For the past 10 years, teleconferencing has gained in popularity. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. That’s when insurance agents started to use teleconferencing even more than they did before.

With so many businesses unable to have in-person meetings, this was the next best thing. However, recognizing how easy and convenient it is, a lot of insurance agencies recognized its true value. For that reason, many independent insurance agents feel that using teleconferencing should become normal practice.

While that sounds like an excellent idea, agents need to learn how to make teleconferencing successful. A few good decisions will go a long way toward securing new clients, selling products to existing policyholders, and networking with other industry professionals.

Helpful Tips

Below are some helpful tips that insurance agents can use to improve every teleconference, whether they’re meeting with clients, prospects, or colleagues.

Create and Distribute an Agenda

When having a more formal teleconference with agents in-house, an outside agency, or an insurance carrier, it’s essential to create and distribute an agenda. Not only does that inform everyone invited on the call about the topics ahead of time, but it’ll also keep the conversation moving along in an orderly fashion.

Now, if you plan to hold a teleconference with an existing client or prospect, you don’t need an agenda per se. However, you still want to have a list of specific things that you want to cover during the call. That’ll give you references to stay on topic so that you better manage the time you have.

Use The Right Software

While preparing for and during a teleconference, cutting-edge insurance agency management software will provide incredible value. With this, you’ll have immediate access to an abundance of information about the client or prospect that you’re meeting with. At the same time, you can store additional information gained during your conversation. For growing an independent insurance agency, you want to utilize the right software program. In addition to utilizing the right management system, you’ll need to select the right meeting platform for your agency. Zoom and Teams are two popular options.

Be Punctual

Especially as the host or hostess of a teleconference, you need to be on the call at least five minutes before the scheduled start time.

For instance, say you spent months trying to set up a time to talk to an important company about the products your insurance agency offers. Finally, they agreed to a teleconference. Getting on the call even a minute after the potential client could prove disastrous. After all, if you can’t be on time for an initial conversation, how will that company trust your agency to handle their insurance needs?

This could easily ruin your chance of securing them as a new client. Even worse, if that company shares what happened, it could affect your future business with other prospects.

Eliminate Distractions

One of the worst offenses in teleconferencing is to have some kind of distraction going on in the background. While some agents now work in the office again, many still conduct business at home. Regardless of your physical location, make sure you go to a quiet and isolated area to conduct business.

Sure, some people on the call might think your cat is adorable as it sticks its head in front of the camera. Some might also giggle when hearing your young child in the background telling you they need a snack. Unfortunately, not everyone involved in the teleconference would find either scenario amusing.

Wear Proper Attire

Again, with so many independent insurance agents working from home, it’s easy to get too relaxed. Regardless of who’s on the call, always dress to impress. That doesn’t mean you have to wear a suit and tie or a dress, but choose attire that represents you and your agency in a positive light.

Stay Flexible

While some teleconferences run seamlessly and end as scheduled, others don’t. Allow some extra time to answer questions or deal with issues. As an insurance agent, your clients don’t want to feel rushed. To cater to their needs, you want to stay somewhat flexible. The same goes for prospects. Showing that you’re willing to give them the time needed speaks volumes as to what they can expect from you as their agent.

Avoid Putting People to Sleep

Seriously, some business teleconferences are so boring that within minutes, the involved parties don’t hear a word being said. Now, that doesn’t mean you have to be a comedian; just try to keep things interesting! The best thing to do is be yourself. Talk to people on the call as though you’re sitting in front of them. Even when discussing an important topic, keep the conversation relatively light and avoid using insurance jargon.

Pay Attention to Visuals

Before starting a teleconference, look around and specifically behind you. Remove or hide anything that might come across as insensitive or offensive.

Making Every Teleconference Successful

It takes a lot of practice to become good at hosting teleconferences. However, using the provided tips will help you avoid potentially costly mistakes. For the clients you have, as well as those you’re targeting, it’s worth investing in an outstanding insurance software program.

Jenesis is a reputable and trusted source. Along with providing industry agency management software, we can design a professional website for your insurance agency and back up all your information to the cloud. Schedule a free demo, today.

 

 

As an insurance agent, the best way you can love and support your community is by providing quality coverage and well-rounded accounts. The more people you insure, the more people you will protect. Community engagement can help you reach your goal of protecting more people in your city or town. This strategy will allow you to support your community while building recognition for your insurance agency. As you become more recognizable, you will have the opportunity to write more policies that will take care of the people in your community.

Let’s go over how you can use community engagement to give back and promote your insurance agency. Then, put these strategies in action, so you can support your neighbors.

Sponsor and Attend Community Events

Sponsoring and attending local events is an excellent way to engage with your community. This will help you build goodwill with the people in your community and make them more aware of your insurance agency.

You likely have a limited time and budget, so spend some time finding the right events to support. Look for events with high attendance rates but few sponsors. Also, make sure the cost of sponsorship fits into your budget. Then, sign up as a sponsor, so you can reach lots of people in the community at once.

Participate in Events

Does your community have any organized events, such as walks or runs? You can participate as an agency. Sign up and then attend, wearing branded clothing. Community members will notice that your team is standing alongside them during the event. That will cause them to see you as more than an agency. They’ll realize you are a valuable part of the community and invested in supporting the people you serve.

