On Point with Peter van Aartrijk and Rick Morgan, Episode 23: Ex Direct Writer Focuses on Marketing and Finds Success As Independent Agent
July 13, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
“On Point, with Peter van Aartrijk and Rick Morgan” is an audio conversation with insurance industry leaders who champion change and challenge all of us to think.
Texas agent David Berry has used the marketing lessons he learned from his experiences in the captive agency system to find success as an independent agent. Listen as Berry discusses how he uses traditional marketing practices, combined with the new tools of social media, to grow his business.
Berry understands the importance of investing in technology; but more importantly he understands the need to make sure it’s used wisely. He’s committed to building strong relationships and providing great service as he builds his new business, and credits social media as a powerful tool to help him contain costs and expand his reach. Peter and Rick particularly enjoyed listening to Berry speak passionately about the advantages and value of the Independent Agency System.
The podcast was published Monday, July 12, 2010. Run time is 20 minutes 41 seconds.
Filed under Podcasts, insurance branding · Tagged with direct mail, direct marketing, Facebook, independent agents, insurance branding, Insurance Journal, LinkedIn, Peter van Aartrijk, Rick Morgan, Social Networking, video, Web sites
On Point with Peter van Aartrijk and Rick Morgan, Episode 20: It’s No Longer An Experiment
May 26, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
“On Point, with Peter van Aartrijk and Rick Morgan” is an audio conversation with insurance industry leaders who champion change and challenge all of us to think.
Ryan Hanley, is an independent agent with the Guilderland Agency in Albany, NY.
Just two short years ago Ryan started his insurance career and at the same time started to “dabble” with the social Web. While the agency wasn’t yet ready to jump “head first” into social networking they gave Ryan the freedom to do so.
Being new to the industry he started researching insurance issues, and then writing about his experience on his new blog, Albany Insurance Professional. Ryan also set up Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn accounts.
Has it been a valuable and profitable experience? According to Ryan, “social networking is how he builds and strengthens relationships and generates new business – it is no longer an experiment.”
Listen to Ryan as he shares his experiences with Rick and Peter.
The podcast was published Monday, May 24, 2010. Run time is 24 minutes 7 seconds.
Filed under Branding, insurance branding · Tagged with independent agents, insurance agencies, insurance branding, LinkedIn, Social Networking, social Web, Web sites
On Point with Peter van Aartrijk and Rick Morgan, Episode 19: Having Fun Growing Business
May 11, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
“On Point, with Peter van Aartrijk and Rick Morgan” is an audio conversation with insurance industry leaders who champion change and challenge all of us to think.
Linda Rey is a second-generation agent and owner of Rey Insurance in Sleepy Hollow, New York. Frank Rey founded the agency in 1978 to serve bilingual clients in the local community.
Linda discusses how she has incorporated the use of social media into the agency’s marketing strategy. For Linda, it was an “effective way to be present, visible, and increase awareness and exposure.”
Filed under Podcasts, insurance branding · Tagged with Branding, Facebook, independent agents, insurance agencies, LinkedIn, Peter van Aartrijk, Rick Morgan, Twitter
National Underwriter Coverage of Brand Camp 2009
May 5, 2009 by Charles Wasilewski · Leave a Comment
Here are two articles about Aartrijk Brand Camp 2009:
National Underwriter, Property-Casualty Insurance Edition: “Brand Camp Set For Insurance Marketers”
Insurance Newscast: “‘Aartrijk Brand Camp’ to Debut Sept. 28-30 in Chicago — Event Focuses On Insurance Branding in Social Web Age”
Filed under Aartrijk, Brand Camp · Tagged with Facebook, insurance branding, LinkedIn, Social Media, Social Networking, social Web, Twitter
‘Aartrijk Brand Camp’ To Debut Sept. 28-30 in Chicago
May 4, 2009 by Charles Wasilewski · Leave a Comment
‘Aartrijk Brand Camp’ to Debut Sept. 28-30 in Chicago
Event Focuses On Insurance Branding in Social Web Age
SPRINGFIELD, VA (May 4, 2009)-Insurance industry branding firm Aartrijk is hosting a new event for insurance/financial marketing decision-makers: “Aartrijk Brand Camp,” a hands-on conference on branding in the age of the social Web. The event is scheduled for Sept. 28-30, 2009, in downtown Chicago.
