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