Coach a Sports Team

Is there a sports team in your community looking for a coach? You can step in and provide your services. As a coach, you will bond with players and play an essential role in their development. You’ll also build trust with their parents, which is vital as an insurance agent. The relationship can carry over into the insurance world. When their parents are shopping around for insurance policies, they will remember your role as a coach. They’ll already know and trust you, so they’ll be more likely to reach out for your services.

Volunteer at a School

You can also connect with students and parents by helping out at a local school. Some insurance agents choose to run for the school board. Others volunteer in the PTA or other organizations. Identify opportunities in your area and then get involved. Along with parents and students, you will also form relationships with teachers and administrators when you volunteer at a school. These relationships will help you meet your community’s insurance needs.

Have Volunteer Days

Volunteering for non-profits is another fantastic way to support your community. Wear branded clothing and help out at a local animal shelter or another organization. Your team members will grow closer through volunteering, and you will show others that you genuinely care about the community as a whole. By showing your caring side, you’ll prove to others that you’re the right insurance agent for them.

Hold Seminars

You can also support your community by hosting informational seminars. Consider partnering with others to educate the community on the products and services they need to stay safe. You can explain why insurance isn’t just a luxury but a necessity. By highlighting the importance of insurance, you can increase your book of business while helping the community.

Show Your Support By Shopping Locally

You can show your support for the community by shopping at local establishments. Research shows that $0.67 of every dollar you spend at a local business stays in your community. By shopping locally, you’ll show your community that you are invested in its economic success. People will also be more likely to reach out to your agency when they see that you are a paying member of the community.

Remember Important dates

You can also engage in your community on an individual level. Set reminders for birthdays and anniversaries, and reach out to customers on those special days. A simple phone call can go a long way in showing people that you care. When you care about your community on a personal level, people are likely to trust you with their insurance policies. Then, you can cross-sell insurance products that they need to stay safe and secure.

Grow Your Book of Business Through Community Engagement

Your end goal might be to grow your book of business, but that starts with community engagement. Become a visible and helpful member of the community. Build trust and recognition and then serve your community by providing high-quality insurance products.

Is your independent insurance agency known as a jack of all trades – selling a variety of insurance policies without having any real specialty?

Instead of continuing to spread yourself thin, grow your book of business and improve your service by focusing on a niche. Operating within a niche reduces competition and allows you to let your expertise shine. You can fill a gap in the market and increase your revenue with this strategy.

Let’s go over some tips to help you identify a niche that you can use to grow your independent insurance agency.

Consider Your Areas of Expertise

Begin by thinking of your areas of expertise. Think beyond your insurance experience and consider industry knowledge. For example, did you spend time working in the wedding industry? Maybe you adopted a child and know the ins and outs of the adoption process, or you serve an important role in running your church.

You don’t need to have experience selling insurance policies to the niche. Instead, industry experience can go a long way in helping you identify the needs of people who work in specific industries.

Clients want to work with someone who understands their pain points and needs. They don’t want a generalist when buying policies for particular niches.

If you have industry experience, you can then educate yourself on the insurance offerings. Your insurance background will help you navigate the process, so you can become an insurance expert in the niche.

Unlock Your Passion

Having industry experience is one thing, but are you passionate? As a niche insurance agency, you will spend all your time working with people in a specific industry. If that industry doesn’t excite you, you’ll get bored quickly.

Go through all the areas you’re experienced in and cross any off that don’t get you excited. If you aren’t passionate about any industries you’re experienced in, you’ll need to come up with new ideas. Think about industries that you are interested in researching. Make sure that you do a deep dive into the industry, though, since you’ll need to learn as much as possible before specializing in that market.

Make Sure There Is a Need

As a niche insurance agency, you will have a much smaller market. You need to make sure there is a need in your market when you start selling policies to your niche. Conduct market research to determine the number of customers in your area. You also need to consider the average premium that clients in that industry pay. Then, look at the competition. Is the market already served, or can you provide a valuable service?

This will give you a good idea of how much you can make if you work in this niche. If it’s profitable, you know that you’ve selected a good niche.

Don’t Forget About Shoulder Niche Opportunities

Once you pick a niche, think about shoulder niche opportunities. This refers to niche markets that are closely related to your existing niche.

For example, if you decide to sell policies to wedding venues, you can also branch out and reach vendors and suppliers. You will still work inside the wedding niche, but you will be able to sell more policies.

Research the viability of shoulder niches to get an even better idea of how much money you can make.

Research Your Carrier Options

Before you can start selling policies, you need to research your carrier options. Are you currently working with insurance carriers that serve that niche? Can you sell those insurance products to your customers? You might discover that you need new carrier appointments to work in your niche.

Some niche insurance agencies make the mistake of starting out with a single carrier appointment. However, that poses two problems. First, your clients will have a lack of choice. That makes it hard to satisfy their needs. Second, the carrier could stop selling products to your niche market. That means you wouldn’t be able to offer products at all. If possible, get at least three carrier appointments, so you can serve your niche.

Develop a Marketing Strategy

You need a strong marketing strategy to reach customers in your current niche. Consider attending trade shows where companies in your niche will be present. You can also attend local functions and events.

An online marketing strategy is also critical. You can build an insurance agency website catering to your niche. You can also use your insurance agency management system to send text and email marketing messages.

All of your marketing efforts need to focus on the niche. Highlight your expertise to drive up leads to your agency.

Identify Opportunities and Grow Your Agency

These tips will help you identify a niche that allows you to showcase your passion and experience. You’ll be able to serve your clients better, and you’ll also enjoy the excitement that comes with doing something you love.