After a certain period of time, the lender will send you a certified letter stating that your loan is in default. Included will be any penalties and any unpaid mortgage totals. It is important that you contact the lender to try and work out a plan to pay the bank back.

Banks are not in the business of owning homes; banks are in the business of lending money. Banks do not want the house back! Contact them and try to work out an agreement to pay them back the unpaid payments.



Your loan will likely be reinstated if you bring the mortgage back to good standing if you pay back any outstanding mortgage payments and fees.

If the lender has given you the allotted time to make the loan current, and you cannot make the payments, the loan will still be considered in default and there will be a scheduled auction.

Following the auction, if there is any money still owed to the lender, the homeowner may be required to pay those debts owed. If there is money left over from the auction, that amount of money will go to the foreclosed homeowner, if all of the fees have been paid to the lender.



With any court foreclosures, the sheriff carries out the sale, which is about 45 days after the county clerk orders the sale. The auction is open to the public which means anyone who has the available funds, may bid on the foreclosed property.

Generally, the accepted bid must be paid to the sheriff no later than 5:00 P.M. on the day of or the day after the auction.

After the sale, a certificate of sale is issued. If the property is not abandoned at the time of the sale up to the next six months, this is known as the redemption period.



Some states will allow the borrower to redeem the property. Any secondary lender may redeem the property within a certain amount of time. In order to redeem the property, the total amount owed including any fees, must be paid.

If there isn't anyone who redeems the property, the sheriff will then transfer the ownership to the winning bidder at the time of the foreclosure auction.

With Out of Court Trustee Sales, notice of the sale is noted which includes the property description, date, time, place, etc.



The auction notice is then recorded with the county.

The trustee mails the notice to all interested parties. This notice is sent out three months before the sale date and will be published in the local newspaper.

No less than 20 days before the sale, the foreclosure auction notice is posted on the property and the county courthouse.

The day before the sale is scheduled to take place and leading up to the sale, the trustee must provide the opening bid of the sale to anyone who inquires about the sale.



If not, then the sale may have to be postponed.

Out of Court foreclosure sales require every bidder to provide a refundable $10,000 deposit in order to bid. The trustee keeps the deposit of the individual with the winning bid.

The winning bidder has until 5:00 P.M. by the next day to pay his/her bid price.

Following the sale, the trustee then transfers ownership of the foreclosed property within seven days. The proceeds of the sale are paid directly to the primary lender, then to any secondary lenders that exist.



With Out of Court sales, there is no right of redemption for the borrower after an Out of Court foreclosure sale.

Bank foreclosures are at an all-time high. If you are an investor, your'e likely to find foreclosures all around the U.S.

Will foreclosures decline in numbers? Only time will tell.

The information provided here within, is not considered professional legal advice. It is always recommended that you seek professional legal advice such as a local real estate attorney.

Cheap Mortgage Leads

Cheap mortgage leads can be had if you know where to look around for them. A good mortgage lead can mean the difference between a mortgage firm that is mediocre with sales and a firm that is very successful. More and more mortgage companies are turning to using leads in order to drum up new sales - especially with the economy in turmoil and the housing market in dire condition.



There are several ways you can get cheap leads. One way to ensure you have access to an abundance of cheap leads is to look at getting aged mortgage leads.



These are leads are about 6 months old. Now, initially, you may think aged leads are worthless because they have been targeted by many other mortgage agents and companies. And you are right, they have been targeted. But because of their age, you can pick up these for dirt cheap. Some of the leads may be in a position now to get a mortgage - a position they might not have been in 6 months earlier.



Now, there are a few things to consider with leads. The most important thing is that leads must be of good quality.



With the best mortgage leads, you can expect a conversion rate of about 10-20%. Aged leads may have a conversion rate closer to around 5%. However, they are only a fraction of the cost of the fresh mortgage leads. This makes them well worth the investment, if you are simply willing to put a bit more effort into telemarketing your leads.