Did you know that Leap Year babies born in 1884 did not celebrate a single birthday on their actual birth date throughout their entire teenage years? What a bummer! No Sweet Sixteen party (if they even did them back then.) No nothing. That’s because February 29th fell on the year they turned 12 (1896) and then not again until they turned 20, in 1904. Of course, this fact clearly falls under the heading of “trivia,” which is broadly defined as useless information.

What is not useless information is what will take place on Leap Day this year! The volunteers with the industry-wide Real Time/Download Campaign are planning a special day—we’re calling it National Real Time Day, and it will focus on enhanced workflows and interface. We’re giving insurance carriers, vendors, users groups and other organizations a chance to join in and rally around Real Time and Download on that special day. The goal of National Real Time Day: Help independent insurance professionals gain awareness and appreciation for the benefits of Real Time.

We’re asking business partners to put together webinars, newsletter articles, mailings and more to help agents and brokers better understand what interface functionality is available and how to access and activate it. We’re doing that because a lot of folks who responded to our most recent agency survey said you just weren’t sure what was available and, more important, exactly how to get it to work.

We’ll be compiling a listing of events that will take place that day. And we’ll post it on our new Real Time Day page at the campaign website. When we update that page, I’ll share that info here, so be sure to subscribe to my blog, either via email or through RSS. Plus, I will post updates on my Facebook page about National Real Time Day. Please “Like” my page there, so you’ll be among the first to know.

If you work for a carrier, vendor, users group or association and would like to get involved, comment below or send me an email. If you’re an agent or broker who can’t wait until the 29th of February (and frankly, Real Time is so exciting, I wouldn’t blame you if you eager to get a head start), check out the implementation guide or go right to the implementation steps on the GetRealTime.org website.
Oh, and if you have any cool ideas on how we can make Real Time Day even more valuable to you or people you work with, comment below or drop us a line.

This year, although parts of the country were blanketed in the white stuff before Halloween, we have not really been bombarded in the northeastern part of the United States. By the way, that’s where I stay holed up most of the time. An interesting phenomenon occurs when a major snow event hits the Northeast: the weather guys go nuts.

What usually happens is those lucky ducks in Florida or Arizona or southern California start posting on Facebook about how “cold” it is where they are (like, 60 degrees or something) or how they’re glad they don’t have to deal with the snow. Grrrr.

Anyway, looking out my window, I was starting to wonder whether winter was going to arrive this year. Then, I saw on the Weather Channel where all the snow went: Cordova, Alaska. Did you see that? Weeks of record snowfall left the city buried under 18 feet of the white stuff.

It was at that very moment that I realized the time was right to debut my latest cartoon. Those of you in the warmer climates can just humor me and the rest of your insurance industry friends. Check it out and take pleasure in how fortunate you are (and try to remember that you have weather events from time to time.) Those of you in Alaska or Colorado or the Midwest or the Northeast, take a look; you can certainly relate to my performance in this new strip.

The latest cartoon, aptly titled “Snow,” is viewable below and will soon join the rest of the funnies on my own personal page at the Real Time/Download Campaign website. While you’re at the site, learn more about me and check out the tons of other useful information that can help your agency work more quickly and more efficiently.

The report that just came across my computer said, “For the first time, in a long time, a winter storm moves in. Just a few spotty snow showers are possible late this evening, but the steady light snow will arrive after midnight and pick up a bit by morning.” I guess that means I have to get shoveling. Fortunately, I’m pretty quick (but you knew that already.) So I’ll be on the job in no time, ready to help you and your agency operate more efficiently, no matter what it’s like outside.

Thanks. And stay warm!

Either way, the new ad is out and it features some other well-known characters—including jolly old Saint Nick himself! Check it out at http://www.getrealtime.org/active/eddie.asp (and while you’re on my page on the Real Time site, you can learn more about moi!)

This is second in a series of a half-dozen or so creations that will be appearing in trade publications, online and elsewhere over the next few months. If you work for a carrier, vendor, users group or trade association and are able to publish the comic strip in one of your publications or on the web, that would please me to no end! Just drop me an email.

My agent (talent agent, not insurance agent) has been hard at work and has already gotten me a sequel. Following closely on the heels of my speed campaign, I will be featured as a superhero fighting villains of agency and brokerage productivity. I know one nemesis already: FaxMan. There will be more. And guess what, that’s where you can help!

As volunteer leaders and other creative folks behind the Real Time/Download Campaign start putting pen to paper for the villains series, they are looking for your ideas. What enemies exist in your office that I fight? As I said, FaxMan is one. But what else does Real Time help you do better? Use the comments section below or drop an email. And look for (and use) my speed comics over the next couple of months.

