http://www.spinfield.com Online marketing blog produced by IdeaStar, Inc. Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:56:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 Online marketing blog produced by IdeaStar, Inc. no http://www.spinfield.com/2009/05/26/online-insurance-technology-and-return-on-investment/ http://www.spinfield.com/2009/05/26/online-insurance-technology-and-return-on-investment/#comments Tue, 26 May 2009 17:26:17 +0000 Mike Wise http://www.spinfield.com/?p=1169 http://www.spinfield.com/2009/05/26/online-insurance-technology-and-return-on-investment/feed/ 0 <p>Is automating insurance processes online an unnecessary expense, or a worthwhile investment? Listen in as insurance exec<a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/stevesnell" title="Steve Snell" target="_blank" class="external"> Steve Snell</a> and I discuss insurance technology and return on investment.  Steve has extensive experience with  secure broker portals, automating contracting and appointment, etc., including <a href="http://wellcarepro.com/" title="WellCarePro" target="_blank" class="external">WellCarePro.com</a>.</p> <p style="text-align: right;"></p> <p style="text-align: left;"><em>This podcast was originally posted on my blog, InsuraTech. <a href="http://blog.insurance-technologies.com/2009/05/insuratech-podcast-episode-31-steve-snell-on-the-roi-of-insurance-web-sites/" title="InsuraTech article" target="_blank" class="external"><span class="liexternal">Read my post about the podcast here</span></a>.</em></p> Is automating insurance processes online an unnecessary expense, or a worthwhile investment? Listen in as insurance exec Steve Snell and I discuss insurance technology and return on investment. Steve has extensive experience with secure broker [...] http://www.spinfield.com/2009/05/12/web-site-usability-consumer-behavior-and-best-practices/ http://www.spinfield.com/2009/05/12/web-site-usability-consumer-behavior-and-best-practices/#comments Tue, 12 May 2009 07:32:14 +0000 Mike Wise http://www.spinfield.com/?p=1059 http://www.spinfield.com/2009/05/12/web-site-usability-consumer-behavior-and-best-practices/feed/ 0 <p style="text-align: center;"><img class="attachment wp-att-1066 centered" src="http://www.spinfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/busic.jpg" alt="busic" width="300" height="200" /></p> <p style="text-align: left;">I recently interviewed <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/pub/b/231/786" title="Tonya Busic" target="_blank" class="external">Tonya Busic</a> an ex- Progressive Insurance subject matter expert, about Web site usability. You’ll be interested to hear what she has to say about usability, consumer behaviors, and best practices. Listen in.</p> <p style="text-align: right;"></p> <p style="text-align: left;"><em>This podcast was originally posted on my blog, InsuraTech. <a href="http://blog.insurance-technologies.com/2009/04/insuratech-podcast-episode-28-peter-van-aartrijk-on-agent-websites-a-conundrum/" class="liexternal" title="Podcast" target="_blank">Read my post about the podcast here</a>.</em></p> I recently interviewed Tonya Busic an ex- Progressive Insurance subject matter expert, about Web site usability. You'll be interested to hear what she has to say about usability, consumer behaviors, and best practices. Listen in. http://www.spinfield.com/2009/05/05/peter-van-aartrijk-on-insurance-agent-web-sites/ http://www.spinfield.com/2009/05/05/peter-van-aartrijk-on-insurance-agent-web-sites/#comments Tue, 05 May 2009 08:42:45 +0000 Mike Wise http://www.spinfield.com/?p=982 http://www.spinfield.com/2009/05/05/peter-van-aartrijk-on-insurance-agent-web-sites/feed/ 0 <p style="text-align: center;"><img class="attachment wp-att-989 centered" src="http://www.spinfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/mike-wise-and-peter-v.jpg" alt="mike-wise-and-peter-v" width="337" height="225" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Peter van Aartrijk & Mike Wise</strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"></p> <p>I discussed insurance sales agent Web sites – and the best ways to use them -  with Web and Social Media Expert Peter van Aartrijk. Listen in as they review the state of Internet use in the insurance industry.</p> <p><em>This podcast was originally posted on my blog, InsuraTech. <a href="http://blog.insurance-technologies.com/2009/04/insuratech-podcast-episode-28-peter-van-aartrijk-on-agent-websites-a-conundrum/" title="Podcast" target="_blank" class="external">Read my post about the podcast here</a>.