If you’re spending too much time on prospecting and networking, and seeing little reward for your efforts, maybe it’s time for a different approach. While traditional networking and prospecting can put you in front of a lot of people, they aren’t necessarily the right people.

A common question from insurance agents is where and how to find quality employees.  When we sat down with industry expert, Eddie Emmett, he was unsurprised to hear this.  He stated that “that may be the number one topic that comes up, all the time.”  Agency Matrix has a large team that involves hiring salespeople, trainers, support people, and others.  There are always problems that come with hiring for these positions, even at a company, let alone on the independent agent level.

Scene:  It’s 1 a.m. in the morning.  You’ve been out on the town having a fantastic night, and now it’s time to go home.   You’re physically tired from dancing and the general hustle and bustle of an evening out.  You plop down in your brand new self driving vehicle and activate the ignition.  After a moment of the customary beeping, whirring, and start-up noises a voice says: "Good evening (insert name), I detect that you’re drowsy. During this trip I may require your driving assistance in the event of an emergency. If you wish to proceed to the destination, you must authorize your auto insurer to increase your premium until arrival.  This amount will be added to your monthly payment. To authorize, say yes."

According to InsuranceJournal.com, independent insurance agencies tend to focus on the sales part of their industry. Many of the business owners lack either knowledge or the experience required to run insurance agency accounting. There is nothing worse than being in the dark about having a bad accountant who doesn’t handle your financial information correctly.

We’ve all seen the recent deluge of TV talent shows—The Voice, American Idol, America’s Got Talent and countless others. Many believe these shows will catapult them to greatness and crowds of screaming fans. Unfortunately, many of these dreams end in heartbreak. But, not all of them. A small percentage of talented hopefuls go on to become superstars. Do you ever wonder why? What vaults some people to rock star status, with staying power and millions of loyal longtime fans?

Now that another holiday season is behind us and all of our New Year’s resolutions have begun to fade, everyone is getting to work putting their business plans for the year into action. And there’s nothing more important to your success than the relationships you build with your prospects and customers.

Most of your auto insurance customers intuitively understand that if they act irresponsibly behind the wheel, it can cost them in the form of fines, legal fees, higher insurance rates, revoked licenses – or in the worst case scenario – loss of lives. But how many of your customers really understand how their driving records affect their insurance premiums?

Most of us can still remember Driver Ed training and those first clumsy days behind the wheel. The thrill of learning to drive. The anxiety associated with facing new dangers. And of course, the pressure to please an instructor who stood between you and your freedom on the open road.

Weather patterns in recent years have been wreaking havoc with homeowners and insurance carriers alike. According to a study of homeowners insurance claim trends between 1997 and 2011 by the Insurance Research Council (IRC), the cost of homeowner’s insurance claims has skyrocketed, with the average claim payment per insured home up 173 percent nationwide during that time period. In 2011 alone, homeowners insurance claim costs per insured home increased 27 percent.

On the auto insurance scene, there’s a new insurance software tool available . . . one that your tech-savvy customers will love … digital proof of insurance.

Remember back in the dawn of the computer age, with all the buzz about how we were headed for a paperless society? Obviously we aren’t there yet. The computer age was not a paperless revolution, but instead created a deluge of paper production.

In 10 or 20 years, the insurance industry may be totally unrecognizable by today’s standards.

New technology, new competitors and new distribution channels are combining to disrupt traditional business models, reshape customer expectations, and transform the insurance buying experience.

We’ve all been there. The voicemail … the hang up … and the “Sorry, not interested” before you’ve even told them what you’re calling about. Telemarketing is an important, albeit very painful aspect of insurance marketing. If the mere thought of conducting telephone sales calls makes you want to call in sick or take a two-hour lunch, it’s time to time to face your fears and get the insurance software and process in place to help you work smarter!

With Turkey Day quickly approaching, it's a good time to remind your insurance customers of some important safety tips to make sure their holiday is a safe and happy one.

Hurricane Sandy has been a brutal reminder of just how vulnerable we are to natural disasters. When widespread damage occurs and critical infrastructures and services are knocked out, chaos ensues—especially in crowded urban areas like New York and New Jersey. Those who are caught up in the chaos need timely and helpful information, especially from their insurance partners.