Webtricity Blog

What the new AI-powered Search box on Google means for insurance agents

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Google recently announced a major shift in how users will interact with Google Search. The expectation is that instead of typing a few keywords into a small search bar, they'll start interacting with Gemini immediately, using a larger search bar where a full sentence can be entered.

The internet exploded with doomer takes -websites are dead, SEO is dead, the internet is dead. Dead, dead, dead.

There are a few things that have been retired and replaced (like Google Alerts), but SEO, websites and the internet are still kicking. Evolving? Yes. Dead? No.

What Should Insurance Agents Do Now?

Plan Ahead to Get Ahead

Assess whether your website is AI-friendly. If not, get started on some upgrades this summer and get ahead of your competition.

Frequently Asked Questions
About the Recent Google Search Changes

Is this the end of websites?

No. Google can't be everything to everyone, no matter how hard they try.

A percentage of search traffic is purely research:

When is the next Royal's game?

Difference between moth and butterfly?

Can lemon trees grow in Canada?

This update will have the greatest impact on those users. People who make money on the paid ads displayed on a website that is heavily dependent on users visiting their site to read their content probably shouldn't quit their day job.

But service industries like insurance? You absolutely still need a website to promote your brand, provide customer service, establish yourself as an insurance expert and member of your local community, and of course to collect information from leads. The latest update from Google doesn't touch this aspect of an insurance agency website.

Does it matter how my website looks anymore?

Yes. As long as humans have eyes, little patience, and cat-like attention spans, web design matters.

Google will still end up sending visitors to your website. When a human visitor lands on your website, the experience is the same as it's always been: an instant evaluation of whether this is the result they wanted and do they want to request a quote/contact your agency.

Is SEO dead?

No, but definitely pivoting. A dramatic change from Google that upends the world of SEO is not new. There will be a learning period, a lot of posturing about who knows the most, and a lot of guessing and testing out new strategies. The strategies that prove the most effective will emerge at the other end as the new best practices.

Did I waste my money and time on SEO?

Definitely not. But the focus will be on getting AI agents to cite your website as a source (resulting in more traffic or calls to your agency). These strategies will build on those traditional SEO efforts.

What does SEO look like now?

Content is still important. Focus on adding conversational content focused on what people are asking you.

What are leads and customers asking about? What [insurance] challenges are they facing? What are they seeing on the news that makes them think "Hmm I wonder if my insurance policy...?"

Are some EVs cheaper to insure than others?
Should I shop for cheaper insurance after getting a new roof?
Does home insurance cover chemical storage tank explosions?
Am I at risk of being dropped by my insurance carrier?
Does my auto policy cover accidentally setting my car on fire with a bottle rocket on the 4th of July?

The style of your content can be blog articles, FAQs, resource pages - it doesn't really matter what style of page you choose, so long as it matches (answers) what people are searching for (asking in the AI search bar) on Google.

Make sure your site is AI-friendly. Remember when browsing the web from your phone was new? All of a sudden you needed to make sure your website was usable on a tiny screen. This time you'll want to think about how an AI bot consumes the content on your website, which is different than Google search bots.

To make your site easily consumed by an AI agent, your website should be:

Organized: URL structure is clean and logical; content is to-the-point
Discoverable: Content and files are structured in a way that AIs can consume them efficiently
Fast: If your website platform doesn't utilize automatic page caching, then your website is (probably) not fast.

Sync up your agency's digital record. Review all of the places where your contact information is listed online and make sure that your agency name, phone number, address and website are identical to what is listed on your website.

At a minimum, make sure these other sources of info match your website:

Google Business Profile(s)
Social profiles (Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.)
Insurance carrier "Find an Agent" profiles
Insurance industry profiles (like Trusted Choice)
Local membership profiles (like Chamber of Commerce)

Standing out will require more than the basics. We've seen real-world impact on the frequency that a site is cited or linked to in AI-powered search results (via ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, CoPilot, etc.) by focusing on things like:

Use of structured data throughout the website
Adding directives to the robots.txt file to instruct AI "bots" where and how to find important information on your site
Strategically placing high-value, influential content (like reviews) on key pages.