</em></p> Peter van Aartrijk on Insurance Agent Web Sites - A Conundrum http://www.spinfield.com/2009/03/05/a-talk-with-raymond-richard-about-insurance-the-web/ http://www.spinfield.com/2009/03/05/a-talk-with-raymond-richard-about-insurance-the-web/#comments Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:44:03 +0000 Mary Fisher http://www.spinfield.com/?p=557 http://www.spinfield.com/2009/03/05/a-talk-with-raymond-richard-about-insurance-the-web/feed/ 0 <p>The online automation of the insurance sales industry is happening fast. Listen to a conversation between IdeaStar’s Mike Wise and Raymond Richard, President & Chief Executive Officer of the successful Pinnacle Benefits Group.  Raymond shares perspectives on some of the essential aspects of an agency’s Web presence – and what’s at stake if you miss the boat.</p> <p>This podcast was originally posted on Mike Wise’s blog, InsuraTech. Read Mike’s post about the podcast <a href="http://blog.insurance-technologies.com/2009/02/insuratech-podcast-24-with-raymond-richard-pinnacle-benefits-group-agency-web-essentials-live-icmg/" title="Insuratech Podcast" target="_blank" class="external">here</a>.</p> <h2><a title="Permanent Link to InsuraTech Podcast #24 with Raymond Richard, Pinnacle Benefits Group - Agency Web Essentials, Live @ ICMG" rel="bookmark" href="http://blog.insurance-technologies.com/2009/02/insuratech-podcast-24-with-raymond-richard-pinnacle-benefits-group-agency-web-essentials-live-icmg/"><br /> </a></h2> The online automation of the insurance sales industry is happening fast. Listen to a conversation between IdeaStar's Mike Wise and Raymond Richard, President & Chief Executive Officer of the successful Pinnacle Benefits Group. Raymond [...] http://www.spinfield.com/2008/11/12/exploding-robots-definitely-a-guy-thing/ http://www.spinfield.com/2008/11/12/exploding-robots-definitely-a-guy-thing/#comments Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:53:36 +0000 Jim Fisher http://www.spinfield.com/?p=453 http://www.spinfield.com/2008/11/12/exploding-robots-definitely-a-guy-thing/feed/ 0 <p style="center;">Just ask Kristin Brewe, the innovator of <a href="http://www.esurance.com/home/ErinsWorld_flash.asp" title="Erin's World" target="_blank" class="external">Erin</a> <a href="http://www.esurance.com/" title="esurance Web site" target="_blank" class="external">Esurance</a>, and social Web guru.  It turns out the men love it when Erin blasts the enemy robots on the t.v. commercials but the women hate it.  What to do?  Well, in some ways the consumers solved the problem for them.  Check out these two YouTube videos produced by lovers of the Erin brand.  The first is <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1t9IghQPX8" title="Erin Esurance for the guys." target="_blank" class="external">for the guys</a>. The next one is <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2GiAmWosk0" title="Erin Esurance for the ladies." target="_blank" class="external">for the ladies</a>.  Now you can have it either way.</p> <p style="center;">IdeaStar met up with Kristin at the <a href="http://www.pima-assn.org/" title="Professional Insurance Marketers Association" target="_blank" class="external">PIMA</a> (Professional Insurance Marketing Association) MarkeTTech Conference in Baltimore.  Kristin gave a great presentation about the evolution of the Erin campaign and how they use the Web to generate buzz about their business.  Mike Wise, IdeaStar’s VP of Sales did a great podcast with Kristin.  Listen at the link below:</p> <p style="center;"><img class="attachment wp-att-454 centered" src="http://www.spinfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/pima-baltimore-8713.jpg" alt="Kristin Brewe and Mike Wise" width="500" height="332" /></p> <p style="center;">Mike Wise’s Podcast with Kristin Brewe of Esurance</p> <p style="center;"></p> Just ask Kristin Brewe, the innovator of Erin esurance, and social Web guru. It turns out the men love it when Erin blasts the enemy robots on the t.v. commercials but the women hate it. What to do? Well, in some ways the consumers solved the [...] http://www.spinfield.com/2008/11/10/a-few-words-from-social-media-consultant-sara-holoubek/ http://www.spinfield.com/2008/11/10/a-few-words-from-social-media-consultant-sara-holoubek/#comments Mon, 10 Nov 2008 21:48:22 +0000 Jim Fisher http://www.spinfield.com/?p=446 http://www.spinfield.com/2008/11/10/a-few-words-from-social-media-consultant-sara-holoubek/feed/ 0 <p style="center;">IdeaStar’s <a href="http://blog.insurance-technologies.com/" title="Insurance blog" target="_blank" class="external">Mike Wise</a>, Laurel Baldwin and I are at the Professional Insurance Marketing Association <a href="http://www.pima-assn.org/" title="PIMA" target="_blank" class="external">(PIMA)</a> MarkeTTech Symposium in Baltimore this week. Mike interviewed <a href="http://www.saraholoubek.com/" title="Sara Holoubek's Web Site" target="_blank" class="external">Sara Holoubek</a>, a corporate strategy consultant to growth firms and investors. Listen in at the link below.  