| The online discussion forum has emerged as | | | | these "window shoppers" may turn into clients |
| the medium of choice for many Americans. | | | | for those Industry Professionals who earn |
| Most recently, forum platforms like | | | | that client's business through helpful |
| vBulletin, Infopop, and Snitz have enabled | | | | assistance.The other half of the public that |
| the novice webmaster to host and moderate | | | | participates in the forum format is the |
| their own forum. One of the areas that needs | | | | Insurance Agent or Financial Advisor. These |
| this type of medium the most is the Insurance | | | | members will answer questions posted at large |
| and Financial Industry.To give you a little | | | | to the forum and help the client with their |
| background, the online discussion forum is an | | | | questions. Insurance Agents and Financial |
| updated version of the old bulletin board of | | | | Advisors (such as Bankers, Investment |
| the nineties. Members can join, post, and | | | | Brokers, and Mortgage Brokers) can also share |
| browse topics at will. Free speech and a | | | | information amongst themselves.All the while, |
| candid mood makes it all the more enjoyable. | | | | this online discussion format creates a |
| Some discussion forums even allow members to | | | | virtual database of information ranging from |
| chat amongst themselves (is it a chick or a | | | | investment issues, to health insurance |
| pea?) in private areas or send "PMs" (private | | | | issues, to life insurance issues. The forums |
| messages) to each other if they do not want | | | | are "searchable" and open for all to view and |
| to share it among the other members of the | | | | make use of.Lastly, a benefit of these online |
| forum. The thing that makes these more | | | | discussion forums for insurance and financial |
| modern forums better is the fact that new | | | | advisors is the idea that members (and |
| posts and replies to posts are immediately | | | | guests) can advertise their service. |
| sent to the subscribers email inbox.So why is | | | | Advertising on a forum comes in the forum of |
| this good for the Insurance and Financial | | | | "links" to the member's website, hyperlinks |
| Advisor Industry? Well, there are several | | | | to their email address, and paid advertising |
| reasons. One is the fact that people out | | | | links and banners that can be prominently |
| there need answers but are often intimidated | | | | placed by the host of the forum.So if you |
| by Insurance consultants and the like. | | | | ever have the need to discuss your insurance, |
| Clients often do not want to be solicited to | | | | financial, or investing situation, look for |
| as a result of their simple curiosity...but | | | | an online discussion forum - they're becoming |
| they still need answers to critical and often | | | | increasingly popular!By: Ashley Brooks, |
| confusing Insurance and Financial Related | | | | CLTCAshley is the marketing vice president |
| topics.Take the Life Insurance Buyer for | | | | for the Family |
| instance. Often times, they get on the | | | | |
| internet, compare quotes and rates for term | | | | Life Insurance Brokerage Business and has a |
| life insurance, whole life insurance, or | | | | |
| universal life insurance only to get more | | | | background in Health & Financial |
| confused. These clients need a way to | | | | Underwriting, |
| communicate on an impartial, and perhaps | | | | |
| anonymous basis with a professional who can | | | | Insurance Plan Design, and "best deal" |
| help. What fuels the fire is the idea that | | | | shopping. |