LEADS How can I make a LIVING

[blinder]

If you put your postcode area into the "self-gen appointments" in your SAM menu, it will how you all the recent appointments in that postcode, then you can see if YOU got them! (Just enter the first part of the postcode)

I'm a recent SAM 'owner', - I've tried that but it just came up with some 1500 records, not sorted into date order at all. Could you clarify please?

Blinder.

[*Star*man*]

In 'self generated leads' on SAM , the last ones in the list indicate the most recent . this is confirmed if you check the 'Customer Number' that is allocated. ie .. the higher the number the more recent the lead . (1870092 is a lot more ancient than a new one 3668954)

[BlindWizard]

There's something wrong with the suggestion (been made before) that the last ones in the list are the recent appointments. Put in a postcode including section and there are about 100 records after a customer I had an appointment with last Tuesday and I I know I'm not getting all leads but don't think there have been 100 in less than a week in quiet a small area.

Also I don't think the list is dynamic, think it only updates after a) IT department runs a routine and b) you then run request customer data. Not certain this is right, does anybody else know ??

[q]

My dairy is also messed up, asked dairy maint. to change postcodes but they need a new spreadsheet from FSM, contacted FSM to needless to say still awaiting reply, meanwhile having to ring customers to re-arrange sales calls to help keep mileage down.

[blinder]

Are those entries of customers in Sam all paying customers or are they just sales enquiries I wonder?

[golfsthegame]

Have just received the latest HILLARYS NEWS which has 3 foolscap pages devoted to interest free finance and what it can do to increase my turnover.
At the present time it would help if I had a few more leads because without these I don't stand much chance of having any turnover.
So far this month 21 leads 5 of which are self generated.
Orders 18 Quotes 3.
So far this week NIL and no leads for any future days.
Lead effect £276 which shows that I am doing the job as required.
Where have all the leads gone and more to the point what is being done to remedy the situation.
How many others are suffering at present or is it only me

[hereticus]

No, you are not alone, others have posted similar complaints.

I have always been accustomed to 15/20 leads each week with an average sales turnover of around £ 20k per month. My leads started dropping off a year ago and I was down over 20% year on year. January and February this year I am down 50% on 2005, and even more against the previous three years. So far this month I have had just 12 leads, plus some self generated, and have converted all of them into orders. Also I have just three leads in my forward diary and, like you, I have a good conversion rate and a high lead effect.

I know that there are some specific problems - lead allocation in a few postcodes, lead generation in others - and my FSM has worked with me to analyse what is going wrong and to implement the necessary fixes, but there still doesn't seem to be enough business around. Let's hope that when the clocks change and the sun shines we can start to pick things up again.

[inkjet]

I did get two leads yesterday but did discover customer who was one of my old customers did get offered a Lady Advisor.

I did not know there was working my postcodes.


So we are not being kept informed regarding New Advisors. This in my opinion has a bigger effect on your Agency than any drop off in Retail Spend.

Or a New Blind Company Starting.

An Advisor cannot compete, or take any action.

Thats why we are not Self employed. Just Gang Master Slaves working on Piece Work.

Ps No Leads Today

[grumperbear]

My fsm wants more availability but does nothing to fill my present availability. lf they can not make use of what they have got, l'm not likely to waste more time for them sitting around doing nothing.

[j]

My leads have sunk rock bottom, 2 this week and nothing so far for the rest of the week.
As for new advisors coming on board when we dont need them, especially when you have increased availability, makes me wonder whethher they want the old out and replace us with little YES men.

I am sick and tired of doing mop up operations for the new one, he took 2 months on one job to complete what with DOR's etc, and still messed that up, I attend appointments where he failed to turn up, I go to customers to remeasure because he did not leave a quote and never got back to them, and from now on, I am not going to clean up after him. How many customers do we lose through people like these and gets said or done.

He is obviously in the FSM's good books because the customers have complained about him, I've complained about him and nothing happens. Maybe because I call a spade a spade and will not suck up.

These guys get 2 days to learn a simple job, we had 3 hours in a hotel, and would have got our marching orders if we carried on like this.

What is the point of recruiting more people when leads cannot match availability. Even if it did, nobody expects to phone in and get an appointment tomorrow. Customers have said to me on a few occasions -" Hillarys cant be busy, I only phoned last night."

The short of it, those that have been loyal for years are going to get fed up and leave, and the company is going to be left with advisors not knowing what they are doing, and unhappy customers.

Hillarys - can you not see what is happening. You might think the more on board the better, but it will not work, it will only get worse.

