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