Insurance Marketing Small Business

Liberty buys Safeco Insurance 6.2 billion

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 21:37:00 +0000

Liberty Insurance purchased Safeco Insurance for 6.2 billion

Liberty Mutual Group Inc. agreed to buy Safeco Corp. for about $6.2 billion,
taking advantage of a 19 percent drop in the company's stock this year to strike
the industry's biggest transaction since 2004.
Liberty Mutual, owned by its
policyholders, will pay $68.25 a share in cash for Safeco, 51 percent more than
Tuesday's closing price, the companies said. The purchase will create the
fifth-largest U.S. property and casualty insurer, the biggest deal since St.
Paul Cos. and Travelers Property Casualty Corp. combined in a $17.9 billion
merger.
Safeco's sale may signal the start of an industry consolidation
predicted on April 14 by Accenture Ltd. after insurance stocks fell 15 percent
in the first quarter. The Seattle-based insurer's auto unit posted a loss at the
end of 2007 because of rising medical claims and repair costs, leading to a 33
percent decline in Safeco's fourth-quarter profit. ....Insurance

Stop Selling Insurance

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:30:00 +0000

Stop Selling Insurance, Good Article about taking the focus of selling your products, listening to the customer first and the offer Insurance Solutions or Insurance Services:

When you adopt the attitude of a professional and take the focus off the
products, guess who the focus falls on? You! You become the service that clients
buy. You become valuable. You become a resource. You become an expert. Clients
don’t look to insurance policies for answers, they look to you! One of the
greatest challenges in arriving at this mindset is becoming clear as to what
makes you unique so you can communicate it effectively to your prospects and
clients. I often work with my clients on clarifying their purpose and
identifying their unique strengths so that their marketing and leadership is
effective. ...... from The Insurance Coach
via Insureme Agent Blog

Insurance Agent's Online Reputation Management for Insurance Agents

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:17:00 +0000

Online Reputation Management for Insurance Agents:

Here is some good advice to remember about online reputation management for insurance agnets.

You Tube Video- Online Reputation Management for Insurance Agents

Insurance blog, Insurance Agent Marketing

Internet Marketing for Insurance Agents

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:13:00 +0000

Internet Insurance Marketing for Insurance Agents, here is a good post with some valuable marketing for your 2008 Insurance Marketing Strategy:

"What Insurance Agents MUST learn from Auto dealers, real estate agents and
mortgage brokers. if you ask industry leaders, they'll all say there is no
greater pain then the pain of REGRET.
Independent agents will need to adjust
their way of thinking in order to deal with the recent shift in the
market. As consumers increase their use of the internet LARGE direct to
consumer insurance companies will find it easier to steal market share.
This poses a significant challenge for the independent agent....' from Tim's Blog on Active Rain

About the NAIC

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 23:31:00 +0000

"Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) is a voluntary organization of the chief insurance regulatory officials of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories. The NAIC’s overriding objective is to assist state insurance regulators in protecting consumers and helping maintain the financial stability of the insurance industry by offering financial, actuarial, legal, computer, research, market conduct and economic expertise. Formed in 1871, the NAIC is the oldest association of state officials. For more than 135 years, state-based insurance supervision has served the needs of consumers, industry and the business of insurance at-large by ensuring hands-on, frontline protection for consumers, while providing insurers the uniform platforms and coordinated systems they need to compete effectively in an ever-changing marketplace....." NAIC from Insurance News

Four Questions to Get the Right Auto Insurance

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 14:05:00 +0000

Four Questions to Ask to Get the Right Auto Insurance
Using the right tool for a job is the key to success in any profession. Experts say the same principle applies when selecting an auto insurance policy. Having the right type of policy can help ensure that you, your employees and your business are all protected in the unfortunate event that one of your vehicles is involved in an auto accident.

If you are the business owner and you or your employees use a vehicles for business related deliveries or to carry certain materials or passengers to and from a job site you may need a Commercial Auto Insurance policy that is more closely tailored to suit the needs and risks of a business vehicle operator.

Do you need more liability insurance coverage than your personal auto insurance policies? Generally, a commercial auto insurance policy provides higher limits of liability, but less or not coverage in area that are typically not associated with commercial auto insurance risks.
Do you need special coverage for situations associated with conducting a business? Commercial Auto Insurance policies usually offer certain coverages such as hired and non owned auto insurance coverage, and coverage for towing a trailer for your business.
Do you need to list your employees as drivers? You can do this with a commercial auto insurance policy.
Do you use vehicles for business purposes? If you use your vehicle for things like pizza or newspaper delivery, catering, landscaping, then you migh need a commercial auto insurance policy.

