Blog + Magazine

From the Front Line: Now more than ever agents must resist the temptation to slash marketing budgets. It seems counterintuitive, but when times are hard, that is when you actually should invest more into marketing. This doesn’t mean you have to spend more money (although you should consider increasing your budget if possible). There are many marketing avenues that don’t cost a thing!

IntelliDrive, the telematics-based auto insurance app from Travelers, is now even better at helping customers understand their driving habits and rewarding them for safe driving. The app collects and assesses data on behaviors such as hard braking, rapid acceleration, speed, the time of day customers drive and now, distracted driving. 

With the changing business landscape, it’s no surprise that retention is a top business priority for agents. High retention rates take pressure off new business acquisition, at a much lower cost. The most effective agents improve retention rates by focusing on these four simple strategies.

​What if technology could help drivers and fleet managers see beyond just the road ahead? A new suite of smart devices is doing just that by helping drivers stay safe and allowing fleet managers access to real-time analytics. The result is fewer accidents and improved efficiency for commercial auto policyholders. That may translate to savings by improving loss ratios and potentially lowering premiums.​

The spread of COVID-19 has completely upended the way we live, work, and socialize. In particular, the hospitality industry has suffered significant hits as states across the country have imposed lockdown or limited contact regulations, ending in bars and nightclubs closing.

While online CE programs are not new, the focus on them, as with all virtual communication, has intensified in recent months as the pandemic has forced industries to leverage new and existing technologies to maintain operations. With in-person training and testing on hold indefinitely in most places, producers who have historically relied on face-to-face resources to complete training are now turning to specialized providers of online education to complete their CE requirements. 

Social distancing is leading to a continued surge in RV sales. Here are some tips and tools to take advantage.

Every salesperson has a comfort zone. Their comfort zone is that earning level at which not much more than the bills are paid. Many salespeople, unfortunately, get stuck here for the rest of their careers. The reason they remain stuck is nothing more than the fear of failure.

hese are interesting times when determining the value of an insurance agency. The insurance industry has the potential to fare better than others during an economic downturn because insurance is not a discretionary spend in most cases. The compulsory nature of many lines of insurance is a significant factor that positively impacts the retention of customers and premium, regardless of the economic condition.

At the end of the day, you can close more sales two different ways: you can talk with more prospects, and you can get better at the sales process. And while you can only hold so many calls and meetings in a day, you can constantly improve your sales skills and sales process.

From the Front Line: In today’s environment, many independent P&C agents are increasing their profitability by cross-selling life insurance. The additional revenue and higher customer retention are more important now than ever. They realize that someone is selling their customers life insurance, and if it’s not them, they are putting their P&C business at risk also.