Dear State Farm,

One thing that seems to continually bother me is when the wealthiest people and companies choose not to really do the world some good.  When they choose profits over people.  When they are genuinely in a position to change an industry for the better which will increase their profits and genuinely help the American public and they choose not to.  Baffled by it.

Why write today?

  • Because every time I receive another letter from you I wonder why another tree branch had to die.
  • Because I wonder why a huge company allows their product to be so diluted by advertising.
  • Because I wonder about the last time you or I calculated any savings in percentages.
  • Because I am wondering if there is anyone who can accurately calculate a discount on an insurance policy.
  • Because I am wondering why, in the age of specialization, personalization and niches you still send to “or Current Resident”
  • Because I am wondering why, if you are really a good neighbor, you don’t use local printers and mailing operations.
  • Because I am wondering why you are still using white envelopes when there is science behind using colored envelopes.
  • Because I am wondering why you use a standard #10 envelope when you can mail one twice the size for the same cost.

Oh, and your copy stinks.  Seriously, do any of your agents have enough time to “take a long, hard look at all the possible ways you can save….” Really, if you are still combing through policies you have bigger issues.

But then again you are the largest insurer in the U.S.A.  You also have fifteen agents within about ten miles of my home.  **That is scary**  What do I know.  Either way, thanks for reading.

Sincerely,

 

Billy Van Jura

 

Disclaimer; There is good and bad in everything and advertising/marketing is no exception.  We are reminded of this every time we open our inbox, our mailbox, drive around, listen to the radio, watch T.V. etc.  I suppose the other side of this is that the lazy, spam like advertising perpetrated by many companies actually makes average advertising look good and good look great.

Who uses the phone book?

So like a lot of people, a phone book shows up in a plastic bag in my driveway.  Seems like it happens a couple of times each year.  For whatever reason this weekend I decided to open the bag.  Yes, it is smaller than I remembered.  It is also apparently very eco-friendly addition produced by Hibu .

Now, I am sure somebody keeps them and uses it a few times a year.  My household does not, fortunately today is garbage day so it is now in the recycle bin.  I did learn about www.yellowpagesoptout.com and have now opted out of the three available books.  Now what?

Do you have Google?  Then why would you need a phone book.  I feel kind of the same way about Angies List .  I firmly believe it is great to get recommendations but I prefer to get them from friends not strangers.  Again, I can see why some people need this sort of service.  Sort of a shame though, relying on an online forum rather than human beings you know.  So like all things I take a look at the insurance side of things.

In the yellow pages there are 200+ insurance companies listed.  Some are agents who take on numerous listings.  Others are names I recognized that are no longer in business.  I suppose I hope that they are not paying for these listings but some have full blow ads.   This is sad to me but hey; do whatever works for you.  I do wish I new who called them because of these ads, that would be much more interesting than the ad itself.

Bottom line, my phone book is my phone.  If there is not a number in my personal listings then I search via Google or even Facebook.  How about you?

 

Either way, just a thought.