Here are 30 (or more) Insurance Marketing Ideas you can use to succeed:
1. Networking group: business networking groups can be the lifeblood of your insurance marketing efforts. A group of business people who “get it” and understand that “givers gain” can help you get in to meet the people you want to meet. A group of 5, or 35, can be your “sales force,” and your “eyes and ears,” identifying high potential opportunities that you can’t find. Consider a group like BNI, the most successful one that I know of.
2. Become the “go to guy”: help them prosper. Your customers will like it if you save them money on their insurance. But they’ll be devoted to you if you can refer them business.
3. An interactive website: is your website just a brochure on the internet? With just a little more effort it can be something that does more than take up space, it can engage your prospect.
4. Telemarketing: Tried and true, but still one of the most effective ways to increase your pool of prospects. Best when combined with #1, 6, 7, and 10 as a way to follow up. Most prospects you encounter aren’t ready to buy, so don’t assume they are. They may just be taking an initial step in
5. “Emergency” card to keep in your wallet
6. Email blast: But be careful: use “opt in” tactics that Seth Godin (www.sethgodin.com) talks about. Email can be effective, but there are different rules.
7. Hosting a networking event: Every business person wants to increase their business through networking. Get known for throwing good networking events and everyone will want to be there. And they all need insurance.
8. Email Newsletters: the best Insurance Marketing Ideas keep you “top of mind.” Here’s a more in-depth insurance marketing tool: you have as much space to talk about how you can help your clients as you want…just as long as you keep it interesting. You can also keep track of “clicks” to see what your audience is interested in.
9. Sponsoring an event: if its fun and popular, you look fun and interesting, too. Talk with local community groups about events you can sponsor (see #10)
10. Chamber of commerce membership: its amazing how many businesses join the chamber without giving it a second thought. It’s another “tried and true” way to get known in your community. That’s a first step to being liked in your community.
11. Messages on hold. Hold happens. Successful businesses realize that, no matter how hard they try, they put calls on “hold.” When they do they not only lose an opportunity, they frustrate and annoy their best prospects. Find out about how to turn wasted “hold” time into an insurance marketing opportunity at www.informermessages.com.
12. Facebook: Everybody is on Facebook, right? Are you? Why not? Even the best insurance marketing ideas won’t work unless future customers hear you talking about them.
13. Great Business Cards: absolutely necessary. Carry them with you everywhere. Keep them in your pocket, your wallet, and your glove box. Don’t shove them at people. Only give them out when you’re asked for your card. Make them want it. See #19 and #33)
14. Tweet: Why not give out a good idea about insurance every day?
15. Hyperlocal Marketing: Former Speaker of the House “Tip” O’Neill said that “All Insurance Marketing is Local” (or something like that!) 95% of your customers will be in your own back yard. Make sure that 95% of your insurance marketing efforts are “hyperlocal”
16. Google +: Google is the most powerful force in marketing these days. And Hyperlocal (#15) seems to be the key.
17. Join local community groups: Insurance marketing is a personal (B to C) job. Get known in your community as a nice person, and you’ve taken a first step to successful insurance marketing.
18. Know your competition: what are they good at? What are they better than you at? How does that compare to what your customer really wants?
19. Calendars: Why not? Everybody needs a Calendar every year. If they like it, and your name is on it, you build name recognition 365 days a year.
20. Speak at a seminar: But don’t talk about insurance marketing. Talk about something else that you’re really good at. Maybe its related to insuring risk, but just make a great impression, and everyone will want to talk with you.
21. Email tips: Do you get those daily “tips” from Manta.com? Some of them are helpful. But all of them are quick to read and either think about or delete. No one has time to read “War and Peace.” But we can all look at a 3 sentence tip that might just help us.
22. SEO: if they can’t find you, you’ve got to find them before they find your competition. We’ve invested time and effort into great SEO and it seems to be paying off…it’s pretty involved, so if you want more details, give me a call or drop me an email. But I’m betting that it pays off for insurance marketing like it does for my company.
23. Better CRM: You’ve got lots of prospects and customers. Luckily there’s efficient and affordable “client relationship management” software that can help you keep them all straight, and help you have the right information at your fingertips. That’s a great insurance marketing advantage!
24. Video Testimonials: if you say it, it’s a sales pitch. When your customers say it, its true. There’s nothing more genuine than a “not too professional” video of a satisfied client telling how much you helped them.
25. Provide real information: Believe it or not, your prospect knows the difference between helpful information and a sales pitch. Once you’re labeled a salesman trying to sell them, you’ve lost your credibility. They’ll suspect that everything you say is a sales pitch.
26. Call back right away: in insurance marketing, like everything, “time is of the essence.” Hesitating to call back when a potential customer is looking for information or help can mean a lost sale.
27. Giveaways: always a good way to keep your name in front of your prospects, pens, pads, and other “giveaways” are inexpensive insurance marketing options.
28. Google Alerts: Set up Google Alerts to notify you if your name, your company, or your specialty is mentioned anywhere on the internet. You’ll see how your insurance marketing ideas are getting promoted.
29. Blog: there’s so much to know about buying insurance. Blogging about “targeted” issues demonstrates your expertise, and starts to educate consumers. There’s no better insurance marketing approach than being the expert.
30. Comment on Blogs: find the blogs that your prospects are looking at, and give your expert opinion. Insurance marketing ideas like being an expert at insurance issues is one of the best insurance marketing approaches, and will attract customers.
Insurance Marketing Ideas from our readers:
Contributed by Robert Jeffries
31. Free Reports. Your prospects need the right information to be able to make the right choice. But who knows where to find information about buying the right protection? Creating factual authoritative Free reports can be a great insurance marketing approach. Give them away on your website to show you offer value.
Contributed by Kurt Ansen
32. Referrals from key industries: it’s like “bread and butter”. In almost every buying situation there are other things your prospect needs at the same time. In insurance marketing, there are key situations, such as having a baby, buying a home, getting a new job. Network with the professionals in these industries, and you’ll be talking with the people who come in contact with your prospects right when they need you.
Contributed by Lisa Katz
33. Elevator Pitch: or “personal commercial.” Your Elevator Pitch should be intriguing and engaging. It should be a reason for your prospect to ask questions.
Contributed by Vince and Linda Gill
34. Video: if a picture is worth a thousand words, a video tells the whole story. Google loves video and ranks websites that feature video higher than others. Consumers also like video, and spend more time on websites that have intriguing video content. The longer that a prospect stays on your website, the longer you have to win them over.
Contributed by Richard Roth
35. Linked In: The “Facebook” of business networking. If you’re not active on LinkedIn, you’re not active in business. Get a profile. Get help if you need it. Join some groups. Get your name out. This is another one that’s a long story, but well worth it.
Your Insurance Marketing Ideas
There are more. What are your favorite insurance marketing ideas? Email me at hart@informermessages.com and I’ll try to add it to the list.