2016 Sponsorship and Advertising Opportunities National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA)

Transcription

1 2016 Sponsorship and Advertising Opportunities National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA) Are independent insurance agents critical to the success of your business? If so, PIA can help you meet your goals. We have numerous sponsorship and advertising opportunities available to help you reach our members: the owners and decision makers at agencies across America. Enclosed you ll find descriptions of PIA s 2016 sponsorship and advertising opportunities. For more information about each of these opportunities, please contact Alexi Papandon at ext 353 (direct dial: ) or alexipa@pianet.org. Table of Contents About PIA... 2 The PIA Partnership... 3 PIA Federal Legislative Summit... 4 The PIA Branding Program/Pinnacle Partner Program PIA Agency Marketing Guide... 6 PIA National Awards... 7 Intellectual Property... 8 New Member Kits... 9 Associate Membership Web Site Sponsors Governance Meetings Advertise with PIA Find Your Fit Contact PIA Today!... 14

2 About PIA PIA is a national association founded in We represent approximately 8,000 independent insurance agencies across America, representing their owners and employees. PIA members specialize in selling commercial and personal lines property and casualty insurance, but they also sell life and health insurance, workplace benefits and other financial services products. PIA members are Local Agents Serving Main Street America. SM Those six words are not just PIA s tagline. They re a state of mind. It s the way PIA members do business, whether their agency is located on Main Street, in a strip mall or on a city block. About PIA s State Associations You may already have relationships with one or more of PIA s state associations. Our state offices are vital to our efforts on behalf of PIA s members and complement our work at the national level. While we welcome you as a national sponsor and advertiser, we encourage you to maintain your support of our state associations so that they can continue to serve their local PIA members. Take the Next Step Please review the enclosed materials to learn about PIA s 2016 sponsorship and advertising opportunities. Then please contact us so that we can assist you in reaching our members. Independent insurance agents across America count on PIA. So should you! National Association of Professional Insurance Agents 400 N. Washington St. Alexandria, VA Program Contact: Alexi Papandon ext 353 (direct dial: ) alexipa@pianet.org

3 The PIA Partnership Since 1996, The PIA Partnership has been the premier way for carriers to partner with PIA. The PIA Partnership is a hands-on collaboration between carriers and agents. The group identifies areas of opportunity in the agency-company relationship and develops solutions which are made available to PIA members and the appointed agents of Partnership companies. The Partnership is comprised of senior insurance company executives in charge of independent agency initiatives for their respective companies. The executives meet in person 3-4 times per year and meet remotely at other times. Process Topics for The Partnership s projects develop through suggestions from The Partnership s representatives and PIA member agency principals as well as through research conducted by the group. The Partnership representatives do not reinvent the wheel. Instead, they look to solve problems whose solution will benefit both agents as well as their company partners. Generally this involves conducting hands-on primary research before creating a deliverable that can be held out as a tangible deliverable that brings value to PIA s members and our carrier partners. Recent Deliverables Recent deliverables from The PIA Partnership include Small Business Insurance & The Internet The Voice of the Commercial Lines Customer, Closing the Gap Growth & Profit, Agency Touch Points The Voice of the Commercial Lines Customer, Reaching Gen Y, the Practical Guide to Successful Planning and Perpetuation Central. Additional information about each of these programs is available on PIA National s website at Member Companies Current members of The PIA Partnership include: Encompass Insurance Erie Insurance Harleysville Insurance Liberty Mutual Insurance MetLife Auto & Home Motorists Insurance Group Progressive Insurance Selective Insurance Group State Auto Group The Central Insurance Companies The Hanover Insurance Group The Hartford Cost: $15,000/year

4 PIA Federal Legislative Summit The annual PIA Federal Legislative Summit (FLS) is a gathering of PIA members who come together in the nation s capital each spring to meet with their elected representatives. PIA offers companies a number of opportunities to partner with us during the FLS, PIA s premier grassroots lobbying event. There is simply no better way for companies to demonstrate that they support their agents lobbying efforts than by sponsoring the PIA Federal Legislative Summit. Dates: April 6-7, 2016 Cost: To learn about the numerous sponsorship opportunities and their costs, visit to view the flyer below.

5 The PIA Branding Program/Pinnacle Partner Program The PIA Branding Program is a series of advertising and marketing tools that PIA makes available to its members so they can market their agencies in their local communities and beyond. The program includes an extensive series of print and radio advertisements in both English and Spanish stressing the importance of turning to a professional, independent insurance agent when purchasing insurance. The program also includes extensive social media support for PIA member agencies.. PIA also publishes the annual PIA Agency Marketing Guide as part of the PIA Branding Program. This publication provides agents with cutting edge information to help them stay on top of marketing trends. The Pinnacle Partner Program Pinnacle Partners are companies that are committed to the success of independent agents. Their support helps PIA develop new marketing materials for PIA members through the PIA Branding Program. Their sponsorship fees also pay for trade advertising to promote the PIA Branding Program to agents, thus increasing their use of the program s materials. Pinnacle Partners are recognized prominently for their support of this program in print, and online. Your Support Is Vital Your support of the PIA Branding Program will help PIA members capitalize on their strengths and increase their sales. In short, your support will help to keep independent agents on top. Please sign on as a Pinnacle Partner. The cost is only $5,000 per year, yet the benefit to independent agents and your company will be many times that amount. Learn More To learn more about the PIA Branding Program and to see (and hear) our advertisements, please visit PIA National s website at Pinnacle Partner Program Cost: $5,000/year

