I Noah Guy Insurance

When it comes to leads, there’s a whole lot of conversation on Reddit and other online Insurance Forums about what sources of leads are working for people. Is it referrals? Is it online leads? Live call transfers? Really, I think depending on your line of business, your current situation as an agent, and whether you’re captive or independent can all play a role in what makes the most sense for you. Obviously, I’d rather just have people lining up outside my office taking numbers and waiting for me to scream, “NEXT!”

Maybe in another life. I’d rather not have to buy leads, but the fact remains that for most new agents, leads are the best way to consistently have conversations with potential clients. In my line of business, it’s pretty much a numbers game. Ten conversations a day almost always guarantees at least one sale. Sometimes more.

For the past couple of months, I’ve been using Hometown Quotes—and Joe, if you’re reading this, thanks for getting in touch with me and getting me linked up with a killer lead vendor.

Look—I’m not going to say that the leads are perfect because they’re not. No source of leads is. However, for all intents and purposes, I think Hometown Quotes does a pretty solid job of providing affordable leads that are still high-intent and worthwhile.

Let’s talk about the good, the bad, and the fugly about Hometown Quotes. Overall? Yes, I like the service. Hopefully, if someone from Hometown Quotes is reading this, they can get to “the powers that be” about the bad and the fugly.

The good:

• At six bucks a lead, there are basically no other lead services that even compare—at least as far as I know. If you know of something cheaper, drop a link in the comments and I’ll check them out
• These leads are genuinely high intent—they’re folks who actually want quotes and are ready to talk
• Highly customizable filters that let you target exactly the kind of leads you want
• Unlimited returns on most leads, especially for disconnected numbers
• TCPA compliant with full documentation—timestamps, IP addresses, and proof of consent included

The bad:

• You’ll get your share of cheapskate clients looking for bare-minimum coverage. Not ideal if you prefer selling better coverage, though filters can help
• Expect some disconnected or wrong numbers. It happens, but you can return these and move on
• These are shoppers—be prepared for occasional chargebacks unless you build a solid relationship with the client

The fugly:

• Unfortunately, I’ve found that about 5% or so of these leads will try their best to make your life hell – literally! They’ll scream and curse you out as soon as you dial their number or send them a text. I don’t take it personally, and I just return those leads.

Conclusion:

If you can afford to drop $6 for a chance to make a sale and get folks on the books, Hometown Quotes is a solid option for independent agents and captives alike. Like with all lead vendors, there are pros and cons. Personally, my average cost per policy is about $30–$40. Generally speaking, I stand to 4x or 5x my investment. Your mileage may vary depending on which carriers you have access to AND your own personal sales process. Personally, Hometown Quotes blows other services such as Aged Leads Store out of the water.