The Insurance Marketing Resource

This site serves as a resource to anyone involved or interested in insurance marketing. You'll find advice and how-to's about insurance marketing. We also supply free content articles about a wide range of insurance topics that you are free to use.

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Insurance Marketing Information

InsuranceSplash Posts Video On YouTube

Here is the Insurance Splash explanation video from YouTube.  This is also featured on the front page of their site, InsuranceSplash

Posted: May 23rd, 2009 under Uncategorized - No Comments.

Amplify Referrals From Your Insurance Agency

In today’s marketplace there are only two ways most of Americans search for new insurance. The first tactic is researching online, the other method is asking their associates. You can educate yourself about online advertising in other articles of mine; for this piece I am going to concentrate on the best strategies for getting referrals from your current book of business.

Develop a referral program

If you are operating without a referral plan, you need to create one ASAP. This means a planned way of paying back clients who refer new customers to you. Different states have limits on the amount you may spend on one referrer for referring an insurance agency. Whether it is with gift certificates, gas cards, or a check, my advice is to pay your clients as much as you can within the limits of the law. There is no more effective way to spend money for new business I write this because referred clients are surely the best type of new consumer. They buy easier because you often already have their respect, and since the majority of people will not send unsafe individuals to your business, they are frequently better for your expense ratio. Never be stingy when it comes to sending new clients; think you sell more effectively when you are rewarded more from your carriers?

Make sure every insured understands your rewards.

Unless each client in your agency realizes that you compensate for referred clients and how you reward them, you are not going to see the best results. Never neglect to reference the referral program with each and every positive client communication you have. In your agency, make a very prominent display that shows the rewards available for referrals so no one could come into the office without noticing it. Stuff information about your referral program in every piece of mail you send your customers. Update the signature in your email system to advertise your referral program in all the messages you send. Spend time during every policy review and when you write new business to discuss the referral program. The important thing to remember when you talk to clients about your program is to emphasize the benefits to them if they send referrals.

Guide your clientele to refer.

It might sound weird, but you should to instruct your clients how to send you business. I have constantly alleged that an educated client is the best customer and this certainly is true for referrals. When you spend the time to explain coverages to your clients you are not only building your connection with them, you are also providing the tools to teach others about insurance and explain the benefits of your agency. Once you identify an insurance need, request the customer to think of others they know that could have the same liability. Customers are constantly animated to sound bright to their friends. Also, when clients comprehend about all the products and services you give, not only do you initiate the possibility for cross-selling but your clients are more able to identify needs in other people they know and refer your office. Provide your clients specific suggestions about referrals like, “who else in your knitting group would we be able to assist?”

Offer Clients the Tools to Send Business to Your Agency

Often the only thing stopping your existing clients from referring your insurance agency is not having your website information readily available. Persuade every client to key in your phone number into their phone so they can call you in the course of an accident. This works excellent because it develops the idea that you will be there for them if they need you, and it allows them to hold on to your phone number all the time. I also suggest creating small tags with the policy, your phone number, and the local emergency phone numbers for them to put on their keys. You can do the same on a card that fits in a wallet. The key is giving clients a way to have your contact information 24/7 without them knowing it.

Implement Your Insurance Referral Reward Program

The leading error agency owners make about referrals is failing to follow through. If you pronounce you will remind every client about referring new business make certain your staff and you do. If a client says who referred them, don’t forget to send a thank you card. If you plan the strategy beginning to end at the beginning, you will have an easier time doing what you said.

And never forget the most crucial rule for referrals - Ask!

Posted: May 3rd, 2009 under Uncategorized - No Comments.

Referrals are the Most Important Aspect to Insurance Agent Growth

In today’s market there are only two ways a majority of Americans find a new insurance agent. The first method is going online, the other tactic is asking their acquaintances. You can find more information about website marketing in other articles I have written; for this piece I am going to focus on the best ways of obtaining referrals from your current customers.

Develop a referral program

If you are operating without a referral plan, you must produce one as soon as possible. This involves an established way of rewarding clients who send new business to your agency. State laws dictate the amount you may spend on a referrer for referrals. Whether it is with gift cards, gas cards, or a check, my advice is to pay your referrers as much as possible within the limits of the law. There is no more effective marketing technique. I say this because referred clients are absolutely the best type of new shopper. They are easier to close because you likely already have their confidence, and since most clients will not refer unsafe individuals to your business, they are frequently better for your profitability. Do not be stingy when it comes to rewarding customers for referring business; do you think you sell more effectively when you are rewarded more from your carriers?