Later, I got a physical presence. Humans call it a costume. I just call it part of growing up. That allowed me to go out to industry events and engage with some terrific agents and brokers, as well as our network of carriers and vendors that are making real time and download possible—and making it even better and faster and easier to use.

That led to the Eddie World Tour. People were taking pictures of me as I traveled around, and our supporter, Artizan Internet Services, created a compilation of pictures that has been online for a couple of years now. I know a lot of you checked it out, and it was a fun way for me (and many of you) to remember when we first met in person!

When I was a little older, I got my own Facebook page. That social networking stuff is pretty cool. It’s a great way to stay connected. I know a lot of insurance agents and brokers who are doing a bang-up job using the community to engage with clients and prospects. I’ve really liked using Facebook to stay in touch with agents and brokers, carriers, vendors, state and national associations and user groups. By the way, if you haven’t “Liked” me, please do. I love being liked.

Then they gave me a pen. Well, a keyboard. And they set me up with my own blog—EddieSays.org. Like many bloggers, I don’t post as often as I could. But I try to share interesting things, whether they’re carrier activities, my observations, suggestions or, quite often, some random thoughts. I’m willing to do more. And I’m even willing to co-author posts. If you have ideas I should discuss, just let me know in the comments section below.

And now for the latest news: First, I’m going to be starring a new series of comic strips. Yeah, that’s right. The first series will focus on speed—and how quickly real time can help agents and brokers get things done. The second, planned for next year, I’m told, will look at some of our (your and my) arch-villains. The first strip is out.

Where? Well, that’s the second part of the news. I also have a new page on the GetRealTime.org website. It’s a place where you can find the latest comics and things about me—things I talked about in this blog.  Here’s the official announcement!

Click on over to GetRealTime.org/Eddie, look around, and then use the comments section down below here to let me know what you think. But make it fast. I’m getting calls from Hollywood agents. I only took the calls because I thought they were insurance agents from the west coast. Man, those guys can be quite persuasive.

Don’t worry, though. I like insurance agents and brokers too much to leave. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want you to hurry over then come back and give me your feedback.

And, as always, I welcome any other thoughts or ideas you have. Just send them my way using the comments section below! Until next time, thanks!

Guess what? You can make a difference, too!  Yes, you in Greenville and Honolulu and Washington. (By the way, there’s method to my madness in naming those three locations. Can you guess what it is?) And you with that quizzical look on your face—I can see you trying to figure that out—you can make a difference, as well.

Anyway, here’s how. Take a short survey about interface. Inter-what?  Interface—how your agency or brokerage exchanges information with insurance carriers.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a whiz-bang, i-something-carrying, smartphone-enabled, techno-geeky, heat-seeking “real time” and “download” champion, or if you’re tech-averse, computer-free person who uses Pony Express to share information with insurance companies. Okay, if you don’t have a computer, you probably aren’t reading this blog post and can’t take the survey, since it’s online.

But those with computers can. Just click here and answer the simple questions. Again, it doesn’t matter how automated your operation is—or isn’t. We want your insight. And by “we” I mean carriers and vendors and others in the industry. Your answers will make a difference!

If you’re lucky, they might make a difference to you, too! Insurance agency and brokerage employees in the US and Canada who complete the survey will be eligible to win one of several $50 gift cards that will be awarded based on the number of responses we get.

So please take the survey now by going clicking here.

Thanks!

My work will be done when every carrier offers real-time interface through every vendor for every line of business. Okay, and download, too. Until then, I keep reading, looking for the latest advance.

I recently came across an article in Insurance Journal that talked about expanded real-time capabilities that could affect a number of agents and brokers. CNA, one of our Real Time/Download Campaign financial supporters (thank you), is a national carrier that has offered Real Time for some time, and has worked hard—out front and behind the scenes—to get greater agent and broker adoption.

In the article, CNA says its “newest Real Time Quoting solution helps small business agents and brokers obtain bindable quotes and proposal letters for CNA Connect, workers’ compensation, and commercial automobile, without leaving their agency management systems.” This streamlined quoting process lets small business agents “remarket renewals in less time, eliminates the need to re-key customer data and reduces transaction costs.” Those are all good things!

In addition, the article says, small business agents and brokers can use CNA’s automation systems to “download current policy data and perform real time policy, billing and claim inquiries,” again, all within their agency management systems.

Perhaps my favorite line in the whole story is the last one. It reads: “The company said it had so far received positive feedback on the product from agency personnel.” In my mind, that’s key. As agents and brokers, you need to tell carriers (and vendors) when things work and when they need improvement. Don’t just walk away if you can’t get it to do what you need it to do. Talk away.

And as one of my favorite movie characters says, “That’s all I have to say about that.” Okay, not really. If you want, go ahead and check out the original news release from CNA.

