Enjoy my friends, sorry if there is a bad picture of you…. If it is for a valid reason please email me and I will remove it. 

Cheers!

Liz

This month I had the wonderful experience of visiting Gering, NE to attend my first annual IIAN board meeting.  The board meeting went well, and I think everyone walked away glad for having attended.  Thankfully at the beginning of the board meeting I was allowed to introduce myself as the “new” marketing representative.  I was also able to share some new things like my blog and my facebook page, that I am using to market to agents with.  So, here’s how the story goes… I introduce myself, and open up my blog on the projection screen, and turn around to see a room full of people with the dear in headlights look on their face.  They all seemed to be thinking the same thing…”Is this girl crazy!?!”… maybe my mind reading skills are not up to par, but I’m sure that’s what you all were thinking. 

I swear to you that what I have started for this association is pushing us in the right direction.  Phil Harr our state representative for ACT (Agents Counsel for Technology) seemed to be the sole person who later found me outside and gave me a complement.  I don’t expect everyone to understand nor do I expect them to like it… I simple want people to begin to think about it. 

Phil later emailed me an article from Insurance news and views, that stated that associations and agents are missing the boat if they are not using web 2.0.  Web 2.0 is (very simply put) all the social (facebook) and journal (blog) websites that I am currently using. 

“Why are agents and associations missing this boat?”

-miss conception- they are hard to use

-reality-they are extremely user friendly

-miss conception- they are a waste of time

-reality- The average American is constantly seeking convenience and time saving offerings, If you can reach them on a facebook account that they check everyday don’t you think you are more likely to really know you as an agent and feel special as a client?

-miss conception-

This is only for young people

-reality-

It’s not only for young people.  This is only the beginning of this technology take a look at how much you now use email in your office.  I remember when I got my first email account and my mom actually got mad at me.  She thought I was wasting valuable time that I could be spending doing some homework from freshman geometry.  WOW was she wrong just about the email- I probably should have been doing geometry. 

So I guess what I’m saying while no one is reading, is that today is the day people!  Get in on this which is the next wave of information.  The newest way to reach your customers.  Communicate in a personal way, share your life and maintain the connection longer than you could imagine. 

Agents who used to wine and dine their customers are finding that their customers have time to get on the Internet and browse around but might not have time to attend dinner any more.  Maybe it will be a combination of both diner and the Internet that will maintain customer relationships. 

Best,

Liz