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What Type of Client Experience Are You Delivering?

Posted on April 4, 2019June 12, 2019 by Mike Stromsoe

Customer experience is at the pulse of every insurance agency.

Customer experience is how customers perceive their interactions with your company. In today’s society, consumer expectations are high, and word of mouth travels fast. Purchasers are empowered like never before, and great client experience drives loyalty and revenue. Neglecting customer experience is no longer an option for businesses, especially as the voice of the customer continues to get louder and louder.

It used to be that customers could communicate with companies in one of three ways: they could visit the business’s office, write a letter or call customer support. Next came faxing and email. Today, there are even more ways customers can connect with businesses – they can use Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Snapchat, web chat and more. When customers do connect with you, they expect to be known and served on demand, regardless of the channel they are using.

To retain your client base, customer service is extremely important. Remember that to the customer, your agency is one big team. They don’t care which department they talk to when they need help – they just want to get their questions answered and problems resolved. When your team can’t work together seamlessly, and the client notices this breakdown in communication, it frustrates them. It can be extremely tiresome to be passed from one department to the next and can leave a sour taste in the client’s mouth if they feel they are being neglected.

For clients, all interactions and data should be stored in one place. If they interact on a web chat with one representative, notes should be saved about the conversation. If they pick up the phone next time and call your agency, the agent on the other end should be able to see their previous concerns from a web chat. Even though the interactions came across different channels, the person currently interacting with the customer must see them as one long conversation.

Mike and our Unstoppable Profit Producer program teamwork with hundreds of Independent Insurance Agency owners all over the United States. The focus of the program is that you will learn to grow your business, create financial wealth and security for your family and have more freedom to enjoy life on your terms!

If you would like to learn more about the benefits of the Unstoppable Profit Producer Program and how it can help you, please schedule your Agency Profit Consultation today!

Tips to Motivate Your Team Members

Posted on March 21, 2019June 12, 2019 by Mike Stromsoe

Build a work environment that is infused with motivation and fun.

Most people are only driven when they are motivated. In professional sales, motivation can be the key to generating lots of sales (and revenue) for the company. Whether your team members have been in sales for one year or ten, all of them need a certain motivation to achieve their goals. To help get your insurance agency team motivated to sell more policies, check out these tips.

Reinforce the company mission and vision.

Sometimes, your team needs a jolt of motivation to boost morale and persist. Your company’s mission and values shouldn’t be overlooked in this case. Reinforce why your company does what it does and how your sales team is contributing to the good work. When your team believes in your company, they are more likely to want to see it succeed.

Create a sales contest.

A little friendly competition never hurt anyone. Get a large whiteboard for the team members to track their sales and goals. Set a designated prize such as a vacation day or a physical item. Make sure the prize is compelling enough to inspire the team to do well.

Offer flexibility.

By offering flexibility, such as the opportunity to work from home, you can motivate your team instantly. You can even let them come into the office early and leave early – whatever works well for them and your business. This flexibility and generous act enable your salespeople to perform when they’re at their best, as well as increasing the agency’s revenue and morale. This can also be a good way for management to establish trust with members of the sales team.

A lot of the time, it’s the little things you do that set you apart from your competitors. People start talking about your organization, how you treat your employees like family, how you genuinely try to help people, and how you strive to treat other people like you want to be treated.

To learn more about how to be successful in your business, contact Mike Stromsoe’s Unstoppable Profit Producer Program. We can offer guidance, helping you perfect your professional posture. We also offer a premier wealth creation program that helps you to work less, earn more, and enjoy life.

Avoid These Mistakes That Perpetuate the Myth That All Insurance Agents Are the Same

Posted on March 14, 2019June 12, 2019 by Mike Stromsoe

Stand out from the crowd by avoiding these common errors.

As an insurance agent, you will know that the industry is full of hot competition. You want your services to stand out from the crowd so that you can attract more clients. But how exactly do you go about that? To get started, avoid making these mistakes that perpetuate the myth that all insurance agents are the same.

Not thinking outside of the box

When an insurance agent thinks of promotional material, the first thought is often to make low-budget promotional videos and plaster their agency on signs and benches. But before you make all those common marketing mishaps, think twice. We are moving towards dominant digital marketing, so consider making digital ads that are clean and concise.

Not highlighting your services

Do you do anything different than most insurance agents and agencies? If so, let your followers and fans know! If you have particularly good reviews and referrals, make sure to share them on your site and social media. People like to know what they’re getting out of a service so be sure to highlight that.

Not leveraging reviews

Most people view insurance agents as the same. However, if they see that your agency has reviews from real clients, they are more inclined to pay attention. Reviews give more depth to your agency as people see you as a person rather than just another service provider. Make sure to ask for referrals from your clients so that you have a nice accumulation of reviews.

Should You Use Email or Send Snail Mail?

Posted on March 7, 2019June 12, 2019 by Mike Stromsoe

Determine if your agency should consider sending messages via email or snail mail.

It’s undeniable that technology has changed the direct marketing industry. However, it has not irreparably damaged direct mail marketing. In fact, insurance agencies who use both methods often generate surprisingly good results. In marketing, any time you can differentiate yourself, that’s a very good thing. When every other agency is sending out emails, if you send an attractive, 4-color printed piece via snail mail, something they can hold and study, that can have tremendous selling power.

Snail mail is a great way to capture clients’ and prospective clients’ attention. A physical letter or flyer is something they can put on their desk or kitchen counter and look at time and time again. This not only reinforces your brand image, but it helps to remind them to visit you online. Many of today’s emails get deleted even before they are opened, whereas a physical letter is something that you can ensure your prospect will see.

