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We ran into Kathy at several social media strategy events throughout the past year. Kathy has been instrumental in leading NWI businesses through social media consulting, helping their team members serve local consumers. We were lucky enough to attend one of Kathy’s social media training classes that was helpful for beginners. More companies are using  social media marketing in attempt to reach more customers and stay connected with existing customers. We will be looking forward to attending more of Kathy’s classes this year.

Last week I met with a group of real estate agents hungry for information on social media marketing. Besides just learning about it, they were curious to know “how much time is this going to take?” and “what return will I get on my investment?”

An effective social media program does require some time. It’s not a magic machine that you set up once and forget about. By definition, that form of media would not be very social or interactive, which are two of the things that make social media marketing such a potentially effective vehicle for connecting with other people.

The social media marketing tools I showed are free. That doesn’t mean that they come without “cost” as time is obviously worth something. What other marketing channels are open to Realtors (or other business people) that don’t cost time and/or money? Realtors spend time putting together print ads that run in home magazines; they pay a lot of money to run the ads and they spend time putting the ads together. The ads don’t magically design themselves, after all. I asked what return they were getting on these print ads and all but one or two had no answer. For some reason, social media seems to be held to a different standard and I’m not sure why, but I think because it is largely because it is unknown and seems unmanageable without a roadmap.

Kathy has established herself as, one realtor put it, “My Social Media Coach” in the Northern Indiana area.

I wanted to hi-lite each person that came through our $25 restaurant  gift card giveaway but I’m already behind  from the weekend. We had a lot of winners from Hobart and Portage, and still have about 20 gift cards left!  Fill out your auto insurance application and it will be on it’s way.VXS4Y2HT8NSB

This has been fun. Gene S from Hobart filled out our online auto insurance quote form and won a $25 dollar restaurant gift certificate.  We found three quotes for Gene that were right in line with his current insurer. After some thought he felt he was satisfied with the service at his current agency. Gene we wish we could have saved you a few dollars but thanks for getting a quote and enjoy the gift certificate.

NWI Quotes is giving away $25 restaurant  gift cards. They serve over 50 restaurants in Porter County and many more in Lake. All you need to do is fill out an auto quote no purchase needed. To qualify you must fill out a complete app. All apps must be in by the Jan 01. We have over 50 cards to pass out. Enter you e-mail to receive notice of our ongoing contests and giveaways. Merry Christmas from NWI Quotes.

