Todd McIndoo is a Vice President at Speedy - National Association ...

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area. The same goes for Yahoo! Local.Other sites—such as WhitePages.comand SuperPages.com—offer free and enhancedlistings as well.Take Advantage of Facebook forSocial NetworkingMost everyone has at least heard ofFacebook. Many of you (or members ofyour family) are probably using it socially.Facebook allows users to connect andshare information in a variety of waysand is currently the most popular socialnetworking site. It is a great way to connectwith friends, family and co-workers.It is also a terrific way for businesses toconnect with customers and prospects– and create a web presence. Need a fewmore reasons?• It’s Viral – Once a few friends become“Fans” of your agency, others will follow.• It’s Where the Young People AreYou have to reach prospects, both youngand old. And yes, many of us who aremiddle-aged and older have Facebookpages. But it’s an excellent tool to reachthe younger crowd…your future clients!•It’s Free – There’s no cost associatedwith setting up a Facebook page for youragency. All it takes is a little time andforethought to get going. Most likely,you have plenty of content to post. In addition,Facebook doesn’t require frequentpostings like Twitter and it’s up to youhow much you use it. I encourage customersto make contact with us throughour Facebook page and can attributeleads to our Facebook presence.For ideas on how to get your Facebookpage started, log into Facebook (or asksomeone who already has an account todo so) and simply type in “Allstate” in thesearch box. Check out Allstate’s corporateFacebook page (13K+ fans) or any otheragencies that have set up pages. Anothergreat resource is Facebook’s very own“Facebook Marketing Solutions” page.Simply log into Facebook and type in“Facebook Marketing Solutions” in thesearch box to get started.Use Your Phone System to SetYourselves Apart from the PackAs the chief marketer for a hosted PBXand VoIP service provider, I’d be remiss ifI didn’t mention that your phone systemcan and should help you promote youragency. It’s often ignored as a sales andmarketing tool when it can add significantvalue. Consider this:• Auto Attendant – You can customizeyour greeting on your auto attendantto brand your business, provide importantpolicy information, market new productsand services, point callers to new contenton your blog or Facebook page…whateveryou’d like. You can choose to implement anelaborate auto attendant, a basic customtransfer message or just a simple greetingfrom your agency. Your auto attendant alsoallows you to route all calls to the properindividual or department, ensuring yourclients are connected right away.• After Hours Call Forwarding to theCIC– After hours call forwarding to theCIC ensures that your clients can get accessto Allstate day or night. It’s importantto make sure the phone solution you choosemeets Allstate’s corporate standards. Additionally,if you do miss a call because a currentor prospective client calls after hours,a hosted phone service offers call logs andreporting so you can see any call you missed.This allows you to come in the very nextmorning and follow- up to make sure theindividual’s needs were met. It’s a great wayto show your service orientation.Texas Agents – Join Our TeamAre you considering a career as a professional independent insurance agent?Would you like to be in control of your income?Do you want to be able to serve the full range of your client’s insurance needs?Do you want to have a trusted partner who will invest in your future and allow you toreach your full potential?• No start-up or monthly fees to join• Errors and omissions insurance• Have a financial interest in your book of business• Expansion opportunities• Access to quality personal and commercial lines products• Agency management systemWe look forward to discussing branch location opportunitiesin selected areas of Texas.For further information contactCarl Shockey @ 972-978-8881cshockey@paragoninsagencies.comwww.paragoninsagencies.comWhat are you waiting for? Thetime is now!Whichever tactics you choose, themost important takeaway for growingyour agency is that you must continuallylook for new ways to expand yourreach and create more touchpoints withyour customers and prospects. All of thetools mentioned in this article are eitherfree or very affordable. With some focusand an investment in sweat equity, theserecommendations can make a significantimpact on your continued success.Author: Jackie Funk is the Director of Marketingfor Aptela, a leading provider ofhosted VoIP service for small and mediumsizedbusinesses. Contact Jackie directly atjfunk@aptela.com. For a complete list of theresources mentioned in this article, pleasevisit www.aptela.com/insurance-marketing-tools.48 — Exclusivefocus Winter 2009/2010
You’ve workedhard buildingyour bookof business.Make that book work hard for you.Your TPP is a hidden asset that manybanks won’t lend against. A loan fromOak Street Funding unlocks that valueso you can leverage assets now to helpyour business grow organically or throughacquisition. Why borrow against yourhome or retirement when your TPP isthe answer? Partner with the consistentindustry leader to get the capital you needto achieve your financial goals.» Allstate agents may qualify for additionalsavings with our Gold Program –Call today! NEW» Fast, hassle-free loan processing withinteractive website portal NEW» Get the cash you need to upgradetechnology, recruit top producers, acquirean agency, consolidate business debt,and more!» Flexible terms and convenientpayment options» Put your TPP to work for you!Your Ideas. Our Money.1-866-OAK-FUND(1-866-625-3863)Mention promo code ALLSTATE09for a free, no-obligation consultationwww.oakstreetfunding.comLoans and lines of credit subject to approval.CA residents: Loans made pursuant to a Department of Corporations California Finance Lenders License.Winter 2009/2010 Exclusivefocus — 4920124-0908
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