IdeaStar Powers the Launch of Enhanced Forrest T. Jones & Company Web Site
5/13/2010
A coordinated effort between IdeaStar, Inc. and Forrest T. Jones & Company (FTJ) has led to the successful launch of a revolutionary new Web site at www.ftj.com.
Read about this innovative Web site.
|
IdeaStar Named Finalist for 2009 NEOSA Best of Tech Awards
5/11/2009
IdeaStar Inc., a full-service Web development firm based in Cleveland, announced today it is a finalist in two categories of the Northeast Ohio Software Association (NEOSA) 2009 Best of Tech Awards. The entries are IdeaStar’s Spinfield blog in the Best Use of Social Media category, and ftj.com for IdeaStar client Forrest T. Jones in the Best Website category. The winners in these and the other seven categories will be announced at an awards dinner May 19.
Get the details...
|
Selling Through A Slump: An Industry-by-Industry Playbook
5/1/2009
Mike Wise, IdeaStar’s expert at all things Web when it comes to insurance, is a contributor to the newly released eBook, Selling Through A Slump: An Industry-by-Industry Playbook. The book features selling tips from 11 industry experts for various markets, including accounting, retail, law, technology, manufacturing, media, health care, public and services. Mike’s focus is Selling for Insurance Agents.
View the details...
|
How Insurers Utilize Technology for Considerable Cost Savings & Competitive Advantages
4/27/2009
IdeaStar’s Mike Wise, expert at all things Web when it comes to insurance, will speak at the American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance conference on the topic Using Technology to Maximize Sales. He and fellow speaker Samuel Halpern, Director of Internet Marketing for Senior Market Sales, will discuss how the most successful marketing organizations and insurers use technology for considerable cost savings and competitive advantages.
Get the details...
|
IdeaStar Launches New Landing Page & Agent Termination Initiative for Universal American Corp.
4/23/2009
IdeaStar Inc. recently launched a new landing page and agent termination initiative for client Universal American Corp. (UAM-NYSE) www.appointmyagent.com.Before the launch, agents needed to sign into the system through individual portals, and the termination process was paper-based. There is now one Web site for all of UAM's companies, agents and managers to access and contract agents.
More about the Universal American launch...
|
Insurance Affinity Marketing Strategies and the Decline of Snail Mail
3/23/2009
Could direct mail marketing be dead in a few years? Or will it transform into a combination of snail mail and Internet services? In the past, direct mail marketing has been king. And so far, it remains so. But the Internet is changing things. New technology resulting in integrated marketing campaigns uses the best of direct mail, including personalization, personalized URLs, Web site landing pages, interactive Web sites, electronic fulfillment, e-mail marketing, social networking and the next wave – mobile marketing.
Get the details....
|
Mike Wise, Insurance Technology Expert, Appointed to PIMA Board of Directors
3/9/2009
deaStar’s Mike Wise, also known as Mr. Insurance Tech, was appointed to the Professional Insurance Marketing Association (PIMA) Board of Directors during the organization’s recent annual meeting. Mike, who is serving a three-year term, is one of only two business partners on the Board. All other members represent either agencies or companies in the insurance industry.
Continue reading....
|
The Online Future of Insurance Sales and Marketing
2/18/2009
We have seen how the transforming power of the Web is causing major disruptions in the news media industry. Most major metropolitan newspapers, national magazines and journals as well as local t.v. and radio stations are seeing their market share dwindle as more eyes and ears are turning to the Web as their primary source of news, entertainment and information. Now, the same transforming power of the Web is working its way through the conservative and slow-to-adapt insurance marketplace.
Old vs. New Insurance Marketing
|
Insurance Tech Guru Mike Wise Speaking at 2009 PIMA Annual Meeting
2/17/2009
IdeaStar insurance technology guru Mike Wise is heading west to the Professional Insurance Marketing Association ( PIMA ) Annual Meeting, February 26 through March 1 in Phoenix. PIMA is a networking and business development forum for leaders in the insurance direct marketing arena – those serving the affinity/sponsored marketplace.
More about Mike at PIMA
|
Mike Wise Speaker at ACT Strategic Future Issues Planning Meeting
2/9/2009
Mike Wise, IdeaStar’s Vice President of Insurance Technologies, will present "Making Sense of Social Media" at the ACT Strategic Future Issues Planning Meeting February 13 in Tampa.
