Blog + Magazine

Despite 2020 being one of the most irregular years of our lifetimes, both personally and professionally, Smart Choice, our agents and carrier partners, have managed to succeed together. We’ve hit some really incredible milestones this year, and we are exceptionally grateful to be partnered with such amazing people in the industry. 

While we have been fortunate that our industry hasn’t been hit with as many challenges as many others, it is still an accomplishment to remain still standing at this juncture — because business ownership is challenging even in normal time. I want to applaud all of you for your veracity and perseverance in continuing to serve customers during this year. It has truly been a marvel to witness the human spirit and the business owners’ willingness to adapt in a constantly changing landscape. 

Traditional ways of marketing and selling won’t work in the near-term, and maybe even in the long-term as some new behaviors are likely to stick beyond the pandemic. Digital and virtual tools can help agents succeed in this environment.

Keri Fox, a Smart Choice Territory Manager serving Washington state, answers some questions about working during this pandemic.

CEO Newsletter: In a time when people may be suffering from economic impacts, as well as information overload from news and other sources, it can be difficult to know what’s even appropriate for promoting your business and staying front and center.

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.​