Free Love
Who doesn’t like to stumble upon a sale, but the rising trend documented by several publications, which coincidentally provide their content for free online, is a tendency for companies to not discount their goods and services, but to give them away at no cost—a seemingly ridiculous business model that actually works.
Trendwatching.com discusses some of the some of the things fueling free love.
• The battle for consumer attention. In a world where consumers are bogged down with advertising hi jinx and marketing schemes, sometimes you can’t even give it away
• The internet and it’s ability to create, copy and distribute easily and cheaply
• Consumer to consumer markets, which allow consumers to swap not spend, making transactions cash-neutral
• An emerging recycling culture that takes a reuse mentality
One way the free marketplace affects insurance agents is by making it easy and free for consumers to compare the price of insurance polices online. Gone are the days when it took hours for insurance shoppers to make calls and compare quotes; it now happens in a mere moment. And if you aren’t in this free marketplace, which thrives online, you will miss out.
Check out this link that explains how you can manipulate the internet to build your online presence.
Furthermore, the free love culture has created an expectation for more free goods. So how can this factor into what you do as an agent? You obviously can’t give away free policies?
• Take the time to offer a complete quote
• Provide information, in the form of articles, brochures, etc about your various products
• Think about what other service can you provide your customers and offer it to them free of charge
• Create a web site with tips and tools, such as a life insurance calculator
Insurance is a traditional business, slow to change. But as the consumer culture changes, agencies and independent agents alike should look to their business model and consider how they can incorporate new trends into an established system.
After all, while this trend is documented as “emerging,” it was King Gillette in 1895 who first began creating buzz about his disposable razor product by giving it away to banks, the armed forces and people on the street.
Over a hundred years later, what brand of razor do you use?
Comments
Ya, its quite obvious that the net business works fast and one can live his earnings. Selling products online is easy than doing anyother thing.
Posted by: Bill Steele | March 29, 2008 06:05 AM
Ya, its quite obvious that the net business works fast and one can live his earnings. Selling products online is easy than doing anyother thing.
Posted by: Bill Steele | March 29, 2008 06:15 AM