You’re bound to hear the future of insurance marketing as it meets the social Web.</p> <p style="center;"><a href="http://www.spinfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/pima-baltimore-8723-2.jpg" class="external liimagelink"><img class="attachment wp-att-452 centered" src="http://www.spinfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/pima-baltimore-8723-2.thumbnail.jpg" alt="Mike Wise and Sara Holoubek " width="520" height="442" /></a></p> <p style="center;">Mike and Sara and the silver IdeaStar podcast recorder.</p> IdeaStar's Mike Wise, Laurel Baldwin and myself are at the Professional Insurance Marketing Association (PIMA) MarkeTTech Symposium in Baltimore this week. Mike interviewed Sara Holoubek, a corporate strategy consultant to growth firms and [...] http://www.spinfield.com/2008/05/08/mashup-your-web-experience/ http://www.spinfield.com/2008/05/08/mashup-your-web-experience/#comments Thu, 08 May 2008 11:29:04 +0000 IdeaStar Staff http://www.spinfield.com/?p=177 http://www.spinfield.com/2008/05/08/mashup-your-web-experience/feed/ 0 <p>Ever go searching on the Web for something, and end up having several windows open to get the information you want? Wouldn’t it be great to get all the information you need on one page? Mashups allow you to integrate several different Web elements into a single view, customizing your web experience.</p> <p><strong>There are quite a few</strong> different <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mashup_editor" title="Mashup editors" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" class="external">Mashup editors</a> for you to try. For example:</p> <ul> <li> Yahoo! has one called <a href="http://pipes.yahoo.com/pipes/" title="Yahoo Pipes" target="_blank" class="external">Yahoo! Pipes</a>.</li> <li>Microsoft has <a href="http://www.popfly.com/Home.aspx" title="Microsoft Popfly" target="_blank" class="external">Popfly</a>.</li> <li>Google also has one, <a href="https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?service=ah&continue=http://editor.googlemashups.com/_ah/login%3Fcontinue%3Dhttp://editor.googlemashups.com/&ltmpl=mashup-editor&sig=4c624c9bc0f26cb61bb860d6283bf50d" title="Google Mashup editor" target="_blank" class="external">Google Mashup Editor</a>, but it is currently in limited test release.</li> </ul> <p>I have yet to work with the above editors, but I did get a chance to use the <a href="http://mashmaker.intel.com/web/download.html" title="Intel mash maker download" target="_blank" class="external">Intel® Mash Maker</a>, a free download of the beta mashup editor released by Intel®. The program can be used with either Firefox or IE.</p> <p><strong>They also offer a short tutorial</strong> of <a href="http://e0.video.blip.tv/1870003040442/Intel_SW-IntelMashMakerOverviewVideo814.wmv" title="Mash Maker - see how it works." target="_blank" class="external">how it works</a>. The video quickly steps through a few examples of how to mash up sites like Facebook with a Google Maps widget, and Craigslist with a widget from Yelp, as well as how to save and publish your mashup.</p> <p>They also have a <a href="http://mashmaker.intel.com/web/blog/" title="Mash Maker blog" target="_blank" class="external">Mash Maker blog</a>, posting all the latest updates and improvements to the program.</p> <p><strong>I recently used the editor with Craigslist</strong>, to help with my apartment search. It was great to get to see the locations of the apartments right there on the page, as well as what they have nearby.</p> <p>There were other widgets that I found handy too, including bar charts that I could add to comparing apartment pricing, and a Simple Image widget that opened up the available images of the apartments.</p> <p><strong>I found the Mash Maker intuitive,</strong> and helpful with my search. Once I placed all the widgets on the page that I wanted, it made apartment hunting much easier!</p> <p>I have just touched the surface of what this tool is capable of and will continue to mashup my Web experience to see what else it can do. I am curious about the other mashup editors that are out there, and what experiences you have using them.</p> <p><strong>I would love to hear from others regarding their mashups,</strong> so let me know how customizing the Web is going for you!</p> Ever go searching on the Web for something, and end up having several windows open to get the information you want? Wouldn't it be great to get all the information you need on one page? Mashups allow you to integrate several different Web [...]