I can’t put my finger on why. Maybe it’s because we’re sharing stand D2 with AXA and catching up with our clients who’ll be attending the event. Or, maybe it’s because our new addition to the team will be with us.

Yes, that’s right; come and see us and you’ll be able to meet Flo, our new frog!

Flo brings with her a wealth of practical marketing experience having spent many years in the marketing pond – we are sure you’ll love to meet her.

Oh, and by the way, Flo’s first contribution to Ignition is to offer you 15% off any Ignition service plus a free ½ day marketing consultancy*, if you book an appointment with one of the Ignition team during the BIBA Conference & Exhibition.

Not only that, but by booking an appointment during the event you will also be entered into a prize draw to WIN one of 4 iPod Touches!

Flo is really looking forward to seeing you on stand D2! See you there.

*please see our website for terms and conditions.

You will be able to find out more about us by coming to visiting us – on stand 27.

Even if you don’t want to come and talk about marketing, at least come and see the latest addition to our team.

Each category of this year’s the UK Broker Awards wards was highly contested, the quality of the entrants across the board was testament to the resilience the industry has shown in the face of the challenging circumstances of the past year.

Thomas, Carroll walked away with Intermediary of the Year and Chairman John Moore walked away with the Achievement Award at this year’s UK Broker Awards.

Highlights included: our very own Ken Wright, Regional Development Director announcing RIAS as the winner of the Marketing Campaign of the Year. And Caravan Guard scooping two awards: Customer Service Provider and Personal Lines Intermediary. The judges were impressed with the broker’s ability to grow in a difficult sector of the market.

This year’s event saw the addition of two new categories. Former young broker of the year, Matthew Pyke became the first of Business Owner of the Year while RG Ford (Broker Network) won Network Member of the Year.

And the winners are:

The E-business Award: Matchmaker – Blyth Valley

The Technology Award: Morrison Insurance Brokers

Claims Service of the Year: Knowlden Titlow Insurance Brokers

Marketing Campaign of the Year – Sponsored by yours truly: RIAS

Customer Service Provider of the Year: Caravan Guard

Investment in People Award: The Green Insurance Company

Network Member of the Year: R G Ford (Broker Network)

Private Clients Intermediary of the Year: Coversure, Fleet

Personal Lines Intermediary of the Year: Caravanguard

Commercial Lines Intermediary of the Year: Insurance Risk & Claims Management

Schemes Intermediary of the Year: Schools Advisory Service

Intermediary of the Year: Thomas, Carroll

Young Broker of the Year: Charlotte Hannah – Kwik Fit Financial Services

Business Owner of the Year: Matthew Pyke – Lloyd & Whyte

Achievement Award: John Moore, Chairman of Thomas, Carroll

Congratulations goes to all the winners of this year’s UK Broker Awards!

It’s really interesting to see that in terms of insurance marketing, the article’s main focus appears to be on all things web-based, such as social media and email strategies. This is in line with current trends within the marketing industry and is an area growing rapidly. It’s vital for businesses to understand how these new and exciting web-based solutions can help their business grow.

Follow this link to read the full Insurance Times article and pick up some great tips. If this whets your appetite for marketing, take a look around the Ignition website to find out more, give us a call, or see us at the BIBA exhibition in May.

BIBA is the UK’s leading general insurance intermediary organisation, representing the interests of insurance brokers, intermediaries and their customers. Ignition is supporting the BIBA 2010 Conference and Exhibition and we will be in attendance throughout the event to answer you questions and share our insurance marketing knowledge with you. You will be able to find out more about us by coming to one of our conference sessions, or visiting us on our stand (D23).

For a free ticket, click on the image below, print it out and bring it along with you, or to find out more about the event visit BIBA’s website by clicking here.

The reality is that competitive intensity within the commercial insurance sector is increasing  within an uncertain economic landscape. Many brokers are considering some sort of lead generation activity as a solution to the problem of customer churn, often as a result of a price sensitive market. So how do you fend off the dogs and look after your own?

Brokers do  have options. You could accept that you will lose some customers to rival broker lead generation whilst employing the same tactic to do the same to others… growing  to stand still. You could rely on traditional methods of business development and wait for the ‘referral’ phone to ring.  Welcome but unpredictable. Or you could hone and develop the customers you already have, by locking them in and giving them no reason to look elsewhere.  It’s your choice but  its vital to get it right.

Proper, planned, targeted and relevant Customer Relationship Management is one way to protect your customers from walking away to the next  price driven offer.  There  is more to it though than simply relying on good customer service, it’s about  working closer, becoming tighter and adding more value to their businesses through your expertise, to ultimately become their broker, rather than just a broker. Would you move your business to another supplier if they demonstrated value to your business?

True CRM is  about effective communication with customers,  learning along the way and building loyalty over a period of time. Knowing what they like, don’t like, need and want, all at the right time. It’s no more complicated than that.  To facilitate true CRM, a broker needs to be able to interpret data intelligently and communicate with customers in a regular and relevant way, demonstrating usefulness and value to a customer (it’s not just about a newsletter!). Advice is available on how to create a simple plan and putting it into action, utilising the right tools. Get it right and you can not only protect your hard earned, happy and loyal customers from attack, but also enhance your profit and reap organic growth at very low cost.

If you do want to operate growth on all fronts by adding to the external pipeline, I know a few chaps who do a mean line in lead generation too…