Comments on: Web presence: Are you just “showing up”?

By: Aaron

Aaron — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 02:01:09 +0000

Thanks for sharing this research. It’s hard to imagine anybody who is serious about selling insurance today not having a high quality website. Insurance websites aren’t as complicated and expensive to launch these days as they used to be (heck, we’ll get you online with a great site for $39). Agents should start small, grow over time, and don’t fall prey to “analysis paralysis”.

By: Laura Toops, Editor of American Agent & Broker

Laura Toops, Editor of American Agent & Broker — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 19:14:53 +0000

Neera, I feel your pain. It’s almost literally a full-time job keeping up with Internet marketing, let alone selling insurance.

But there are some options to help out agents with Web page design. For example, Big I’s Trusted Choice offers reimbursement and suggests vendors for Web design and hosting services through its Marketing Reimbursement Program (IIABA provides up to $500 reimbursement to agencies). The agency must be a Trusted Choice agency to qualify. For more info, go to http://www.trustedchoice.com/mrp (requires login).

And here’s some information from ACT:

http://www.iiaba.net/na/16_AgentsCouncilForTechnology/NA20070710095832?ContentPreference=NA&ActiveState=AZ&ContentLevel1=ACT&ContentLevel2=&ContentLevel3=&ActiveTab=NA&StartRow=0

By: Nick B.

Nick B. — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 17:05:56 +0000

Laura,
Thank you for providing another forum for Duke’s research. While it’s safe to assume major metropolitan areas have a higher percentage of agents maintaining functional web sites, it doesn’t mean people in suburban or rural areas are using the internet less. A lack of web design professionals who understand insurance agency needs and an inhibiting feeling of, “Where do I start?” by agency owners are big factors in the lack of website adoption. That said, it’s still mind-boggling that any part of the country is below 50% considering a website should be item #1 on any marketing plan.

I look forward to seeing Duke’s profiles of the midwest and northeast, I’d imagine Florida and Connecticut would have the highest percentage of agencies with websites.

By: Neera Kuckreja

Neera Kuckreja — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:39:58 +0000

One of the reasons the independent agents don’t have as good a website as Direct Writers is “money’. Independent agents are small companies. They don’t have budget and time and team of people who are just working on websites. It is not that the Independent agents don’t know or understand. It is all about money and time.

By: Duke Williams

Duke Williams — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 20:40:06 +0000

Laura, I thought the comment that the agencies reviewed were all in a limted regional area was very valid. I have since done the same study of Arlington, Texas and San Jose, California. The percentage of independent agencies with web sites was about 40% in both cities. That is better than the 25% in the earlier areas studied. The functionality is not significantly better, but it is somewhat better in both. Mostly the improvements are in providing directions and email addresses however.

I will do two more cities – one in the midwest and one in the northeast to balance the numbers. Thanks for the posting. Independent agents and carriers need to address these issues this year.