State Auto Digital Agent

The Watkins Insurance Group team has always held a high regard for being involved in the community. The team has embraced the agency’s tagline, “We’re here to help,” both when providing service to insurance customers and in the local areas surrounding their seven branch locations. This service-oriented culture naturally led Watkins to use social media to expand its engagement in the community, beginning with a Facebook page in 2011.  “We use social for promoting our agency’s volunteer efforts, but we also promote other organizations in our community helping people,” according to Hanna Ogle, personal lines manager and director of agency automation. “Even if we’re not involved in it, we’re sharing it to help. We’re living up to our tagline.” An IIABA Best Practices Agency in 2013, the Watkins team is a leading example of putting social media to use in an agency. Their success is partly due to their unique approach that they call “ShareWatkins” - a modern take on a long trad...

New materials are available to help you communicate the importance of fleet safety and risk management to your clients. While we all have to look out for unsafe driving behavior on the roadways, those managing a fleet program for an organization have a much more expansive responsibility – and potential exposure. Organizations and employees often aren't aware that they become part of the company fleet even if they choose to drive their own cars (instead of a company car) to just simply pick up office supplies or travel to a mandatory work event. New marketing materials available to you! Example of content provided about fleet safety. State Auto has created a package of content, including an infographic and small graphics, as well as a written interview and podcast (audio series) with George Nicholson, loss control technical consultant, for you to use for your customers and on social media sites, website or email marketing. Content to Hel...

A previous blog post challenged our readers to make a better video on Vine than the examples provided. Read the post for details on the Vine Challenge. Sharon Robles of Sharon Robles Agency, Inc. in Chicago, IL took our Vine Challenge and shared her experience using this social video tool.  Q. How fast/easy is it to create a Vine?  A. Vine is so fast and easy! Simple to post on Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. Q. Will you use Vine again, and how?  A. ABSOLUTELY!  I’m thinking about putting quick insurance tips on VINE, such as my What to do in case of an auto accident. How about Preventing Ice Dams, Why Buy Life Insurance? The list is endless! Q. What would you say to other insurance agents thinking of trying Vine?  A. If you want to stay in front of the younger crowd, get on board with technology. I’m seeing lots of opportunities with the younger generation who have previously gotten car insurance online.  Now they are buying homes, having child...