| It's easy to think that in order to compete with large insurance companies, independent agents must also increase their marketing budget. But that's not the solution. As independent agents, we must take our marketing and make it more effective. Your clients are your friends and neighbors, so give them content they can relate to! Targeted marketing meets your clients where they are, leading to higher quality clients that you can retain for life. It's the secret weapon of the independent agent. To get started with targeted marketing, think about your most loyal clients and what they want. Ask yourself: - What does my community care about?
- How does my community perceive insurance companies?
- How would they view our agency in a negative way?
- How would they view our agency in a positive way?
- What can I do to be viewed positively?
- Who do I want as a client?
Answering these questions will give you clarity and vision for your marketing. Rather than trying to do what large insurance companies are doing, do what they cannot. Be present in your local community—go to antique car shows, write blog posts about flood zones on your local river, and support a local school's baseball team. Three Marketing Mediums to Localize Emails: For every cross-sell or up-sell email, have two or three emails that are designed to help your customers. Is there a storm in the forecast? Send them a helpful blog post you wrote that is catered to your local community.
Sometimes the average insurance consumer may have a negative perception of insurance agents. You can overcome that by helping your community get to know your agency staff personally. Highlight your employees on social media, on your website or in your newsletter. Highlight their personal lives first and their work second. If one of your agents writes a book or runs a 5K, highlight that. You can be an asset to your clients because you are connected to your community. Make sure your clients know you for who you are and not a stereotype. By doing this, your marketing will stand out from all the bland blanket marketing that people see every day. |