Registration is available at the Aartrijk Web site at www.Aartrijk.com/brandcamp. This exclusive event is for brand decision-makers in insurance, financial services and member organizations. The location is the modern, high-tech Hotel Sax Chicago. ”The marketing mix is changing for brand decision-makers,” said Peter van Aartrijk, CEO and managing director. “It’s not just that technology has evolved in recent years. Technology is enabling consumers to change their relationships with the organizations and brands in their lives through the one-to-one and one-to-many relationships of social networking. ”The profound impact of this sociological transformation is just beginning to be felt in the insurance and financial services industry,” van Aartrijk continued. “Aartrijk Brand Camp is a way to help brand decision-makers understand and take advantage of this transformation.” Early-bird pricing of $600 ends June 1, and regular registration costs $750. Special pricing is available for Aartrijk clients. All registration is done online at www.Aartrijk.com/brandcamp. Aartrijk Brand Camp kicks off with the “Social Networking Social” on September 28, followed by an all-day session on September 29, and a half-day session the following day. The event is designed to be interactive and hands-on, with sessions including search-engine optimization, social networking, Web positioning, blogging, mobile technology, “Gen Next,” public relations, online advertising and design.
About Aartrijk: Based in Virginia, Aartrijk is a boutique branding firm serving clients from insurance and financial services firms and member organizations. Aartrijk’s highly experienced team offers business-to-business and business-to-consumer brand auditing; brand identity development; Web and social media; advertising, marketing-communications and public relations; publishing and editorial; and customer and marketing channel research. For more about Aartrijk or to sign up for Aartrijk Brand Camp, visit www.Aartrijk.com.
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CONTACT:
Charles Wasilewski
908.647.2216
charles@Aartrijk.com
Filed under Aartrijk, Brand Camp, Press Release · Tagged with Facebook, insurance branding, insurance trade associations, LinkedIn, marketing, Social Media, Social Networking, social Web, Twiiter
Beginner’s Guide to Social Networking in Insurance
April 30, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment

Peter van Aartrijk
Check out what might be dubbed a “Beginner’s Guide to Social Networking in Insurance.” It’s an audio podcast published by Insurance Journal featuring Peter van Aartrijk, managing director, and Rick Morgan, senior associate of Aartrijk.
Noted van Aartrijk in the podcast: It’s becoming urgent for independent agency owners to experiment with social networking, if they’re not already. Some agencies are using social networking portals as a way to do business.
“What they [independent agents/brokers] do — dispense advice, solve problems … It’s incredibly important what they do,” commented van Aartrijk in the podcast. “This new social media … is incredibly powerful to really bring to light what they do.”
Check out the podcast, Agency Management Done Right, Episode 2: Social Media, at: http://www.insurancejournal.tv/videos/2434/
The “Agency Management Done Right” audio podcast is hosted by Mitch Dunford of Insurance Journal and explores insurance agency management.
April 30, 2009
Filed under Podcasts · Tagged with Branding, Facebook, independent agents, LinkedIn, Podcast, Social Networking, social Web, Twitter
Web Site: “Busiest Storefront” for Agencies

Peter van Aartrijk discusses the social Web with Mike Wise of IdeaStar.
Agent Web sites are an agency owner’s “busiest storefront” — or at least they can be.
That’s one of the thoughts that Peter van Aartrijk, managing director of Aartrijk, shared during a recent podcast with Mike Wise of IdeaStar. In one of Mike’s “InsuraTech” audio podcasts, Peter discussed the social Web, agent Web sites, and how they can work together for an agency:
– The social Web is “not something to be feared. It’s something to be leveraged.”
– “You’re either LinkedIn or locked out.”
– “We like to think of the Web site as the busiest office for the agency … their busiest storefront.”
– ”I’m worried about the calls agencies aren’t getting” because their Web sites cannot be found by people who get a word-of-mouth referral to the agency and then search for the agency via a search engine.
– “Convert that knowledge [of dispensing advice to consumers about risk management] … into text on a blog.”
– ”There’s a lot of general information out there. But what we bring to the table is the knowledge of how agents andd brokers and carriers can take advantage” of social networking.
Check out the podcast at: http://tinyurl.com/clmo5.
Or visit: http://blog.insurance-technologies.com/2009/04/insuratech-podcast-episode-28-peter-van-aartrijk-on-agent-websites-a-conundrum/
April 30, 2009
Filed under Aartrijk, Podcasts, Uncategorized · Tagged with Branding, Facebook, independent agents, LinkedIn, search, Social Networking, social Web, Twitter, Web sites
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