How to Offer Proximity and Convenience

CEO Newsletter

Over 80 percent of consumers purchased goods online in 2016, with over half the population doing so regularly. Why? Money and convenience. Over 71 percent believe they'll get a better deal online than in store because they can price shop.

These are vital statistics to be aware of as a small business owner, especially when only 17 percent of small business owners have ever tried to implement their own ecommerce site. Understandably, that would be an expensive venture for a small business, and therefore, that statistic is unlikely to change any time soon.

However, small business owners — and in our case independent agency owners — can address the other half of the equation — convenience. With mega companies like Amazon, the e-commerce trend is so pervasive that people are simply unaccustomed to having to visit more than one place to make their purchases. It's too inconvenient in our fast-paced world.

So, how can you specialize in your field and still remain relevant? By offering all lines of business in your agency, and perhaps teaming up with other financial services representatives. If you are able to offer your clients access to home and auto, commercial, life and health, they're more likely to stay with you long-term — simply for the convenience and proximity factors. They aren't left searching the internet of visiting multiple carrier sites in an attempt to obtain full coverage.

This issue of Smart Choice Magazine focuses on ways to balance all lines of business in your agency — Michael Miller, our Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa State Director, has written a great piece on how to do this effectively. And if adding additional products to your agency seems like an insurmountable task, author Steve McClatchy has a wonderful article on page 22 about how to achieve work/life balance.

There is so much opportunity out there for your agency — now is the time to stop talking and start doing!