Yahoo Accepts Open ID

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 18:21:00 +0000

Yahoo Accepts Open ID
"lthough no official announcements have yet been made, it appears as though Yahoo is gearing up to implement OpenID, a web authentication standard that eliminates the need to remember multiple passwords to log into different web sites. A subdomain of Yahoo, me.yahoo.com, features a short message that indicates they will act as an identity provider for OpenID...." Search Engine Journal

Small Business Trends of 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 02:24:00 +0000

The number 1 Small Business Trend of 2008:
"No. 1 small business trend for 2008 is …
Networking 2.0: Networking used to be that thing you had to do: Trudging off to the local business mixer to exchange business cards and chit-chat with people you didn't know but whom you hoped needed your services anyway.
Welcome to the new world.
Networking 2.0 is 180 degrees, 100% different. Networking in this new wired world means locating compadres online via a vast network of shared colleagues using sites like LinkedIn, or getting the word out using Facebook, MySpace, or YouTube. Networking today means harnessing the power of the Net to expand your profile exponentially....." from USA Today

SEO Success Pyramid

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 17:49:00 +0000

The SEO Success Pyramid
Excellent information from Matt McGee at Small Business SEM,
factors that could determine your success in Search Engine Optimization
including Commitment, Planning, Design & Usability, and Keyword Research

Great Tips for any Small Business that wants to increase SEM or SEO

Insurers Improving Online Customer Service

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 10:04:00 +0000

Insurers Online, Insurance online, insurance customer service
" good news that many insurers have steadily improved their interactions with customers online. According to an article in National Underwriter Customer Respect Group, a Massachusetts consulting firm, said that a study that “evaluated the Web sites of a representative sample of auto insurance companies and found the sector made progress in a number of areas.” from The Insurance Policy

pb wiki, the wiki editor

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:53:00 +0000

"PB wiki the wiki editor tool for groups and communities, has released a few new features, as requested by its user base.

Among the new features added include a spreadsheet, which is a live collaborative tool for users, voice chat, which enables you to leave a message for others that are viewing your wiki, and a shared calendar for scheduling purposes. PBWiki is also offering the ability to upload videos for free, presumably using the Fliqz widget, and PBWiki has also added another plug-in for planning events and selling tickets.

The new additions all make sense for the wiki creator, and speak to the company’s dedication to its user base and desire to provide features that will prove helpful to the end user. Surely the $2 million in funding PBWiki raised earlier this year....." from Mashable

Technorati Profile

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:40:00 +0000

Technorati Profile

Life Insurance Tips for Families

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:28:00 +0000

Life Insurance Tips for Families

Special Considerations for Young Families

Having children is often the ‘catalyst’ for buying life insurance, as young parents recognize the awesome, life-long responsibility they have assumed.

When purchasing life insurance, consider covering both spouses – even if one stays at home and is not employed. In the event of the stay-at-home parent’s death, the surviving spouse will need to shoulder all the responsibilities of the household.

In determining the amount of life insurance to purchase, make sure to take into account your full childcare costs – especially for children under 5 years old and for kids with special needs. Take the time to estimate these costs carefully, and factor them into your decision-making process.

Weigh the costs/benefits of purchasing whole life vs. term life insurance as part of your financial planning strategy. Whole life insurance policies build cash value and also pay a death benefit. But they are more expensive. If you can’t afford whole life insurance right now, but think you may want it in the future, you may want to consider term life insurance with a conversion option that will let you change to a whole life policy for a fee when you are ready.

Or you may want to purchase term life insurance, which offers death benefit protection for a specified time period. For example, term life insurance may be appropriate to provide coverage during your child-rearing years or while paying off a mortgage. Term life premiums increase as you age. Term life is typically less expensive in your younger years than permanent life insurance, which covers you for your entire life and typically has level premiums. You may also want to consider purchasing a combination of term life insurance and whole life insurance.

Remember to update your policy to include your children as beneficiaries, especially in the event of a divorce. You might want to consider naming a trustee for your children in the unfortunate event that both parents die before the children turn 18.

Some people purchase life insurance for healthy newborn babies because their insurability is high and the premium costs are low. If health issues develop later in life, individuals may not be eligible for life insurance coverage.
Life Insurance Tips for families from the NAIC Insurance University

Will Your Auto Insurance Weather the Storm?

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 23:24:00 +0000

Click To Play

Will your auto insurance weather the storm? This person's car is damaged by a tree falling on her vehicle during a storm. Review your auto insurance policy to determine if your Comprehensive Insurance or Collision Insurance will cover the damage to your auto. If you have Liability Insuarnce only, your vehicle may not be covered for storm damage. Insurance video from the Insurance Information Institute and the Better Business Bureau. They recommend reviewing the Insurance Coverages with your agent before you purchase the insurance policy. In most cases, you will need Comprehensive Insurance coverage to protect you against storm damage to your vehicle, according to the Insurance experts in this insurance video.

June is National Safety Month....

