Gary Vee Does Insurance - ePayPolicy
In a 40-minute podcast at Vayner Media, Gary Vaynerchuk and industry experts emphasized that future insurance agents must blend high tech tools with authentic high touch human interactions, prioritize personal branding through consistent content creation to maintain control over their image, and adopt innovative InsurTech solutions to stay relevant and build trust in the evolving insurance landscape.
We recently ventured to the Big Apple for an incredible podcast session at Vayner Media world headquarters with Gary Vaynerchuk (Gary Vee). Bradley Flowers and Scott Howell, also known as The Insurance Guys, led the interview, with Andy Priesman of Cover Desk and Todd Sorrel of ePayPolicy adding commentary about the impact of InsurTech across the industry.
With a focus on personal branding, innovation, and strategy, this 40-minute podcast is a must for all independent agents. Here are some key takeaways from the in-depth discussion:
High Tech and High Touch
The insurance agent of the future should be both high tech and high touch. This combination is a win/win strategy.
- High touch means engaging in human-to-human interaction that builds trust. Since insurance is a product that protects people, it's important to genuinely like people. If someone in your agency doesn't, this may not be the right field for them.
- Give without strings or expectations. Gary Vee highlighted the difference between authentic selflessness and selfish selflessness. The latter is not acceptable in Gary’s world, and shouldn’t be in yours.
- A practical application of high touch is following up after binding a policy—not with an agenda, but just to check in. Mention something personal you remember about your customer, such as a pet, hobby, or family member. Show you’re not just there to make the sale and move on.
Branding: The Linchpin
Branding resides in both high touch and high tech realms and is essential. If you don’t control your brand, it will be controlled for you. This is true for all agents, not just captive ones.
- Creating content is a key way to put yourself out there. If you’re not comfortable with vlogging, try podcasting or writing articles for LinkedIn. This is not optional—if you’re not differentiating your brand through content, you risk becoming irrelevant.
High Tech’s Influence
The conversation turned to high tech and its influence on the industry:
- Amazon is entering the insurance market in a big way, hiring more insurance actuaries than any other company. Should you be afraid? Gary says no—unless you’re not willing to put in the work.
- Imagine customers asking Alexa or Siri for an insurance agent. Will Alexa or Siri pick you?
Customer-Centric Approach
- Customers should be able to buy insurance online if they want to. It’s all about being customer-centric and offering convenience, just as ePayPolicy advocates for flexible payment options.
Outsourcing Non-Core Functions
- Gary supports outsourcing functions that are not your core competencies, such as payroll, virtual support, payment processing, or social media brand building. If these aren’t strengths within your agency, seek outside experts to help you build and manage your brand.
Summary
Insurtech is exploding, and we’re witnessing a true revolution. These tools are designed to make your life easier and your office more efficient. But never forget you’re selling to people. When you put your customers’ needs first and seek to delight them, everyone wins.
These are the highlights from the discussion. For the full interview and more business insights, tune in to the podcast.
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