Insurance Agent Websites

agent C · 10-22-2008, 05:56 PM

I would like to get a website for my agency but I have know idea where to start and what a good price would be for such a website. I would like the website to contain info. about my company, quote forms to fill out, and anything else that would be good for an insurance agency web site. Any iformation to lead me in the right direction would be very much appreciated.

tryan326 · 10-22-2008, 06:10 PM

Hey Agent C,

I'm now offering website design services for agents starting at $289. I've been building websites for over 10 years.

Here's an example of my work.
www.trhealthbroker.com

You can reach me at trwebwiz@trhealthbroker.com

agent C · 10-23-2008, 12:52 PM

I have been looking at several posts on this site about websites and there is a ton of great information but I think I am only more confused.
Heres my situation, I am multi line exclusive agent only licensed in one state, so would a website be beneficial for me if I was looking for it to help generate leads. Any P&C guys have any incite on this matter.

ABC · 10-23-2008, 01:55 PM

A website can help generate leads for you if your willing to invest into the site.

You need to sit down with a website developer that also does Search Term Optimization.

Ask the designer how they intend to get people to the site.

Come up with a budget for the site development & how much you want to spend a month getting people to the site.

Charpress · 10-23-2008, 04:26 PM

For starters, you need a good-looking and substantial presence on the Internet. A place people can go to check you out.

In the past I have actually had people poke their head in the door and say "I just wanted to see if you really existed before doing business." I think it is somewhat the same now with the Internet.

So, by all means get some help with design.

Then start putting your Web site address on all your sales materials, but only after it is fully functional. Nothing turns off Web visitors more than the feeling a site belongs to a temporary or fly-by-night operation. Don't go public with a site that has any "under construction" pages.

Then worry about getting leads from your site once it is established. My own view is that worrying about quotes and making money is about 6 months premature in the process.

When you get to that point, the SEO positioning will take into account where you are located. Most people with any searching sense are not going to search on "Insurance" -they are going to search on "insurance automobile little rock" or whatever.

agent C · 10-23-2008, 05:15 PM

So what would be a good price range for a nice looking website. Is it better to work with someone local or through the Inet.

tryan326 · 10-24-2008, 04:38 AM

Most web designers that offer quality websites charge anywhere from $50-$120 an hour +. Whether local or over the internet the quality for price is most important.

You can get a site built through Norvax or Quotit but your site will look like everyone else's.

I'm actually an agent but I build websites in my free time. I'm offering quality websites catered to insurance agents that are fully customizable starting at $289. I've been designing websites for over 10 years and am knowledgable in graphic design. I can create just about anything.

You or anyone else interested can reach me at 757-320-5060 or trwebwiz@trhealthbroker.com for more information or an estimate.

sunkist219 · 10-24-2008, 09:57 AM

The company that did my site charged $768 for the site. I get hosting, email addresses and if i need changes done, they do that for me. They also handle the online marketing. Make sure you don't just budget for the website, but also for promoting it. I highly recommend that if you're planning on building a new site, see if you can afford to have it optimized. My site is partially optimized and it was up on Google within a week or 2. The results are quite impressive and easy to track because we have a detailed stats report that tells me how many visitors I get every day, where they come from, and where the users are in the country (so that I can see if they are in my state). It's quite facinating.

agent C · 10-24-2008, 10:45 AM

Joy, you have a really nice site, what are your monthly fees.

sunkist219 · 10-24-2008, 11:08 AM

Thanks

I'm not actually the agent, just to clarify, I'm his "marketing assistant" so that's why all my posts are on internet topics. Rob (the agent) paid a one-time payment of $768 for the site. Rob does search engine marketing with the same company so he pays separately for that. After the year, he owns the site and the company will continue to host it for free as long as he continues the other advertising he has on Google and Yahoo. He has listings in the sponsored links section, the local business section, and the organic search section. I also run his blog for him (www.longislandinsurancequotes.com) and we tie that into his website stuff. Sorry for the long list of details, I figured it might give you ideas

007 · 10-24-2008, 02:41 PM

I can get a website built for FREE.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
That site trhealthbroker looks sexy TRyan....

sunkist219 · 10-24-2008, 05:03 PM

Originally Posted by 007

I can get a website built for FREE.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
That site trhealthbroker looks sexy TRyan....

Really? Is it any good?

007 · 10-24-2008, 10:01 PM

Originally Posted by sunkist219

Really? Is it any good?

Take one afternoon " off " for a BREAK and discover the coding techniques for html and css and you will have an impressive site on command.

tryan326 · 10-25-2008, 01:44 AM

Originally Posted by 007

I can get a website built for FREE.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
That site trhealthbroker looks sexy TRyan....

LOL. Thank You.

Your right if you learn html and css you can create a good site but I don't think you'll really ever have a GREAT site unless your knowledgable in graphic design and other web formats. That's why most people need a designer because for novice it can get very complicated very quickly.

007 · 10-25-2008, 01:05 PM

Originally Posted by tryan326

LOL. Thank You.

Your right if you learn html and css you can create a good site but I don't think you'll really ever have a GREAT site unless your knowledgable in graphic design and other web formats. That's why most people need a designer because for novice it can get very complicated very quickly.

So TRyan.... I believe you use photoshop for your graphics? And norvax does use mass produced sites(not a unique proposition except their quoting engine).

tryan326 · 10-25-2008, 01:16 PM

Yeah I use Photoshop. But also use a few others.

sunkist219 · 10-25-2008, 11:27 PM

Originally Posted by 007

I can get a website built for FREE.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
That site trhealthbroker looks sexy TRyan....

So now I'm really curious and I want to see your "free" website. Can you post a link to it 007?

tryan326 · 10-26-2008, 12:42 AM

Originally Posted by sunkist219

So now I'm really curious and I want to see your "free" website. Can you post a link to it 007?

Sunkist

I think 007 is reffering to him getting a site free because he's building it himself.

sunkist219 · 10-27-2008, 11:07 AM

Originally Posted by tryan326

Sunkist

I think 007 is reffering to him getting a site free because he's building it himself.

So you don't think he's finished building it yet?

retread · 10-27-2008, 12:17 PM

There is no such thing as a "free" website. First of all, you have to have an internet connection, and in these days it better be fast... either DSL or cable. Secondly, you need a domain name... that's gonna cost. Thirdly you need a hosting server. If you provide your own server (they cost a lot) you still have to obtain web development software... which may or not cost (some are open-source and "free"), but in the final analysis, YOU have to do the design, etc.

Putting this all together, your time is not "free" unless you are doing this for a hobby, and all the items necessary to publish a website has costs.

If you are conducting a business, you must decide if you have the talent to pull this off (I can't imagine anyone learning html in a day as someone suggested). Finally, what will your end product look like? Home-spun or professional? You make the choice. Only you know your ability.

I happen to be doing my own, and started on it about 2 months ago. It is still a long way from completion. I am above the novice level in computers, but a fledgling at web development. There is a hosting service that I use that I bought my domain name from, along with hosting service and includes a website development program. It is called "Siteground" and I am thankful to Val, our forum webmaster, for guiding me to it.

Siteground.com/atrack.php?referrerid=54461" target="_blank">Professional Web Hosting services: 24/7 top support, FREE domain, All-inclusive Website Hosting, Free blog and CMS. PHP hosting, cPanel hosting, Joomla hosting, Wordpress hosting