Get the specifics.
|
2009 ICMG Conference Recap: Web, Web, Web and More Web
2/6/2009
IdeaStar’s Mike Wise, Jamey Polak, and Jim Fisher recently returned from the 2009 Inter-company Marketing Group (ICMG) annual meeting with the following realization. Insurance industry members are sensing the importance of Web sites and online functionality, including agent contracting and appointment, quoting systems, agent resource centers, matrix-driven content-managed distribution portals, corporate blogs (interactive Web sites) and more.
What else we learned at ICMG
|
The Importance of Using the Web for Insurance Marketing
1/21/2009
As consumers rely more on the Web for information, the insurance industry is beginning to realize the importance of using the Web to reach and service customers. Based on an informal survey by insurance Web expert IdeaStar, it is clear while many are cautiously beginning to stick their toes in the water, many others are planning a significant strategy shift to focus more effort on the Web.
Read More
|
Networking, Networking and More Insurance Networking for IdeaStar at ICMG Meeting
1/20/2009
Insurance networking, networking and more networking will take place next week at the Inter-Company Marketing Group (ICMG) Annual Meeting, and IdeaStar will be there to listen, learn, teach and discuss all things Web. “A few years ago at the ICMG conference, people barely even mentioned the Web and insurance. Now all they want to talk about is how automating processes on the Web can help their companies, their agents, and their clients. Combine that with all the new online marketing trends, like Web logs and social networking, and you’ve got a lot of buzz going on,” Mike Wise, Vice President of Insurance Technologies for IdeaStar, said.
Learn more about IdeaStar and the Insurance Industry
|
A New Web-based Insurance Agent Resource Center ( ARC ) for Insuranti
11/20/2008
An insurance Agent Resource Center (ARC) designed to make life easier for insurance agents was recently completed by IdeaStar Inc. for Insuranti. The provider of a wide range of top-rated health and life insurance products needed online tools to communicate with its national team of professionally-licensed agents.
Read more about the Agent Resource Center.
|
Web 2.0 and Company Sponsored Agent Mash-ups - Now We're Talkin'!
10/31/2008
Agent Productivity. Reduce Costs. Competitive Advantage. These three issues seem to be the “Holy Grail” in the executive suite in the insurance marketing business today. Web 2.0. E-business. etc. etc. At the same time, there are a thousand buzz-words and techie concepts floating around the industry. Executives often “know just enough to be dangerous.” To make matters worse, many internal IT departments really don’t understand most of it and yet are expected to be the experts. To save face, they often “pose for the role” but when new sites actually role out there are significant issues. Problem is… the executive sponsor then says, “Well I guess that didn’t work … won’t try that again.” And the proverbial head goes into the sand and significant opportunities are missed.
More about what agents need online.
|
Talk With IdeaStar's Mike Wise and Jim Fisher at MarkeTTech 2008
10/27/2008
Is push marketing dying in the insurance industry? IdeaStar, a full-service Web development company, will be among the exhibitors on hand to discuss that topic at the Professional Insurance Marketing Association (PIMA) 2008 MarkeTTech Symposium, Nov. 9 through 11 in Baltimore, MD. IdeaStar President Jim Fisher and IdeaStar Vice President of Insurance Technologies Mike Wise will be available to discuss the many facets of the Web, and how to use the Internet to make your insurance business thrive.
What's there to talk about at MarkeTTech 2008?
|
Insurance Agent On-boarding
10/8/2008
On-boarding is a Human Resources (H.R.) term that refers to both transactional on-boarding (contracting/licensing) and acculturation (training). While the value of on-boarding efforts is significant to human resource professionals in regard to employees, independent insurance agents have been relatively underserved in this regard. Relative to agent driven distribution systems, on-boarding begins once an agent has been recruited and refers to the process of contracting and training a new agent.
Read more about agent on-boarding.
|
White Paper: Affinity Marketing for Insurance
9/8/2008
The life and health insurance industry is being transformed by the constant evolution of the Internet, which is particularly apparent within the affinity distribution model. The Web has provided a new platform for commerce and distribution, enabled more efficient and effective administrative platforms, revolutionized service capabilities, and much more.
