Any insurance agent understands that loyal customers make for a long and fruitful career. So, the challenge becomes finding ways to differentiate your agency from the competition. Shoppers can look to a few channels to meet their needs, including online and direct-to-consumer options, and that means you’ll need to distance yourself from the pack.
Here are five tips geared toward boosting engagement with your clientele.
Five Ways to Build Customer Loyalty
1. Stay in touch
Sometimes you focus so much on closing the next deal that it’s easy to overlook the well-being of your existing customers. Don’t fall into this trap. You’ll want to stay in touch to keep your agency near the forefront of a customer’s mind. Social media pages and email blasts remind policyholders that their patronage is valued. It may be tough to frequently contact clients by phone but setting semi-annual reviews create opportunities for cross-selling.
2. Show your appreciation
Subtle reminders are one thing, but more tangible efforts can cement long-term customer relationships. If budget allows, sponsor an event featuring an informative presentation and offer some perks for guests. These events allow customers to see you in a business and social light. Couple the seminar with giveaways for promotional items or exclusive gifts and spoils.
3. Respond quickly
Whether it pertains solely to you or extends to staff, set a service-level agreement for response time in the agency. Incurring a potential claim or receiving an unexpected bill can be dicey situations for customers. Answer all inquiries as soon as possible and no later than 24 hours from when the customer inquires. Even if it’s just a quick phone call or email to let them know you’re on the case, policyholders will feel better knowing their concern hasn’t slipped through the cracks.
4. Know your stuff
Customers feel confident talking to knowledgeable insurance agents. Sure, you’re busy— but never too busy to sharpen your understanding of the agency’s policy offerings. Continuing education is one way to foster professional growth. An industry designation such as Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) or Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) looks even more impressive on your stationery and email signature.
5. Add value
Many customers might view insurance as a commodity. In other words, there’s not much difference among policies, regardless of who sells them. You can blow that perception out of the water by giving customers service above and beyond what competitors provide. Try getting vehicle book values for your car insurance customers deciding whether to maintain collision coverage. Or find comparable home values for clients who might be considering selling a property.
Now, Execute the Plan
Don’t wait any longer to set the strategic wheels in motion. Your efforts to foster customer loyalty will produce immediate results. You don’t need to commit a ton of time or resources to get started, and you and your customers will be happy with the outcome. Contact Claro today to lift your insurance business to new heights.
