December 2011 - Tips and Advice to Take You Into 2012
2011 brought new challenges, legislation and outlooks for the insurance industry. As we look to 2012, we're going to highlight some changes and provide some tips that we think will make a difference in every agent's life.
From groundbreaking legislation to sales and retention tips, this newsletter should make you stop and think about what 2012 holds for not only the insurance industry, but your agency as well. Click to view our December 2011 newsletter.
November 2011 - Is Your Agency Ready for 2012?
With the MAIA Big Event just passing and the year quickly coming to a close, have you considered whether your agency accomplished all that it wanted to this year? For some, 2011 may have been the year that they wanted to jump into social media. For others, they may have wanted to become more involved in community service or upgrade their telephone system. What were your agency goals for this year? It's not too late to accomplish them!
Here at Brownstone Insurance, we have agency-wide goals as well as individual goals. In this issue, we'll outline some concepts that may help your agency or you as an individual reach your professional goals. Click to view our November 2011 newsletter.
October 2011 - Are You a Geek Like Monty?
With the recent passing of Steve Jobs, we are reminded that passion for what we do is just as important as innovation and creativity. Steve Jobs' passion for life and for leaving his mark on the world certainly motivated him to create products and technology that would forever change our lives.
How do you feel about what you do everyday? Are you confident that you're fulfilling your duty as an insurance agent? Does protecting people, their families and their assets make you happy? What about Steve Jobs' influence on your personal and professional life? Do you use technology to streamline operations and remain in touch with your customers?
We'll investigate just how much Steve Jobs and the lifestyle he portrayed affected you as an insurance agent in this month's newsletter. View our October 2011 newsletter.
September 2011- How Did Hurricane Irene Affect Your Agency?
Thankfully, Hurricane Irene was not as treacherous for most people as originally forecast. Brownstone Insurance actually received only about 12 claims as a result of the storm, and we like to think that is due to our efforts to inform and educate people all year long. How did your agency prepare for the storm? Did you have a disaster recovery plan in place? Were you talking with your customers? View our September 2011 newsletter.
August 2011 - How the Economy has Affected Insurance
Does the state of the economy affect the insurance industry? Do claims increase and fraud become more frequent as the economy struggles? Some also argue that a slowly-improving economy can change the landscape of risks, i.e. the improvement of the economy leads to companies hiring more workers, perhaps less experienced, which can lead to more workers' compensation claims. Is your agency seeing any affects that can be contributed to today's economy? View our August 2011 newsletter.
July 2011 - Lead Generation and Marketing Techniques Explored
Cold calling. Does it work anymore? How else can an insurance broker generate leads? Do "old-fashioned" methods of reaching people make a difference anymore? These are questions that you may often find yourself pondering. How you answer these questions or solve these problems defines your business. Customers want to feel connected with companies they do business with, but in terms of lead generation and testimonial gathering, how much is too much? When is a lead not actually a lead? View the July 2011 newsletter.
June 2011 - Agents Can Make a Difference
As an insurance professional, our goal is not only to create sales, but also to be there for our customers. This concept rings true especially now, during a time when many communities across Massachusetts are dealing with the destruction caused by this month's severe storms and tornadoes.
One thing that assuredly helps Brownstone remain in contact with our brokers and direct customers alike is social media. Friends and customers of Brownstone know that they can check our Twitter feed, Facebook page and our daily blog entries for information regarding severe weather that may affect them, safety tips and breaking news. We provide this service because consumers today are looking for more than just a policy from their agents. Check out the praise that Brownstone Insurance received for our marketing efforts and consider how your agency is connecting with consumers as well. View the June 2011 newsletter.
May 2011 - Don't Let Your Customers Get Burned
Recently, there have been an alarming number of fires in multi-unit buildings. (See the latest story about a high-rise fire here.) Tenants in multi-unit or multi-story buildings can easily feel trapped or panic out of fear that they will not reach an exit in the event of an emergency. Our May newsletter includes an exclusive Apartment/Condo Safety Tip Sheet for you to provide to clients that will help them prepare for an emergency. Also included are Broker FAQ's, marketing tips and the 10 strangest things ever insured. View the May 2011 newsletter.
April 2011 - A New Look and New M&A Activity
Spring can be an exciting time in the insurance industry, as many people associate this change of seasons with "spring cleaning." To some, this includes reviewing their insurance policy and perhaps making some changes. Be prepared to help your clients! Other insurance brokers and agencies may be making changes by getting involved with the M&A market. With a 35% increase in merger and acquisition transactions among US insurance markets and a 224% increase in deal values, the trend seems to be a reversal in the 5-year decline in M&A activity. View the April 2011 newsletter.
March 2011 - Education Pays Off
With insurance aficionados suggesting that the market will remain soft until the end of 2011 or early 2012, it's important to think about how we can take that extra step to educate our customers and go above and beyond what is expected of an insurance agent and to help prevent losses from occurring. View the March 2011 newsletter.
February 2011 - Where are All the Young People?
Statistics prove that the insurance industry is aging. Quickly. With the average age of insurance professionals at 54 and 60% of the industry professionals being older than 45, it's easy to wonder where all the young people are. In this issue, we'll discuss how generational differences and a lack of young insurance professionals in the industry today are affecting the success of our business. View the February 2011 newsletter.
January 2011 - Dive into Social Media Marketing this Year
As we look towards 2011 and all the possibilities it brings, we'd like to share some thoughts with you regarding social media marketing and the opportunities it could present to you. What better time to jump into a new endeavor than the start of the New Year? View the January 2011 newsletter.
December 2010 - What's Your Loss Ratio?
We all realize the importance that an insurance companies' loss ratio plays in their success. Which is why finding the "right risks" and building a relationship with an experienced insurance adjuster is key. We'll also take a moment to highlight Samuel F. McCormack Adjusters in this issue. Brownstone has been working with this dependable company for 25+ years, and we continue to rely on them for prompt service. View the December 2010 newsletter.
November/October 2010 - Go "All-in" for your Customers
In this issue we'll touch upon "all-in" coverage and the importance it holds to your customers. While some may not think twice about the fact that some policies offer "all-in" coverage, it is an important aspect of coverage that shouldn't be overlooked. Your customers will thank you for it. And here at Brownstone, our policies are "all-in, all the time." View the November/October 2011 newsletter.
September 2010 - Helping you Help your Customers
There have been many changes in the insurance industry during the past couple years, but one thing has remained constant: Brownstone's commitment to our brokers. We operate in a manner that makes doing business with us simple and quick. And if there is something you think we could do better, tell us! We appreciate all feedback and are always aiming to improve our services. View the September 2010 newsletter.
August 2010 - 3 Tips to Generate More Leads
In this newsletter, Brownstone will provide you with some tips for generating quality leads, interesting facts about the ever-changing landscape of the insurance industry and how Brownstone is here to help. Brownstone Insurance goes beyond selling insurance policies and we are here to support our brokers. View the August 2010 newsletter.
July 2010 - The Art of Selling
Here at Brownstone Insurance, we realize that the economy is another factor in your success, and we are here to support you and your clients by offering superior customer service and a product that practically sells itself. With 30 years experience in the industry, the staff of Brownstone Insurance is here to guide you and offer assistance whenever possible. View the July 2010 newsletter.
