For as far back as I can remember, my mom has been a die-hard Star Trek fan…a Trekkie. As a kid, my world was filled with conversation around automatic sliding doors and Vulcan characteristics. At just over five feet, Mom has more energy than a teenager on Red Bull! She loves imagining a world that may not exist now but that somehow seems futuristically plausible. But interestingly enough, that’s where the future focus stops. As automatic sliding doors and Star Trek-like technologies have become reality, Mom is unable to adapt. She’s afraid of the computer, except when it comes to playing Solitaire, and only turns on the cell phone we bought for her when she wants to make a call…and even then, it’s her last resort. We love mom and don’t want her to be left behind.
In many ways, too much of the insurance world behaves like my mom…loves to discuss the implications and possibilities of future technologies in insurance but is fearful or confused—in many instances to the point of paralysis—when it comes to actually venturing in. While we debate issues like whether buying insurance online is an opportunity or a threat to agents, or thoughts on how to best use social media to get leads…the Starship Insurance moves forward…like it or not.
The insurance industry as a whole will move online. Whether sales or service, carrier or agent, the future is in the Cloud.
Social media will be the freeway for communication…not the destination. Insurance agents and brokers who want to be positioned as the consumer’s first point of contact online will need to be easily found and showcased in the online agent community. It is in this way that the individual agent will be able to compete with the multi-million dollar carrier advertising budgets working to drive consumers directly to their online sites.
Agents showcasing their expertise together online will prevail. Why? Because people who need insurance help will go where they are sure to find a large number of credible insurance professionals. It’s actually the platform that will beam us up to where we can serve consumers in a whole new way.
There is a new national platform and world-class online directory – that is already enabling licensed insurance professionals to present themselves in a national, validated showcase; network with colleagues and attract new business. It’s called NDOI and is located at www.ndoi.com . Check it out! To view a special introduction for licensed agents only, go to www.ndoiagents.com .
Right now, current NDOI agents are setting up their profile suites and pushing them out to the people they want to do business with through email and social media to showcase their online presence and credibility. Agencies are showcasing service capability by sending clients NDOI links for licensed service team members including account managers, claims analysts, coverage specialists, and producers.
So, let’s boldly go where no one has gone before and secure our future in the process!
Lynne L. Wallace, CPCU, NDOI Co-Founder and Agency Owner
NDOI.com is the only world-class online directory and national platform designed to showcase the professional expertise of every licensed insurance professional.
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