Personal Lines Spotlight
Social Networking is not a Silver Bullet

Listen to agency owner Claudia McClain explain why even in today’s social media world success involves more than just putting up a Facebook Fan Page. Claudia explains how her agency has continued to grow and prosper even in this difficult economic time. Her secret – an agency culture built around strong customer service and a blend of traditional marketing and social networking. While the agency has a blog (two actually), a Facebook Fan Page, a LinkedIn account and is on Twitter, it also touches each customer 12 times a year with traditional print media.

The message Claudia drives home is that social networking is not a Silver Bullet to success. Rather, she sees social networking as providing her with a new set of tools that has enabled her to expand the way she communicates with prospects and customers. Yet, the foundation of her success is rooted in traditional marketing principals and practices, and the understanding that building long-lasting trusted relationships not only takes time, but is hard work.

Helping Independent Agents Increase Market Share

Depending on your perspective, there is some $150 billion in personal lines P&C premium business that the Independent Agency System can make a concerted effort to capture. Talk about opportunity!

• 50% of property/casualty premium in the U.S. is personal lines.
• One-third of all property/casualty premiums (including commercial) is personal auto alone.
• The personal lines sector generates a total of $230 billion in annual premiums.
• National and regional independent agent carriers only account for approximately one-third of those personal lines premiums.

We urge you to:

• Become a member of the Personal Lines Growth Alliance – Membership is FREE (yes, we really mean free!).  We’ve welcomed more than 300 new agencies in the past 45 days.
• Determine your growth potential within your current book of business
• Utilize the data, publications, ideas and strategies located in the Resources section
• Network with other PLGA members through our Blog to create new ideas and initiatives that will help you achieve your goals.

Together we can effectively capitalize on the opportunities for profitable, sustainable growth.  Contact us with your feedback and suggestions.