Insurance companies who sell through a network of agents face many challenges.

• Agents aren't necessarily good marketers but the company relies on them to drive sales.
• Agents increasingly want the ability to customize print pieces to brand themselves or address local market conditions.
• The economy has caused erosion in some agents' books of business and in company reserves. Companies and agents need to pursue specific, higher margin vertical markets or affinity programs.
• Many companies have created a myriad of marketing materials for agents, in some cases creating web-based marketing resource centers where agents can order a variety of marketing materials, but are disappointed with the utilization levels.

PrintComm has considerable experience dealing with corporations who rely on channel partners to drive sales. Our experience bears out four primary reasons agents don't participate:

1. They aren't sure that the marketing programs work or they don't understand the programs. If they don't know the program will work, they view it as an expense rather than an investment. They need to be educated and convinced with proven results.
2. Many agent principals are small business owners with many responsibilities. Marketing is one more "obligation." The tools provided by corporate need to be efficient and easy so agents can perform marketing tasks quickly.
3. Agents are more concerned with personal branding than corporate branding. They want to give their customers and prospects pieces that will land them business. Marketing pieces need to be customizable so their needs are met.
4. The majority of agents don't even know about the programs. Corporations typically rely on email and corporate websites to communicate program information. Our research shows that only 35% approximately of these emails are even opened.

PrintComm can help you provide your agents with highly customized collateral materials, direct mail programs, emails and coordinated microsites. We can help you do it in such a way that . . .

. . . You drive cost out of the collateral equation
. . . Your branding objectives are reconciled with agents wishes
. . . Agents are provided with the resources to sell profitable verticals and affinity programs
. . . Collateral obsolescence is greatly reduced
. . . Agent customization and ordering can be automated so your staff time isn't consumed
. . . Agent participation levels are increased by 200-500%