photo credit: mikecogh

The Hartford Insurance Company surprised me this week with a really moving marketing piece.  Lately, these guys have been creeping up on brilliant moves…but this one takes the cake and I think it is a game changer in the insurance world; as the client becomes the center of the movement…finally, right?  I want to offer some advice as an insurance agent and agency owner; and it is meant to help other agencies throughout the country, but also to help the Hartford understand us, and understand the consumer.

Hartford, your brilliant marketing and useful information is very hard to share online, so the end result is you are spending all this time and effort on a beautiful piece that could change the way insurance is viewed in this country; however you are not making an impact; because it can not be shared.

For example, I would love to show The Hartford’s most recent marketing brilliance Lumpy’s Ice Cream on this blog, facebook, and twitter….but I can’t share it easily.  The best our agency can do is post a link, but most our friends, followers, and readers will not even entertain it, nor do they want to go to a insurance website and honestly neither do I – We want to simply “Watch It” and share it because the end product is helpful.  Let us figure it out together.  Do you have a You Tube page, if so why aren’t these videos on it..why are they not shared on your Facebook and Twitter page? Seems like a great place to post these great entrepreneur videos, you may even drive some business to your subject matter’s business (That’s a total Win/Win).

Look where your agents and clients are, share with us in lieu of keeping your brilliant marketing materials close to the vest, and turning a small amount of new business/branding through your website…Brand your Relationship and let us help you…let us help you create a Remarkable brand promise. And Lumpy’s Ice Cream, keep doing your thing, if Hartford ever figures this thing out, it will be of great help to you, as your video hits millions of people!

 See more videos that Rock N Roll

photo credit: 3liz4

Every month we are going to give you a glimpse into what types of new insurance policies we are writing.  In our mind, it seems we should be educating the public on how we can help them, which is tied directly to what we are succeeding in:

Home Insurance – Values from $100k to $500k with personal liability

Car Insurance – Liability Limits, Comprehensive, Collision, Rental, Towing

Dwelling Insurance for Rentals

Umbrella – Up to $5 million

Boats – Bass Boat, cruiser, canoes

Retail Operations

Mobile Phone Application liability insurance

Technology liability

Errors and Commissions for Tech Company

Directors and Officers Liability for homeowners association

RV Park and Campgrounds

Outfitter and Guide Insurance

Zip Line Liability Insurance

ATV Guided Tours Insurance

Fitness Center Insurance

Used Car Dealership Insurance

Videographer Liability Insurance

Garage Liability Insurance

Church Insurance

Contractor Liability

Inland Marine – Contractor Equipment

Health Insurance – Personal Insurance Coverage

Life Insurance – Coverage up to $5 million

If we can be of help contact us Brandon@johnbaileyco.com or review our website.

photo credit: tatadbb

We have been using the Insurance Agency Management System AMS360 for 2 years and everyday we learn something new. Many times there are questions that we can’t answer and many times there are things we think we should be doing more efficiently. In the past, Vertafore hasn’t really been great at helping us, and the User’s Group is a nice way to learn things and ask questions, but we really needed someone on our time. So I reached out to an insurance agent friend of mine Nibby Priest and asked him if he recommends a AMS360 Consultant.

 He shot a tweet back to me and we talked for a little bit. His recommendation was Alisa Sutman from Sutman Consulting and she has been fantastic! Infact, she has made us more efficient, smarter, and confident…she has changed our business model.

 If your insurance agency is looking for help with AMS360, give her a call. If you have questions about her service, feel free to contact me at brandon@johnbaileyco.com

photo credit: mikecogh

Progression on Facebook just took a huge turn. Facebook timeline is becoming mandatory.  This is a huge game changer for evaluating risk and insurance claims. And yes, as a concerned consumer, this means reviewing your facebook…aka spying on you and your business if you have a fan page.

The insurance world is changing..Are insurance companies allowing access to the best underwriting tool ever? I’m under the impression the old guard is blocking its employees from the truest form of binoculars in underwriting history…

What would really be rad is if someone invented a software that aggregate social sites, allowing the user to search for underwriting content.  As an underwriter pictures tell many stories, so do statements about companies, and status updates for individuals… Below are examples of Facebook uses in the insurance industry:

1. Reviewing buildings, equipment, employees, products, manufacturing, selling, customers, management, and culture.
2. Personal Auto and Homeowners - Pictures of their cars and home, everyday behavior of the individual applying for insurance.
3. Health Insurance – Do they drink or smoke, are they healthy, do they exercise, how do they eat?
4. Life Insurance – Do they skydive, drink, smoke, what is their lifestyle like?
5. Claims – Is there a witness to the claim that is being reviewed, are their pictures or status updates that help with the claims process.

If you are a software developer and you have the knowledge to create this tool, let me know if I can be of service.  On the other hand, all social users, your life online can hurt you – Be aware and be smart.

Contact me at brandon@johnbaileyco.com

photo credit: Justin_D_Miller

Halloween is right around the corner and our office thought it might be helpful if we posted maps and locations of our favorite Halloween activities in and around Knoxville, TN.

Haunted Corn Mazes

Pumpkin Patches

Haunted Hay Rides

Halloween Costumes

At John Bailey Company we have developed a specialized liability insurance program for insuring Halloween activities.  For more information contact us here.

photo credit: xdmag

The new Travelers application is here!! This application for your iphone or android powered phone is called Auto Accident Help and it is there immediately for your assistance. What does this application do?

Via Travelers:

1. It guides you through the steps you need to correctly document and submit your claim.

2. It automatically locates where the accident took place, the date, and also the time of the accident.

3. It allows you to provide photos and video proof of the accident.

4. It helps you collect police, drivers, and witness information. And also provides a quick way to get in touch with your agent via phone or email.

5.  It produces a completely detailed accident report, providing pictures, voice recording, and video documents that you can send in an email to a travelers claim rep.

6. It also provides answers to any claim related question you or anyone else may have.

It is inspiring how life sends you in different directions and how family can center you again.  Escaping to the mountains of NC, we hiked, played in a waterfall, ate cookies, ran up mountains, cooked out, spoke to strangers, asked questions, listened, laughed, and we played, we had fun…and honestly I think fun has been missing from life recently…I just hadn’t taken the time to be.  Escaping from the riff raff nonsense, (the stuff that does make sense, until you are away from it), I had many renewal moments, but the one that really needs to be shared is when I met Marcus Thomas:

Marcus loves outdoors and recreation, according to his website he wanted to be an activities director for a reputable resort.  One day he fell and slid head first into the base of a tree, breaking his neck at the fourth cervical vertebrae. The crushed spinal cord left him completely paralyzed from the shoulders down. After one year of recovery and a determined pursuit for a fulfilling life, he discovered the art of painting.

 His picture is below:

Give his website a view, you will not believe his art and love of the outdoors.  This man gets life, he wants to know your name, he wants to know your wife’s name, your child’s name, he wants to know where you are from…why you are here, he wants you to meet his dog, his wife, he wants to invite you to ask questions. He is calm, patient, enthusiastic, charming, centered.  I enjoyed meeting him, he sparked renewal in my life and for that I am grateful.

photo credit: AnnieGreenSprings

Check out this story on someone attempting to take out disability benefits.