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Update News
for August 2015
Here is a quick run-down on what you will find in this bulletin:
Data Changes Are Here
WARNING - Internet Engine Users
Special Referral Opportunity
Why Are FREE Zip Codes So Important?
Zip Code Listings
Rule Changes For 2016
We Are Betting On Microsoft
Hedging Our Bets
These topics will be dealt with in more detail throughout this bulletin.
The new data changes went live on www.term4sale.com on July 23rd. The site functioned normally. The new data changes then went live for our Mobile Quote Service on July 24th. That turned up a bug in the system when the agent went to email a PDF file to a client and/or themselves. That bug was fixed. The new data changes went live for our Web Quote option customers on July 25th. That turned up a bug in the Income Replacement and Retirement Calculators and that bug was fixed.
Once all those fixes had been on our own websites for 24 hours, without complaints or new reports of bugs, we began shipping the new engine to our Internet engine customers, getting them ready for the new data structure which will go into general release August 4th.
Just to review the process, the monthly update for August, which we released on July 31st, is still relying upon the old data structure. However, on August 4th the midmonth update will convert our subscribers to the new data structure.
The new data structure will not affect subscribers to our Windows software as the new version of the Windows program will be released at the same time as the new data. Subscribers shouldn't notice or see a thing. That being said, the old adage is "the last bug is never found", meaning something could have crept in that has been undetected. As always, if something appears suspicious, call us ASAP at (800) 798-3488 or (888) 798-3488. If you can't get either Jeremiah or Bob by phone, email: service@compulife.net. Make sure you include your phone number in the email.
As explained, the August monthly update, released on July 31st, is still using the old data structure.
IMPORTANT: There will be a new mid-month update August 4th as one of the important companies that sells term will have new rates on that date. The August 4th update will rely upon the new data format. At the same time as you obtain that mid-month update, and place the new data files on your server, you will need to activate the new engine.
When we say Internet Engine Users, we are referring to those who pay us $960 for the version of Compulife that lets the customer run our comparison software from their own server. This does not affect the vast majority of Compulife subcribers.
Instructions for the new engine were in the package that was emailed to engine users, assuming that they completed the new "Internet Engine License Agreement". If you are an Internet Engine user and have not yet received that email, then you need to contact Compulife ASAP. We have been sending emails to Internet Engine subscribers, including an email requiring that the new "Internet Engine License Agreement" be signed prior to us providing the user with the new engine.
Once again, if an internet engine user attempts to place the August midmonth update onto their server, without the new internet engine, the new data will not work with the old engine. If this happens the thing to do is to go back and get the August monthly update again, and NOT get the midmonth update. Put those files on your server and you can continue to function until you get the new engine.
We have a NEW referral program that you need to pay particular attention to.
If you introduce a new subscriber to Compulife they will get some FREE STUFF and so will you.
For your referral: FREE Compulife (including web quotes and 3 free zip codes listings) for 6 months (instead of the usual 4).
IMPORTANT: The standing offer of 4 free months is what we offer on our site. If you do not use this referral form to order the trial, then your referral will NOT get 6 free months:
Your REWARD for the referral: A FREE zip code listing at www.term4sale.com until the end of 2017. That's $36.25 value ($1.25 X 29). You need to keep reading for more information about why this is more valuable than just $36.25. The sooner you get the referral started, the longer you will have benefit of your additional free zip codes.
How does this work?
First, you must give us the referral using THIS FORM:
Second, your referral must install the 30 day free trial and complete the tutorial. If your referral does not complete the tutorial, you do not get your additional free zip code listing to the end of 2017.
Therefore, it is important for you to make the referral and then follow-up with your referral to make sure that they do the tutorial. Remind them that they get Compulife free for 6 months, which includes 3 free zip code listings at www.term4sale.com. They also get the webquote option for free for 6 months.
And folks, if the agent won't take the time to spend 10 minutes to learn to use software that will make them money, then they aren't worth our time or bother. That's why we need you to "ride herd" and get them to do that tutorial.
