Over 50% of Prospects Share Insurance Instantly—Fueling $850K+ Monthly Premium Growth at The Canopy Group
550–600 inbound leads per month
$850K–$900K in new premium written monthly
70% of intake questions eliminated
Overview
The Canopy Group* is a high-volume, personal-lines-focused insurance agency based in Minnesota, operating under the Brown & Brown umbrella. With around 55 employees across three locations, the agency generates roughly $64 million in premium—80% of it personal lines.
With 550–600 inbound leads each month and an average of $850,000 to $900,000 in new personal lines premium, the team needed a way to quote efficiently without overwhelming agents. Since implementing Canopy Connect, they've streamlined data collection, improved accuracy, and dramatically boosted their quoting capacity.
“I thought it was too good to be true. I was trying to poke holes in it—but it actually is that easy.”
— Josh Sitzmann, Agency Leader, The Canopy Group
The Challenge
Agents at The Canopy Group collected prospect data the “old school” way—by phone, email, and spreadsheets. It worked, but it was inefficient. With hundreds of leads pouring in every month, keeping up was a growing challenge.
Accuracy was another concern. Clients often didn’t know their actual deductibles or coverage changes at renewal, especially in Minnesota’s volatile market, where carriers frequently adjust terms like roof coverage or replacement cost.
“People would think they had a $1,000 deductible, but they really had a $5,000. Or they’d swear they had replacement cost coverage—and they didn’t. We were comparing apples to oranges.”
Without clear data, quoting took longer, and the agency risked either misquoting or wasting time on leads that weren’t viable in the first place.
The Canopy Connect Solution
The Canopy Group subscribed to Canopy Connect as a lightweight, high-impact addition to their workflow. The implementation was simple: agents embedded their unique Canopy Connect link into new lead emails and website follow-ups. No major process overhaul. No added friction.
“When someone inquires, we send a quick intro email with the Canopy link embedded,” said Sitzmann. Over half of them click it right away. It’s just that easy.”
What surprised Josh most wasn’t how well it worked—but how willing clients were to use it.
“I thought people would hesitate to log in or share their premiums. But over 50% of people complete it with no pushback. They just say, ‘Let me know if you need anything else.’”
70% Less Data Collection, More Time Back
Canopy Connect pulls full insurance data directly from the carrier, which means agents no longer need to ask for:
- Driver and vehicle info
- Policy limits
- Deductibles
- Coverage types
- Roof age or Actual Cash Value (ACV) vs. Replacement Cost Value (RCV) coverage
“It eliminates 70% of the questions we used to ask. Now, I can scan the data, ask a couple follow-ups, and move on. That’s a massive time-saver across hundreds of leads.”
This shift allows agents to manage their bandwidth more effectively, a must in a high-volume shop. “Even if I’m working 10 leads at once, Canopy helps me prioritize. It puts the ball in the client’s court initially, so I can manage my day better,” said Sitzmann.
Better Data = Better Close Rates
With accurate policy info upfront, agents can instantly spot gaps, misaligned coverage, or renewal surprises, and use that to start smarter conversations.
“We’ve closed more deals just by knowing exactly what someone has. We can show them what’s missing or explain what’s about to change.”
Even more valuable? Knowing when not to quote. Sitzmann explained, “If someone has a 22-year-old roof, and we can’t write that, we can tell them right away. Or if their current rate is already unbeatable, we don’t waste anyone’s time.” This ability to qualify and prioritize leads early helps the team stay efficient and focused.
Internal Adoption: “This Is a No-Brainer”
The rollout was grassroots. A few early adopters embraced it, and soon others followed.
“Some were hesitant just because it was new. I sat down with them, walked through how others were using it, and they got on board. It’s really not hard.”
Today, the team sends out 350+ links a month via website and email, and many clients complete Canopy Connect before the agent even reaches out again.
Unexpected Wins
- Policy clarity that builds trust: “Clients assume they know what they have—but we can see the truth, and help them understand it.”
- More efficient quote comparisons: “We can use Canopy Connect to refresh and compare at renewal, even if they’re not our client yet.”
- Lead prioritization: “We can politely pass or re-queue low-opportunity leads instead of spending 30 minutes quoting someone we can’t help.”
“The best thing? We look more professional, and the client has a smoother experience. Everyone wins.”
Advice for Other Agencies
“Just try it. I think people assume clients won’t do it—but they will. We’ve had people with 20+ policies log in and share everything in one click. It makes quoting way easier, and you don’t lose that personal touch,” said Sitzmann. Instead of chasing documents, agents can dive straight into meaningful discussions that build trust. Clients feel taken care of, and agents get to focus on advising instead of admin work.
“If you're handling a lot of leads, Canopy Connect isn’t optional. It’s essential.”