With a background in education administration, you may wonder how insurance agent Jason Wade found his way to the industry. With a head for business and a desire to find independence, Jason found that an insurance agency was the perfect way for him to flex his entrepreneurial muscles.
From the get-go, Jason decided to take on his own marketing efforts, but he knew there was a better way. After some trial and error, a lot of research and some Prince Charming “does the shoe fit” sifting through other insurance marketing agencies, Jason found a pathway to smart, streamlined growth. Hear all about Jason’s insurance marketing journey below.
Melon Local: Hey, Jason! Thanks for taking the time to talk to your pals at Melon Local. So, first things first, tell us a little about yourself.
Jason Wade: Glad we could find the time! I’m an insurance agent in Salem, IN. I began working with my insurance carrier in 2015. Before that, I had a great career in education administration at the largest school in Indiana. I was happy with my career, but I wanted more.
ML: Wow, that’s quite the transition! What inspired you to become an insurance agent?
JW: I think there’s something to be said about being an entrepreneur. When you look at the opportunities out there, you can start your own business from scratch, you can buy into a franchise, or you can become an insurance agent. When you can join a company without investing millions of dollars and that company is a leader in your industry? I think that’s a pretty good place to start. The drive to be my own boss, run my own team, control how much money I make… those were the driving forces behind my decision. I wanted a challenge and my carrier provided me with that challenge.
ML: When you got started, how did you drum up business in your area? What has your experience with insurance marketing been like?
JW: I’m in a town of 6,000, it’s a very small market and marketing is crucial. I really threw myself into all types of marketing, whether it be print ads, radio, billboards, car magnets, internet leads, and working with SEO companies. I really tried a shotgun approach. I really acted like every policy was crucial to us. But I never felt like our process was streamlined.
ML: So, did you try working with another insurance marketing agency before Melon Local? We promise not to be jealous.
JW: I entertained a few companies that had come to me and made these big promises. They were very expensive and I never saw much in the way of results. So, I decided to do it on my own and it was much better than what these other companies had done. I had some success and did some training with other agents on digital marketing. I felt like all these other companies were just there to get my money. I didn’t feel like they understood insurance marketing. They dealt with a lot of different industries and didn’t relate to my specific industry.
ML: Is that what drove you to call up Melon Local?
JW: Absolutely. I had heard about Melon Local. I heard some success stories. When I researched what Melon Local was doing, I realized it was a different approach. They really understood what I needed. They understood the value of my dollar and there were no false promises. They really know what my agency needs because they work exclusively in insurance marketing.
ML: What has your experience with Melon Local been like? Not that we’re fishing for compliments or anything. Be honest!
JW: I haven’t found anything more superior than Melon Local’s customer support. I text my client success manager all the time. Anytime I have a question, she’s there for me. It’s like she never stops working to make my agency better. They really want to make me the number one office in my area. I have sent them several referrals and I want people to realize how lucky they are to have a company like Melon Local working for them. There’s a million companies out there, but there’s only one Melon Local.
ML: What kind of results are you getting?
JW: Enough that my peers in my territory have taken notice of how many leads I’m getting! It by far surpasses anyone else in our state that is using other marketing sources.
ML: We’re ecstatic to hear it! So, tell us, what has been the biggest change since switching from doing your own marketing to working with Melon Local?
JW: What Melon Local has allowed me to do is have people contact me. Instead of going after leads, we changed what that looked like. Now people are reaching out to us. They’re clicking into our domain page. They’re contacting our office. I’m getting alerts on my phone at all times from people looking for quotes for insurance. And this is strictly thanks to adding Melon Local as the sole marketing source for driving business.
ML: Before we let you go, there’s one question we always like to ask. What is your advice to other insurance agents looking to markets their agencies and grow their businesses?
JW: We’re in a world now where people are shopping for insurance more frequently than they ever have and there is really one tool they’re using to do it: the internet. They’re using their cellphones, tablets or laptops, but typically it’s the cellphone. If you want to grow your agency, you have to make yourself relevant and attainable. The best way to do that is to continue selling while working with Melon Local so they can make you relevant and drive business to your office. It’s very simple.
Thanks, Jason, for the sound advice! We feel like the luckiest insurance marketing agency in the world to have clients like you.
Looking for results like Jason’s? We can help. Reach out to our team to learn more. To read more interviews like this one, head to our blog and look for our Interview with an Agent series.