Here is some total ignorance on my part (let the bashing commence)…Where can I find out more about these IVR systems, specific to advisors??

Do a Google search...duh.

Try searching for "interactive voice response" (IVR), "auto-dialer", "web based auto-dialer", or "hosted CRM".

Is this sort of thing actually legal?  I receive these types of
calls from mortgage companies all the time - has anyone here actually
used them and what sort of response rate did you see?

[quote=Beagle]Is this sort of thing actually legal?  I receive these types of calls from mortgage companies all the time - has anyone here actually used them and what sort of response rate did you see?
[/quote]

From a previous thread in a different RR forum:  http://forums.registeredrep.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=410& PN=1

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The NASD does have a problem with canned messages for promoting a specific product.  However, I am not sure of the legal interpretation for messages offering general information about services.

Then there are the big boys.  The FTC and the FCC.  The FTC does not have a problem as long as the dialer does not do sequential dialing and has DNC compliance.  You can get around that problem because all auto-dialers now have the ability to incorporate a "sort algorithm" and integrated DNC management features. 

The FCC DOES have a problem and you must have "prior express consent" (see below).  This is where the legal intrepretation gets fuzzy...  I have received numerous calls in the past several weeks at home and work that have used an "opt-in" feature where you press a number to hear the rest of the message.  This seems to imply "prior express consent" (at least for the companies that are calling me).  A friend of mine that is in the mortgage industry was interested in such a marketing program too and had a lawyer look into this for him.  The lawyer couldn't make heads or tails of it and told him that she felt that the "opt-in" feature did not constitute "prior express consent".  I believe that is does constitute "prior express consent" but I am not willing to gamble my career on it.  However, I would like to have Bill Singer's interpretation (*hint*).

From FCC customer service:

FCC Rules pre-empt or prevail over FTC Law.

Please reference the attached information on Artificial or Prerecorded Messages.
  
   * Autodialers produce, store and dial telephone numbers using a random or
     sequential number generator.  Autodialers are usually used to place
artificial
     (computerized) or prerecorded voice calls.
  
   * Except for emergency calls or calls made with the prior express consent of
the
     person being called, autodialers & any artificial or prerecorded voice
messages
     may not be used to contact numbers assigned to:
   
     * any emergency telephone line;
  
     * the telephone line of any guest or patient room at a hospital,
       health care facility, home for the elderly, or similar establishment;
  
     * a paging service, cellular telephone service, or other radio common
carrier
       service, if the person being called would be charged for the call; or
  
     * any other service for which the person being called would be charged for
       the call.
  
   * Calls using artificial or prerecorded voice messages - including those that
do
     not use autodialers - may not be made to residential telephone numbers
except
     in the following cases:
   
     * emergency calls needed to ensure the consumer's health and safety;
     * calls for which you have given prior consent;
     * non-commercial calls;
     * calls which don't include any unsolicited advertisements;
     * calls by, or on behalf of, tax-exempt non-profit organizations; or
     * calls from entities with which you have an established business
relationship.
  
   * The following types of calls are exempt and are permitted:
     * non-commercial calls (for example from charitable entities
     * polling organizations
     * political or government agencies)
     * calls which do not include any unsolicited advertisements
     * calls by or on behalf of tax-exempt nonprofit organizations
     * calls from entities with whom you have an "established business
relationship."
  
   * Calls using autodialers or artificial or prerecorded voice
   messages may be placed to businesses, although the FCC's rules
   prohibit the use of autodialers in a way that ties up two or more
   lines of a multi-line business at the same time.
  
   * If an autodialer is used to deliver an artificial or
   prerecorded voice message, that message must state, at the
   beginning, the identity of the business, individual, or other
   entity initiating the call.  During or after the message, the
   caller must give the telephone number (other than that of the
   autodialer or prerecorded message player that placed the call) or
   address of the business, other entity, or individual that made
   the call.  It may not be a 900 number or any other number for
   which charges exceed local or long distance transmission charges.
  
   * Autodialers that deliver a recorded message must release the
   called party's telephone line within 5 seconds of the time that
   the calling system receives notification that the called party's
   line has hung up.
  
  Thank you for contacting the FCC's Consumer Center.


Rep Number             : TSR22

http://www.voiceguide.com/vgDialer.htm

249.00 buys you the needed version.  Go to ebay and buy a good used telephony card or hell go to walmart and buy a cheap 20 external modem, sound won't be great but never the less they will work. 

Then go out and register with the DNC list and get your SAN number and give it to the list people that'll sell you 10 thousand plus names in almost and demographic makeup you like (for anround 300 dollars) give them your SAN number to scrub the list with and your in complete compliance with the Goverment.  Get your IT buddy to do the work and programming and your good to go!  May take him all of 20 minutes to do! Oh yea, your best bet is to get a used computer to dedicate it to the system another 100 dollars or so plus the SAN number is free.

Okay next step, this is crucial!  You'll need a really great voice, I find elderly man or a good female voice to work the best!  So on the site I posted has links to voice talent or google it and you'll find plenty, pick a voice that goes along with the product, when I did Annuities I pick a elderly masculine voice, for life insurance (mortgage Ins.) a female voice is better, I beleive so take that for what it is worth.  You also have time limits, so when you run it set the program up to transfer to you or whomever you choose to be a live operator to whatever line you want including your cell phone.  Then I have another key where they can leave a message and yet another one for them to opt out and will not be called again!

