Health insurance agents and marketing are not an easy topic to discuss. The reason is because your industry, and your job, come with a unique challenge to marketing experts. Everyone needs your service, some get it through work, some need it through you but you are not selling, even though you work in sales.
The reason it’s complicated is because you are selling something everyone needs. However, you are selling it on behalf of a specific brand, or several if you work as an independent agent. You are limited on how you can market your services but you do have the freedom to do one thing that gives you a huge advantage, offer your services for free.
That’s right, it is absolutely free for someone to call a health insurance agent, any agent in their state, ask 1,000 questions, go through dozens of plans and select one that is best for them or go somewhere else if they prefer, and it’s completely free. You guide people and help them find an economic solution to quality healthcare.
Marketing Tips For Health Insurance Agents
While you do provide a great service, your goal is to provide that service to a lot more people, also known as sales. If you want to increase your sales you need to focus on marketing. Networking is a great option too, but remember the web is a powerful tool now that you can utilize to your advantage starting with:
- Get a website: You cannot start a legitimate online presence without a website. You can get one on your own, or, if you work with a broker, you can get a page on their website.
- Build up your social media: Facebook is still a great marketing option, even if it does not generate a lot of traffic without you paying them. The reason? It’s free and it helps reinforce your web presence. Keep in mind, you are also not aware that people who hear about you through other marketing channels will check your facebook to see if you are legitimate?
- Get on YouTube: People have questions about their health insurance and there are also things they need to know. Shoot a 5 minute video at your desk, talking about these topics and answering some of the questions. It does not have to be high-quality as long as you are being helpful.
- Do not ignore LinkedIn: Yes, LinkedIn is that site that promises us everything but basically is selling us a pyramid scheme and we’re the last ones to find out about it. Ok, but here’s the thing, LinkedIn, just like Facebook, does give you web credibility, not only with Google, but with other sites as well. LinkedIn also gives you the opportunity to talk about these topics in writing and if your content is real quality, it will generate organic traffic.
- Start writing: You’re going to need to write. Yes, people prefer video content but a lot of people want stuff in writing either after they’ve viewed the videos, or without watching. They want it in writing so start writing on LinkedIn and your own blog.
- Google is your best friend: Someone is going to go to Google in the next minute, search for “Health Insurance Agent Near Me” and Google will give them 3 options to choose from. Paid, map and organic. Organic can include businesses offering the services, and websites offering information relevant to the topic. That person chooses to call the agent who is near her, but first they check your website and social media before calling because they want to know who they are talking to.
- Phone numbers are a waste, get emails: Emails are the best way to generate interest in your services and offer free information. Direct traffic to your blog and give people guidance on what they should know each year.
- Home office is never a primary office: You can work from home 99% of the time, but you need to have an actual office established in a normal, office environment.
- Boost for traffic, not leads: Trying to generate leads direction off one marketing effort like boosting on social media or your YouTube page will lead to a higher click cost with usually lower results. Focus on traffic. If your content is good, it will get quality traffic to your site.
Marketing is a process and that process takes time. If you want to spend a lot of money you are going to compete with the bigger companies in the industry for that real estate and traffic. You have to think smart and utilize your knowledge to show people why they should not only take your advice, but utilize your services.
