When it comes to advertising one's services, all agencies are not created equal. Thus, depending on a company's needs (and budget), marketing for insurance agents can take many forms, from old-school to high tech. Some may be surprised to find that the oldies but goodies are still around for good reason—in other words, they continue to get results.

For example, consider one of the lowest-tech tactics of them all: the emergency information card. Sized to fit easily within a wallet, purse, or pocket, these cards typically have the agency's address, hours of operation, phone, fax, email, and contact name. Their usefulness is further increased if additional emergency information is included on the card, such as numbers for police, fire, poison control, and so on. The cards are handy in the event of an emergency, when a client may not have access to his or her cell phone, and they can be readily shared. This makes them one of the simplest and least expensive ways to obtain referrals.

Let a voice recorder serve as a memory device. Savvy agents often keep a recorder on hand to capture a great idea and commit it to electronic memory for future reference. While out and about, either walking or driving, take note of commercial vehicles that list a phone number. Call the number to not only inform the owner of how well the vehicle was being driven (and where), request the chance to bid for the business upon renewal.

Door hangers are another low-tech approach to informing the community about the company's products and services. Canvass entire neighborhoods and make sure the phones are manned to answer any questions about the operation.

Create a face in the community. A long time ago, it was common for local businesses to sponsor the local Little League team or other similar organization; there's no reason the firm can't do it today. This builds a great deal of goodwill while putting the company name on the back of t-shirts or uniforms that are very visible to the whole community as well as the many moms, dads, and friends of the group. Also volunteer by offering an advice column in the local newspaper, hosting a booth at the car show where people can get fast, free quotes or free window etching on their auto glass (to help prevent theft), or offering to speak at the local Rotary Club or Chamber of Commerce meetings to provide valuable advice about coverage.

These homespun ideas can make marketing for insurance agents a simple yet easy task to accomplish that puts the heart back in business.