Q: How long have you been in the insurance business?
A: I have been in business for 2 years. Within that time, I have opened three offices in Texas.

Q: What types of insurance do you sell?
A: I sell auto, home, life, business and commercial insurance. I mostly purchase auto leads and on occasion I purchase home leads from NetQuote.

Q: What is one of the secrets to your agency’s success?
A: The secret to my success is to call the customer. Unless my staff is on the phone with a customer, my staff is calling back leads. The goal is to keep the consumers on the phone as long as possible. The longer my staff is able to keep the consumer on the phone the more likely the consumer will purchase insurance. The more time you spend with a consumer they feel more of a commitment to you and your business.

Q: Why do you use online leads?
A: Online leads are fast and easy. There is no difference than people walking through the door. It's a great way to activity reach consumers. 30-40% of my business comes from online leads. We call our leads every six months to ensure consumers are getting the best leads and to retain existing consumers.

Q: What is your #1 tip for managing online leads?
A:My #1 tip for managing online leads is to call the lead immediately and stay on the phone as long as possible. Take the time to engage the consumer. Also, I don’t turn off the leads on weekends and never let go of a zip code.

Q: What is your #1 tip for growing your business?
A: My #1 tip for growing my business is staffing. Each staff member is trained and taught from the ground up. It's a career and they should love what they do. It's worth all the investment in training.

Q: Do you have any parting words of wisdom?
A: You need to realize the level of commitment and follow-through when running a business. When you first start your business, set a structure and process in place. This will help you as your business grows.