Many industry experts claim affinity sales cannot be done over the Internet. IdeaStar begs to differ. Read the white paper: Affinity Marketing Distribution of Insurance Products and Services via the Web.
|
Online Insurance Affinity Marketing At Its Best
8/31/2008
Every Insurance company has its own unique way of doing things. IdeaStar Inc. creates customized insurance solutions for each individual client based on their needs. Affinity marketing to various associations has its own set of challenges. Watch the video to learn about the Matrix, a customized insurance solution that IdeaStar created for Forrest T. Jones & Company.
|
James Polak Joins IdeaStar Insurance Tech
7/15/2008
James Polak joined the staff of Web development company IdeaStar Inc. as Strategic Account Manager for the Insurance Technologies division. He works with insurance clients and prospective clients to ensure a positive and mutually beneficial relationship.
“I’m really excited to be at IdeaStar,” James said. “Ideastar has been a leader in Web-based insurance solutions for the last decade. We have the experience and expertise, as well as the ability and vision, to deliver constant innovation.”
Read more about James Polak and Insurance Technologies.
|
IdeaStar Launches Spinfield Online Marketing Blog
4/30/2008
A new blog to promote its online marketing expertise has been launched by IdeaStar Inc., a full-service Web development and marketing company. The blog, spinfield.com, has two purposes. One is to educate, entertain and engage clients, potential clients and others in the marketplace. The other purpose is to demonstrate how a good blog is run.
Read More
|
E-signature-based, underwritten products for client
10/22/2007
IdeaStar Inc. recently completed an e-signature pilot project for a national insurance company. The company is a leader in ancillary health and life insurance products, focusing on affinity marketing and associations. The new launch serves as a pilot for the client’s new e-signature policy for medically underwritten life insurance products.
Read about the application.
|
Judges for A.M. Best's E-Fusion Award Announced
9/14/2007
The roster of judges for A.M. Best’s 2007 E-Fusion Award has been finalized, and the line-up features top-notch professionals from across the industry, including:
IdeaStar Insurance Technologies own Mike Wise
and representatives from:
Claymore Prtners, LLC;
Aon Corporation,
Business Objects,
and Penn National Insurance.
Read about the other judges and A.M. Best.
|
IdeaStar is Growing. Come Join Our Team!
9/12/2007
IdeaStar is growing again. The full-service Web development firm which designs, programs, promotes and manages leading-edge Web sites and e-business applications - especially for the insurance industry - needs people to fill the following positions.
Business Analyst
.NET Software Developer
Web Designer
Web Site Tester
Learn more about opportunities at IdeaStar.
|
2007 PIMA Summer Conference
7/17/2007
July 17, 2007 - Mike Wise, IdeaStar vice president of insurance technologies, will be a speaker at the 2007 Professional Insurance Marketing Association (PIMA) Summer Conference at Stoweflake Resort, VT, July 26 through 29. As a recipient of the Best of PIMA award, Mike will discuss the success of www.communitycarerx.com, a Medicare Part D education and enrollment site. IdeaStar developed the Web site for MemberHealth Inc., a growing, national provider of prescription drug benefits based near Cleveland, Ohio.
Read more about the PIMA conference.
|
A Macro Trend and Marketing Insurance
6/4/2007
It is important to consider macro trends when marketing insurance, including the use of the Internet and various search engines. These are an important conduit for insurance sales, both on and off-line, according to Jon Kaplan, Google Industry Director for Financial Services. IdeaStar Vice President of Insurance Technology Mike Wise recently interviewed Jon regarding his upcoming talk to be given at MarkeTTech 2007 in Chicago. The November conference is presented by the Professional Insurance Marketing Association (PIMA), which works to identify the best practices and changes related to the distribution and administration of insurance and related products.
Learn a little more....
|
A spoonful of this. A dash of that.
5/4/2007
Need a little soup for your insurance soul? IdeaStar Vice President of Insurance Technology Mike Wise recently interviewed Mike Manes, author of GUMBO - Cooking Up the Organization of the Future. Listen to the first of a three part series discussing the book, and how it applies to the health insurance industry, at Mike Wise's blog. And, don't forget to check in for the next two weekly installments.
|
Pulsar 2.0 E-mail Marketing Tool Offers Expanded Services
4/24/2007
IdeaStar Pulsar e-mail clients now have an improved, expanded option. Switching from Pulsar 1.0 to the new Pulsar 2.0 increases the ease-of-use, simplifies list management, improves reporting and statistics, and much more. Users now have the ability to add custom surveys, use the convenience of a larger image library, add more dynamic content, and customize each e-mail for individual recipients.