Make sure each customer understands your rewards.

Unless each client within your agency is aware that you reward referrals and what you offer, you are not maximizing your efforts. Never neglect to bring up the reward program with each and every helpful client interaction you have. In your office, create a very visible display that explains the rewards available for referrals so no one could come into the office without seeing it. Provide materials about your referral program in every outgoing piece of mail you send your clients. Revise the signature in your email system to advertise your reward program in every message you send. Make time during every policy review and when you write new insurance policies to discuss the referral program. Make sure you stick to the benefits to them, not to you..

Train your clientele to send business.

I know it sounds funny, but you must to guide your clients how to give refferals. I have always alleged that an educated customer is the best customer and this certainly is true for referrals. When you take the time to talk coverages with your clients you are not only developing your relationship with them, you are also giving them the tools to educate others about insurance and explain the advantages of your agency. While you discover an insurance gap, request the client to think of others they know that may have the same exposure. Customers are constantly animated to sound intelligent to their acquaintances. Also, when clients appreciate about all the products and services you offer, not only do you open the likelihood for cross-sales but your customers are better able to recognize needs in other people they know and refer your office. Provide your clients specific ideas about referrals like, “who else in your softball league would we be able to help out?”

Furnish Customers the Tools to Refer Your Agency

Often the only thing preventing your existing clients from referring your insurance agency is not having your website information on hand. Encourage every customer to input your phone number into their phone so they can get in touch with you in the event of an accident. This works fantastic because it creates the impression that you will be there for them if they need you, and it allows them to hold on to your phone number everywhere. I also suggest creating tiny tags with their policy information, your phone number, and the local police and fire phone numbers for them to put on their keychain. You could do the same on a card that fits in a wallet. The secret is giving clients a way to have your contact information all the time without them being aware of it.

Carry out Your Insurance Referral Reward Program

The leading error agents make about referrals is failure to execute. If you say you plan to remind every client about referring new business make sure your staff and you do. If a customer says who referred them, never forget to send a thank you card. If you put together the strategy beginning to end at the beginning, you will have an easier time doing what you said.

And never forget the most crucial rule for referrals - Ask for them!

Posted: April 14th, 2009 under Uncategorized - No Comments.

Check Out the Most Serious Insurance Agency Marketing Mistakes.

Nothing is more key to becoming a flourishing insurance agent than promotion.

Not a thing.

If you are master at advertising you may do well, but if you cannot advertise your agency you will absolutely fail. During my experience in the insurance industry, I saw uncountable advertising failures. Save yourself by learning all about the most common four.

The first error is failing to plan.

I am incessantly perplexed at the percentage of insurance agents who never plan their advertising course enough. Some insurance agents only allocate a percentage of cash and try to distribute it evenly during the year. Reacting to salespeople that meet you is not productive. You really need to take time to devise a plan for spending your money. Think about your prime clients and spread your budgetbased on the available methods of advertising that you think will reach those individuals. If your ideal customers are retired people you may use a more traditional approach. If aiming for prospects with high net worth, you are going to want to invest a majority of your funds on web advertising.

The next error is not tracking the success of different marketing techniques.

Advertising is constantly evolving, and what was successful last year might not reach target customers now. You must constantly try different techniques and if you fail to track your results you will never know what to adjust. Make sure to learn how each clientof yours contacted your office and put more money toward the strategies that work, and quit investing in the ones that are unsuccessful.

The third advertising error is wasting money on old-fashioned techniques.

I know the previous strategies of branding your agency are no longer effective. Agentsof the past believed that if they paid for advertisements all around town, customers would remember their name when they need insurance and call. That was then. Moving forward, a person could see your ad in the paper daily for five years still use the internet to compare insurance. The focus now needs to be the first second or third company they call when they are looking for insurance. The place to advertise is on the web.

The last error is failing to use your current book of business

Some individuals don’t shop on the web for insurance, they ask their friends. That is the reason it is important that you develop a referral plan where you reward customers for referring your agency. Make sure every customer knows about it and that they always carry your phone number. Ensure this by encouraging them to list your phone number into their cell phone in case there is a claim.

In order to be successful at advertising, you must be willing to evolve. Properly allocating your budget from the beginning, utilyzing new techniques like using the internet, working your current customers, and tracking your failures will help you avoid all these errors and help you develop customers.

Posted: April 4th, 2009 under Uncategorized - No Comments.