I got this email yesterday and had to share it – it speaks for itself.

Hi Rick ,

I recently read your article featured in the winter 09 issued of South Caroline Agent and Broker and wanted to share my experience. This past year I joined the marketing department of an insurance agency and suggested that the company could really use a new website. Since I was just learning about web design myself, I decided to first take on the task on completely revamping their entire site. While I was learning about web design construction, I came across a wide array of informational websites, forums and online magazines about online presence. Fortunately for me, irwin siegel agency, inc., is very progressive and was open to practically every new idea I found.

Besides simplifying the navigation and organization of all our online content, one of the first new features I suggested to incorporate into the website redesign was an RSS Feed. Since our website has an enormous online resource library primarily geared toward clients, I realized that having updates of new content reach our clients more efficiently would be through the use of an RSS. This way, our current clients wouldn’t always have to reach our website to search for updates; they would only have to open their internet browser for the latest ISA features.

I also felt it was important for our website not only to be appealing enough to encourage users to navigate through it upon an initial visit, but also to implement features that would compel users to revisit. So in addition to the RSS feed, I added an Industry News section which highlights breaking news that is relative to our client base and to prove that our company is vastly knowledgeable about our clients field of work. In order to have news articles on a consistent basis, I spend a few hours a week reading up on the latest in relative technology, politics, personal accounts and struggles in order to gain a better understanding of our clients’ world. This allows me to choose the articles that I feel would benefit our clients while staying on top of the latest trends. There is a way to really listen to what our clients want, without having to ask.

Through my weekly online reading I started to notice a pattern of discussion among our clients; they started using social networking to communicate, share ideas and ask questions with each other. It was at this point that I questioned our web presence: If no one is searching for our website, how else can our company reach the online public? I immediately signed up for an account with Twitter, LinkedIn, and Insurance Campus; just to name a few, in order for our company to communicate with clients, brokers and potential clients on a more frequent basis. Although I have only been using social networking for a few weeks, it’s already proving to be a successful market.

On a side note…..

The company I used to work for, before irwin siegel agency, inc., was a very traditional agency with traditional marketing techniques. During the five years I was employed there I witnessed the market change, our clients change, and the advertising industry begin to change. Instead of researching new avenues of sales and marketing, this agency seemed stuck on questioning why their previous methods were no longer effective and therefore suffered a sever loss of business. Working for a company like irwin siegel agency, inc., has proven that by accepting industry changes and keeping up with latest marketing trends, a company can propel forward, even in a recession.

Thank you for your article and validating that embracing Web 2.0 is not a waste of time and can create new opportunities for success.

kristin rielly
marketing coordinator
irwin siegel agency, inc.
25 lake louise marie road
rock hill, new york 12775
phone:: 800.622.8272 ext. 5206
fax:: 845.796.3661
krielly@siegelagency.com

http://twitter.com/siegelagency

http://www.linkedin.com/in/siegelagency

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