The Webtricity SEO+GEO Toolbox has all of the capabilities used by professionals in a comprehensive optimization plan.

Not sure you'd know what you're doing with these utilities? One of our website experts can do the setup and put all of the tools to work for you, so you can hit the ground running this summer, well ahead of your competition.

Don't have a Webtricity site yet?

Try it out for an entire month for only $1. You can build the entire website yourself or hire one of our web designers to do the project for you.

Webtricity is now a Globe Life Approved Vendor

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 05:00:00 GMT

We are excited to announce that Webtricity has been accepted as a Globe Life approved vendor for websites for life and health insurance agents.

This means that another big name in insurance agrees that we build great websites and provide quality customer service.

It also means that your can use your BBA dollars towards your Webtricity website.

For more information on how to redeem your BBA balance on a new website with Webtricity, email UASSAApprovals [at] globe [dot] life.

All-In-One Marketing Packages vs Stand-Alone Websites

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 06:00:00 GMT

A LOT of companies who sell business websites primarily sell all-encompassing marketing solutions and customer relationship management (CRM) systems.

Everything (in theory) works together and there are no extra integrations to manage. A lead comes in through your website and is instantly visible in your CRM. It’s great, right?

Well, maybe. But what if it doesn’t? What if you want to switch out just ONE piece of what the all-in-one package offers? You’re probably looking at switching out everything. That’s a substantially bigger project. One you probably don’t have time for. You can see why providers do it this way. The cost of switching is very high, so you’ll put up with a lot - including annual rate increases.

We’re big fans of compartmentalizing. We avoid being dependent on one company for more than one service. Our phone company has nothing to do with our email. We use a different company for website hosting than we do for email hosting. We don’t use our domain registrar for anything other than domain registration. Yes, we have more vendors and passwords and credit card charges to keep track of. But when a service starts to degrade, we can swap out that one piece without disrupting our entire ecosystem. That switch barely makes a ripple in our day-to-day operations, and that is worth a lot to us.

If you’re shopping for a new website, be sure you’re considering the downstream effects of going all-in with one vendor. The “bundled savings” or “free website included” may sound attractive up front, but in a year from now, the cost to untangle yourself from a service that is either not working out or is now beyond your budget may be more than the savings.

In many cases, you get what you pay for out of the “free website” that was included in your package. The customization is minimal, the updates are either difficult or expensive, and you don’t have much control over the content.

One last thing to mention today to readers looking to get a new website - Webtricity doesn’t use WordPress. We’ll leave it at that, but you can do some research on why that might be a valuable benefit for your website. (You can start here, here, or here.)

You can get started on a Webtricity site right now for only $1.

If you have questions or want some help, schedule a call with one of our website experts who can walk you through everything you need to know.

Community Spotlight: Feline Fix

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 16:55:56 GMT

At the end of year year, the team at Webtricity chooses to make donations to a few organizations that have made a meaningful impact in our community and/or in our own lives. We encourage you to find out more about the mission of each organization (and make a donation as well, whether to this group or a similar one in your own community).

Allison's Pick for 2024:

Allison is a Crazy Cat Lady who is passionated about helping stray & abandoned cats find homes, as well as reduce the feral cat population via TNR. At any given moment, there are foster cats scattered throughout her house.

Allison chose to donate to Feline Fix - a critical partner to the cat ladies in the KC area, providing discounted spay/neuter, vaccines, and emergency vet care.

About Feline Fix

Feline Fix is a small non-profit group dedicated to helping stray, abandoned and feral cats in the KC area through discounted vet care and adoption services.

They also help local cat owners obtain lower cost spay & neuter services.

