17 Reasons Independent Insurance Agents Should NOT Use Technology

by Syndicated Insurance Resources | Mar 21, 2018

You’ve set up shop as an independent insurance agent. Your small-to-medium sized business offers multiple property and casualty lines. You strive to grow your business and get quotes quickly so you can close sales. It is a rinse and repeat cycle that you find yourself in daily.

You know there are many ways you can use marketing plans and tactics to grow your business. Of course, those things take time to map out and execute. And just like any critical piece of business infrastructure, marketing efforts tend to move the needle slowly over time. But you know that if you’re persistent, you’ll begin to see your marketing efforts pay off.

In addition to marketing efforts, your core suite of product offerings is what you deliver best. But when you have a client who needs a new policy or a prospect who is shopping for a quote, can you respond fast enough?

With other insurance agents out there competing with you, it really is a rapid response game. You need to “strike while the iron as hot,” as they say.

Using the standard methods to get quotes, you know it also takes time to work your way through the proverbial “checklist” so you can access various markets, find the right products, and get indications.

You’ve noticed that many of your colleagues and competitors have gone over to the “dark side” as they use technology tools to automate their processes. But you’re a firm believer in “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” So, you’re determined to keep things working the way they always have worked.

Reasons NOT to Use Technology In Your Business

But is your approach achieving the rapid results you need? Let’s look at the top reasons NOT to use technology in your business.

You shouldn’t use technology and automation tools in your independent insurance agency if you…

• Enjoy investing hours of time calling for quotes.
• Love not having your calls returned.
• Like learning how to navigate multiple carrier systems.
• Revel in frustrating learning curves.
• Adore the inconsistency between disconnected technology systems.
• Delight in shuffling through stacks of paper that you can touch and feel.
• Fear losing control of your data, and potentially exposing it to others.
• Treasure spending hours filling out all those pieces of paper.
• Appreciate digging around to find what you’re looking for at a moment’s notices.
• Memorize client deadlines, upcoming expiration notices easily.
• Love waiting to access information from a team member who is out of the office or on vacation.
• Relish hauling around a briefcase and boxes of paperwork.
• Fancy waiting for people in your community to knock on your door.
• Hanker to forge new relationships with unknown entities.
• Like being in the dark about available markets.
• Enjoy manually duplicated multiple forms.
• Fear being replaced by technology.

The list of reasons not to use technology in your independent insurance agency is deep and wide. (Comment below to let us know what we left out…)

If you keep doing things the same old way—without using other tools and resources—you’re guaranteed to achieve the same results as you’ve always gotten.

Consider Using One Easy Solution

But if for just a moment, you’re curious about how technology can make your business grow— there is a free solution guaranteed to produce results. In fact, this free tool can increase your market access exponentially, get you instant indications, save you time and money, AND increase your revenues and commissions.

Don’t believe it? Test out Syndicated’s Broker Gateway and experience the results for yourself.

Syndicated’s Broker Gateway is easy to use. Here’s what to do:

1. Sign Up here and click on the link in your confirmation email.
2. Get Started following these simple directions for the option you need.

Unsure how to use technology-based solutions? Want someone to guide you through the process? No problem. Email or call us (877-333-8195) for a quick and easy conversation.

If you’re good with lack-luster results and the inability to rapidly respond to client needs like your competitors — do nothing at all. The way you grow your business — or not — is up to you.

The bottom line is this: Independent insurance agencies that use technology will replace those agencies that don’t.

Let Syndicated help you propel things forward and grow your business.

Use Technology to Enhance Your Insurance Business

by Syndicated Insurance Resources | Oct 3, 2017

Are you using the power of technology to enhance your insurance business? Or are you still using manual, non-automated processes to get quotes and service your customers?

Michael Sillat of WKFC Underwriting Managers said, “One cannot lose sight of the fact that despite that, agents do need to recognize and respond to the ever-evolving insurance marketplace. That evolution, today, starts and ends with the adaptation of technology. What has already happened in the personal lines sector will no doubt flow into commercial lines and certainly, those agents that prepare, create and adapt to technology will also be the ones that prevail and prosper.” 

Everywhere you look, technology is a disruptive force making waves to transform businesses. The insurance industry is in the midst of this transformation as tools are creating new ways to do business. The impact is real. And if you want to ensure your insurance agency or brokerage remains competitive, you need to find ways to integrate technology into everything you do.

When done well, technology can help you and positively impact every aspect of your business. Here are just a few ways to leverage technology to enhance your offerings:

Create and/or update your website. Build your presence online with a website that showcases what your business does and how you can help customers. Include customer testimonials about what it is like to work with you. Make sure your website is built with a responsive design. This ensures your website displays correctly on any device — from computers to mobile devices.

