Why Web Insurance Agents Need to Communicate with Each Other?

As an insurance agent, you probably do not mingle much with your insurance competitors, unless you are attending a charity or industry event. When it comes to being an online insurance agent, you might rethink your position on remaining isolated from competing agents.

It Can Be Lonely Online as An Agent!

The number of online insurance agents is increasing. Yet, there is no guarantee of success, online. Insurance agents must not only compete against other agents, but they also must challenge other websites for keyword positioning (e.g., insurance and financial) on various search engines. At first, you might even rethink your decision to start an online insurance agency. With time, your web traffic will increase if you continue to write effective articles. Also, you might want to consider paid web advertising, such as Google AdWords to drive targeted traffic to your website, while you wait for the search engines to deliver you some free traffic.

Since buying insurance online is still relatively new, there are not many quantitative studies to suggest how to run a successful online insurance agency. As a result, many online insurance agents are forced to contact one another in order to learn the ropes. For example, I had no clue how to run an insurance related website when this project began in 2003. Fortunately, Steve Jarvis of http://www.benefithouse.com/ was kind enough to correspond with me via e-mail and by phone. He taught me about the use of headings, keywords, page titles, Google Rank, and online insurances, etc. If you are not familiar with online marketing, I advise you to find a good mentor, preferably an online insurance agent or online financial planner. Then again, you can always spend a lot on money on advertising.

Other Ways Insurance Competitors Can Be Helpful!

Sometimes other online insurance agents will desire to quote you on their websites. You should never mind the free publicity as long as the other agent provides a link back to your website. In my opinion, the back link to your website is a fair exchange for the use of your quote. Usually, the other agent will gladly provide a link to your website.

Other agents may ask your permission to link to your website. Now, if they want you to link back to their site, I advise you to pay close attention to Google guidelines at http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?answer=35769 about linking. But remember, as an online insurance agent, you want your target market to become familiar with your insurance products, so it is necessary to appear on other related websites (e.g., insurance, financial planning, debt consolidation, etc.)

On a rare occasion, I have found some webpages that are written about this website or me. And, these articles were not written by regular citizens but by other online insurance agents. Of course, these articles sang my praises; otherwise, I would not mention them!

Analysis

Get to know other online insurance agents. Not only can you learn something from other agents to help grow your online business, but you also might find an ally. In addition, keep searching online and you will likely find a helpful insurance agent to mentor you. Please heed my advice; do not remain isolated from the rest of online insurance community!