Direct mail, digital, and live transfers: cost, quality and which fits how you work

Three lead types, three different jobs.

Direct mail. The client mailed a card back, usually about final expense or mortgage protection. Higher cost per lead, higher intent, older demographic, works well for field agents who door-knock the card and for phone agents who call it the day it lands. Freshness decays fast.

Digital. Facebook, search, or aggregator leads. Lower cost, higher volume, lower and more variable intent, and often sold to more than one agent. Wins on speed to contact and dial discipline. Loses when you dial them three days later.

Live transfers. A call center qualifies and transfers a live prospect to you. Highest cost per lead, highest contact rate by definition, and the quality depends entirely on how honest the qualification is. Great for a phone closer with the calendar cleared; wasteful for someone who can't take calls on demand.

The fit questions: how many hours can you dial, can you take calls at random times, are you field or phone, and what's your budget per issued policy, not per lead.

Reply with what you run, why, and the cost per issued policy you're seeing. That number settles more arguments than any of us.