Next week I will be taking what is called a “working vacation” – meaning I will still be working, but from a warmer climate. Anyways, I will be taking the week off from blogging, so I will leave you all with a series of links to some recently published articles. Enjoy!
Insurance Agency SEO
If your organization happens to be a benefits agency in Lincoln, Nebraska then you should show up on Google page one when someone searches for ‘health insurance NE’ or ‘employee benefits Nebraska’. There are many insurance agency executives who agree with this statement and believe their IT department is working on a solution, yet are surprised when their agency name does not appear on the major search engines
Our insurance marketing agency sees signs that the economy is picking up. My contacts in a variety of industries seem to echo this sentiment and share varied and sundry examples indicating that conditions are improving. Many experts believe that 2011 will be a positive year for growth and productivity. That being said, the real question is whether or not your business will be poised to take advantage of the opportunities in 2011, aside from the rising tide theory with the incoming improvement
Small Giants, by Bo Burlingham, is an excellent read for all proponents of small business. Following the framework of Built to Last, Burlingham studies a series of companies who have been tremendously successful. However, he instead investigates companies that choose to be great rather than gigantic – hence the title Small Giants.
Cold calling and telemarketing have gone hand in hand with the insurance agency market for many years. Successful agents have built their books with cold calls and successful agencies have employed telemarketers to take their organization to the next level. When I was an insurance agent, cold calling was like a rite of passage – something that had to be done before you could advance and excel.
This is a story you have probably seen several times. It is sort of a business proverb. Most famously shared by Jim Collins and Jerry Porras in ‘Built to Last’ – this is a story told to new Nordstrom employees and exemplifies the superior customer service they are expected to deliver. At first glance this story shocks most of us. It defies capitalism.
I recently read An Empire of Wealth by John Steele Gordon, a fascinating look at the history of the American economy. One specific passage, discussing the simple brilliance of Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt’s steamboat business model struck me profoundly. Gordon writes: “The Commodore’s business model was simplicity itself: (1) run the most efficient, lowest-cost organization possible; (2) compete fiercely by means of price [...]; and (3) live up to your agreements.”
I like to think that I am a capable salesperson. I inherited the sales “gene” from my father, and I have been able to make a career of selling or helping other organizations sell. However, a truly honest assessment shows that I am not even the most skilled sales professional in my own home. That distinctive honor goes to my dog. In case you are wondering, he is a three-year old hound mix named Flash.
Not long ago, I spoke to an agency owner who had attempted to launch an eMarketing campaign. He had engaged with a high-profile agency marketing company to use their email platform, and purchased 30,000 emails from a vendor they suggested. He sent several messages over the course of a few months, and received absolutely no opportunities – only SPAM complaints. This is the danger of using an eMarketing platform without the required expertise. What you don’t know can kill you – or your domain
During my days as an insurance agent on the road – I often found it challenging to balance all the requirements of the job. Sales meetings, staff meetings, servicing clients, preparing for renewals, reviewing quotes, presenting renewals… I did not struggle with all of these things because I have poor time management skills (that is actually one of my strengths) – I struggled with all of these things because I tried to complete all the tasks effectively without sacrificing any sales time. Sacr
My wife and I have lived in the Saratoga Springs, NY area for the past 4 years. Each summer, the historic Saratoga Race Course opens for 6 weeks of fun and excitement. I am an avid horseracing fan, and like to attend every Saturday if not more. However, my wife has typically had her fill after the first or second visit. This causes a little strain as I would prefer to spend my Saturdays with her, but do not want to miss my beloved Saratoga meet.