5 Networking Tips Every New Insurance Agent Should Know

November 2, 2021

 

Networking within your local community is an important part of being an insurance agent, no matter how long you’ve been in the industry, but it’s especially important for new agents. So, how do you network as an insurance agent if you’re new to the field?

To start your business off with a larger base of potential clients, Farm Bureau will provide you with additional education and training, marketing materials and professional networking tips to get your name out in the community and convince your prospects to choose you for their insurance needs. Here are our tips for new insurance agents on how to start. 

 

 

1. Have an Online Presence

 

Social Media

Making connections on social media is an easy way to get to know your current clients and find new prospects. People are more likely to accept a friend request than an invitation to a face-to-face insurance appointment. We recommend that our new agents follow a few social media best practices:

Create a professional social media profile. As an insurance agent, it’s best to create a business profile page on LinkedIn and Facebook. This helps keep your personal and professional pages separate. Plus, when someone follows your business page, they know they can expect insurance industry-related posts that may be useful to them. Once your page is set up, follow local businesses and organizations and be sure to engage with the content they post.

Share information and tips. Providing your followers with helpful content will keep them engaged with your profile — and you. Farm Bureau agents have access to a content program that adds relevant industry news to your social feed. But it’s best to add variety to your feed, so be sure to include posts about events or activities coming up in the community and local clubs or volunteer work you’re involved in. People want to see the person behind the insurance agent, and your social media platforms are a great place to show them!

Take advantage of insurance networking groups. Connect with new people who have similar interests to you through the communities on Facebook or LinkedIn. We especially recommend the Insurance Professionals group on LinkedIn to keep agents in-the-know on industry updates.

If you abide by these simple guidelines, you’re sure to see success online. For more information, check out our blog, Social Media Marketing for Insurance Agents.

Agent Website

Along with creating agent profiles on social media, Farm Bureau creates a personal website that will help new agents bring in leads. It’s essential to give visitors an easy way to contact you when they have questions or find more information about how you can help with their situation.

 

2. Attend Conferences and Industry Events

 

Farm Bureau firmly believes in ongoing training for their insurance agents, and strongly encourages agents to find new educational resources in addition to the advanced training that Farm Bureau offers. As a new agent, you can learn from your peers by attending insurance networking events and conferences. Utilize insurance industry networking to stay in-the-know about what’s going and what learning opportunities are available.

 

 

3. Focus on Your Relationships

 

One of the most important tips for insurance agents to remember is that your job is to help people in your community protect what matters most to them. We hope that’s why you decided to become an agent in the first place and that you always strive to propose policies that offer the most protection for your clients.

When you’re getting to know a potential client, always think about what you can do to assist them in the future. All Farm Bureau agents should take the time to get to know their clients’ unique situations, because learning about their needs and what is most important in their lives will be instrumental in guiding them to the correct products. This sets you both up with a strong foundation that shows you genuinely care about their well-being.

 

 

4. Be Active in Your Community

Volunteer

Taking time out of your busy schedule to volunteer within your community shows how much you care and want to improve your neighborhood. If you’re already part of a local organization, volunteer for a leadership position to grow positive name recognition among community members. As a bonus, you’ll also hone your communication and leadership skills.

If you’re not sure where to start getting involved, consider your interests, how you’d like to spend your free time or a skill you want to improve. Many insurance agents choose to coach a local sports team, volunteer for a nonprofit or run for city council, but you can also think outside the box and brainstorm an idea that works best for you.

 

Give Back

If you can’t find the time to volunteer or if you’d like to do even more for your neighborhood, make it part of your business model to donate to a local charity. You can give to an organization making a difference, such as a foodbank or animal shelter or sponsor a local festival, a little league team, school event or other community activity to get your name out there.

 

5. Buy Local

Choosing to purchase supplies or materials you need from local businesses supports the community’s economy and may even prompt business owners to work with you in the future. By choosing to keep things local, you’ll also build your reputation in the community by supporting the businesses and people around you.

 

Build Your Network With Farm Bureau by Your Side

We’ll help you grow your insurance business. Sign up for our Developing Agent Program if you’re ready to build on the skills you already possess and learn more about the ones you need to become a successful insurance agent. Contact us to learn more about what you can accomplish with Farm Bureau.