6 2016 PIA Agency Marketing Guide How will independent agents win business in 2016 and beyond? What new marketing opportunities will help them stay ahead of the competition? These are just some of the questions PIA will answer in the 2016 PIA Agency Marketing Guide, the highly anticipated follow-up to the publications. Join us as we help PIA members stay on top of marketing trends and see what s working and not working in the independent agency system. Distribution The 2016 PIA Agency Marketing Guide will be poly bagged with the June 2016 issue of PIA Connection, PIA s national magazine, and mailed to PIA s approximately 10,500 member agencies and subscribers nationwide. Additional copies will be distributed throughout the following year at PIA state conventions and in member recruitment campaigns, demonstrating the value of PIA membership and showcasing the Guide s sponsors and advertisers. A digital version is also published on PIA National s website at Two Opportunities for Companies 1. Sponsorship: Four sponsorship spots will be available in the 2016 PIA Agency Marketing Guide for select companies serving the independent agency system. Each sponsor will get a 2-page spread in the front portion of the Guide to educate independent agents about their products and services and how they can be an integral part of an agency s product offering and marketing effort. Each sponsors logo will appear on the cover of the Guide and their company name will be included as a sponsor in numerous promotional articles throughout the year. Cost: $10, Advertisements: Full-page, full-color ad space is also available at a cost of $3,000 per page. A limited number of premium ad spaces are available: Inside front cover opposite table of contents ($4,000); page opposite first article ($3,400); right hand page of center spread at staple ($3,400); inside back cover ($3,400); back cover ($4,000). New for 2016: Half-page ad space is now available for $2,000. Have a campaign with multiple messages? Run consecutive full-page ads at the following rates: $3,000 (1st ad), $1,750 (2nd-3rd ads), $1,250 (4th-5th ads).

7 PIA National Awards The prestige of a PIA National award is hard to match in the insurance industry. So is the prestige of sponsoring one. Sponsorships of select company and agency awards are now available. Each spring PIA National presents 3 national awards: Professional Agent of the Year Award Customer Service Representative (CSR) of the Year Award Young Insurance Professional of the Year Award Each fall PIA National presents 4 national awards: Company Award of Excellence Managing General Agency of the Year Company Representative of the Year Excellence in Social Media Sponsorship Benefits Award sponsors will be listed as a sponsor in the following locations: 1. Web pages announcing the award nomination process and covering the award presentation. 2. Multiple articles in PIA Connection, PIA s print publication. 3. Multiple articles in PIA National Newsline, PIA s newsletter 4. A press release announcing the award s presentation. 5. Multiple solicitations to PIA s members (where we have valid addresses). 6. Solicitations to our state affiliate associations asking them to promote the awards program to their members. 7. Signage at the event where the award is presented (including logo) 8. The program distributed at the event where the award is presented (including logo) 9. The nomination form PIA members complete to make nominations (including logo) Additionally, award sponsors: receive one full-page, 4-color print advertisement in the issue of PIA Connection magazine in which the award is covered as a news item may send a representative to the PIA National awards ceremony where their sponsorship will be recognized and where they can join a PIA leader in presenting the award Cost: $7,500/year

8 Intellectual Property PIA National s mission is To promote, protect and defend the integrity of our members, the value of their profession and the success of their businesses. Fulfilling this mission can take on many forms. Often it includes the creation of a whitepaper, a report or some other type of intellectual property. Your company may benefit from sponsoring a piece of PIA s work that is closely aligned with your own goals and organizational mission. If you are interested in sponsoring a whitepaper, a report or some other type of intellectual property, we encourage you to contact us and let us know your particular areas of interest. Once we hear from you, we will work with you to see if there is a fit, either with something we have previously created and could rebrand with your sponsorship, something that is already underway, or something that is on the drawing board. Alternately, you might have a suggestion for a piece of intellectual property that you believe would be of value to PIA s members that we have not yet considered or made plans to produce. Whichever of the scenarios described above might apply to your organization, please take the first step and contact us today with your company s areas of interest. That way, even if there is no good fit currently, we can contact you in the future if we identify an opportunity that may be of interest to you. Cost: Varies

9 New Member Kits Every year, on average, over 1,000 agents join PIA. Each one of these new PIA members is greeted with a new member kit sent by PIA s national headquarters here in Alexandria, Virginia. This new member kit provides them with information about many of the member benefits provided to them by their new association. In 2016 one lucky company will have the opportunity to include its tri-fold brochure in PIA s new member kits. These printed brochures will be located by themselves in a special slit in the left-hand pocket, along with a note from PIA identifying the company s valued sponsorship. This sponsorship opportunity is limited to one company. The sponsor must provide the printed brochures which may not exceed 4 wide x 9 high. Cost: $2,500/year