Individual cat rescuers provide a valuable (but mostly invisible) service to their communities by filling the gaps left by underfunded or non-existent animal control and rescue services by:

Trapping stray and feral cats
Transporting cats to vet care or to new homes
Paying for vet care for trapped cats
Delivering food and water to community cat colonies
Fostering and rehoming adoptable cats
Providing assistance to those who need help with vet care and/or food and litter

In most areas, there's no financial assistance or tax deduction available for any of this expense.

Without organizations like Feline Fix, the individuals in the cat rescue community would be as lost and unsupported as the cats they work to help.

How You Can Help

Regardless whether you love cats or view them as pests who harm wildlife, your community depends on you to help reduce the population of stray cats.

Fix your cats, even if you don't think they'll ever go outside.
Microchip your cats, even if you don't think they'll ever get lost.
If you feed a stray cat, get it fixed (look for groups like Feline Fix in your area for help).
Look for the [cat] helpers in your community who could use a hand, whether it's donations, food/litter or short-term fostering.

Community Spotlight: Great Plains SPCA

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 13:18:38 GMT

Andrew's Pick for 2024:

As a life-long dog owner (and lover), Andrew chose Great Plains SPCA, a local nonprofit no-kill animal shelter in the Kansas City area, providing compassionate care for 5,000 animals annually.

About Great Plains SPCA

Great Plains SPCA is a nonprofit organization making a significant difference in the lives of animals across the Kansas City metro area. As one of the leading no-kill animal shelters in the region, they provide affordable services while focusing on building a compassionate community for animals.

At the heart of their mission is a commitment to provide life-saving services for approximately 5,000 animals every year.

They provide a safe haven, medical care, and rehabilitation for animals who are abandoned, neglected, surrendered, or homeless.

Great Plains SPCA proudly has a live release rate of 98% as a part of the no-kill shelter movement. Here are some of the impactful ways they support pets and the community:

No-kill Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation
Adoption Services
Low-Cost Veterinary Services
Community Education and Resources
Lost and Found Program

The average cost of care per animal is $1,350, while adoption fees average just $173, leaving a $1,177 shortfall per animal.

Donations are essential to help bridge this gap, ensuring every animal receives the care they need. Every service they provide is designed to give animals a second chance at life and unite them with forever homes.

New: Exterior Renovation Contractor Websites

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 05:00:00 GMT

Webtricity now offers websites exterior renovation contractors. New templates, content, stock photos & features all tailored specifically for fence construction and repair.

Built-in content about common services that is ready to add with a click of a button

Stock photo library with tons of relevant images to customize your website

Effectively simple lead forms

Simple integration options to connect your online scheduling service

Have your contractor website up and running in 15 minutes or less

Too busy installing doors and tearing out decks to mess with a website? One of our in-house website experts can do it for you.

Example Exterior Renovation Contractor Websites:

Ready to Get Started?

Schedule a call Send us a note Try it for $1

New: Fence Contractor Websites

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 05:00:00 GMT

Webtricity now offers websites for fence builders. New templates, content, stock photos & features all tailored specifically for fence construction and repair.

Built-in content about common services that is ready to add with a click of a button

Stock photo library with tons of relevant images to customize your website

Effectively simple lead forms

Simple integration options to connect your online scheduling service

Have your fence builder website up and running in 15 minutes or less

Too busy putting up fence to mess with a website? One of our in-house website experts can do it for you.

Example Fence Contractor Websites:

Ready to Get Started?

Schedule a call Send us a note Try it for $1

New: Lawn Care & Landscaping Websites

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 05:00:00 GMT

Webtricity now offers websites for lawn care & landscape businesses. New templates, content, stock photos & features all tailored specifically for landscaping, lawn maintenance services, and other outdoor services.

Built-in content about common services that is ready to add with a click of a button

Stock photo library with tons of relevant images to customize your website

Effectively simple lead forms

Simple integration options to connect your online scheduling service

Have your lawn care website up and running in 15 minutes or less

Too busy mowing lawns and hauling mulch to mess with a website? One of our in-house website experts can do it for you.

