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Trusted Choice ®
IIABSC member dues include membership in Trusted Choice®. All members who want to be recognized as Trusted Choice® agencies will need to agree to adhere to the Trusted Choice® License Agreement and Pledge of Performance (available for download).
Trusted Choice® is the IIABA’s marketing brand, which was developed in response to extensive consumer research. This marketing brand is designed to position independent agents to capture a greater share of the insurance consumer market. Trusted Choice® highlights the benefits of working with an independent agent – a “trusted” advisor and advocate who can offer consumers a “choice” of products and services. Unlike an association logo like the Big “I”, which merely connotes membership in an organization, a marketing brand conveys the promise of performance, quality and/or purpose.
Trusted Choice® is a voluntary program open to IIABA members exclusively, but your dues will not be reduced if your agency chooses not to participate.
IIABA research demonstrated a strong desire among consumers for professional standards and quality customer service. Based on this feedback, the IIABA Board determined that all Trusted Choice® agencies must commit to a Pledge of Performance to consumers.
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Project CAP |
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Project CAP aims to help you navigate the world of internet marketing. Consumers are searching online for insurance solutions. They demand information quickly, but they also expect the quality of service you have built your business providing. That's where project CAP comes in.
Project CAP is an initiative led by the Big "I" and six independent agency carriers to help member agents regain personal lines market share online. Why online? Well, because recent studies indicate that 75 percent of consumers start their search for insurance online. We're not encouraging consumers to shop, we're meeting consumers where they already are.
Phase I is already underway, helping agencies to get their websites and additional online presence in shape for Phase II, which will connect agents to consumers looking for auto insurance online. All IIABSC agency members receive access to Bronze-level ongoing CAP self-services AT NO COST, all you have to do is register for them. For those who need more help with their online presence, there is a variety of opportunities for you at different investment levels.
Visit www.projectcapmarketing.com to learn more. Or call 855.372.0070 (Mon-Fri, 8a-5p Central)
Community Involvement
Community relations are what really sets independent insurance agents apart from the rest because they provide help in addition to the nature of the industry when others are in need (providing shelter, supplies during a natural disaster for example) and contribute their leadership and industry knowledge as community leaders. It's this outreach that helps solidify the brand in a community.
In addition to all that our members are doing in their own communities, the state and national Trusted Choice® programs have their own initiatives that agencies can build upon locally, including:
In 2012, Trusted Choice® partnered with Make-A-Wish South Carolina to sponsor the Kids For Wish Kids® and Wishmakers On Campus® programs, where elementary- to college-age students sponsor wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions. The students are responsible for fundraising themselves, deciding how to do it and carrying it out. Teachers and parents often serve in advisory aspects, but ownership of the project belongs solely to the students involved.
See clip of recent local TV news spot in the Upstate
Not only does this program touch the lives of the kids whose wishes are granted, it fosters the value of community service in all the other participants by providing them with hands-on experience in working to make a difference in someone else's life. It provides a mechanism for building school spirit and creating partnerships between children and teachers, which could contribute to their well-being for the remainder of their school careers.
Through the partnership, Trusted Choice® representatives from around the state make appearances at each of the schools during their program ceremonies to announce a contribution to their collective efforts, oftentimes matching dollar-for-dollar. This surprise is intended to boost the intrinsic rewards of community service and working together in the hopes of inspiring our state's future leaders.
Learn more, including what you can do to help, Trusted Choice® committee contacts and lists of participating school and college organizations.
SC Trusted Choice®/ Make-A-Wish partnership reach
January - May 2012 (only five months!)
2010-2011, Relay for Life
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The Trusted Choice® name and logo was featured in signs, shirts and brochures while making a difference in the lives of cancer survivors, caregivers and community citizens throughout South Carolina. South Carolina Relay For Life Events touch every community of Trusted Choice® agents, and through coordinated team efforts, South Carolina Trusted Choice® raised more than $200,000 for the SC American Cancer Society. See below for photos from events around the state.