More about Pulsar e-mail marketing....
|
A Visit from Insurance Client IAC
4/13/2007
Recently Carolyn Atkins of Insurers Administrative Corporation (IAC) based in Phoenix, AZ decided to stop in our Cleveland, OH office and meet the team she's been working with. Click the link below to find out more.
Read More
|
IdeaStar Announces Four New Insurance Clients for 1st Quarter 2007
4/5/2007
IdeaStar Inc., a leader in the insurance automation revolution, welcomed four new clients for first quarter 2007.
Click hear to find out....
|
A Few Thoughts on Marketing and the Next Generation of Internet Use
3/30/2007
Marketing health and life insurance can be challenging. There are so many similar companies selling a variety of similar insurance products, that differentiating your brand can become difficult. Staying current with the latest trends in marketing can help, especially when you consider Web 2.0.
Web 2.0 refers to the new, second generation of online services that are changing the way the Internet is being used.
Read more about Web 2.0.
|
IdeaStar "Major Award" Leg Lamp Winner
2/9/2007
Jay Manifold Jr. of Woodmen Insurance Agency in Omaha is the winner of the IdeaStar “Major Award” Leg Lamp. Jay's entry card was pulled from many in the drawing recently at the Inter-Company Marketing Group (ICMG) Annual Meeting in Florida. What will he do with the lamp, a spin-off product from the 1983 classic move A Christmas Story? Jay chuckled and mentioned something about his daughter might want it. ICMG brings together insurance carriers and distributors who arrange deals on new products and marketing relationships. IdeaStar provides Web development services to those who want to get their insurance products and business practices online. It's a perfect match.
Learn about the major rewards of working with IdeaStar.
|
Insurance Marketing and the New Internet Technology
1/26/2007
Insurance professionals need to get up-to-speed on Internet technology. "They’re still selling plenty of insurance the old paper-based way. But in the next few years, as the Web continues to develop, they could get left behind," Mike Wise, IdeaStar Vice President of Insurance Technologies said. Mike recently attended the Professional Insurance Marketing Association (PIMA) Annual Meeting in Florida. He hosted a round-table discussion titled Web 2.0: Tapping Online Communities.
Read more about insurance marketing and Web 2.0
|
|
Win a Major Award Leg Lamp at the ICMG Annual Meeting
1/17/2007
IdeaStar Inc. will share a "major award" with one lucky winner at the Inter-Company Marketing Group (ICMG) Annual Meeting - a "major award" leg lamp that is. Participants of the January 31 - February 2 Florida conference may enter a drawing at the IdeaStar booth for the full-size conversation piece.
Win this leg....
|
On the Road Again. Meet with Web Developer IdeaStar during January Insurance Conferences
1/12/2007
IdeaStar Inc. Insurance Technologies is starting the year in full force, with two conferences in January.
First is the Professional Insurance Marketing Association (PIMA) Annual Meeting, January 18 through 21 in Boca Raton, FL. IdeaStar VP Mike Wise will be hosting a Roundtable on Web 2.0: Tapping Online Communities. "It's really interesting to me the way the Internet is changing and expanding marketing options, especially in the insurance industry," Mike said, adding "I look forward to sharing what I've learned about social networks, RSS, CSS, and many other 2.0 concepts, and, how they can be used in your favor."
Where else will IdeaStar be?
|
IdeaStar's Management Style
1/4/2007
IdeaStar President James D. Fisher shares his management style in the January 2007 edition of Smart Business. Read Fast Lane, Ideas for Growth to learn more about Jim's successful no-strings-attached style. It all goes toward making IdeaStar projects, including Web enabling insurance processes, a success.
|
IdeaStar's List of Clients Grows to Include WellCare Health Plans
11/16/2006
The list of IdeaStar Inc. Insurance Technology clients is growing. WellCare Health Plans is one of the latest companies to benefit from our online insurance applications.
Read about the project.
|
A Look at Your Favorite IdeaStar Team Members
11/9/2006
Great Web-enabled insurance business processes don't just happen. It takes a team of talented designers, developers and marketers to keep an interactive insurance Web site up and producing. Take a look. You might see a familiar name with a face to match.
