Ocotillo Area Leads Group

One of the misconceptions that newcomers to networking have is that they will harvest a lot of new leads simply by attending a leads group a few times.  After all, it is a leads group.  Usually, this isn’t the case.  More experienced networkers understand that they go to leads groups not to sell to the people in the group, but to the people that members of the group interact with as they go about their business.

If you believe your networking activities should be focused on building relationships, not chasing leads, you’ll be in a much better position to build your business.

Make sure group members know what a good lead is for you.

Because you are not selling directly to the members of the group, your goal should be to educate group members about the type of lead that you are looking for. That way, they can identify likely prospects as they do business, and refer them to you.

Explain the uniqueness of your product or service to the group members most likely to provide referrals.

You should also make sure that group members understand what your product or service is, and how it is different or better than similar products or services.  Focus on the BENEFITS of your product or service, not the FEATURES.  They will then understand exactly what you are selling, and will be in a better position to bring referrals to you.

Find people in your group that are in similar, but not competitive businesses, and explore ways that you can work with them to build business. For example, someone in the home repair business could work with a home inspector to generate leads.  Similarly, a web designer could work together with a marketing firm to generate leads for each other.

Usually, you will not be able to give people a good understanding of your business, or establish complementary relationships simply by giving your thirty-second overview. You won’t even be able to do it during the open networking before or after the meeting.  Use this time to identify people you would like to work with, and then invite them to have coffee or lunch, so you can start to develop your relationship while giving them more detail about your product or service.

Attend meetings regularly for best results.

Finally, establish your credibility by regularly attending group meetings. You can’t expect people to refer business to you if they only see you one time, and you never show up again.  With regular attendance, people will realize that you are serious about networking, and you will earn their trust enough to start sending you referrals.

By following these tips, you will discover that over time you will begin to earn good leads that will turn into business.  And, the best part is that unlike a cold lead that someone thinks of at a meeting, you will receive qualified referrals where your networking partner has already opened the door for your call.

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Madison, Wis. (November 22^nd, 2010) – Neil Cutler, an American Family Insurance agent in Chandler, Arizona has been recognized for customer satisfaction excellence under the J.D. Power and Associates Distinguished Insurance Agency Program.^SM  Cutler joins other American Family agents who have demonstrated the highest level of commitment to outstanding customer service.

Cutler has been an agent for American Family since October, 2003. His office is located at 4905 S. Alma School Road, Suite 3, Chandler AZ 85248.

“Customer service is more important than ever,” said Jack Salzwedel, American Family president and chief operating officer. “I’m proud that more American Family Insurance agents made the commitment to meeting the Distinguished Insurance Agency criteria this year than in any of the program’s previous five years. That’s truly saying something about their commitment to meeting our customers’ needs.”

The service excellence distinction was determined through a two-part evaluation process conducted by J.D. Power and Associates.  The first part consists of a customer satisfaction survey, which measures customers’ overall experience with their current American Family agent.  In order to proceed to the second step, agents must meet or exceed the standards measured on a national benchmark established by J.D. Power and Associates’ annual auto and home insurance customer satisfaction studies.  Only agencies that perform in the top 20 percent of all agencies nationwide based on customer satisfaction surveys are eligible to become a Distinguished Insurance Agency.

Agents who meet or surpass the overall national average must then pass a rigorous on-site evaluation based on five best practice areas: proactive reviews of customer insurance needs, claims handling, positive customer contacts, responsiveness and office environment.

American Family customers in the Phoenix area who have storm-related claims should immediately contact our 24-hour Customer Care Center at 1-800-MY-AMFAM (692-6326) to schedule an inspection of their damaged property or vehicle.

Our national catastrophe team is helping Phoenix customers whose cars, homes and businesses were damaged from a severe hail storm on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2010.

Our customers in the Phoenix area have already filed more than 8,000 property and auto claims from the storm. Damage appears to be heaviest in the southeast part of the city and adjacent suburbs, with numerous claims for broken windshields and dented autos, in addition to roof and stucco damage on homes.

American Family customers who have claims should immediately contact our 24-hour Customer Care Center at 1-800-MY-AMFAM (692-6326) to schedule an inspection of their damaged property or vehicle.

American Family agents and adjusters from the company’s Phoenix office are already helping customers with immediate needs, with additional adjusters on their way from the company catastrophe team.

The company expects to establish at least four vehicle inspection drive-in site at a location to be determined. Vehicles are inspected by appointment only, which customers can schedule when reporting their claim. The drive-in will operate 7 days a week, with appointment times available from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Questions and answers for American Family customers:

How do I report my claim? To report a claim, please contact our 24-hour Claim Customer Care Center at 1-800-MY-AMFAM (692-6326) or your American Family agent.

What damages to my property might be covered? Your homeowners insurance policy covers wind and hail damage to your home and personal property. The “comprehensive” section of your auto insurance policy provides coverage for wind and hail damage to your vehicle.

Can I start to make repairs to prevent further damage? You should protect your property immediately against further damage and theft. Use plywood, tarps or other materials to cover broken windows and damaged rooftops. Keep the receipts of any materials/services that you purchase to make these repairs so your adjuster can review them and reimburse you for expenses covered by your policy.

How will the inspection process work? When a hailstorm creates a large volume of claims, we will typically establish one or more drive-in sites where policyholders can take their hail-damaged vehicles to be inspected and receive payment for repairs, less their deductible. These inspections take place on an appointment basis only, so it’s important that you first report your claim.

