An Independent Agent Needs Great Branding

If you’re an independent agent who has just started out on your own, then congratulations, it’s a significant first step to take. Not only have you most likely broken free from being a captive agent, but you now get to set about building your own brand, with your own unique identity. It might seem like an exceptionally daunting process, and one not without its challenges, but it doesn’t have to be. Here’s how you can build your brand as a new independent agent.

Use Social Media

Traditionally, people used to use Facebook to connect with their friends and family. You could write messages to each other and share pictures and videos as well. Now, however, Facebook and similar social media networks have endless opportunities for professionals. In 2017, over 81 percent of the United States population used social media, so if you’re not on it, you’re missing out on potential leads. Facebook offers the opportunity for you to connect with your target market on a much more effective scale.

Rather than rely on newspaper ads, door knocking, and flyers to get your name out there, you can use social media instead. You can select your particular target market, create ads, then direct them towards those people. You may find social media can build your brand far better than more conventional and traditional methods.

Get a Business Identity

As an independent agent, you work for yourself. Typically, those who work for themselves have their own unique business identity by which they are easily identified. Your job as an independent agent is no different. If you don’t have a business identity, such as a logo, how can you stand out from the crowd? Captive agents are bound by their head office branding, but the sky’s the limit for how you can present yourself to your prospective clients.

Visit a graphic designer, come up with a logo, and you now have a way in which to distribute marketing materials and messages to new and existing clients.

Build a Website

As of April 2018, there were over 177 million active websites in the world. A substantial number of those will be business-related. Given the digital footprint and the ever-growing engagement with the online world, it’s crucial for your business to get on the bandwagon. If you’re not online, you run the risk of missing out on new customers, and on the opportunity to build your brand as well.

If you don’t have a website, there’s no time like the present to get one. You can refer clients to it for information, streamline your services, and even provide insurance online rather than by more traditional methods. By building a website, you can optimize your business significantly.

Utilize Online Marketing

When you’ve decided to join a growing number of insurance agents looking to make it on their own, it can be a daunting step. Not everyone knows how to tap into their market, get those customer inquiries flowing in, or build their brand. However, online marketing can play a significant role in achieving that goal. You just have to be willing to adapt and welcome online marketing into your world.

Online marketing includes search engine optimization and Google Ad words among other things. If you’re unsure how to get involved in online marketing, consult an expert who does. It may just positively impact how visible you are in the digital world.

If you’re starting out fresh as an independent agent with a blank address book, there’s no time like the present to begin building your brand. Don’t be afraid of the digital world, establish your brand identity, and watch as those customer inquiries start flowing in.