Response Rate, I find quarter to a half percent in two dialings, so that would work out on average to be 50 depending on product and correct parameters of the demographics one picks.  Yet though I only use one line and just had it set up and ran two list as of this date.  Cheap and it never needs feeding!  Nor does it complain about needing a coffee break such as myself!

Hell of a lot cheaper then Postcards or letters!  Once again this is just one little solution in a bigger problem but what I've seen its simply the next best thing to slice bread.  I even admit when I get a computer selling message call I hang up ASAP but some actually don't and a few will even reply.  My real intent for this system was basically for Life Settlements, I find the elderly more patient to such tactics but if they are interested they do respond which out of 40 I actually have 20 apointments and hopefully 1 of them can get qualified and sold which my ROI would be out of this world!  Then there is the second list, the third list the fourth and so on!  I just need one sale out of ten thousand calls to make me a happy camper!

I remember about 6-8 years ago they ran an article in our local paper
that it was illegal to run an autodialer to a personal residence. 
I remember it only because I looked into it, I received a phone call
from a mortgage company and the Simpson’s had a show about an
autodialer and Homer was using it - saw it all within about 2
days.  Amazing how THAT made me remember it.



I can just imagine how many people would ring through to inform me
about my breaking the law.  I now realize how some of those
outbound appointment setters on the internet work - after further
review they are just using this equipment.

[quote=Beagle]I remember about 6-8 years ago they ran an article in our local paper that it was illegal to run an autodialer to a personal residence.  I remember it only because I looked into it, I received a phone call from a mortgage company and the Simpson's had a show about an autodialer and Homer was using it - saw it all within about 2 days.  Amazing how THAT made me remember it.

I can just imagine how many people would ring through to inform me about my breaking the law.  I now realize how some of those outbound appointment setters on the internet work - after further review they are just using this equipment.
[/quote]

Okay  I was going to give a fast-a-matter of fact answer but boy was I wrong!  I'm in violation of Tennessee law!  So I stop my scripts and applied for the Tennessee list of DNC victims, of course they want 500 yearly fee!  Pay 500 dollars to the State and you have card-blanche!  I ask about Auto/Predictive Dialers and the person said as long as I pay my fee they see no difference?  Yet another robbery of the State for their coffuires, I should of guess that one!

So then I call my buddy down the block, okay in Memphis and ask him how he felt.  He stated screw the State and simply change my scripts and simply take a survey about whatever product your pushing.  Don't sell just find out if they have interest and desire, such as Life Settlements. 

Such as this

Dear Johnny Boy, we are calling taking a survey of people over 70 you know the old people older then dirt and that have Insurance of over 200 thousand to you qualify?  You know the old people with all the money!

Answer is Y or N or hangup.

Dear Johnny Boy, since you have made the cut and still here we would like to ask several questions about your needs and interest in why you have this policy in force.

Q1 Is their any premiuns due on monthly or yearly scheldule? Y or N

Q2 Is this Insurance you have still needed for original intent of when you purchase the Insurance Policy? Y or N

Q3 Is the premiun becoming a burden or simply unwanted?

Q4 If you didn't have this policy would you be in need of and be interested in pursuing a cheaper alternative?

You get the idea?  Do a damn Survey regarding to your product and or services and find out if this person has any need of it.  If they do obviously the second step is painfully clear.  This wording is just off the top of my scattered brain and does in no way reflect an actual script!

find more details how long does a cold last http://howlongdoesacoldlast.blogspot.com

more than a few hundred, I use to work for a call center that did telemarketing as a project manager.  Trust me, they are expensive.  Plus, an autodialer has many issues that you don’t want to deal with as a broker.

h

more than a few hundred, I use to work for a call center that did telemarketing as a project manager.  Trust me, they are expensive.  Plus, an autodialer has many issues that you don’t want to deal with as a broker.

how long does a cold last

Her’s a counter opinion, fwiw.
Cold calling is not a good way for most of us to build our business. The obstacles include:

Thanks this will be so helpful when I start production. I was recently accepted into the pmd program at merrill.

buyandhold is spot on. cold calling is not a way to build successful fee based relationships over time. Businesses have well trained gate-keepers to keep you away from their upper level employees. In my days at a wirehouse the DNC list was a joke. They never purged names from people who were clients 5-10 yrs ago. You can buy lists, but they are crappy list that other junior brokers are buying too. GL with that.

To be successful you have to network your butt off, be patient, learn constantly and get fairly lucky.

When I was prospecting, I went door to door in real estate, I kept track of my numbers…for example for out of every 100 people I talked to, 3 or 4 would list with me.

I am studying for my life insurance exam, I plan on working Monday and Tuesday from 9:00 am to 8:30 pm going door to door, so I can get my prospecting numbers out of the way.

That will make my prospecting time open for Wednesday - Sunday. It worked for me when I was in real estate.

If I were to prospect every day, which I have done in the past…it’s real easy to get burned-out & quit.