Insurance agents are continuously looking for a creative opportunity to grow their business. The days of mass post card mailing and cold calling are gone. Insurance agents know that in order to get ahead of their competition, they need to narrow their focus and target specific groups. As agents turn to online resources, they find this task manageable, affordable and are ultimately enjoying success.
There are an increasing number of modern high ROI insurance marketing services available for agents. InsuranceAgents.com, an online insurance marketing and lead generation service provider, offers a wide variety of marketing services including some of the highest quality insurance leads available and a national online directory of insurance agents visited by thousands of consumers a month.
As agents begin using more advanced resources for their marketing efforts, it’s important to remember the basics. By using these 10 simple marketing tips, you are able to grow your business by winning clients from competitors who forget that sometimes it’s the simple things that matter most.
- Set a marketing budget.
With all the expenses of managing an agency, it’s easy to miss setting up a marketing budget. However, marketing is a crucial key to success and is just as important as staying within your budgets.
- Create a marketing calendar.
Your marketing calendar will lay out when and how to spend your marketing budget. Mark when you'll launch certain campaigns and how much money you are allocating for each campaign.
- Track marketing efforts with response codes.
Use response codes on all your marketing efforts to find out what is working and what isn’t. Your direct mail pieces, emails and advertisements should all have a response code that identifies the lead to the marketing effort. This is relativity simple and essential to know where you should invest more money and where you should pull back.
- Use renewal reminders.
This is a service that is critical to your business. The quickest way to lose a client is to forget to remind them that their policy is up for renewal. If you don't remind them to renew with your agency, then they’ll likely shop around and possibly move to a competitor. It’s also another way to show your client you care about their business.
- Be unique and promote it.
How do you stand out in the crowd? Do you speak more than one language? Do you have a product line that others don't offer? Think about what makes you unique and promote it.
- Include your photo.
Including a photo is a great way to create a personal connection and make a potential client feel comfortable with you. You can create a personalized page with photos, maps, and a detailed biography with the Agent Directory on InsuranceAgents.com.
- Call potential clients to action.
Your marketing efforts need to include a call to action. It may seem that it's overdone, but it's a proven fact that phrases such as “Reply Today” or “Call Now” actually do work.
- Send personal cards and letters.
Your clients share some of their largest milestones in life with you. You know their birthday, whether they are getting married, if they are retiring, or even having a baby. A simple card or letter is an effective way to show your clients you care. This small gesture is sure to go a long way when it comes time to renew or add to an existing policy.
- Cooperation is more productive than competition.
Other agents are great resources. Network with other smart and successful agents to get tips and share ideas. Some agents even sell their contact lists to one another. Use the Online Community at InsuranceAgents.com to connect with other agents nationwide to discuss industry topics and trends. You can learn from other agents nationally while competing locally.
- Keep customers happy.
This might sound like a no-brainer, but it will lead to your long term success. The market is competitive and you simply can't afford to lose even one client. Make sure that you let your clients know just how important they are to you by going out of your way to meet their needs.
By implementing these 10 small marketing moves, you are sure to narrow your target and build your books of business.
For more information and resources for insurance marketing services, agent education, and social networking for insurance agent visit InsuranceAgents.com.