If your home has sustained hail damage, an adjuster will contact you at one of the phone numbers you provided when you reported your claim. The two of you will schedule an inspection of your home, after which the adjuster will develop an estimate and make payment for repairs covered by your policy.

Who do I call to make repairs? You are free to select any contractor or repair shop you wish. It is usually best to select one who has operated in the area for several years, is insured and bonded, and will give you a written guarantee for the work performed.

Neil B. Cutler 

American Family Insurance

4905 South Alma School Road, Suite 3 

Chandler, AZ  85248 

Office: 480-632-6411

Fax:  480-785-1663 

E-mail: ncutler@amfam.com

Website: www.neilcutleragency.com

IS YOUR FAMILY PROTECTED?

Call me today for your Life Insurance Evaluation 

High schools throughout the country compete for cash prizes by encouraging parents and teen drivers to pledge their commitment to safe driving

Chandler, AZ (September 8, 2010) – Hamilton High School is one of more than 375 schools throughout American Family’s 19-state operating territory participating in the Teen Safe Driver Pledge, an online pledge by teen drivers, parents or other community members that establishes safe driving expectations. By participating in the program, Hamilton High earns an automatic cash prize from program sponsor American Family Insurance and is in the running for larger cash prizes based on the school’s number of pledges.

Hamilton High School families and other members of the community who wish to express their commitment to safe driving can learn more about the program and enroll at www.teensafedriver.com/pledge. Information also will be presented at football games or other sporting events throughout the fall.

“For a new driver, that first driver’s license comes with a sense of freedom but also a great deal of responsibility,” said American Family Insurance agent Neil Cutler, who is working with Hamilton High throughout the program. “The Teen Safe Driver Pledge helps raise the level of awareness about driving safety throughout the entire community.”

Cutler will present Hamilton High School a check for at least $900 at a football game or other sporting event this fall. Participating schools also can earn $15,000 if they are the top school in one of three enrollment tiers based on the number of pledges received.

In addition, individual participants can qualify for prize drawings, regardless of the school’s overall ranking. The program is open to teen drivers and anyone age 14 and older who supports a teen driver – parents or guardians, other family or friends, or anyone in the community committed to the goal of improving safety on our roads.

The Teen Safe Driver Pledge high school contest runs through Nov. 24. The top three schools in participation rates will be announced in December. Drawings for individual prizes – including iPads, flip video cameras and iTunes gift cards – end Dec. 31.

The program supplements American Family Insurance’s existing Teen Safe Driver ProgramSM, which is available at no cost to all American Family auto insurance customers who have beginning drivers in their household.

Introduced in 2007 in association with DriveCam Inc., the Teen Safe Driver Program provides teens and their parents an in-vehicle video and audio unit that captures risky driving behaviors. Parents log in to www.teensafedriver.com to view the driving report card, video events and coaching tips, including objective, third-party assessment of the teen driver’s driving performance compared with other teens.

Several local Chandler businesses have partnered with One Small Step and The Clothes Cabin by placing a clothing collection box at their place of business.

YOU CAN HELP TOO!!!  Have your children grown out of some of their clothes, or are they just tired of them?  What could be a better reason to clean out those cluttered closets.  Please bring your new or gently used children’s and adult clothing to any of the locations listed below.  Items will be donated to The Clothes Cabin, a community service that gives free clothing to families who cannot afford to buy the clothes they need.

MOST NEEDED ITEMS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING :

Children’s clothes, size 6 and up, especially shorts and jeans

Children’s shoes in good condition

Socks and underwear of all sizes

Men’s clothing

Queen size sheets

COLLECTION BOX LOCATIONS:

Neil Cutler – American Family Insurance – 4905 S Alma School Rd Ste 3, Chandler 85248

Matt Marshall – First Bank – 2020 S Alma School Rd, Chandler 85286

Debbie Wiltse – State Farm Insurance – 4980 S Alma School Rd Ste A6, Chandler 85248

Vince Kame – Foothills Sports Medicine – 3200 S. Alma School Rd Ste 101 Chandler 85248

Marc Graham – Sun Lakes Pest Control – 24053 S. Arizona Ave, Chandler 85248

Jim Brown – Fish Window Cleaning – 3738 W Commonwealth #12, Chandler 85226

Mike Murphy- Alpha & Omega Financial Group – 1490 S Price Rd Ste 306, Chandler 85286

Frank Hanson- Coldwell Banker – 1811 S. Alma School Rd #150, Mesa 85210

Bonnie Bowden – Home Mortgage Finance – 9666 E Riggs Road #118, Sun Lakes 85248

THANK YOU!!!!  YOUR GENEROSITY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN SOMEONE’S LIFE!!   For more information on The Clothes Cabin, please visit their website at www.onesmallsteponline.com

     Kristine Stevens with Tastefully Simple understands we all value our time and yet, we appreciate great experiences. And that’s why she offers over 50 convenient, easy-to-prepare food products made by using staple ingredients that are normally on hand. Delicious dips, breads and desserts can be made in a snap that will make everyone come back to the table for more!

     As a long-term member of the OALG, Kristine has been given the opportunity to showcase her products while gaining clients and friends through the members of the group in addition to earning referrals outside of the meetings.  The OALG has been a wonderful use of her time and has been a great experience.

     At the latest OALG  meeting on April 1, Kristine featured Tastefully Simple’s new Spring/Summer line and catalog and offered it’s members food samples and menu ideas to incorporate into meals.

     Tastefully Simple also offers an amazing business gift-giving program and fundraising opportunities. Contact Kristine or check out all the details at http://www.tastefullysimple.com/web/kstevens