Independent Agents

Agency marketing best practices by Virginia State Director Roger Gill, originally published in the 2019 Smart Choice Magazine, Issue IV.

“Inbound Marketing” is much more powerful, as it positions the person or company as an expert (instead of strictly as a salesperson) in the eyes of the potential customer. Inbound Marketingis about creating a two-way communicative environment and experience.

There are several common misconceptions about millennials within the insurance industry. But independent agents can’t afford to write off millennial consumers. Millennial consumers will be the most influential market segment for the next few decades, so it’s critical that independent agents understand what millennial insurance consumers want in insurance.

In insurance, as in any sales business, there comes a time when the presentation is over and it’s time to close. Or, to put it another way, it’s time to get paid for your investment of time and hard work in looking for the best coverage options for your clients. When I asked the top agents in my region what made them such successful salespeople, they shared with me that preparing a  professional sales presentation is their top priority.

There are nearly 30 million small businesses in America. Owners of these small businesses make potentially tough decisions about workers compensation coverage that can impact their employees and bottom line alike. These five strategies can help small business owners properly evaluate their workspace risks and better manage insurance costs.

As an Insurance Agency Owner, Why Should You Care About Brand Awareness? You want those in your community to know your agency exists and that you can help them. In addition to increasing brand awareness, marketing also informs consumers, builds and nurtures clientele relationships, and draws in a targeted audience.

Here are a few timely and relevant E&O loss prevention tips you can start using immediately to keep yourself protected while conducting business.

CEO Newsletter: We’ve all heard the expression “Failure to plan is planning to fail.” Depending on where you’re at in life, that phrase can take on several meanings. But when you’re a business owner it should mean at least one thing: Don’t be complacent!

One of the best ways to increase the size of your book quickly is by tapping into your existing base of customers. There’s almost always more business to be had with your existing clients.

Many independent insurance agents, both new to the industry and established agents, at some point find themselves asking the question: “Should I join an aggregator or agency network?”

Most insurance agents can write auto and home policies in their sleep, and many understand commercial insurance like the back of their hands. But sometimes, clients throw us curve balls.

Sure, there are plenty of infomercials that use over-exaggeration and half-truths to peddle cheap wares (though I’d say that’s closer to the definition of sales, not marketing) – but at its heart, that’s NOT what marketing is.