When independent insurance agents earn specialized designations, they elevate their skills to expert status on the national level. There are plenty of designations that insurance agents can earn, and the Certified Professional Insurance Agent designation through the...
Back to the basics: What to know about commissions
Commissions seem basic: You sell an insurance policy to a client and you get a commission. However—as with all things insurance—it’s never quite that simple. There are laws and regulations regarding commissions, service fees, referral fees and rebating for insurance...
Five tips for negotiating with clients
From time to time, independent insurance agents will have to negotiate with their clients about their insurance policies—maybe a new homeowner will ask the agent to match a competitor’s lower monthly premium because he or she feels more comfortable signing with the...
Four insights to guide your agency’s digital strategy
To thrive in the future, independent agencies need to adopt digital ways of doing business. Today’s consumers expect a streamlined digital experience—from learning about an agency and buying insurance to getting service for their policies. Following are four key...
Digital marketing foundations any independent agent can implement
Blog posting. Social media. Video implementation. SEO. Analytics. Net promoter scores. Pay-per-clicks. Advertising. Newsletters. Does digital marketing seem overwhelming—almost like you need to hire someone full-time just to keep up? Let me take a step back and offer...
Advertising in any galaxy, even ones far, far away
The modern insurance industry has been around for hundreds of years. Insurance advertising has been around for almost as long. Despite that, navigating the do’s and don’ts of insurance advertising is a constant source of confusion for agencies. And, that is most true...
Best practices to selling in a hardening market
The insurance industry is comprised of cycles. Hard-market cycles happen to course correct when rates are inadequate, when there are recessions and economic turnarounds, or when unforeseen events occur, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. However, even though the hardening...
Internet sales: Opportunity or potential liability?
Agency websites vary in content and design. Some offer information, while others are capable of binding insurance and delivering policy forms to insureds. Some states have promulgated rules, guidelines and commentary designed to lead insurance producers through the...