Find your favorite IdeaStar team members.
|
Best of PIMA Marketing Methods Award 2006 Earned by IdeaStar
10/27/2006
IdeaStar Inc. recently received the prestigious Best of PIMA Marketing Methods Award for the development of the CommunityCareRx Web site. The company designed and developed the Medicare Part D enrollment Web site for MemberHealth Inc. Mike Wise, IdeaStar vice president of Insurance Technologies accepted the ward during the 2006 Professional Insurance Marketing Association (PIMA) MarkeTTech Symposium.
Read more about the Best of PIMA Award.
|
A Little Recognition in the Press
10/20/2006
Read about IdeaStar's expansion in the Cleveland Plain Dealer Business Diary section and at Crain's Cleveland Business. Just think of the online possibilities for our insurance partners!
Read more.
|
IdeaStar Expanding Internet Marketing Services
10/12/2006
IdeaStar Inc., a leading developer of online applications, Web design, and Internet marketing, is expanding. The additional space is needed for our growing Web development and online marketing services.
More space. More service. Read more.
|
Designing an Internet-Friendly Health Insurance Product
10/4/2006
Mike Wise, IdeaStar Vice President of Insurance Technologies, recently returned from the 6th Conference on New Product Development for Health Plans in San Francisco. When developing a health plan product for the Web, Mike says there are several things to consider.
Read all about it.
|
Another A. M. Best E-Fusion Honor for IdeaStar
9/11/2006
Seniors and their caregivers have discovered a convenient means of gathering information about and enrolling in Medicare Part D. It’s an award-winning Web site built by IdeaStar Inc. for its client MemberHealth Inc. WWW.communitycarerx.com has been selected as a finalist for the A.M. Best E-Fusion Insurance & Technology Awards in the Customer Management division. The site features Community Care Rx, a Medicare-approved prescription drug plan offered through MemberHealth.
More about the E-Fusion Award-winning Web site, www.communitycarerx.com.
|
Insurance Agent Appointment Moving Online at UAFC
8/14/2006
With an eye toward improving the insurance agent appointment process, IdeaStar Inc. recently launched an online agent appointment system for Universal American Financial Corp. (UAFC), headquartered in Rye Brook, NY. UAFC is a specialty health and life insurance holding company which provides a portfolio of asset accumulation, asset protection and senior care service products for today’s senior population.
More about UAFC and online technology.
|
PIMA 2006 and Internet Technology for Online Health and Life Insurance Sales
8/10/2006
Maybe it’s not BIG BUZZ, but the use of Internet technology for online health and life insurance sales and services is now part of the mainstream conversation. Mike Wise, IdeaStar vice-president of insurance technologies, recently returned from the Professional Insurance Marketing Association (PIMA) Summer Conference 2006 in Napa, CA. It is a significant networking event for carriers and distributors. A year ago, online services didn’t seem part of the conversation at PIMA.
Why insurance marketing should move online.
|
Mike Wise, Insurance Technologies VP, to Attend PIMA Summer Conference
6/30/2006
Sunny California, here we come! Mike Wise IdeaStar vice president of Insurance Technologies, will be attending The Professional Insurance Marketing Association (PIMA) 2006 Summer Conference, July 27 through 30, at the Silverado Resort in Napa, CA.
The theme this year is Product Strategies in a Maturing Industry. The educational forum focuses on products and related industry developments. And, it is an excellent business development/networking opportunity with leaders in the association insurance marketing industry.
Learn more about Mike's trip.
|
Get Health Insurance Information at InsuraStar.com
5/23/2006
The future of individual health insurance is online. And, what better way to learn about your options than at a new Web site, InsuraStar Health. Simply visit insurastar.com, and individuals seeking facts about individual and family health insurance, self-employed health insurance, short term health insurance, or student health insurance can find a wealth of information.
More information about the InsuraStar Web site.
|
Using the Web to Increase Med Supp Sales
5/15/2006
The future of Medicare Supplement insurance sales is online. Mike Wise, vice president of IdeaStar Insurance Technologies, gave a talk recently at the American Insurance Education Institute conference in New Orleans. The national forum, entitled Issues and Trends in Medicare Supplement Insurance, was for professionals who market, sell, price, administer and support Med Supp insurance. The purpose of the talk was to discuss the use of the Web to increase sales and marketing results within the Medicare Supplement insurance market. A significant number of senior citizens and their caregivers are using the Web to get information and make purchases, according to the Pew Internet & American Life Project. By extension, Mike said, they are ready to research and purchase Med Supp insurance online.
