Can Your Product be Like Movies and Popcorn?
There's a good post over at Kim Klaver's blog which asks the question: Is there a compliment to your product or business that you can offer consumers? She uses the analogy of movies and popcorn, which is pretty apt. Most people who go to the movie theatre or rent a movie enjoy the film with some popcorn. Personally, I'm indifferent to popcorn at the movies, unless it's cheese popcorn and no one makes that at the movie theatre. But I digress.
This is an excellent question that people working in the insurance industry should ask. Why?
A. The insurance industry could use a little spice in its life.
B. Insurance professionals who distinguish themselves from others in their field are going to appear "spicy" and therefore more appealing to consumers.
Of course, I realize this isn't an easy question to ask yourself and I have no easy answer for you. In fact, we're working on answering that question here at InsureMe. The InsureMe blogs are just one way that we're stepping out from the crowd...what will work for you?
Comments
Intriguing concept, but does it impact the respectability of the insurance field? However, it never hurts to be the first one outside the box!
Posted by: Evan | June 2, 2006 03:46 AM
Evan,
I would say that popcorn-like stuff could lower the professionalism of players in the industry but things like clean, ad-free blogs will enhance it.
Posted by: Peter | June 2, 2006 08:28 PM
Peter makes a good point here, which is to avoid being too gimmicky, cheesy, etc. But there are ways you can keep a professional image and differentiate yourself from your competitors.
A blog is one way. A solid, informational Web site to help consumers is another. [Two articles of interest: 9 Free Tools to Improve Your Agency's Website and Blogging for Business: What a Blog Can Do for Your Agency.]
However, there are other, non-technological ways to distinguish yourself from the crowd. Remember this insurance agency? Perhaps their "popcorn" is humor. And it seems to be working pretty well for them.
My advice would be to give some serious thought about what makes your agency or business different from everyone else's. Then you can work on identifying how to best show this to prospects.
Let us know what you come up with. :)
Posted by: Megan Mahan | June 5, 2006 05:53 PM