Example Lawn & Landscape Websites:

Ready to Get Started?

Schedule a call Send us a note Try it for $1

New: Plumbing Website Solutions

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 16:07:51 GMT

Webtricity now offers websites for plumbers. New templates, content, stock photos & features all tailored specifically for plumbers.

Built-in content about common plumbing services that is ready to add with a click of a button

Stock photo library with tons of relevant images to customize your website

Effectively simple lead forms

Simple integration options to connect your online scheduling service

Have your plumbing website up and running in 15 minutes or less

Too busy cleaning drains and installing faucets to mess with a website? One of our in-house website experts can do it for you.

Example Plumbing Websites:

Ready to Get Started?

Schedule a call Send us a note Try it for $1

What's New: July 2024

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 05:00:00 GMT

The Webtricity team has been busy, building and revamping and upgrading and testing. There's lots of new stuff to check out...

For starters, Webtricity is no longer just for insurance websites. Our templates and plans now suit any business or individual who needs a website.

Insurance will always be near and dear to us, since we've spent decades in the industry, and we're excited to expand our platform to other markets now too.

What's New

New Website - Our new website runs on Webtricity too!
New Plans - DIY, MIX, PRO & VIP
New Templates - Rivertown, Frisby & Greenville
Expanded designer library (stock photos, fonts, social networking icons, background effects & more)

Want a Free Website Redesign?

The first 10 customers who upgrade get a brand new site built by one of our professional website experts FOR FREE.

These spots will fill fast, so upgrade your website plan ASAP if you want to be one of the ones who gets a whole new website for free.

Click here to get a FREE Website Refresh

New Website-Ready Content

TEN new pages of website-ready insurance content are now available (and free!) to DIY, MIX, PRO or VIP users:

Fitness Centers
Hair Salons & Barbers
Childcare Centers
Real Estate Professionals
Lawn Care & Landscaping
Pool & Spa Contractors
Retail Stores
Product Liability
Roofing Contractors
Trucking Companies

Click here to add this content to your website

New Templates

We added three new insurance website templates, available with a DIY, MIX, PRO or VIP plan. Upgrading is easy - we'll help you with the whole process.

Rivertown

Frisby

Greenville

New Feature

PDF Exports: You can now export the quote requests and contact messages you receive through your website into a PDF to store within your AMS/CRM, or just for your own records. Available on MIX, PRO, & VIP plans (and to customers who have the Enhanced Forms upgrade).

Webtricity Blog

What the new AI-powered Search box on Google means for insurance agents

What Should Insurance Agents Do Now?

Plan Ahead to Get Ahead

Frequently Asked QuestionsAbout the Recent Google Search Changes

Is this the end of websites?

Does it matter how my website looks anymore?

Is SEO dead?

Did I waste my money and time on SEO?

What does SEO look like now?

Don't have a Webtricity site yet?

Webtricity is now a Globe Life Approved Vendor

All-In-One Marketing Packages vs Stand-Alone Websites

Community Spotlight: Feline Fix

Allison's Pick for 2024:

About Feline Fix

How You Can Help

Community Spotlight: Great Plains SPCA

Andrew's Pick for 2024:

About Great Plains SPCA

New: Exterior Renovation Contractor Websites

Example Exterior Renovation Contractor Websites:

Ready to Get Started?

New: Fence Contractor Websites

Example Fence Contractor Websites:

Ready to Get Started?

New: Lawn Care & Landscaping Websites

Example Lawn & Landscape Websites:

Ready to Get Started?

New: Plumbing Website Solutions

Example Plumbing Websites:

Ready to Get Started?

What's New: July 2024

What's New

Want a Free Website Redesign?

New Website-Ready Content

New Templates

New Feature

Frequently Asked Questions
About the Recent Google Search Changes