Networking Techniques for Insurance Agents: 8 Smart Ideas
Networking Techniques for Insurance Agents: 8 Smart Ideas
1) Always Give Your Card Business cards are cheap. Ever find yourself thinking, “Should I give he my card?” or “Does she really want a card?” The solution is always yes. Give it to everyone 10 times. 2) Don't Have Big Handouts business-cards-too-bigI know what these people are thinking… “As opposed to handing out business cards I'm going to provide people a 5×7 postcard. It'll really stand out.” Here is what I'm thinking whenever you hand it in my experience: “Thanks a**hole. Now I need to keep this stupid thing until I will get a trash can.” Don't be that guy. People may smile and take your postcard but annoying people is bad networking.
3) Do The Follow-Up The same as in sales, poor follow-up will make all your networking efforts worthless. Do you think someone's going to get insurance from you or refer your agency after one meeting at a networking event? Obviously not&hellip ;.You need to produce strong relationships. Devise a follow-up plan that serves to deepen the connections you make at networking events. (Try to not creep anyone out.)
4) Use LinkedIn To Follow Up LinkedIn is a perfect low-effort tool for forging stronger relationships with people you meet at networking events (or anywhere else). There's no social stigma against requesting an association on LinkedIn from someone you met and had a discussion with. A LinkedIn connection is not the finish goal, actually it's really just first however it is a great first step toward developing a further professional experience of anyone.
5) Follow Their Business on Twitter and Facebook facebook-twitter-follow-upMost agents I know think of Twitter and Facebook only as tools to touch base to current and prospective clients. It can be used very effectively as an expert networking and monitoring tool. Use your agency's twitter account and use Facebook as your agency page (not as yourself) and follow and like most of the businesses who's owners you meet. Likes on Facebook are free therefore it won't run you a cent to “like” every business you meet and “like” every post they make. That's lots of potential free goodwill! While we're on the subject, click here to “like” My Facebook page and click “like” everything I post as time goes on ;) I DO NOT recommend using Facebook to “friend” a person you meet professionally until you have an association with them that is deeper than business.
6) Follow Up Via Email After meeting someone you're feeling a powerful connection with send them an email. You can produce a template for emails similar to this, however I strongly encourage you to customize each email to reference something you discussed with the individual. If there isn't anything specific to express to the person, take a peek at their website and mention something about it. Wouldn't it get your attention when someone mentioned something on your agency's website? (When I obtain a generic form email that I am aware was also sent to everyone else at a networking event I usually report it as SPAM.)
7) Phone Call Follow Up Have a good networking connection you're trying to create into a great one? Call them up out from the blue with a concern about their business. You are able to just ensure it is up if you like to… Say you're doing research for a client. Everyone loves being the expert and they'll think it could be a sales lead so they'll love it. If they're a important connection, use it your calendar to reach out once a month.
8) Read “How exactly to Win Friends and Influence People” read-about-networkingIf you haven't heard about or read this book you must really check it out. This has been around for nearly a century and the information it provides is fundamental, but powerful. I've an audio version on my phone that I pay attention to about once a year. (It also helps me get my kids to accomplish what I them to. Not by much, but I'll take all of the help I will get!)
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