My standard answer generally goes something like this: “Check with your management system vendor. They have a list of carriers and lines of business. Oh, and Real Time is free for most systems.” Then I direct them to their management system user group, offer to connect them with another agency or brokerage that uses the same system they use, or contact someone at their system vendor to follow-up with them.

Many times, I direct them to our Web site, which as you may know is chock-full of information. The Carrier Real Time and Vendor Real Time pages provide links to dozens of partners. Another page, which is part of our 21 Day Real Time Challenge section, offers direct links to implementation guides and/or carrier lists for a few vendors.

Be sure to visit any of these pages if you need more information. Also, if you know of a missing link on the 21 Day Challenge page, please point us to it in the comment section below. We’d love to include more guides and lists!

Now in terms of a date, I’d have to ask my dad. That said, I’d love to visit your user group or agent/broker association meeting, if we can work out the logistics. Just email me. I also have a few miniature versions of myself—Eddie dolls, as they’re called.  If your agency is using Real Time and you’d like one—at no charge—leave a comment below.

Among the ones I thought were funny, was one that appears to have come from IKEA. I know, it’s not really insurance, but it carries an insurance title: Explain This to Your Insurance Agency. I hope there’s nothing politically incorrect in me liking and sharing it. If so, I apologize. It made me chuckle (each time I watched it—and trust me, I watched it several times.)

I came across some videos by Travelers, one of our Real Time/Download Campaign financial supporters, that are downright cute. One particular commercial features an adorable dog that learns the smart way to protect his most “Prized Possession” and also finds relief from anxiety brought on by a pesky “Cat Burglar.” I don’t know about you, but I’d love to see more of these!

One that is near and dear to my heart was produced by an independent insurance agency in Missouri that is using Real Time and other advanced workflows. It’s called Real Time Automation Challenges – After the Change. In it, employees talk about how life used to be in their agency and how things are now. It offers a really nice perspective. And for some reason, I feel really connected to the agency! (If you know why—or care to guess—please use the comments section below.)

So, what are you doing on YouTube? Has your agency produced any videos? Have you seen any you particularly like? Tell me more! Thanks.

As much as ACT does for real time and download, it’s involved in a whole lot more.

Earlier this month, IIABA President and CEO Bob Rusbuldt took a few minutes across the table from a video camera (someplace you know I love to be) and shared some of his thoughts on ACT.

While Bob didn’t mention me by name, he did talk about real time, saying, “ACT is a champion for the use of real time by agencies and carriers, so you can quote business and access information from your carriers, directly from your systems, without having to reenter the same data multiple times.”

This was probably my favorite line of the whole piece: “Real time gives precious time back to your staff so they can focus on proactive service and cross-selling.” Time is precious, isn’t it? And proactive service and cross-selling are pretty cool, too.

Agencies that use real time are in some pretty good company. “In the Big I’s latest Best Practices Study,” Bob noted, “the best practices agencies credit the use of real time and download as having had a highly positive impact on their profitability and growth.” Pretty powerful stuff if you ask me.

In the video, he also outlined about some of the other great things ACT is up to. Bob concluded his video saying, “To get a great overview on the breadth of work being done on your behalf by ACT and to help you run a better business, please check out the ACT website.” Great advice! Oh, and it’s easy to find. Just visit www.iiaba.net/act.

Wanna check out the short video yourself? Just click here!

Even though I can’t write poetry, I know a good rhyme when I see one. And I saw one online recently. “Bricks & Clicks.” That’s it. Yes, I like my poetry just like I like agency and brokerage workflows: short and simple.

Anyway, I saw the masterpiece in the headline of a press release from Peerless Insurance, a Liberty Mutual Agency Corporation company that knows a lot about snow, ice and business insurance. While I’m rather impressed with the company’s poetic prowess, I am equally interested in the program the company is offering.

Here’s the deal: Peerless is holding two-day Bricks & Clicks digital marketing workshops for its appointed independent agencies. The goal: Help attendees learn how to grow their businesses online and discover strategies and techniques for using online marketing to boost leads and drive sales. Man, does that make sense, especially for agencies that can respond quickly to customers because they’re using Real Time. You understand, the Internet is really fast, and customers who use the Internet want answers fast.

On the first day, the carrier will share insights around Web site design, search engine optimization, web marketing fundamentals, social networking, and online tools and trends. Day Two looks at a web-marketing strategy to identify an appropriate customer base, provides detailed instruction in search engine optimization, examines online advertising using paid search marketing, and uncovers what analytics can reveal about online marketing results. I’m sure you can find out more at the company’s website.

Reading about this program got me wondering: Are other companies offering something similar to their agents? If so, which ones and what are they doing? If not, why not?

Agents, what do you think? Would it help if your carrier offered such instruction and guidance? And do you agree with me that Real Time fits real well with online marketing? If so, I’d love to hear more—including how you’re using the two.