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 15:38:00 +0000

"With the official start of the summer season, people across the country are planning for "fun in the sun," most commonly saying swimming and biking will be part of their summer activities, according to a survey conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of CIGNA Group Insurance.Along with planning summer activities, people should also plan to take extra precautions to stay safe. A new report released by the National Safety Council (NSC) earlier this month shows the nation's accidental death rate is up more than 20 percent over a 10-year period. The NSC warns that at the current rate, the nation's all-time high of 116,385 accidental deaths, set in 1969, could be surpassed in the next few years. In fact, accidents are the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of 44, and the 5th leading cause for people of all ages.(1)The NSC reports that drowning claims the lives of nearly 3,000 people every year. Approximately 540,000 bicyclists visit emergency rooms with injuries every year, as noted by the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the 4,969 boating accidents reported in 2005 resulted in 697 fatalities and 3,451 injuries. Among those who drowned, 87 percent weren't wearing a life jacket.".....from Medical News Today

Insurers Win Credit Report Case Supreme Court

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 14:53:00 +0000

The Supreme Court unanimously sided with insurers that prefer not to tell consumers when they have examined their credit reports, a ruling that frees insurers from the risk of class-action lawsuits alleging they failed to send required notices to millions of consumers.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires companies to notify consumers when they take an "adverse action," such as increasing rates, based on credit reports. The alert gives consumers a chance to examine the reports, which they can obtain free, and contest inaccurate information.
from WSJ

from Personal Insurance Agents

Travel Insurance, Is it Worth It?

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 04:26:00 +0000

Click To Play

Travel Insurance Video from Stacy Johnson at Money Talks. Reviews whether or not Travel Insurance is worth the investment. Insurance experts recommend reading the fine print, reviewing your insurance contract to determine what is covered and what is excluded.

"The US Travel Insurance Association (UStiA) is a national association of insurance carriers, third-party administrators, insurance agencies and related businesses involved in the development, administration and marketing of travel insurance and travel assistance products.

Our goal is to:

Ensure that travelers have affordable access to travel protection and travel assistance;
Educate consumers about travel insurance and related issues;
Promote fairness, integrity and a commitment to excellence in the travel insurance industry;....... " US Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance, Insurance, Insurance VLog, Insurance TV

Life Insurance- Do you have enough Life Insurance?

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 03:59:00 +0000

Do you have enough Life Insurance? Will your house be paid for in the event of your death? Will your kids be able to go to college? Plan for the unexpected now.
Life Insurance can cover many items including paying off a Mortgage, Future College Costs, Retirement, Funeral Costs. Many insurance experts recommend having 10x your current Salary.

Life Insurance, Term Life Insurance

for more information visit Life-Line.org
"The Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education (LIFE) is a non-profit organization dedicated to addressing the public's growing need for information and education about life, health, disability and long-term care insurance. LIFE also seeks to remind people of the important role agents perform in helping families, businesses, and individuals find the insurance products that best fit their needs. "

insurance vlog, insurance video, life insurance, term insurance, term life insurance

Humana agrees to buy Atlanta insurer

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 03:40:00 +0000

Humana agrees to buy Atlanta insurer: "Health insurer Humana Inc. said yesterday it has agreed to buy CompBenefits Corp. in a $360 million deal aimed at broadening its dental care offerings and allowing it to directly provide vision-care benefits.

Atlanta-based CompBenefits, which posted 2006 revenues of $345 million, offers dental and vision benefit plans to more than 4.8 million members nationwide.

The company serves more than 14,000 employer groups in 22 states, primarily in the South and Midwest."...

Check your homeowner's policy insurance

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 03:11:00 +0000

Check your homeowner's policy: "According to a survey by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the fact that I pay attention to this stuff before my house catches fire makes me an exception. It came as a surprise to most of the 673 homeowners nationwide who responded to the survey that the typical property and liability policy doesn't cover home damage from floods, earthquakes, water-line breaks, termites, mold, and other perils."......

Homeowners Insurance, Home Insurance, Flood Insurance, Insurance Coverage

Insurance U from NAIC

GAP Insurance for your Auto - Auto Insurance

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 02:56:00 +0000

Why you may need Gap Insurance on your car. If your car loan exceeds the actual cash value of the vehicle, you may need GAP Insurance to cover the difference between the actual cash value and the loan amount

Insurance Institute Video homeowners quiz

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 02:41:00 +0000

"Considering that the topic of homeowners insurance has become so prevalent in the news lately this video is a welcomed addition. The video is not outright hilarious but it is amusing and approaches the topic of homeowners insurance by interviewing people on the street. Of course they offered the participants something in return for being a part of the interview, a cup of coffee, then asked them about insurance."...from
Insurance Policy

A New Idea? Shoestring Opportunity

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 02:38:00 +0000

"What we need are tiny, specialized sites that obsess about specific industries. Is there a good video every day about how to do better real estate sales? If there isn't, there soon will be. Or for heart surgeons?" .... from Seth's Blog

Introducing InsuranceTV1, where we will cover everything about insurance, Life Insurance, Car Insurance, Industry News. etc