how to make a great first impression

How to Impress a Client in Your First Meeting (6 Tips)

As an insurance agent, your first impression can make or break your relationship with a potential client/member. To help you make the best initial impression possible and demonstrate your knowledge about the insurance industry, we’ve put together our top tips to help you hit the ground running with new prospects. These steps will help you show potential client/members that you’re a professional insurance agent they can trust.

Be Confident

Demonstrating that you’re certain of your skills can be very reassuring to a new client/member. After all, insurance seems intimidating and complicated to a lot of people. It’s your job to show your prospects that you have gone through the necessary training to guide them in their insurance decisions. Your confidence in yourself and your abilities will lead client/members to believe in you, too.

Best Ways to Boost Your Confidence

Pay attention to your body language. You might be surprised how much your body language and mannerisms can affect how others see you and how you see yourself. Here are a few ways you can communicate confidence through your body language:

  • Offer a firm handshake.
  • Make eye contact.
  • Stand up straight.
  • Avoid fidgeting and fussing with your clothing, sales materials or other items.
  • Smile!

Master the material. By learning more about Farm Bureau and the products we sell, you’ll be more prepared to discuss multiple options with your client/member and make the best recommendation for their situation.

As you’re starting out as an insurance agent, ask friends and family members if you can practice on them. This will help you get over any apprehension before your first meeting you’re your client/members.

Keep on learning. The insurance industry is constantly evolving. To help you stay on top of the changes and be able to more confidently speak to them with client/members, we offer on-going, award winning training.

Looking for more inspiration? We’ve compiled a list of 11 confidence-boosting habits that can help you impress client/members in your first meeting.

Present Your Best Self

As you grow your business, it’s important to look professional when meeting with new client/members, especially at the first meeting. Not only will you feel better about yourself, but you’ll also appear more capable and skilled at what you do.

Presenting your best self isn’t just about looking the part, though. You should also have a positive attitude. Our agents have an amazing job — they get the opportunity to help people protect what matters most to them. Meeting with new client/members is an experience that you should look forward to since you’re helping them safeguard their future. Remember the positive impact you have on your community as you showcase yourself as a happy and helpful agent to new client/members.

Explain Your Intentions

One of the reasons it’s important to make a good first impression on client/members is that it helps them understand from the beginning that you’re focused on protecting their livelihood and providing them value. After all, you know that you’re not just in this business to sell insurance, but to make sure your community is protected. Be transparent about your intentions so they’ll understand that you’re selling them insurance for the right reasons and working with integrity.

Be Relatable

Asking about the person’s family, work and interests will help jump-start the conversation, and you’ll find out how much you have in common. Whether you have kids that are about the same age or are involved in the same community activities, getting to know your client/member will put you both at ease during the initial meeting and allow you to accomplish more.

Getting to know them also helps you understand what’s important to them and gives you the opportunity to build their trust in you and form a stronger relationship. You’ll then be able to provide insurance solutions that fit their life.

Do Your Homework

One of the best ways to make a great first impression with a new client/member is to show them that you took the time to learn about their situation. Maybe they need an insurance agent because they just had a baby and want to make sure their future is protected, or maybe there was a recent illness in their family. Whatever the reason, spending time researching information about the potential client/member will pay off when you meet with them and are prepared to present insurance options that meet their needs.

If you’re not sure how to best prepare, don’t be afraid to ask for help. At Farm Bureau, agents are not on their own. Between other agents, agency managers and insurance sales coaches, you have a whole team of professionals available to help you through anything and everything.

Let’s Make a Great First Impression Together

Our Developing Agent Program will get you started on the right foot with hands-on experience and helpful training sessions.

Plus, we’re currently offering a $5,000 sign-on bonus for agents that earn their Series 6 and 63 licenses during the program or already have their Series 6 and 63 when they contract with our team. See what you can accomplish as a Farm Bureau insurance agent today! Connect with your local regional manager to get started.