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.

Buddy, “A Prince among dogs - a sentiment I believe anyone who has ever met him would agree with.  I like to think of him as a German Shephard with a bad haircut.” (Anne Bilbrey - Commercial Lines Dept).

A Prince Among Dogs

Prudence aka the Prudog - 7 months.  “She likes chasing sticks, riding in the back of my truck, and drinking spilled Miller Lite.”  (Joe Morelock - Commercial Lines Dept)

This is Prudence, aka the Prudog

Maggie, “Trusted and true, always vigilant and yet great with the kids, she’s never met a person she didn’t like, or anyone she wouldn’t beg from.” (Craig Runger - Commercial Lines Dept)

Guard Dog Maggie

Angel thinks she is Garfield….lazy!  “She is about 15 years old.” (Felicia Caldwell - Home and Auto Insurance Dept)

Angel thinks she is Garfield…lazy!!!!!

Felicia’s Dog - Winston, he is a good little dog.  We rescued him at 4 years old a month after my other dog had passed away; so in a way he rescued me!  Winston is now 16, blind and can not hear, but still has some pep in his step!

This is Winston, he is a good little dog.

McKenzie is 7 1/2 years old and she has changed my life in such a great way…I never knew I could love a pet so much.  She knows my routine better than I do. (Missy - Home and Auto Insurance Dept)

McKenzie has changed my life

Murphy, our daughter’s best friend and partner in crime.  (Brandon Clarke and Lauren Clarke).

Is my name "Down" or "No?"

photo credit: Verino77

I have been reviewing the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey.  After reading a few chapters I stumbled upon something that intrigued me and I simply wonder what our clients and friends of our blog think about family mission statements.

I really think a family mission statement is a little bit too much; I mean it’s kind of silly to think about your family in this way….But then I considered my own mission statement for life…and realized how much a family mission statement can bring your loved ones together and how this idea can bring about success within your family.  The journey can be tough if don’t know where you are going and it’s important to have the right people on the bus, including your insurance agent.

Read Stephen Covey’s blog post and consider the following:

1. Does your current plan for insurance protection include a comprehensive family insurance plan?
2. What do you want coverage for? Do you even know anything about insurance… do you want an independent insurance agent to help you plan, or a big box franchise insurance company, maybe you want a web based company?  Which option meets your family’s needs and mission?
3. Have you quoted higher auto liability limits…for example in lieu of $300,000 liability limits; we recently quoted a couple at $500,000.  The extra cost was only $15 a year.
4. Have you really thought about your assets and how much liability coverage you need?  Do you have enough? Did you know that an extra umbrella limit of $1 million usually only cost $100 to $200 a year.
5. Have you thought about your deductible limits?  What if you raised or lowered your home and auto deductible.  Where is the most bang for your buck?  Some people assume a $1,000 deductible is saving them a ton of money..have you really looked?
6. Do you want to cover jewelry, wedding rings, family heirlooms, watches, silverware, firearms, pieces of art, or antiques, etc..?  Do you have these things covered?  Does your current policy include this stuff?
7. Do you work from your home; do you have business coverage while at home?
8. Do you want identity theft coverage, which will cover repair of your family’s costs and time to fix their credit history?
9. What about Flood or Earthquake policies?  Did you know homeowner’s policies do not cover those natural disasters?
10. Do you or your spouse have life insurance? Have you thought about cost saving ways to insure your children?

These are just a few examples of what we do, but they are also a look into the makeup of how you and your family live life.  They capture the true meaning of a family mission statement.  Where does your compass point, what are you prepared for, is your family prepared to bounce back from possible loss?  Your insurance agent is a large part of who you are.  At the end of the day, your insurance agency relationship should give you peace of mind.  We are in a strange industry full of negative connotations and hard sells.  The reality is……this industry is full of people who want you to succeed. We encourage you to review your family mission statement and ask questions, then find insurance solutions to help you accomplish your goals.

Slay it!