Read more about Med Supp and online sales.
|
Web-driven Med Supp Sales – Helping Producer Networks Sell More
4/27/2006
IdeaStar Vice President of Insurance Technologies Mike Wise will discuss Web-driven Med Supp Sales – Helping Producer Networks Sell More during an American Insurance Education Institute conference, May 1 through May 3 in New Orleans. The national forum, entitled Issues and Trends in Medicare Supplement Insurance, is for professionals who market, sell, price, administer and support Med Supp insurance.
A little more about Mike's presentation.
|
A Qualified Google Advertising Professional
4/13/2006
Susanne Svette, manager of IdeaStar clients’ search engine marketing campaigns, recently passed the test and is now a Qualified Google Advertising Professional. The use of Google Adwords in a pay-per-click campaign is a very effective means of getting specific viewers to visit your Web site. Fine tuning that effort takes skill and knowledge. Google offers its Google Advertising Professional certification as a means of making sure search engine practitioners know all there is to know about Google pay-per-click
Read more about Google Adwords Professionals.
|
IdeaStar Invited to Join Better Business Bureau
4/6/2006
IdeaStar Inc. is now a member of the Better Business Bureau of Cleveland. The invitation-only membership is for businesses in Cuyahoga, Lake, Lorain, Geauga and Ashtabula counties in Northeast Ohio which promote best business practices.
“IdeaStar is pleased with our new BBB membership. It emphasizes what our clients have known all along, that we’re a great company to do business with,” IdeaStar president Jim Fisher said.
Learn more about our BBB affiliation.
|
PIMA Recognizes IdeaStar's Work for UnionSecure
3/16/2006
IdeaStar Inc., a nationally known developer of interactive insurance Web sites, received one of the top honors for the Best of PIMA Award at the recent Professional Insurance Marketing Association (PIMA) Annual Meeting in Naples, FL. Mike Wise, IdeaStar vice president of Insurance Technologies, entered client site http://www.unionsecure.com/ in the Marketing Methods competition for insurance e-commerce at the PIMA MarkeTTech Symposium last fall. The entry earned a Gold Award and was forwarded with other finalists for the Best of PIMA competition.
A little more about the award....
|
Living Up to Expectations: The Internet and Insurance Sales
3/10/2006
A speaker at the recent Annual Meeting of PIMA (the Professional Insurance Marketing Association) had IdeaStar Inc.’s Vice President of Insurance Technologies Mike Wise a little riled.
In a discussion about “the future of insurance distribution”, the speaker started out stating, “The Internet hasn’t lived up to its expectations in insurance sales.”
But the Internet IS the future of insurance sales. Read more.
|
Search Engine Marketing and Online Insurance
2/13/2006
What good is a Web site if nobody ever sees it? People find what they are looking for on the Web through major search engines like Google, Yahoo, MSN and ask.com. So if traffic and visibility is important to you, then maintaining high placement for the keywords that relate to your products or service offerings is critical - especially for online insurance Web sites. IdeaStar Inc. excels in attaining and maintaining top rankings for its many search engine marketing clients. With that in mind, IdeaStar’s General Manager and Search Engine Specialist Susanne Svette and Communications Manager Mary Fisher recently attended the Search Engine Strategies Conference in Chicago - The Premier Event for Search Engine Marketing & Optimization.
A little more about SEM
|
In-house vs. Local Outsourcing for Online Insurance Marketing Development
2/3/2006
February 3, 2006 - The Internet, and making good business use of it in the insurance industry, was a major topic at the recent Inter-Company Marketing Group (ICMG) Annual meeting in Phoenix. The conference serves as a networking forum for insurance executives. As an exhibitor, Web development company IdeaStar was on hand to answer any questions.
Learn a bit about in-house vs. outsourcing online insurance technology development.
|
Search Engine Marketing and the Online Insurance Industry
1/18/2006
Search Engine Marketing has a major place in the online insurance sales industry, now and even more so in the future. People, young and old, are using search engines daily to find the information they need online – including insurance sales.
