Daily sales & marketing tips for insurance professionals

As insurance sales agents, I’m sure many of you are always looking for new and innovative ways to market and spread your message to consumers. And recently, the somewhat new subject of marketing to consumers via text and video message was given the spotlight in this article by Scott Springer, detailing how and why marketers could benefit from sending text messages to consumers.

I wrote a rather lengthy post on the subject over at the InsureMe Insurance blog [which is geared towards consumers] earlier this week, but it occurred to me last night that I should really pass this information on to you guys and gals.

Why?

Because I want to share with you the thoughts and opinions of consumers (myself included) who say that text marketing is extremely bad form. It’s my hope that in helping you avoid pitfalls like text marketing, you can spend your valuable time on marketing that brings in new prospects instead of driving them away.

Check out this must-read post [!] and related comments here. And for more worthwhile marketing tips, check out the Insurance Marketing section of our Agent Resource Center.

If you’ve been thinking about starting your own insurance agency, now might be the perfect time to do it. According to a recent report from the Kauffman Foundation, the U.S. is enjoying some very healthy entrepreneurial activity right now. In fact, the new report shows that over 460,000 people create new businesses every month–that’s over 5.5 million businesses per year.

Not sure where to start? Get a leg up on your soon-to-be competitors and take a peek at the following articles from our Agent Resource Center:

• Starting Your Own Agency: Setting Out on Your Own
• Jumpstarting a New Agency: Your How-to Guide
• 4 Pitfalls to Avoid as an Insurance Agent
• Legal Issues Facing Insurance Agents: How to Protect Yourself

Of course, if any of our readers have started insurance agencies and would like to share some nuggets of wisdom, we’d love for you to share your ideas here at the InsureMe Agent blog.

[Source]: SeedsOfGrowth

I attended a class last week titled “Telephone Imagery: Improving Your Customer Service through Excellent Telephone Skills”, which was taught from a communications perspective. So, not only did I learn how to improve my telephone skills, I learned how improve the way that I communicate overall. And since I spend my day providing service over the phone it’s imperative that my communication skills are top notch.

One thing that I learned that will always stand out in my mind was this: You have 15 seconds or less to make a good first impression over the phone and only 40 percent of your ability to make that impression. At first I was shocked and then I started to think about all of the advantages there are to make that great impression when you are face to face with another person. You are able to present yourself in a professional manner by the way that you dress and act. You are able to shake the person’s hand and make eye contact. You are able to express through your posture and body language that you are genuinely glad to meet them. Now try doing all of that with your voice.

The key is putting a smile in your voice. Hang a mirror next to your phone or put up a funny picture so you can smile each time you answer the phone. Sit up straight and make sure that after greeting the caller, you offer them assistance with their matter. Put away what you might be working on at the time so that you can give your full attention. This may seem like somewhat of an inconvenience if the phone ringing interrupts something else you are doing, but remember, you are representing your company or business when you answer the phone. A good experience with you could lead to a new client, which in turn could lead to a good referral and so on and so forth.

So, I ask all you agents out there, whether you do most of your business face to face or over the phone, how are your communication skills? Next time the phone rings try putting a smile in your voice and see if it makes a difference to the person on the other end.

“First impressions are indelibly marked on the fabric of the mind.” – John J. Tarrant

[RELATED ARTICLE]: Winning Conversations: How to Make a Positive First Impression on the Phone

I’m particularly fascinated with yawning. I did a lot of research on the subject for a fiction piece I wrote in college, and I’m sort of captivated by the fact that there’s really no conclusive reason behind why we yawn or why yawning seems to be contagious.

Given my fascination, it’s no surprise that I was quite intrigued to stumble upon Emilie’s Don’t Yawn Game. So far, Emilie has tried to make over 500,000 people yawn…pretty impressive. And not that you probably need any help yawning on a Friday afternoon, but check it out and see if you can exercise self-control over this sleepy girl’s game.

Have a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend; I’ll see you all on Tuesday!

[Hat Tip]: NPR’s Mixed Signals

Alice in Wonderland is still one of my favorite books and this week, I’m feeling quite like the Mad Hatter–seriously pressed for time. This is not to say that I prefer heavy amounts of down time (I don’t), but busy days mean less time for me to spend here at the Agent Blog, and you know, that bums me out.

