It is now that the New Year is here and it is the perfect time to start planning your marketing strategies for the next year. You have goals. But how do you get there? Use the following 7 tips to get a great start to your year and a jumpstart on your marketing efforts in the new year.
1. Modernize your website
A company with a well-designed website is more appealing to consumers. Only 3 of 200 respondents were able to say that the website had any effect on their decision to buy. Consider updating your website early in the year if it is outdated, stale, or if it has no content. There’s no reason to delay! These are some things to consider when you create your website.
- Each page should contain a minimum 400 words
- Put your most important products first. Search engines scan pages left to right, from top to bottom. (And, so do consumers, usually!)
- Avoid templates. Themes are fine. Your business is unique. Your website should reflect that.
- Your content should be written for consumers and not search engines.
- Include social media links as well as a blog for your company.
2. Blog
What is a blog? Blog is short for weblog. Blogs are a great way to share ideas and provide valuable content for your website. Blogs allow you to easily write about new services, lower rates, and explain coverages. Blogs add fresh, new content to your website. This is what search engines love. WordPress is a useful blogging software that you can easily add to your domain.
3. Make a video
Video is just as important today as it was last year. Now is the right time to use video in your insurance agency. Because video is rich media, search engines love it! Our video services go one step further. We include SEO (search engine optimization) in our client videos. This will allow them to appear in search results and direct more traffic to their website. What should your videos include? What should your videos contain? There are many topics.
4. Get a mobile website
We’ve known this for years, but mobile traffic is only 15% of the agents website traffic. 2013 could be the year this trend changes. What percentage of people you know own a smartphone? What tablet do you own? Probably quite a few! Mobile search will soon surpass desktop. A mobile-friendly website should be available for your agency. While you should include a link to the entire site, the basic guidelines for a mobile website are to provide a clear location, phone number, and a brief description of your company. To speed up load times, keep it simple and use minimal images.
5. Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
Search engine optimization is a tedious process that requires constant attention. You must also follow Google’s webmaster guidelines to make sure you don’t get placed in the “sandbox”. This is not a small task, especially considering that insurance is one the most competitive fields on the internet. Look for easy wins when optimizing your website. It is not easy to rank for the term “Insurance Seattle WA”, so don’t waste your website on this term. You should look for niche markets, such as small insurance companies with a strong local presence. We have many, including Oregon Mutual, PEMCO and Oregon Mutual. These terms will give you a better chance to rank on page one than if your site was optimized for national carriers like Farmers, Allstate, and GEICO. You should look for local optimization wins. Also, make sure you use Google’s keyword tool (just Google “keyword instrument”).
6. LinkedIn
LinkedIn is an excellent tool for creating a professional network that is unique. Consider all the content that’s “overshared on Facebook, and compare that to the professional posts on LinkedIn. LinkedIn allows you to network with other people who are looking for referrals, such as mortgage brokers or real estate agents. LinkedIn also offers valuable articles that can help you with various aspects of marketing and running your business. Create a profile if you don’t have one already. Spend some time explaining your business and then begin looking for others to network with. Networking does generate referrals!
7. Register for a newsletter
It is 75% cheaper to keep an existing customer than it is to get a new one. People leave their insurance agent for two reasons: they don’t hear from them. Newsletters are a great way to keep in touch with existing customers. Talk about seasonal risks like boating, motorcycles, freezing pipes, and cleaning your gutters in your newsletter. Highlight a new endorsement or new insurance company that you are working with. You can reach your customers by sending out a newsletter. This will show that you are still interested in them and inform them of any changes. They are valuable.
These steps will help you get more business for your agency and ensure a better year. All the best for the new year!