And this will become more and more important for carriers as the national Do Not Call and Do Not Mail lists become more entrenched. If you can’t call and you can’t send mail, what’s left? Search Engine Marketing!
Some more good Insurance Search Engine Marketing thoughts
|
The Technology Component in Insurance Sales
1/9/2006
If you are looking for an opportunity to discuss the buying and selling of insurance products, there’s a great conference coming up. The Inter-Company Marketing Group’s (ICMG) 22nd Annual Meeting is scheduled for January 24 through 26 at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort, Phoenix, Arizona.
Approximately 300 insurance marketing executives and related professionals are expected to attend, including IdeaStar Inc. The Internet development company is nationally known for producing interactive insurance e-business Web sites.
A Little More About the Use of Insurance Technology
|
IdeaStar Ranks 54 in Weatherhead 100
12/16/2005
IdeaStar Inc. was recently ranked number 54 for the 2005 Weatherhead 100, with a growth rate of 144 percent for the last five years. The annual competition, sponsored by the Case Western Reserve University Weatherhead School of Management, recognizes and honors Northeast Ohio’s fastest growing companies. It is a highly respected designation throughout the business community.
Learn more about IdeaStar and the Weatherhead 100.
|
Learn More About Online Medicare Medical Supplement Insurance Sales - Listen to Mike!
12/14/2005
Do you want to learn more about online medical supplement insurance sales? Mike Wise, IdeaStar vice president of Insurance Technologies, will address the topic at a conference in New Orleans this coming May. The American Insurance Institute is sponsoring its first “Issues and Trends in Medicare Supplement Insurance” conference May 1 through 3. Mike’s presentation is entitled Web-driven Med Supp Sales – Helping Producer Networks Increase Sales. He will discuss how a Web site can help consumers understand and decide what coverage suits their needs.
Read the Rest About Mike's Presentation
|
IdeaStar Named a 2005 Weatherhead 100 Winner
11/22/2005
IdeaStar Inc. has been named a 2005 Weatherhead 100 award winner. The award is presented by the Case Weatherhead School of Management in partnership with COSE, the Council of Smaller Enterprises. The award “identifies and honors the 100 fastest growing companies (in Northeast Ohio) based on sales from 2000 through 2004. Companies must have had sales over $100,000 in 2000 and over $1 million in 2004. Additionally, winning companies must have employed a minimum of 16 full-time employees in 2004.”
Learn more about IdeaStar & The Weatherhead 100
|
Improve Your Insurance E-Business?
11/4/2005
With its focus on automating insurance processes, IdeaStar Insurance Technologies is finding itself in hot demand, especially among insurance carriers anxious to control costs and streamline administration. Now there are two great opportunities to learn about what IdeaStar can do specifically for you. The Internet site development company will attend two insurance networking conferences in the next three months. The first is PIMA MarketTech Symposium. The second is the ICMG Annual Meeting in January.
Learn about automating insurance at PIMA and ICMG
|
Instant Messaging and the Insurance Industry
10/19/2005
Analysts predict Instant Messaging (IM) - real-time text communication through the Internet - will soon be as commonplace in the business world as e-mail. According to an article in Insurance Networking News (October 2005), a recent survey showed, “Nearly half of the 1,000 organizations surveyed ( 19 percent of which are in the insurance industry ) allow employees to use instant messaging, nearly 20 percent more than 18 months ago.” But “its popularity among insurance companies is tempered with considerable caution,” the article states.
Read More
|
IdeaStar-ASK Consulting Online Insurance Marketing Alliance Formed
9/7/2005
Two companies that provide strategic marketing and online technology expertise for the life and health insurance industry have joined forces. IdeaStar Inc., a full-service Web development firm which designs, programs, hosts and promotes leading-edge Web sites and e-business applications for the insurance industry and ASK Insurance Consulting, LLC recently formed a partnership. ASK, owned and operated by insurance and technology veteran Mark Seghers, stands for Acquire Strategic Knowledge.
Learn more about the IdeaStar-ASK insurance marketing alliance.
|
The Future of Insurance Marketing is Online
8/16/2005
The future of insurance marketing is online. Don’t believe us? Just consider the following observations made at the Professional Insurance Marketing Association Summer Conference in July. The national "Do-Not-Call" list, "Do-Not-Mail" lists, and e-mail spam filters are growing challenges for insurance sales. The Internet is the answer!IdeaStar's VP of Insurance Technologies, Mike Wise, can tell you how.