So for today’s post, I’ll direct you to some helpful articles from the InsureMe Agent Resource Center:

• Finding Qualified Prospects: 10 Tips for Lead Generation
• Insurance Agent Success Stories: Tips from the Pros
• Managing Your Time for Maximum Results

That last article is a great to review when you’re crunched for time. I happen to be a habitual list-maker, which gives me forward momentum all day long. What works for you?

Well, Sioux Falls, South Dakota kicked my neck of the woods–Cedar Rapids, Iowa–out of the number one spot for Allstate’s city of safest drivers. Cedar Rapids slipped to the third position, with Ft. Collins, Colorado coming in at number two. I shouldn’t complain; it’s nice to see my two home states representing.

Insurance Journal has the full report here; it’s interesting stuff. Check it out when you have a minute.

I’ve been enlightened recently by the Los Angeles Police Department blog. Not that the content is especially enlightening–more like sobering–but it’s interesting just the same.

Recently, the LAPD posted about two women in their 70’s who were recently arrested on mail fraud charges. It turns out the women had been running a life insurance scam for the past two years, targeted at homeless men. Helen Golay, 75, and Olga Rutterschmidt, 73, preyed on homeless men by offering them room and board in exchange for their signatures–after which they opened life insurance policies for the men, making themselves the sole beneficiaries.

According to the blog, authorities caught on to the scam after two homeless men were killed in hit-and-run accidents. While the accidents were a few years apart, investigators were struck by the fact that Golay and Rutterschmidt were listed as beneficiaries on both men’s life insurance policies. Investigators estimated that the women have collected over $2 million in life insurance claims. Sixteen [!] claims were taken out on one victim; three were taken out on another. And, since the insurance forms were sent via U.S. mail, the United States Postal Inspection has also been brought into the investigation.

Federal mail fraud, insurance fraud and homicide. Those are some hefty charges, associated with some hefty jail time. Not exactly the way I’d want to spend my golden years…

Check out the full post on the LAPD blog here. It’s by far one of the most interesting blogs I’ve seen lately. It’s a good blend of COPS and America’s Most Wanted, only without the profane language and scary TV show host.

[Hat tip]: the Naked Conversations blog

Today’s the day! InsureMe will be at booth 451 at the ACORD LOMA Conference at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas at 4 p.m. As I stated last week, we’ll be there to show insurance professionals the ropes of Internet insurance leads, the InsureMe service and all of our cool resources and benefits.

I’d also encourage you to keep an eye out for the InsureMe Blog cards. Modestly speaking, I think they’re one of the coolest things we’ve done lately. And we do a lot of cool stuff. You can see by the prototype here that we’ve opened the Pandora’s box of cool business cards.

So stop by both 451 this afternoon to learn about InsureMe and how insurance leads can change the way you do business. If that doesn’t entice you, remember that we’ll be holding a drawing for multiple prizes. And there’s always the business cards.

If you check out the Insurance Journal every day, you’ve probably seen this latest story–it’s one of IJ’s most emailed articles this week.

But in case you missed it, apparently the owner of a St. Louis-area insurance agency is suing Kraft Foods Inc., claiming that he found a rodent tooth in a package of Planter’s peanuts.

I have to tell you, as a person who’s particularly sensitive about food preparation, this was hard for me to read. A couple years ago when I was still in college, the wife of a professor found a lizard head in her Applebee’s salad. I thought I’d recovered nicely from the 2003 incident. And now this.

According to IJ, the lawsuit alleges that Carl Cornett bought a package of Planter’s peanuts (packaged by Kraft) at an O’Fallon, Ill. store last August. He was eating them at home when he bit into a “non-human animal tooth.” Cornett’s lawyer said the tooth looks like it was from “an herbivorous rodent of some type”.

…Read the rest of this entry »

The good times will be rolling next week at the 2006 ACORD LOMA Conference at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas. InsureMe will at booth 451 on May 22, which will open at 4 p.m. We’ll have some great information for agents who stop by regarding the benefits of the InsureMe service, our Internet leads and our free-for-all resources: this here snazzy blog and the InsureMe Agent Resource Center.

Word on the street is that there’s going to be a drawing for multiple prizes but that’s on the hush. You know how it is, fans can get crazy when they hear you’re showing up with goodies.

Jokes aside, it’ll be worth the visit. So if you’re going to be in Vegas next week, remember to grab some friends and stop by booth 451 at 4 p.m. next Monday. I wish I could tell you that it will change your life, but, you know, that wouldn’t be right. Nonetheless, it should be a rewarding experience for all.