Believe it or not, but Generation X are worth pursuing, as they want to move up and have the financial power to better protect themselves and their assets. Right behind them, we suggest you go after baby boomers. More than half of the members of Generation X and nearly 60 percent of baby boomers say that direct mail influences their buying and service provider decisions. Although you may think it’s an old school marketing method, snail mail can come out on top time and time again.

Insurance Producers – Check Out These Challenges to Overcome

Posted on February 21, 2019June 12, 2019 by Mike Stromsoe

Hurdles to overcome when selling insurance.

Selling insurance is no walk in the park. Insurance companies often face difficulties when trying to attract and retain customers. One of the main reasons for this is simply because people hate researching, buying, and paying for insurance. To help you, as an insurance salesperson, understand what challenges you face and how to overcome them, read on.

Consumers don’t understand the value of insurance.

Studies have shown that consumers don’t understand even the most basic insurance language, nor do they have a clear understanding of how to choose a plan that’s right for them. Millennials are buying less insurance than any other generation, and many don’t understand the value of taking out a policy. It’s important to drive home the importance of insurance and what it can do for the consumer. Otherwise, they will be none the wiser, and saddled with the right coverage.

Consumers have different communication preferences.

It’s typical for many insurance agencies to assume that younger consumers prefer online communication, and older consumers prefer phone or in-person consultations. Unfortunately, however, it’s not that simple. Insurance companies should ensure they are communicating with clients in their preferred manner. Not only does this help your communications get seen by the client, but it shows initiative on your part to do right by them.

Tips to Hire Right for Your Culture

Posted on February 14, 2019June 12, 2019 by Mike Stromsoe

Looking to hire? Consider these tips to find the right match.

As a business owner, you know that your team makes your company. They drive the business, make sales, and are the heart of a business. This means that there is pressure to find the right employees to suit your business. Not only do they have to have all the qualifications on paper, but they need to mesh well with your company’s culture. Having a clear and solid culture allows your business to function better. So, how do you select the right people?

Here are some tips to help!

At the start of the first interview, ask the candidate what specifically draws them to your company. This is an easy way to work out which candidates haven’t done their homework. The best candidate will go as far as reflecting on your core values.
Look beyond why they would be a good fit. Think about potential reasons why they wouldn’t suit your company culture and how that would be managed.
Ask each candidate to submit a two-minute video explaining why they would be a good fit. Don’t give any more direction than that. The candidate will, hopefully, let their personality shine through with the freedom.
Ask the candidate to rate themselves from 0-5 and then explain their score on such traits as servant leadership, positive energy, teamwork, and a self-starter.
Tailor questions to suit your unique company, including core values and standard practices. This will help to narrow down if the candidate suits your

These tips can help you narrow down your search in finding someone suitable for your agency. To learn more about how to be successful in your business, contact Mike Stromsoe’s Unstoppable Profit Producer Program. We can offer guidance, helping you perfect your professional posture. We also offer a premier wealth creation program that helps you to work less, earn more, and enjoy life.

What is a Video Hosting Platform and Which One Should I Use?

Posted on February 7, 2019June 12, 2019 by Mike Stromsoe

Get started with videos by selecting the right video hosting platform.

Is your agency thinking of delving into the world of video? In this digital era, it is wise to appeal to all forms of marketing, including using video. Many consumers want instant gratification – they want to hear about something before they read it. They don’t have time to read, so they watch a video instead. It’s safe to say that videos are on the rise. Now that you know you want to create this type of content, you need to pick a hosting platform. Here are a few comparisons below to help you.

YouTube

Most popular video hosting platform
Second largest search engine
Free to use
Best for videos geared towards “entertaining” audiences
Hard to draw viewers back to your website
Has their own branding and third-party advertising on your videos, which may cramp your style

Vimeo

Second largest video hosting platform
Four membership levels. Basic is free. Business is $50/month
Known as “the creative person’s video hosting platform”
Commonly used for music videos, documentaries, and other artistic elements videos
Requires strong and stable internet connection, which some viewers may not have

Wistia

Hosting platform specifically designed for marketing professionals to get viewers back to their website
Three tiers of service. Basic is free, professional is $100/month, premium starts at $300/month
Claims to be the video hosting platform
Offers in-depth analytics for the publisher
Works with the most popular marketing automation software, such as HubSpot, Marketo, and Pardot

Insurance Marketing Tools to Be More Effective Every Day

Posted on January 31, 2019June 12, 2019 by Mike Stromsoe

Make the most of your marketing tools with these tips.

Marketing is an essential piece of the puzzle for any business. From prospecting, lead generation, and branding, marketing is well worth investing some time and money into. To help your insurance agency make the most of marketing tools, take a look at these tips.

Use a social media scheduler. Social media plays a key role in building strong client relationships. A professional but personal social media page can draw in prospects and connect you to clients long after a sale has closed. Posting daily to multiple platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter can be time-consuming. Use a social media scheduler such as Hootsuite, Buffer, or Smarterqueue to optimize posts for client engagement, save time, and increase efficiency.

Opt for automated email marketing. Email marketing continues to be one of the most cost-effective and efficient ways of reaching prospects and customers. Making your emails consistent, relevant, and engaging can be difficult when you are busy managing the rest of your business. Improve your email efforts by investing in a platform that automates your email marketing. For example, auto-responders are ideal for sending follow-ups, birthday or holiday greetings, and renewal reminders.

Get on Google Analytics. Google Analytics may not technically be a marketing tool, but it is important to consider if you want to improve your marketing efforts. This platform allows you to track engagement, clicks, conversions, and more so that you can determine what’s working and what needs to be improved.