Wondering what you can do to grow your agency? Consider these findings from a recent NPR poll:

 

• 90% of all purchases begin with an online search.

• 70% of those people rely on online reviews to make their purchasing decision.

 

Getting online reviews of your agency on Google is a critical marketing strategy. It helps your agency rank higher in search results, establishes you as a local insurance authority, and improves your chances of getting leads. But the vast majority of insurance agencies have less than three reviews. This absence of local reviews is a huge opportunity for agencies that do have positive reviews to stand out. Not sure how to go about getting Google reviews? Don’t worry, help is available – free of charge – from the Sales department.

 

GETTING STARTED

The process of getting Google reviews begins with a Google My Business page. A Google My Business page is a tool to help manage your online presence across Google, including Search, Maps and reviews. Setting up your page is as easy as contacting Ashley Pope, Agent Marketing Lead, at extension 4396 or apope@idfbins.com or Chase Downs, Marketing Intern, at extension 4461 or cdowns@idfbins.com. Ashley or Chase can set up your Google My Business page in just a few minutes.

 

ASKING FOR REVIEWS

Once your Google My Business page is up and running, you’re ready to begin asking customers for reviews. Ashley can also help with this. “We can send emails on the agents’ behalf asking clients to leave a Google My Business review,” Ashley says. There are two approaches to this. The first, Ashley explains, is for the Home Office to send an email to all of an agent’s clients who have email addresses. This method could net you positive reviews, but negative comments are also a possibility. The other approach can reduce the odds of getting a negative review, but it takes some effort on the part of the agent. “If agents will go into CRM and rank clients who they think will leave then a good review with an ‘A’,” Ashley says, “we can email only those clients.” A copy of an email the Home Office can send to your clients is shown above.

 

AN AGENT SUCCESS STORY

Ashley says John Nishimoto in Dalton Gardens has taken advantage of this first approach. “John’s had good success soliciting reviews from his  customers. After one email campaign he received 12 five-star reviews within a couple of weeks.” Plus, just having a Google My Business page has helped John build his online presence. During the past 30 days, his Google My Business page has referred five visitors to his agent website, received one request for directions, and triggered nine calls to John’s phone. Screenshots showing analytics from John’s Google My Business page are also included above.

 

Don’t be afraid to ask for reviews. They help people out who are looking for insurance as much as they help you. People want to know what they’re getting into. Let them know what they can expect from you with a Google My Business page and Google reviews.

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MARKETING TOOLS