October 18th, 2009 by DieWolf

October 16th, 2009 by DieWolf

Are you an insurance professional who has hired an SEO Internet consultant, spent thousands to build a new Web site, secured decent traffic, but still has very few leads? If it’s any comfort, you’re not alone. Many hope that their fancy, new search-engine-optimized sites will be a fountain of leads. Often, they’re sadly disappointed.
 
What’s the problem?

In the quest for key words, high page counts and generous content, many Web developers forget a basic truth: You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink – Translated for Internet world: Just because they find you, doesn’t mean they’ll buy.
To motivate a customer to take the next step, a Web site must be much more than search engine optimized. It also must be lead generation optimized.
 
What does a lead generation optimized site contain? Here are five must-haves:

Compelling, interest-generating headings and subheadings Interesting offers like white papers, case studies, discounts or newsletter subscriptions to persuade readers to step into the selling cycle Short, easy-to-complete lead forms (five fields or less) so prospects aren’t deterred by complexity Meaty, credible content that includes client testimonials, success stories and work examples – screens that “show” instead of “tell” Clear calls to action that tell the reader how to take the next step and why she’ll be glad she did

Here are a few things that lead generation optimized sites avoid at all costs:

Boring headlines “All about me” content Long strings of key words that sound like blah-blah-blah Dead-end screens without directional links to guide the reader forward through the site Complicated applications Confusing and redundant navigation Placing important copy, offers and calls to action “below the fold” where they’ll never be found without scrolling

Just like wine, chocolate and other life pleasures, search engine optimization is great – in moderation. Balance is key. Sure – you have to make it easy for people to visit your site. But, you had better be a gracious host once they arrive. Provide lively conversation, plenty of interaction opportunities and offer a few gifts. It will be nearly impossible for them to leave empty-handed.

October 15th, 2009 by DieWolf

October 15th, 2009 by DieWolf

October 12th, 2009 by DieWolf

When considering how to find good diamond insurance for your
precious diamond jewelry, there are a few things you need to
know about diamond insurance policies, and what they cover
and don’t cover. It’s a specialized type of insurance, and
your insurance agent may not have all the information he or
she needs to craft a suitable policy for you, so it’s up to
you to come armed with all the particulars you’re concerned
about.

There are basically three types of diamond insurance
available, and these are Actual Cash Value, Replacement
Value, and Agreed Value. Actual Cash Value means that your
diamond will be insured at today’s actual market rate for
the diamond, irrespective of what you paid for it.
Replacement Value means that the insurance company will pay
up to a certain amount to replace the diamond. They may
actually pay lees than the policy states, as they can often
get a better replacement deal than you can. Agreed Value is
simply that; you and the insurance company come to an
agreement on the value of the diamond, and that is what
they’ll pay in the event of a loss. This type is rare, and
if you can get it, jump on it! Most times people are steered
into Replacement Value, but that shouldn’t be your first
choice if you have one. Try for Agreed Value, then Actual
Cash Value first.

Most diamond insurance polices are written as riders to your
homeowners or renters insurance. There is one more major
thing to keep in mind, especially as regards Replacement
Value insurance. Don’t opt for the insurance companies
appraiser when assessing the value of your diamonds. They
work for them, and you should know that if they set the
value of your diamonds at $15,000 and after a loss they find
they can replace the diamonds for $5000, that’s what they’ll
do. Why that is significant is that all this time you’ll
have been paying premiums based on $15,000, not $5000. Big
difference. Always insist on an independent appraiser.

Finding good diamond insurance isn’t all that hard, but like
anything else when it comes to any type of insurance, you’ll
want to be armed with the facts so you won’t overpay, or
find yourself underinsured.