PIA Debuts Radio Ads in Agent Branding Program

PIA Debuts Radio Ads in Agent Branding Program

WASHINGTON, May 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA) has unveiled a series of 28 radio advertisements as the latest phase of its award-winning branding program, Local Agents Serving Main Street America(SM).

PIA's new radio ads complement the 251 print ads already available to PIA members as part of PIA's Main Street branding campaign. PIA members across the country have run these print ads in their local newspapers, on billboards and as printed fliers.

"The addition of radio advertising to the PIA Branding Program is very exciting and very appropriate for PIA members," said PIA National President Robert Page. "Radio is among the most intimate forms of communication. Listeners form a one-on-one bond with the voices they hear on the radio, just like insurance customers form a personal bond with their professional insurance agents."

PIA's radio ads are available to PIA members free of charge, as part of their association membership. Like PIA's print ads, the new radio ads can be used to promote an agency generally, or they can be used to specifically support auto, home or commercial insurance sales. Each radio ad can be tagged with a PIA member agency's contact information, and optionally, the name of a company they represent

In 2007, the PIA Branding Program received two prestigious MarCom Awards from the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP), a Platinum Award in the Corporate Branding category and a Gold Award in the Advertising Campaign category. The PIA Branding Program was also named a Gold Award recipient of the Hermes Creative Awards 2007 competition and the recipient of an APEX Award for Publication Excellence.

"PIA's new radio ads stress the personal service and choice that only professional insurance agents provide," said PIA National Executive Vice President & CEO Len Brevik. "They shine a bright light on the advantages of working with professional insurance agents and the deficiencies of direct writers and captive agents. And they remind listeners that PIA members are local Main Street agents who live in their communities."

"Every day in America, radio listeners are bombarded with messages trying to convince them that the best way to obtain insurance is to call an 800 number or visit a web site," said Page. "They hold out the prospect of lower rates, hoping consumers will accept the premise that call center operators and computer servers can serve them as well as their local professional insurance agent. PIA's radio advertisements burst that bubble."

To hear PIA's new radio ads, and to see a list of the 55 companies that have signed on as sponsors of the PIA Branding Program, simply visit PIA National's website at www.pianet.com/piabrandingprogram.

Founded in 1931, PIA is a national trade association that represents member insurance agents and their employees who sell and service all kinds of insurance, but specialize in coverage of automobiles, homes and businesses. PIA members are Local Agents Serving Main Street America(SM). PIA's web address is www.pianet.com.

This press release online at: http://www.pianet.com/NewsCenter/PressReleases/5-14-08-8.htm

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: National Association of Professional Insurance Agents

CONTACT: Ted Besesparis of the National Association of Professional
Insurance Agents, +1-703-518-1352

Web Site:

http://www.pianet.com/

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