Who here uses Blog's

[IAC.Ryan]

I've seen a few posts now that have mentioned using a blog to both generate business and to help present yourself as an insurance expert / knowledgeable resource. This got me thinking:

How many here use blogs regularly and would you find it beneficial for a carrier to offer RSS feeds to beef up your content?

 

[Brokers Alliance]

I use a blog, but honestly, I use it as a blog format, so it is not technically a blog. Nevertheless, I like it and with the format you have control and can make posts as aften as you like. You can make links to go to your own website and others.

Yes, I believe that insurance agents can supplement their existing website by having a blog that gives the consumer information they would not normally be able to get, such as details like how to reduce your health insurance premiums or life insurance premiums.

Not sure I understand your question about RSS feeds. But, as long as it doesn't take away from your intention of the blog, why not?

 

[beatuplunchbox]

I use wordpress blogs for lead generation and for my customer site. Works good for me.

 

[JRoot]

I just started a few weeks ago and already have a group of subscribers and it keeps growing. The only reason I do it is to bring in more business. So you need readership (prospects) and traffic (targeted prospects). Audiences of 1 do nothing for your blog. I'm still new at this, but here's what I've learned so far:

1. You need to spend time reading other blogs and commenting to grow your traffic in the beginning. Just like making phone calls, do the work and your blog will grow. You have to provide expertise and comment on other blogs and link to your blog. Doing this most nights is the sole reason my readership is increasing in my early stages of blogging.

2. Think of blogging as online social networking. Make it enjoyable, but informative. When someone comments, comment back and start a discussion. You need to make your blog sticky. I use images in each blog to break up all the reading and link to other sources for further reading.

3. Use blog services that gets your blog out there like Feedburner, Twitter etc. There are tons of them out there...I'm just learning about this.

I'm by no means an expert in this. I actually enjoy blogging very much. My real estate friends are teaching me all the little tricks to get readership. My goal is to have information on every underwriting situation and use for life insurance. I'm already getting more hits on my blog than my website so I'm going to stick with this and see how it goes. I'm learning new tricks every day...it's kind of fun once you get going.

 

[ABC]

I had one through my website and it really did not increase sales. I started out adding to it every week and then slowed down to every month by the 2nd year I quit adding to it. i had a handfull of questions from it but it was always from the uninsurable.

 

[CHUMPS FROM OXFORD]

Oddly...I have had two sales from the goofiest articles I wrote in my blog (Billy Mayes and a fake "Top 10" list.)

The serious articles haven't done much...yet.

 

[bill3173]

I have a marketing goup client that specializes in customizing the web page and providing the info. for blogging. The start up with them is $3K + $300 per month if they do the blog. I haven't subscribed to the service, but have retained them as clients for about 3 years.

Do any of you know if this is a reasonable price or is it just buyer beware type stuff?

 

[The New Guy]

I have a marketing goup client that specializes in customizing the web page and providing the info. for blogging. The start up with them is $3K + $300 per month if they do the blog. I haven't subscribed to the service, but have retained them as clients for about 3 years.

Do any of you know if this is a reasonable price or is it just buyer beware type stuff?

I would place this in the buyer beware category.

Do you already have a website?

 

[IAC.Ryan]

I think your question was answered a long time ago. A lot of people use blogs. What more do you want to know? What to write in them that will bring you tons of business?

...


You got your answer. No go put up a blog and let us know where it is so we can read it.

Sorry for not chiming in earlier - I've been on the road for past 4 days.

My question was not solely "who here uses blogs" - that was my title. I was hoping the title would only bring those who use blogs to the thread as they'd be the one's with my answer.

My question was

How many here use blogs regularly and would you find it beneficial for a carrier to offer RSS feeds to beef up your content?

More or less - would those on the board currently using blogs find it helpful if a carrier published press releases or even state specific / general insurance posts through an rss feed? (which would both increase your content and save you the time of publishing it yourself)