10 Associate Membership Do you want to know what s on the mind of professional, independent insurance agents? Do you want them to know you support their businesses? Then become a PIA Associate Member or a PIA Gold Associate Member. This national membership category is available to the insurance carriers and vendors that serve the independent agency system. Thank-you letter from PIA National president to company CEO. Use of PIA Associate Member logo on company materials and website Plaque/certificate Gold Associate Membership Y Y (Gold Associate Member logo) Membership plaque Associate Membership Y (Associate Member logo) Membership certificate Subscription to PIA National Newsline weekly newsletter Up to 10 recipients* Up to 5 recipients* Subscription to PIA Connection magazine (published 10 times/year) Up to 10 recipients* 1 recipient* Access to discounted advertising in PIA Connection, PIA National Newsline and the PIA National Agency Marketing Guide Y Y Cost: $1,000/year $500/year * Subscriptions are for company personnel only. Download a flyer about PIA s Associate Memberships: Download a PIA Associate Memberships Application:

11 Web Site Sponsors Is there a certain issue that is important to your company? If so, consider sponsoring an issue section on PIA s website. Sponsorship of an issue section gives your company visibility throughout the year whenever someone reads an article on PIA s website about the issue. To see PIA s issues, simply visit and hover your cursor over the Issues tab. Cost: $2,000/year

12 Governance Meetings If you are looking to make an impression on PIA s national leadership in 2016, please consider a sponsorship at one of our semi-annual governance meetings. Each year the association s spring committee and board of directors meetings are held in Northern Virginia, just outside of Washington, DC, in conjunction with the annual PIA Federal Legislative Summit (see page 4). The association s fall committee and board of directors meetings are held at a different location around the country each year. Each meeting is attended by approximately of PIA s national directors, state association presidents and presidents-elect and state association executive directors (this does not include attendees of PIA s Federal Legislative Summit). Your company s sponsorship includes a sponsorship listing in the meeting s schedule of events and a sponsorship listing with your company logo at the event. A number of different opportunities are available, including: 1. The Gathering Place (PIA s registration and lounge area) ($2,500) 2. Continental breakfast ($1,000) 3. Luncheon ($1,000) 4. Reception ($5,000) 5. Friday night off-site outing (Please call to discuss.) 6. Room amenities (Available only to companies participating in certain other PIA sponsorship programs. Please call for details.) PIA s spring 2016 governance meetings will be held April 8-9, 2016 at The Crystal City Marriott in Arlington, VA, immediately following the 2016 PIA Federal Legislative Summit. The fall 2016 meetings will be held September 21-23, 2016 in Omaha, NE.

13 Advertise with PIA If you have a specific message that you want PIA members across America to hear loud and clear, please consider an advertising package in PIA Connection, PIA s national magazine, PIA National Newsline, our weekly newsletter or the annual PIA Agency Marketing Guide. PIA Connection PIA Connection is PIA s national magazine and is a great way to maintain a regular presence in front of America s Main Street agents. We offer a variety of display advertising opportunities as well as a resource directory, the PIA Connection Marketplace PIA Agency Marketing Guide The PIA Agency Marketing Guide is a print and digital publication with one goal: to provide PIA members with practical information that they can use to successfully market their agencies. Each issue provides cutting edge guidance on a variety of sales and marketing topics. The 2016 PIA Agency Marketing Guide will mail with the June 2016 issue of PIA Connection. Four sponsorship spots are available as are full-page display advertising opportunities. PIA National Newsline Newsletter PIA National Newsline, PIA s weekly newsletter, provides PIA members and leadership with a timely, concise review and analysis of the week in insurance, with a particular focus on what it means to agents. Display advertising opportunities are available. Learn More For more information about each of these advertising opportunities, please contact Alexi Papandon at ext 353 (direct dial: ) or alexipa@pianet.org.

14 Find Your Fit Contact PIA Today! As you can see, PIA provides many ways to strengthen your brand and promote your business to independent insurance agents. We encourage you to contact us to discuss your business s goals. Like an independent agent with a potential insured, we ll take the time to understand your needs and find a solution that fits you. If you would be better off working with a PIA state association or another group entirely, we ll let you know that too. Why? Because we d prefer that potential sponsors and advertisers find a good fit for their business s needs. That s not only good for you, it s good for PIA s members, because it helps ensure that PIA s sponsors and advertisers are companies that can provide PIA members with opportunity. That s why PIA is The Association that creates unlimited opportunities for professional insurance agents [PIA National vision statement]. For more information about each of the opportunities described here, please contact Alexi Papandon at ext 353 (direct dial: ) or alexipa@pianet.org. Program Contact: Alexi Papandon ext 353 (direct dial: ) alexipa@pianet.org National Association of Professional Insurance Agents 400 N. Washington St. Alexandria, VA