That may sound harsh but we have learned, after many years, that if people don't learn how to use our software (or any software) then they won't use it. And if you don't use Compulife, then you won't realize that it will MAKE YOU MONEY.
And those who use our software, KNOW IT MAKES THEM MONEY.
The ability for you to add FREE zip code listings is VERY important. FREE zip codes (you already have 3 free zip codes with your subscription) are important because they can BUMP paid listings in your local area.
Bumping zip codes is ONLY allowed in the first week of November. If you purchased a zip code listing that listing is secure to the end of that year. However, you may not be able to renew that listing the following year should that listing get bumped by someone who is in the local area of that zip code and who elects to use that zip code as one of their FREE zip codes.
Once again, bumping can only occur in the first week of November and will only take affect at the beginning of the following year. When you bump a paid listing we do not renew that listing for the person who previously paid for it. When there is more than one paid listing in a zip code, we bump the newer subscribers first. Those who have been in that zip code the longest have seniority.
IMPORTANT: To ensure that Jeremiah and Pat aren't overwhelmed with this process, Compulife will not be accepting new zip code purchases during November and December. This will freeze our current zip code listings to the end of December.
During the first week of November we will process the changes as a result of bumping. We will remove bumped zip codes from subscribers paid listings prior to the invoicing of renewals for 2016. Those who ask us to move their free listings into those other zip codes will have those moved listing appear in January, not before.
Further, after the first week of January we will remove those listings that were not renewed (paid) and post the new list to the www.term4sale.com web site. At that point you would be well advised to check the site to see if there are listings that you want, that have now opened up.
TIP: Make a note of this in your calendar. You need to check the January 2016 Update News very carefully, to learn the date when you can see the newly available zip codes. These will be sold on a first come, first served basis. Every year there is always a land rush as people swoop in to scoop up newly available zip codes in good areas.
That's why the referral program is SO IMPORTANT. If you can ADD free zip codes to your account, which are then paid to the end of 2017, it means that you can use those additional FREE zip codes, in the first week of November, to bump paid listings. Making referrals to Compulife is the ONLY WAY you can add additional FREE zip code listings.
For example, let's say that you refer 10 new agents to Compulife, and they all do the tutorial to get their free subscriptions to the end of 2015. You will receive 10 FREE zip code listings to the end of 2017 (a $375 value). For the balance of 2015 you can only select zip codes that are available. You can check to see what is available here:
IMPORTANT: In the first week of November you can ask to move those 10 FREE zip codes and BUMP 10 paid zip code listings which you would rather have (ONLY in your local area). Those free zip codes will be FREE to the end of 2017.
VERY IMPORTANT: When you come to 2018 you will have the right to keep those zip codes by paying to renew them.
Do you UNDERSTAND the value of this offer?
If it hasn't hit you by this point, try reading it again. If you still don't get it, call me (Bob Barney) at (888) 798-3488.
In becoming a part-time sales person for Compulife, it means that you can bank some FREE zip codes for 2015/2016/2017. Those zip codes can then lead to more life insurance sales through www.term4sale.com.
And this isn't that hard. After all, it doesn't take much of a salesman to give stuff away for FREE.
And here is why this is even more important. It is becoming more and more difficult for new subscribers to find good zip codes that are available. That means that your FREE zip codes are becoming more important because it often takes a free zip code to get a good zip code in your local area. The problem with that is that three is the limit of free zip codes with a subscription. After that you have to buy zip codes listings and they are on a first come, first served basis.
Therefore, the ability to get more FREE zip codes in your area is really important. It represents the ONLY way that you can get people who buy and renew the codes that they have in your area, bumped out of those listings. The time that you take to promote Compulife in the next few weeks can provide you with an enduring benefit with respect to insurance sales.
No doubt some folks who got in the listing game early, and who bought some of the best zip code listings, will be unhappy about this. Our advice for those subscribers is to take advantage of this same special offer and lock down a bunch of zip codes in their own local area, by getting those for free. That saves you money, and that locks down those zip codes. Our goal is to have a STRONG local presence in all the zip code listings. It's not that buying paid listing outside your immediate area is unwelcome, it's just more important that we have lots of subscribers able to derive sales from their own local area.
