Technology has impacted every industry, including insurance. Today’s insurance agents don’t operate the same way that they did 20 years ago. Instead, the ever-evolving digital world offers new ways for agents to connect with community members and deliver personalized service.
Here are five ways that Farm Bureau agents use technology to build a successful business while protecting the livelihoods and futures of their client/members.
1. PERSONALIZED AND RESPONSIVE AGENT WEBSITES
In today’s digital age, it’s essential that your business have an online presence. When you consider those who are shopping for auto insurance alone, 74% of consumers go online to research companies and policies. This makes your website often the first interaction potential client/members will have with your business.
At Farm Bureau, we provide every agent with a free website to help you build your online presence. A personal website gives you the opportunity to tell your story and provide information about yourself, the products and services you offer and how users can contact you to get a quote.
With consumers accessing the web from both mobile and desktop devices at a near 50-50 split, it’s important that your website follow the latest best practices and work well on every device. Our agent websites are responsive, meaning they reformat based on the screen size of the device being used. They’re also optimized for search engines, making it easier for your website to appear in search results when current client/members or potential prospects are looking for a new agent through an internet search.
2. CONVENIENT MOBILE APPS
Insurance agents are often out and about in their communities, and away from their computers. But thanks to their smartphones and mobile apps, they always have the information they need at their fingertips.
“Having this mobile technology is crucial to how I run my business,” says Brandon Doke, a Nebraska agent. “I can run a quote or look up information from anywhere, and I’m prepared for any questions my client/members may have.”
Farm Bureau agents use mobile apps to:
- Reach out to new prospects
- Promptly respond to client/member requests
- Run auto and home insurance quotes
- Make changes to policies
- Create life illustrations to help client/members better understand what services are available and where they might be missing coverage
- Access client information on any mobile phone or tablet
3. SMART CRM PLATFORMS
Our agents manage large amounts of client information, and advancements in technology have made that process a little easier. Today, agents can use customer relationship management (CRM) platforms to effectively organize and access client information.
At Farm Bureau, our CRM system allows you to quickly find details about clients and the policies they have with us. You can also view all client interactions with Farm Bureau, from receiving mail to talking to our customer service representatives. This gives you a complete overview of the client’s relationship with the company so you can provide more personalized service and better understand the client/member’s needs.
“Our CRM helps me organize my appointments and send out auto reminders to my client/members about those appointments,” says Josh Sievers, an Iowa agent.
4. USER-FRIENDLY DIGITAL MARKETING TOOLKIT
A major part of starting your own business is getting the word out about what you do. Whether you’re just getting started building your business as an insurance agent, or you’ve been serving client/members for years, marketing and advertising will play a key role in your success.
Fortunately, you don’t have to be an advertising pro to raise awareness about your services as a local insurance agent. Farm Bureau provides an online Marketing Toolkit that helps agents target high-quality prospects and effectively market themselves in their communities. In our toolkit you’ll find:
- Business images and logos
- Advertising guidelines
- Social media tips
- Corporate advertising and direct mail calendars
- And many more valuable resources
“The Marketing Toolkit is a great asset to have because it’s user-friendly,” Doke says. “It’s just another way that Farm Bureau shows it is committed to supporting its agents.”
5.SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT
In the United States alone, 72% of the population uses social media, and the majority of those users are visiting social sites at least once a day. Social media doesn’t just provide a platform to connect to this large, engaged audience, though. It’s also revolutionizing customer service. It’s been found that when users contact a brand via social media, 80% expect a response within 24 hours. This makes it critical to engage via social media in real-time and interact with your customers in a timely manner. Farm Bureau makes that easier by giving its agents access to the right tools.
WHAT IS HEARSAY SOCIAL?
At Farm Bureau, we understand that social media is where many of our current and potential client/members are spending their time. Because of this, our agents are enrolled in Hearsay Social, a social media tool that helps them grow their online presence in a way that complies with Farm Bureau regulations. With just a few clicks, agents can share a wide variety of pre-approved and customized posts to their followers and track the engagement.
“Hearsay Social is a huge time-saver for me because you can schedule out numerous pre-approved Facebook posts and customize them as well,” Sievers says. “It’s great content to share with your followers.”
Farm Bureau agents also have access to a digital coach to help them set up their profile, learn more about Hearsay Social’s functionality and get ongoing support for the tool.
We’ll Help You Grow Your Business With the Right Digital Tools
At Farm Bureau, you’ll have access to the latest technologies and digital tools that will help you build successful a successful business and provide unmatched service to your client/members. Are you ready to join a team that sets you up for success? Contact us to get started.