Do you have a niche that you are not leveraging to get new business?
If you are looking for a way to differentiate your agency, look at your book of business. It is likely you have experience in niche markets - whether it is the ten restaurant accounts you have or the eight accounting firms.
That means you already know what carriers are best for these businesses and their risk management issues. You can leverage that experience to get more similar accounts.
Most new business comes from taking away business from an incumbent. To overcome a generalist you have to “outniche” them. Show the prospect what the generalist has missed – because they are not the niche experts you are. Go beyond price, so the incumbent doesn’t just match what you offered. Use your expertise to make a case for how your risk management can help them avoid claims and subsequent premium increases.
A starting point for marketing is to create a sell sheet and a dedicated webpage about your niche. Use Facebook and LinkedIn to post an article such as “3 Ways This Niche (fill in the blank) Can Reduce Its Insurance Costs.” Send that article out via email to your niche prospects. Ask your current clients in your niche for testimonials.
Over time as you build your book in your niche, you will develop a reputation as a sought after go-to insurance expert.
ANE's LinkedIn Tips For Insurance Professionals
Many insurance professionals are curious about how to market themselves, and their agency, on LinkedIn. Does it actually work? Is it an effective tool?
As we are sure you have heard, being digitally current is imperative to increase the quality of your customers' experience. But few people realize that you and your agency are being digitally vetted before you even make initial contact.
It has become more common for clients to look to the web first before making a decision on who to call for help or advice with their insurance needs. So, why shouldn't you be the first person they check out? Your website may not come up first in a search engine, but a solid LinkedIn profile will certainly help your agency be a front-runner when it comes to getting the first call. LinkedIn has become the largest professional network and one of the first places potential clients go to.
So, here's how to get started.
First, think of your LinkedIn profile as your resume and digital first impression. LinkedIn makes it incredibly easy to fill in your information step-by-step.
- Put your full name as it would appear on your business card. No nicknames, no silly job titles like "insurance messiah".
- CURRENT, professional picture. No future client wants to see what you looked like twenty years ago or what your dog looks like. You don't need to hire a professional photographer either. The site makes it easy to snap a photo and upload. Ask a coworker to take a photo for you and return the favor. You can even turn making your profiles into a team project, because nothing says teamwork like social media!
- Add your location and industry for easier searches and visibility.
- Use descriptions that will attract the particular clientele your agency is looking for. Does your agency only sell home and auto insurance? Or do you specialize in general contractors? Make sure to use those as keywords in your profile's heading description.
- Use your agency branding as a background image. Company logos and street view photos of your office make great background images. Now your future client will know what to look for when passing by your agency!
- Highlight your skills, accomplishments and professional memberships in your summary. Before writing, think to yourself - what do you find most captivating about your professional life?
- Always include a link to your agency's website. Not only does this add credibility to your profile, it increases your search engine optimization.
The more time you spend into making your profile the best it can be, the more time prospective clients will spend looking at it. Best part is, do it well the first time and all you'll need to do are minor updates in the future.
Remember! LinkedIn is a PROFESSIONAL networking site. This is not the place to post your every thought and action. If you wouldn't say it in front of a client, save it for your personal Facebook or Twitter account.
Second, once you have completed every nook and cranny of your profile, you are ready to get started networking with future prospects. Post meaningful, useful and intriguing content out there for everyone to see. Share other peoples' work, but include your insight. You will be surprised how many other people are thinking the same thing or have the same questions. Do not bash other peoples' opinions, but use this as a forum for thoughtful debate.
Third, join groups related to your specialty to share insight on insurance issues that the group members might care about. You never know who will be willing to give you a referral. Love antique cars and your agency happens to sell collector car insurance? LinkedIn has a group for that - the possibilities are endless!
Fourth, are you extremely knowledgeable in a particular area of insurance? Write about it! LinkedIn has a fantastic publisher tool that allows you to publish your own articles and put your profile in front of thousands of potential clients. If your agency website has a blog, you already have content waiting to be published.
These are just some of the basics of getting started with your LinkedIn marketing, but having a completed, well-thought our profile adds a professional edge to your agency that has become necessary in our digital world.
To learn more about optimizing your LinkedIn profile, join us on April 7th at the Renaissance Woodbridge Hotel for our Annual Conference. Register today at https://aneconference2016.eventbrite.com