Archives for 2012

This past week was my 1st visit to a new client. Over the past few years agencies in small towns have taken a real beating.

• Shrinking businesses in their town and surrounding area = less clients and prospects.
• Businesses and families struggling to make ends meet. Insurance needs my come last and be bare bones.
• Insurance carriers cutting agencies that can’t meet production standards.
• The continuing soft market.
• Difficulty finding qualified employees.

Frequently I often find everyone from the owner to the receptionist depressed or pessimistic or both.

So how does an agency remain above the fray, survive, thrive and keep up that positive, optimistic attitude?

2011 seemed to be a really slow year for insurance agency initiatives. Most of my clients updated document templates as necessary, updated a website or two and seemed to do only business improvements that were necessary. Reasons I have heard are:

• Budget constraints.
• We need to work and write business and not make improvements or changes.
• Nothing new happening with our systems so no updates or changes needed.

I get the budget constraints. But the other “reasons” are not valid in my opinion. If you are sitting still you are falling behind.