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Other
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Summer 2012: Trusted Choice commissioned a custom-built chopper from American Chopper reality television stars and built upon the previous summer's Facebook campaign by posting the progress of the build and donating $10 to Make-A-Wish for every "share" the content generated. They were sure to include plenty of other consumer oriented content on the industry in the content available for sharing. |
Summer 2011: Trusted Choice launched a nationwide social media campaign that promised $10 to the national Make-A-Wish Foundation for every new "Like" within a 30-day period. The contributions totaled more than $171,000.
Fall 2007: Two 30-second radio ads played at each radio broadcast of all USC Gamecocks and Clemson Tigers football games across the state in Fall of 2007.
See SC Trusted Choice® agent Julie Turner from Greenville speak about Trusted Choice on "Designing Spaces," a segment broadcast nationwide on cable TV the summer of 2007.
IIABSC's 2006 Billboard campaign
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"You need an independent agent" brochure. This brochure illustrates a variety of reasons why a consumer should use a Trusted Choice® independent agent. The brochure exposes the differences between an independent and captive agent and speaks to the benefits of choosing an independent agent. When searching for insurance, consumers want what our member offer: choice in companies, customization of policies and advocacy in claims process. Included is the Pledge of Performance, which further demonstrates the service commitment of Trusted Choice® agents. Log in to members-only portion of the web site to access and download a hi resolution, printable version. |
Trusted Choice® Market Reimbursement Program
Note - changes to the program: As of January 1, 2012, there is a maximum $500 lifetime benefit, retroactive to the start of the program in 2009. Only agencies who have not yet received their $500 reimbursement are eligible. If your agency (or a branch location) has yet to apply, you are eligible; OR, if you have not spent your entire $500, you can apply for the balance.
Trusted Choice® is proud to continue the Marketing Reimbursement Program (MRP). This program is designed to aid Trusted Choice® independent insurance agencies and brokerage firms in delivering a consistent brand experience to their customers.Through the MRP, Trusted Choice® will reimburse a portion of expenses incurred by agencies in rebranding materials such as business cards, letterhead, envelopes, agency signage, logo-wear and in creating an on-line presence, among others, to include the Trusted Choice® logo.
Reimbursement requests are being accepted and funds will be distributed on a first come, first served basis.
Please visit the Trusted Choice® agents web site for the complete program guidelines, reimbursement request form and a complete list of vendors participating in this program (member log in required).
Trusted Choice® Disaster Relief Fund
As announced in a recent Insurance News & Views publication by our national association, the Board of Directors has contributed $2,500 to the recently established Trusted Choice® Disaster Relief Fund, created by the IIAA Educational Foundation in an effort to provide ongoing outreach to those most in need following devastating natural and other disasters. The Board has also committed to contributing an additional $2,500 later this year.
“South Carolina is a coastal state, and there is no doubt that at some point in the future we will be calling National for an allocation of those funds, but in the meantime we can be helping someone now,” said Immediate Past Chairman Jon Jensen, AAI, at our recent Spring Conference.
A disaster can happen at any time and often there is little time to prepare. From 9/11 to Hurricane Katrina and beyond, IIABA members and others in the insurance industry have suffered tremendous losses and unfortunately more tragedies are inevitable. The Trusted Choice® Disaster Relief Fund enables the insurance industry, including IIABA members, their agency staffs and others, to make financial contributions to aid victims and surviving family members of disasters, and to provide insurance agents with supplies and resources to provide disaster relief efforts to aid victims and surviving family members. No fees are deducted from contributions for staff time to manage it and make distributions.
If you would like to join the ranks of those who have already donated and show your support those in the industry who need help, please make a tax-deductible contribution to the fund. Contributing online is easy --- simply click here to donate.
For more information on the Trusted Choice® Disaster Relief Fund, please contact Debra Perkins, IIABA executive vice president, at 800-221-917; debra.perkins@iiaba.net.
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