Tap into automated systems. There are many offerings available that allow you to seek quotes with the click of a button. At Syndicated Insurance Resources, we offer access to more than 150 insurance markets and 40 unique offerings for free. Our tools help you respond to clients quicker than ever while immediately finding options – even for those hard to place clients.

Build your brand online. Social media allows you to market to your prospective customers online. With the click of a few buttons, you can share information that positions your company as a valuable resource. You can also engage and interact with prospects virtually through your social posts. Plan out social posts 30 days in advance so you can schedule them – using a tool like Post Planner or Hootsuite. The key is to consistently use the social platforms where your prospects hang out.

Automate your customer service. Today’s generation likes to use Facebook and Twitter to engage with brands and companies. You can respond to questions, comments, and concerns via your social outlets.  Interacting with your customers in a timely manner can positively impact what is said about your company.

Provide valuable training. Webinars are an easy to implement tool. You can present valuable information – such as how to prepare for a storm, how to file workers’ comp claims, and much more. When done right, you can use webinars to position your brand and expertise in all things insurance.

Still not sold that you need to embrace technology in your business? Here are a few statistics to keep in mind:

• 84% of CEOs and VPs say they use social media to help make purchasing decisions.
• Consumers say that social media plays almost as big a role in purchasing decisions as does television. (Ad Age)
• Of the 7.2 billion people on earth, 3 billion have Internet access; 2.1 billion are active on social media; and 1.7 billion use social networks from a mobile device. (Link Humans)
• 96% of small business owners/marketers use social media marketing, and 92% of those agree or strongly agree with the phrase, “Social media marketing is important for my business.” (Social Media Examiner)
• Unfortunately, 34% of small businesses have no social media presence at all, and 36% of those who do never respond to customer comments online. (Direct Marketing)
• Marketing automation drives a 14.5% increase in sales productivity and a 12.2% reduction in marketing overhead.
• 1/3 of insurance business is expected to occur digitally by 2018 (EuroIT Group)

Why wait until 2018 or later to set your insurance business apart from your wanna be competitors? Start to implement technology throughout your business today.

Not sure where to start? Sign up for a free Syndicated Insurance Resources account today. This one tool will save you time and money while allowing you to receive higher than normal commissions.

Automation Can Grow Your Insurance Brokerage

by Syndicated Insurance Resources | Aug 22, 2017

You sell something everyone needs – insurance. Businesses rely on you to provide advice about the various types of coverage and the options that might work best for them.

Selling insurance sounds easy enough. Unfortunately, you’re not the only one offering insurance policies; especially with more than 1.6 million agents and brokers in the U.S. This means you have to find ways to stand apart from your competitors.

Companies looking for coverage typically move quickly and pay attention to the first broker that gets back to them with the best-fit product and premium. Employers like to shop around for the best deal to make their funds last.

Your Competition is Fierce

Once you know what type of coverage an employer is seeking – you invest time shopping for policy options that meet both their needs and budget. But to do this well, a good deal of knowledge about which carriers offer the types of coverage your clients need is required.

Let’s face it—insurance is complicated. Further adding to the complexity, insurance coverage options vary from state to state AND from company to company within the same state. You really must know what you’re doing, where to access options and how to explain the policies to keep afloat.

With so many policy options available, you have to be on your A-game to have a seat at the table and get your options selected.

The old process for getting quotes involves filling out forms and making phone calls to get quote options. This approach is time-consuming and costly because you can jump through all the hoops and quickly lose the opportunity to someone else.

Stop Manual Processes – Automate Your Market Access

In today’s technology-based society, there are many ways to use technology to get your quotes faster.

The key is finding the right combination of tools that help you quickly access a vast array of markets and unique offerings that you can potentially offer your customers.

You can sign up for a free account to do just that at Syndicated Insurance Resources. Yes, FREE. We help you save time and money because you upload one ACORD and access more than 150 markets within minutes.

By using our system, your time filling out forms and making phone calls to carriers becomes a thing of the past.

Using technology makes the process of quoting and responding to customers faster. In turn, you are guaranteed to get a seat at the table and grow your business.

By using Syndicated, you can even get higher than average commissions.

To Grow or Not to Grow – The Choice is Yours

You can continue to spin your wheels using the tired, laborious manual processes. Or you can streamline what you do and how you do it quickly and easily.

The choice is yours. Are you going to let your competitors win the business you desire? Or are you going to make use of free services that can help you get quotes faster?

Sign Up Today!

Already signed up and don’t know how to make the most out of it? Call us at 877.333.8195 or email us today.