Learn more about the future of insurance marketing.
|
Blogging for Insurance Business
7/6/2005
Ready or not, blogging is here. And its business value is becoming more and more apparent – even in the insurance industry. Just look at what BusinessWeek Online had to say. “Go ahead and bellyache about blogs. But you cannot afford to close your eyes to them, because they’re simply the most explosive outbreak in the information world since the Internet itself. And they’re going to shake up just about every business – including yours…. Given the changes barreling down upon us, blogs are not a business elective. They’re a prerequisite.” (BusinessWeek Online 5/2/05)
Blogging for Insurance continued....
|
Mike Wise to Share Online Insurance Marketing Expertise at PIMA MarkeTTech Conference
6/15/2005
Mike Wise will share his expertise about Web-enabled marketing, enrollment strategies for the health and life insurance industry at the PIMA MarkeTTech conference this Fall. Mike will describe several online best practices in use with IdeaStar clients, specifically using the unionsecure.com Web site as a Case Study for his presentation.
Learn more about Web-enabled insurance enrollment strategies.
|
UTA Signs Insurance Tech Contract with IdeaStar
5/23/2005
United Teacher Associates Insurance Company (UTA) is about to embark on a major undertaking to Web-enable Medicare supplement insurance enrollment as well as routine agent services. The Austin, TX company recently signed with IdeaStar Inc., of Cleveland, OH to design, develop and host an exclusive, state-of-the-art Web site for UTA-appointed agents. The site represents UTA’s first foray into online, electronic signature-based enrollments for senior health and life products. Top producing UTA agents are anxious to obtain online processes as they seek to stay competitive with market forces.
Learn more about UTA's plans.
|
An Insider's Blog
5/5/2005
Looking for more information about Insurance Technology? Make a habit of visiting the InsuraTech blog, a Web log written by IdeaStar Vice President of Insurance Technology, Mike Wise. In his blog, Mike chats about current trends, regulations, benefits, problems, and expectations as they relate to Insurance Technology. He offers thoughts, real-world observations, and anonymous examples - good and bad - regarding the use of Internet technology in the insurance industry from an insider’s view to this complex industry.
Learn more about An Insider's Blog
|
Are you ready for Medicare Part D?
4/12/2005
Enrollment for the government–sponsored outpatient prescription drug benefit plan will begin in November. Nearly 29.3 million of the 43.1 million Medicare beneficiaries are expect to enroll.
Created by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (MMA), the new program is designed to ease the cost of prescription drugs for America’s seniors. It will go into effect January 1, 2006. Will you be ready with online tools to help agents and beneficiaries keep track of this new benefit?
Be ready with online prescription purchase records.
|
|
IdeaStar designs new insurance Web site for ACP
3/14/2005
It’s a fresh, new look for ACP! Senior health insurance distributor Adult Care Plans/RX America recently asked IdeaStar Inc. to update the look of its Web site. The result is an easy-to-use, functional, informative Web site the company's agents enjoy using. IdeaStar took the idea of redesigning the home page and did a good job of putting it into action.
Learn more about the new design.
|
|
McGowan Insurance - A new site for real estate liability coverage
2/22/2005
McGowan and Company Inc., a leading underwriter of specialized insurance programs, has a new Web site packed with information, great design, and the best is yet to come! IdeaStar Inc. is developing a password-protected agent portal which will streamline the application process. Agents will be able to submit new business and receive quotes online.
Streamlining the insurance application process.
|
|
IdeaStar insurance technologies generate interest
2/4/2005
Insurance technology was a hot topic at the recent Inter-Company Marketing Group (ICMG) 21st Annual Meeting and Conference in Tampa. IdeaStar Inc., a nationally-known Cleveland firm which designs, develops, promotes and manages cutting edge Web sites – especially for the insurance industry, was there to answer any questions. And, there were many.
Learn more about IdeaStar's insurance technology
|
|
New Market Opens for Member Health
1/14/2005
When President George Bush signed into law the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003, it opened a new market for MemberHealth Inc. assisted by Web sites completed by IdeaStar.
Read more about locating and pricing meds online.
|
|
|
|