The responses to our October issue fax/Internet poll forum indicate that agents of wide-ranging ages are acclimating themselves and their clients to the use of e-mail. Agents in their 30s made up 28.6% of the e-mail users; those in their 40s--another 28.6%; agents in their 50s--35.7%; and those at least 60 years old accounted for 7.1%.
For 61.1% of agents using e-mail, less than 35% of their insurance companies are offering e-mail support such as underwriting, claims or customer service.
About 43% of the agents with e-mail capabilities check their messages once or twice a day. When e-mail users travel, the majority (64.3%) have someone in the office check their e-mail for them. Another 28.5% use laptops to check messages on at least some trips.
A majority of these agents (77%) either have added their e-mail address to their letterhead, ads and business cards or are in the process of doing so. Most try to remain sensitive to their clients' "technology comfort zone," but encourage clients to use e-mail. *
©COPYRIGHT: The Rough Notes Magazine, 1998