Search Engines Don't Matter

Aaron_4SIGHT · 06-18-2009, 12:46 PM

As far as I'm aware, no search engine has ever bought an insurance policy.

People, not search engines, buy policies. What matters about your website isn't what the search engines think of your site, it's that your site generates good leads, builds trust with the people you interact with, and converts prospects. Sure, showing up in search engine rankings for the right keywords is a great source of traffic to your site, but it's NOWHERE near the complete picture.

If you've hit a wall with search engine rankings, I've got some advice: focus on humans for a while. Craft messages humans care about. See if you can get inbound links that humans will click on (even if they have a "

Nofollow" on them). Make your site easy to use and understand. Do a direct mail campaign. Do an email campaign. Get rid of that photo on your site of you in a stiff suit and replace it with a photo of you doing something you love. Make temporary tattoos with your website address on them. Show your personality and your humanity. As an independent agent, it's probably your greatest asset. Don't be afraid to cause a stir.

If you can cause enough people to notice you, the search engines will notice you too.

IndyAgentIDTMY · 06-18-2009, 01:04 PM

Originally Posted by Aaron_4SIGHT

As far as I'm aware, no search engine has ever bought an insurance policy.

People, not search engines, buy policies. What matters about your website isn't what the search engines think of your site, it's that your site generates good leads, builds trust with the people you interact with, and converts prospects. Sure, showing up in search engine rankings for the right keywords is a great source of traffic to your site, but it's NOWHERE near the complete picture.

If you've hit a wall with search engine rankings, I've got some advice: focus on humans for a while. Craft messages humans care about. See if you can get inbound links that humans will click on (even if they have a "nofollow" on them). Make your site easy to use and understand. Do a direct mail campaign. Do an email campaign. Get rid of that photo on your site of you in a stiff suit and replace it with a photo of you doing something you love. Make temporary tattoos with your website address on them. Show your personality and your humanity. As an independent agent, it's probably your greatest asset. Don't be afraid to cause a stir.

If you can cause enough people to notice you, the search engines will notice you too.

What if I put a picture of myself on the website, pulling my pants down to reveal a temporary tattoo with my website address on my "greatest asset"? Would that attract alot of clicks as a banner ad as well?

P.S. I'll have space for sale on my left cheek if anyone is interested in some co-op advertising.

Aaron_4SIGHT · 06-18-2009, 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by IndyAgentIDTMY

What if I put a picture of myself on the website, pulling my pants down to reveal a temporary tattoo with my website address on my "greatest asset"? Would that attract alot of clicks as a banner ad as well?

Ha! If that's what you love to do, please give it a try and report back. You'll certainly stand out from the crowd and have no problem generating some links to your site.

CHUMPS FROM OXFORD · 06-18-2009, 02:35 PM

Along the same lines...I published this rather unusual "Top 10 List" from an old blog.

A Very Unusual Top-10 List Ohio Health Insurance

somarco · 06-18-2009, 04:33 PM

I'll have space for sale on my left cheek if anyone is interested

I believe Al wants it.

sunmed · 06-18-2009, 05:03 PM

That was real good somarco

Frank Stastny · 06-18-2009, 05:59 PM

Let me know how that works for you.

I may want to put you under contract.

I think Dave could work with that.

Aaron_4SIGHT · 06-19-2009, 05:40 PM

Originally Posted by CHUMPS FROM OXFORD

Along the same lines...I published this rather unusual "Top 10 List" from an old blog.

A Very Unusual Top-10 List Ohio Health Insurance

Now that's what I'm talking about! And the search engines did follow - your site is top rated for the search term "Ohio River Sludge Fund Insurance Company".

CHUMPS FROM OXFORD · 06-19-2009, 06:58 PM

"Ohio River Sludge Fund Insurance Company"

Now...if only a bunch of people that wanted to buy insurance would search under that term!

Aaron_4SIGHT · 06-19-2009, 07:21 PM

Originally Posted by CHUMPS FROM OXFORD

"Ohio River Sludge Fund Insurance Company"

Now...if only a bunch of people that wanted to buy insurance would search under that term!

But I imagine you're so busy responding to the leads that found you looking for "Power Eaters Anonymous Insurance Company" that you'd drown in all the new leads.

CHUMPS FROM OXFORD · 06-19-2009, 08:43 PM

True.

insurer42 · 06-23-2009, 02:13 PM

I am not an expert but i think if you are marketing car insurance-health insurance or whatever you should give your all information and be clear about everything and be serieous. i guess people trust you more.

Aaron_4SIGHT · 10-05-2009, 12:03 PM

With the release of Google's Caffeine (see Dave Miller's posts here and here for more on Caffeine) it looks like the search giant agrees with me.

Focus on your visitors. Give them good content and a great experience, and the search engines will take care of the rest. After all, would you rather find the site with the best content for your search or the best SEO for your search?

OrlandoSEO · 10-17-2009, 02:23 AM

I am a big fan of caffeine. Both the coffee type and googles. It is where things need to go to get away from crappy articles from india that are spun 3 million times and shot out the back end of crappy article directories. Great original post on this thread.