Hi Catie,
It certainly sounds as though you have a big challenge on your plate. First though, I would caution you to avoid trying to "redneckify" your scripts too much. Although the demographics might support the thought, most of your perspective clients would probably want to be marketed to and addressed in the same manner as areas with more urban populations. Although it is always a good idea to give a local flair to your marketing, I have seen the messaging in other markets backfire when they try to use overdone hyperbole slogans like "Eggs and Chevrolets are cheaper in the Country". I would recommend spending some time on the showroom floor and just background-listen to some of the conversations your customers are having with your team members. I think it will give you a keen insight into the language, slang, and temperament of your customer base. Then, you could go back and write your messaging and marketing to mirror what you've heard your customers actually saying.
As for the challenge in getting your sales team to buy in to your program and handle the leads as you'd like them to be done so, that is an age-old challenge in this - and many other industries. For example, think of yourself as a New Manager on a Baseball Team that has had the same manager and/or team philosophy for many years. It is natural to assume that when a New Manager comes aboard the team will most likely have a mixture of emotions regarding their entry into the circle. Some might have some resentment that a Manager they liked has been replaced by you; some might have feelings of caution that you are going to completely change things and radically disturb a comfort zone that they've had for quite some time (and for some of those team members that is the worst possible thing that can happen); some of them might feel like you're just a short-term hire so there's no need to adopt your philosophies because you won't be around long; and still others might look at you as someone who's probably going to rearrange the hierarchy of the sales team - thus potentially threating their position on the ladder. And yes, unfortunately, there might also be those who secretly resent the thought of a female leading a team of what they believe is a "man's world". As a New Manger, you have to take all of those considerations into place as you begin to build and instill your new culture.
So as I don't begin to ramble either, I will end here. If you would like some strategies for working with these challenges, I'd be happy to lend some more suggestions.
Most of all though, don't give up and keep challenging yourself. I wish you great success!