[dodgybracket]

j said:

My leads have sunk rock bottom, 2 this week and nothing so far for the rest of the week.
As for new advisors coming on board when we dont need them, especially when you have increased availability, makes me wonder whethher they want the old out and replace us with little YES men.

I am sick and tired of doing mop up operations for the new one, he took 2 months on one job to complete what with DOR's etc, and still messed that up, I attend appointments where he failed to turn up, I go to customers to remeasure because he did not leave a quote and never got back to them, and from now on, I am not going to clean up after him. How many customers do we lose through people like these and gets said or done.

He is obviously in the FSM's good books because the customers have complained about him, I've complained about him and nothing happens. Maybe because I call a spade a spade and will not suck up.

These guys get 2 days to learn a simple job, we had 3 hours in a hotel, and would have got our marching orders if we carried on like this.

What is the point of recruiting more people when leads cannot match availability. Even if it did, nobody expects to phone in and get an appointment tomorrow. Customers have said to me on a few occasions -" Hillarys cant be busy, I only phoned last night."

The short of it, those that have been loyal for years are going to get fed up and leave, and the company is going to be left with advisors not knowing what they are doing, and unhappy customers.

Hillarys - can you not see what is happening. You might think the more on board the better, but it will not work, it will only get worse.

Hillarys do not want you to have a second job, and actively seek to side-line such agents with "innocents" lured by the bright light of NATIONAL COMPANY.
This is a written and signed policy of one of the new
"Bored Members " at Colwick.
NB He was S***-hot at Catalogue selling , and was paid to go away....Know what I mean...?

[inkjet]

Hillarys do not want you to have a second job, and actively seek to side-line such agents with "innocents" lured by the bright light of NATIONAL COMPANY.
This is a written and signed policy of one of the new
"Bored Members " at Colwick.
NB He was S***-hot at Catalogue selling , and was paid to go away....Know what I mean...?


[/quote] If this is a FACT I think he should write to all Advisors telling them.


I am not sure if this is going to cause long term problems with Inland Revenue, as if the Sales Force is full time and makes their entire living from Hillarys they could be regarded as Employees even if they are paid on Commission.


This was certainly the case with the Prudential


PsGot a lead Friday Evening First one this week. I will be able to test out New Price List for first Time ;D ;D ;D

[farmer]

j said:

My leads have sunk rock bottom, 2 this week and nothing so far for the rest of the week.
As for new advisors coming on board when we dont need them, especially when you have increased availability, makes me wonder whethher they want the old out and replace us with little YES men.

I am sick and tired of doing mop up operations for the new one, he took 2 months on one job to complete what with DOR's etc, and still messed that up, I attend appointments where he failed to turn up, I go to customers to remeasure because he did not leave a quote and never got back to them, and from now on, I am not going to clean up after him. How many customers do we lose through people like these and gets said or done.

He is obviously in the FSM's good books because the customers have complained about him, I've complained about him and nothing happens. Maybe because I call a spade a spade and will not suck up.

These guys get 2 days to learn a simple job, we had 3 hours in a hotel, and would have got our marching orders if we carried on like this.

What is the point of recruiting more people when leads cannot match availability. Even if it did, nobody expects to phone in and get an appointment tomorrow. Customers have said to me on a few occasions -" Hillarys cant be busy, I only phoned last night."

The short of it, those that have been loyal for years are going to get fed up and leave, and the company is going to be left with advisors not knowing what they are doing, and unhappy customers.

Hillarys - can you not see what is happening. You might think the more on board the better, but it will not work, it will only get worse.

Here bloody here.............I thought I was the only moaning bar steward. Ive been saying this for months and years..................

Will it make any difference? We all know the answer to that dont we?

[j]

Thanks Farmer - I was browsing through a posting in January where everybody was having a go, like we all do. Ross wrote about the recruitment of new advisors and with local papers which cover wide areas, so it might not concern you, but also said the FSM should also speak to you beforehand. Well this is certainly has not been the case with many advisors.

Do these FSM's have any rules to adhere to. I would like Ross to find out where all new advisors have been posted in the last 6-12 months, and then ask the existing advisors (NOT THE FSM)in those areas if we were consulted in any way.

It might be a surprise to you Ross, but if your FSM's can't be bothered with our input and how to sort things out, then we have a problem.

[BlindWizard]

I've had a new advisor (started feb) put on some of my postcodes without being told. Last year also 2 current advisor's also put on some of my postcodes without being told. Lost an advisor who covered same postcodes last year so not complaining that A advisor been added but it is getting crowded with 3 being added all covering some or all the postcodes I cover.

What I think is very bad is no discussion and the secrecy over it all. Why not be open and discuss availability issues before adding advisors ??