But we still have a problem. Even brand new subscribers who have three free zip codes to place, are finding it tough to get a good zip code listing in their area. Many are already full. New subscriber are being told that they have to wait until November to bump some of the paid listings, assuming that they have become a paying subscriber by that time. They have to settle for what is available until then. For that reason we still need to thin the herd and we will need to make some further changes to paid zip codes listings for 2016.
Second, we will decrease the maximum number of paid zip codes from 400 to 360 for standard license subscribers. The price for the zip codes over the personal use allotment (91 to 360) will be unchanged at $1.50 per month (times 12; $18 each per year).
NOTE: The number of paid listings is in ADDITION to your free zip codes listings. If you have 10 free zip codes listings, then you can add 90 or 360 to those 10.
The principle in making these changes is to broaden the number of Compulife players on the field. We DO NOT want any one customer capitalizing on the benefits of www.term4sale.com. We prefer that a majority of subscribers derive a benefit from the site, not just a minority getting a huge benefit. In the meantime we also hope to continue to grow traffic to the site. While we make the slices of the pie thinner, we are trying to make the pie larger. In the end it may mean you have fewer listings but they should still produce the same number of contacts and sales. That's our goal.
For a couple of months we have been talking about a couple of VERY interesting Windows 8.1 tablets, one of which was the HP Stream (available in a 7" or 8" model). The 7" is selling for under a hundred bucks. Here are the current going prices for these devices:
Both devices run the full Windows version of Compulife and both are still, INSANELY cheap. We have made changes to make Compulife easier to use on those tablets.
The big difference is the new way to put products into Pick 12. If our software detects a touch screen available, you can touch and hold on a product in the comparison, and then "sweep" your finger or stylus right. Note, some customers have emailed and asked for the free stylus that we are sending to customers who ask for it, get your's by emailing service@compulife.com and giving us your mailing address. The movement of your finger or stylus will first display the Pick 12 Product List. With the list on the screen, click and sweep right again, and the product goes into Pick 12. It works super slick.
TIP: I like to move the "Pick 12 Produce List" box, which lets you see the products you have filed, from the bottom right corner of the tablet screen to the top right corner. I then move the "Display Single Product" box from the top right, to below the "Pick 12 Product List". That lets me see the box easier, and I don't block it with my hand as I am filing products. If you don't know how to do that, give us a call.
I am very, very happy with the way this works. It gives subscribers, who have devices like these, the best Compulife software product in a completely mobile and autonomous environment. And with device prices under $100, this is a NO BRAINER.
In that context, I found this article a really interesting read:
While the article's big story is the executive shake-up at Microsoft, the underlying significance is the determination of Microsoft to make Windows 10 an operating system that is used by all devices: computers, tablets, phones, etc. Given that Compulife has focussed on Windows software for over 2 decades, we like what we are hearing and looking forward to what is coming. For now and a very significant period of time to come, Compulife will deliver our best product experience for the Windows operating system.
One of the objectives of the "overhaul" that we are doing to Compulife, is to move our product to a more browser based user interface. If we can rely upon browsers as the way that you talk to our quoting engine, and let the engine do the heavy lifting in terms of looking up and producing quotes and comparisons (as our internet engine does now), it then means it is easier to take our product to other operating systems and environments if the market demands.
We still get calls from agents, wondering if we can run on a Mac. Even though there is a software product called "Parrallels", that lets Mac users run Windows software on their Mac, I have little doubt we would close more sales if we simply had "Mac" software. It's just that the added cost to program for a Mac, and set up a Mac user interface, does not warrant the investment of time and money. However, if we get to where we are heading, that investment would be much smaller.
So the best Compulife experience will continue to be for Windows computers, and other situations like our mobile and internet software, will be playing catch up once our data overhaul is complete. Eventually the web based version of Compulife will be able to do all the things our Windows software does, but that's down the road.