Ways to Reduce Your Auto Insurance Premium
By
State Farm® agent
If you’re like me, you’re always looking for a smart way to save money. Sometimes, saving money can come in the most unlikely place – such as your insurance.
There are several ways you may be able to cut your auto insurance costs. Higher deductibles can lower your premium as will selecting only the coverage you feel you need. Many insurance companies offer different discounts. When shopping for auto insurance, be sure to ask about the availability of these discounts and whether the insurer offers them.
New business discount: May offer you a discount as a new policyholder if you have been accident-free for a specific period of time.
Accident-free: Policyholders who have been accident-free while being insured with the same insurance company for several years may be eligible for reduced premiums.
Discounts for other insurance lines: Premiums may be reduced if you insure your home, life or health with the same company that covers your car.
Multiple cars: Premiums may be reduced if there are two or more private passenger cars in the household insured by the same company.
Air bag/passive restraint: Cars that are 1993 or older and are equipped with air bags or automatic seat belts may receive this discount. Certain makes and models of newer vehicles may receive the Vehicle Safety Discount because of the lower medical payments associated with them. The Vehicle Safety Discount is for autos 1994 or newer. Certain makes and models may have a decrease in their premiums because of lower medical payments associated with those specific makes/models.
Antitheft devices: Some insurance companies offer discounts on comprehensive coverage premiums when certain antitheft devices are installed or built into a vehicle.
Defensive driving course: Premium discounts sometimes are offered for the voluntary completion of specified driver improvement courses.
Good student: Full-time students (high school or higher level) maintaining at least a “B” average may qualify for reduced premiums with many companies.
These are just a few of the common discounts offered by insurance companies. For more details contact your insurance company or agent. Above all, drive safely.
If you’re like me, you’re always looking for a smart way to save money. Sometimes, saving money can come in the most unlikely place – such as your insurance.
There are several ways you may be able to cut your auto insurance costs. Higher deductibles can lower your premium as will selecting only the coverage you feel you need. Many insurance companies offer different discounts. When shopping for auto insurance, be sure to ask about the availability of these discounts and whether the insurer offers them.
New business discount: May offer you a discount as a new policyholder if you have been accident-free for a specific period of time.
Accident-free: Policyholders who have been accident-free while being insured with the same insurance company for several years may be eligible for reduced premiums.
Discounts for other insurance lines: Premiums may be reduced if you insure your home, life or health with the same company that covers your car.
Multiple cars: Premiums may be reduced if there are two or more private passenger cars in the household insured by the same company.
Air bag/passive restraint: Cars that are 1993 or older and are equipped with air bags or automatic seat belts may receive this discount. Certain makes and models of newer vehicles may receive the Vehicle Safety Discount because of the lower medical payments associated with them. The Vehicle Safety Discount is for autos 1994 or newer. Certain makes and models may have a decrease in their premiums because of lower medical payments associated with those specific makes/models.
Antitheft devices: Some insurance companies offer discounts on comprehensive coverage premiums when certain antitheft devices are installed or built into a vehicle.
Defensive driving course: Premium discounts sometimes are offered for the voluntary completion of specified driver improvement courses.
Good student: Full-time students (high school or higher level) maintaining at least a “B” average may qualify for reduced premiums with many companies.
These are just a few of the common discounts offered by insurance companies. For more details contact your insurance company or agent. Compare your current rate with a new auto quote.  Above all, drive safely.
Potholes can be costly
By
State Farm® agent
Winter brings a number of driving hazards, but one of the most hated is the pothole. An encounter with one can leave damaged tires, wheels and suspension components in its wake.
Potholes can occur in any region or climate, but at this time of year, they’re especially prominent in areas known for ice, snow and below-freezing temperatures. The freezing and thawing cycles allow moisture to seep into the road surface which causes the road to crumble.
There’s not much that can be done to prevent the deterioration of the driving surface, but there are some things you can do to protect yourself:
Try to limit your travel to roads you know very well. That knowledge could keep you from hitting a pothole and seriously damaging your car.
When driving at night, try to drive on well-lit roads so you can see the road surface.
Slow down and give yourself a chance to see the pothole and avoid it.
If you hit a pothole, carefully inspect your tires and wheels for possible damage. Note how your car handles in the aftermath. If it pulls to one side or if you feel a wobble in the steering, you may need to have your car checked by a mechanic.
If you must hit a pothole, do your braking before impact. There’s less damage when a tire is rolling than when it is skidding over a hole during braking.
While damage caused to a car by a pothole may be covered under the collision portion of your auto policy, there are some things to remember. If the damage is to the tire only, it might not be covered. Damage to the vehicle is subject to the collision deductible. For more safe driving tips, visit statefarm.com
Porter County winters bring a number of driving hazards, but one of the most hated is the pothole. An encounter with one can leave damaged tires, wheels and suspension components in its wake.
Potholes can occur in any region or climate, but at this time of year, they’re especially prominent in areas known for ice, snow and below-freezing temperatures. The freezing and thawing cycles allow moisture to seep into the road surface which causes the road to crumble.
There’s not much that can be done to prevent the deterioration of the driving surface, but there are some things you can do to protect yourself:
Try to limit your travel to roads you know very well. That knowledge could keep you from hitting a pothole and seriously damaging your car.
When driving at night, try to drive on well-lit roads so you can see the road surface.
Slow down and give yourself a chance to see the pothole and avoid it.
If you hit a pothole, carefully inspect your tires and wheels for possible damage. Note how your car handles in the aftermath. If it pulls to one side or if you feel a wobble in the steering, you may need to have your car checked by a mechanic.
If you must hit a pothole, do your braking before impact. There’s less damage when a tire is rolling than when it is skidding over a hole during braking.
While damage caused to a car by a pothole may be covered under the collision portion of your auto policy, there are some things to remember. If the damage is to the tire only, it might not be covered. Damage to the vehicle is subject to the collision deductible.
Indiana state minimum auto liability covers $25,000 bodily injury, per person, $50,000 aggregate bodily injury and $10,000 property damage. Uninsured or underinsured coverage provides protection in the event there are claims over and above the limits of the insured. During your review our when getting a new auto quote double check that your un/underinsured coverage is set where you need it.
Uninsured motorist coverage is designed to reimburse the insured for amounts due from negligent drivers who do not carry insurance. Originally, this coverage was for bodily injury only but has now expanded to include underinsured drivers- that is, those who were insured but carry limits of of liability too low. An uninsured vehicle is one that has no liability coverage.
Cover Persons include:
1. the named insured and any family member while driving/ riding in an owned auto insured under this policy.
2. driving or riding in a nonowned auto
3. traveling as a pedestrian
-or-
4. any other person while occupying an auto covered under the insureds auto policy
Uninsured motorist is a person operating an uninsured motor vehicle. The uninsured motor vehicle is:
1. neither bonded nor insured for bodily injury liability at the time of the accident
2. if insured, is covered for bodily injury liability inadequate to meet the financial responsibility requirements of the state in which the named insured’s  auto is insured.
A motor vehicle is not considered to be an uninsured motor vehicle if it is:
1. owned by or furnished for the regular use of the named insured or a family member
2. owned by a qualified self-insurer under any motor vehicle law.
3. an off-road type vehicle when not in use on a public road
4. owned by a government unit
5. a rail type vehicle
-or-
6. located for use as a residence
Uninsured motorist coverage is not provided for bodily injury covered under applicable workers’ compensation or disability laws.
Underinsured motorist coverage, known as UIM, fills in any gaps that may exist between an underinsured motorist’s bodily injury insurance limit and the damages for bodily injury the insured is legally entitled to recover, if greater. This coverage pays and insured who suffers bodily injury when struck by an at-fault driver who has some but not enough liability coverage to pay for damages.
The statistics about teenage drivers are rather frightening. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), 16-year-olds get into accidents almost six times more often than drivers between the age of 30 and 59. Understandably,  insurance premiums are quite high for this age group.

