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If you had to define successful goal planning, what would your answer be? As a businessperson, your definition may be making a lot of money. A salesperson may define success as becoming the top salesperson in the company. Success means many different things to different people. However, few have really thought through how they’ll actually become successful. Effective goal planning is the key to success.

While weather can be unpredictable at any time of year, winter can be especially challenging for those living and working in certain areas. Here are some tips that agents can share with clients to help them prepare for the winter season.

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.