Starkweather & Shepley Gives Clients Peace of Mind With Marketo

SAN MATEO, Calif., Nov. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Insurance provider Starkweather & Shepley is partnering with Marketo, Inc., the leading provider of marketing software and solutions, to help its clients better prepare for uncertainty through personalized, practical content related to life's unexpected situations. Using Marketo's platform, Starkweather & Shepley has built stronger connections with its customer base and grown new business revenue by 10-15 percent through marketing.

Other notable achievements include:

• Numerous high-premium deals with help from automated event follow-up messages
• As high as 100 percent open-rates on video introductions from sales reps to highly targeted prospective customer lists
• Nearly 50 percent of attendance to certain seminars sourced via Marketo Ad Bridge and ads on LinkedIn and Facebook
• A reduction in unsubscribe rates thanks to content optimized for mobile and desktop, all with a consistent look and feel across all channels

In an industry where companies are responsible for providing their customers with peace of mind, it is essential that insurers be able to help clients prepare for any unexpected event. Consumers are increasingly searching online for more personalized insurance offerings, breaking the industry mode of traditional paper communication. Starkweather & Shepley recognized that a digital shift would make a big difference for the firm, from the ability to automatically send alerts to financial customers on industry regulation changes to supplying customers with claims information ahead of winter storms. The 137-year-old brokerage chose Marketo as a partner for their digital transformation because of its proven success in regulated industries and strong platform that could support a full suite of marketing activities.

Since January 2016, Starkweather & Shepley has used Marketo to do everything from deploying weekly email newsletters across its 19 practice groups to sending short video introductions from sales reps to prospective customers. The latter has given a more creative and personal touch to sales outreach, with the ability to measure which videos have led to closed deals. In addition, the firm's marketing team of one has been able to automate email campaigns to attendees of live and online events, in turn tracking how they have contributed to millions of dollars in revenue, a number that has gradually increased since January. As a result of these efforts, Starkweather & Shepley was recognized as one of the top three "Fastest-Growing & Innovative Companies" by Providence Business News.

"We never thought that something as simple as sending out a newsletter to prospects or a survey to customers would generate business, but we're closing deals thanks to the engagement we're driving," says Stefan Petrella, marketing & advertising director, Starkweather & Shepley. "Marketo makes it possible for Starkweather & Shepley to continue to put clients first by having ongoing conversations that lead to deeper relationships and ultimately more revenue."

To learn more about how Marketo is helping customers in the insurance industry and beyond, visit www.marketo.com.

About Starkweather & Shepley Insurance Brokerage, Inc.

Starkweather & Shepley is presently the largest independent agency in Rhode Island and the 69th largest insurance brokerage firm in the U.S. Starkweather & Shepley is also one of the oldest companies in the state with over 135 years of experience of providing insurance solutions to New England residents and businesses alike. The firm provides commercial insurance, personal insurance, health and employee benefits, surety bonding and risk management service. These services are provided nationally and internationally, through its partnership with Assurex Global. Headquartered in East Providence, RI, Starkweather has additional branch offices in Westerly, RI; Bristol and Shelton, CT; Westwood, Sturbridge, and Martha's Vineyard, MA; and Fort Myers, FL.

About Marketo

Marketo provides the leading engagement marketing software and solutions designed to help marketers develop long-term relationships with their customers - from acquisition to advocacy. Marketo is built for marketers, by marketers and is setting the innovation agenda for marketing technology. Marketo puts Marketing First. Headquartered in San Mateo, CA, with offices around the world, Marketo serves as a strategic partner to large enterprise and fast-growing small companies across a wide variety of industries. To learn more about Marketo's Engagement Marketing Platform, LaunchPoint^® partner ecosystem, and the vast community that is the Marketo Marketing Nation®, visit www.marketo.com.

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SOURCE Marketo, Inc.