However, not all car insurance companies take the same view of young drivers as there are even discounts available to help you cut costs. Generally, insurance companies use this principle: the higher the risk, the higher the cost of insurance premiums.

Here are 10 suggestions to help lower premiums and keep your teenager’s license free of violations:

1. Enroll them in driver education courses. Discounts are available for teens who take recognized driving classes. But call your car insurance company to find out which schools are covered before paying big bucks.


2. Set a good example. Do you break the speed limit and tailgate? Do you yell at other drivers when you’re behind the wheel? If you do these things, how can you expect your children to act differently? Start watching your own driving long before they get their license and you’ll have a much easier time convincing them to be safe drivers. Remember, actions speak louder than words.

3. Put your teenager on your policy. Rather than setting up an independent policy for your teen driver, put them on your auto insurance policy as an additional driver. In this way, all the discounts applied to your policies will be passed on to them.

4. Pay your teenager to get good grades. Here’s a creative tip — find out how much you save if your teenager gets a good grade point average and pass it on to them. Usually, having a 3.0 or higher GPA will reduce your car insurance premium by 10 percent. Figure out exactly how much this saves you and give that money to your teenager. This accomplishes two things. First, it provides a direct reward for academic performance. Secondly, it motivates them to continue getting good grades.

5. Help your teen learn the laws. By far, the best way to lower car insurance costs for teens is for them to keep their driving record clean. In some states, restrictions apply to new drivers. Parents should know what the laws are and insist that their sons and daughters follow them.

6. Steer clear of sports cars. Don’t try to live vicariously through your teenager by giving them the hot car you couldn’t get in high school. Getting your teenager a safe car to drive, with the latest safety equipment, will lower your premiums. Not only will you save money on car insurance, but fast driving will be less of a temptation.

7. Get their support. Don’t assume that your teenager wants to vacuum clean your wallet. Ask them for help cutting costs and point out that you will share in the savings (see rule #4). Tell them how much car insurance costs and show them how this fits into the family budget. If nothing else, you will score points for treating them as adults.

8. Talk to your kids about drugs and alcohol. This is a tough subject to broach with teenagers, who think they have everything under control. But the consequences of saying nothing can be catastrophic. Take the time to lay down some guidelines in this important area.

9. Take traffic school to beat tickets. Once a ticket is on your teen’s license, it takes months to get the violation removed. Instead, encourage them to take traffic school if the judge allows it. A day spent thinking about the consequences of unsafe driving can bring rewards for years to come.

10. Ride with your teenager. Your teenager was a safe driver last year when he or she got a license. But what’s happened since then? Let your son or daughter take the wheel while you sit back and relax in the passenger seat. If you see them doing something that breaks rules or seems unsafe, point this out in a diplomatic way.

We have been testing about 10 days now. All the behind the scenes programming and security is working as well as planned. Thank you to all the folks that have checked out the site, about 120 unique visits. 13 people from Lake and Porter County have filled out a request for an auto quote and 3 have been happy enough to switch carriers. Not bad for a test run.

In the next few weeks we will be adding a few more insurance forms while talking to a few leading lenders. If all goes well NWI Quotes  will be able to connect  you to banks and mortgage lenders.

Ran across this article online, explaining how a few states average premiums have dropped. One official attributed the decline to more competition. It’s fun to watch insurance carriers respond to the market. While I haven’t seen posted declines for NWI, consumers still have the option of looking at different auto quotes . One disagreement from some experts, the cheapest policy upfront is not always the best way to go. Poor advice and help from an agents staff can cost consumers more than a few dollars a month in savings.

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