7 Important Steps To Jump Start An Insurance Agency Social Media Marketing Program

by ralphpaglia

7 Important Steps To Jump Start An Insurance Agency Social Media Marketing Program

All types of brokers and agencies should consider these seven important steps to jump start their Insurance Agency Social Media Marketing Program. Today, Insurance Social Media Marketing is a critical component of any successful insurance agency marketing plan. As progressively younger buyers control key agency buying decisions, they will derive much of their information from internet based content, websites and blogs. At a minimum, agencies should have now embarked upon the basics of their insurance agency social media marketing program which can include LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon, Digg, blogging, vlogging, ePublishing, etc. If your agency has not yet done this, you are losing out on a potentially critical competitive advantage. Remember, an insurance agency SEO (Search Engine Optimization) strategy by itself will not suffice as a substitute for a Social Media Marketing Program. SEO is only one component of a more comprehensive program. Follow these seven steps to jump start your Insurance Social Media Marketing Program:

1. Create your master SEO strategy: Showcase your keywords in your ePublished articles, blogs and website. Do not employ keyword stuffing tactics (repeating keywords over and over), but you should be able to create content which touches upon those keywords which are most important to your agency. For example, if your long tail keyword phrase was Maryland Personal Health insurance, Texas Trucking Insurance or Massachusetts Business Insurance, the applicable long tail keyword phrase, generally speaking, should appear at a 6% density or approximately once for every one hundred words used in your blog or article. If an ePublisher doesn't allow 6% keyword density, utilize the maximum density allowed.

2. Leverage Video and Vlogs: A key to blogging success is consistency. Blog consistently and provide relevant content, even if your blogs are short. Blogs can announce webinars, offer a quick review of a agency book you read, mention a fund raising event you just attended, offer a link to a government website, discuss a nuance of OSHA regulations, Work Comp laws, IRS Rulings, or perhaps Financial Planning Tips. Vlogs add another dimension to your blogging. They are interesting, sticky, can be posted to YouTube and showcase your valuable information and insights. Once you've created your blog and are posting at least once or twice a week, add a Vlog (Video Blog). Leverage Skype interviews, an up and coming web based video strategy that's fast, easy and cost effective.

3. Add Social Media Marketing Icons to your website: Add icons to make it easy for web visitors to share your relevant content. Have your key social media icons for FaceBook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Buzz, Digg, StumbleUpon, Delicious, etc. prominently displayed.

4. Create Dynamic Content: Make sure that both your insurance agency website and insurance agency social media marketing program leverage dynamic content. Content should be relevant and educational. It should include your predefined long tail keywords applicable to your target audience. This should be done using SEO analytical tools, some of which are free. For example, Google AdWords is a free tool as are Google Analytics for website analysis (Bing and others also offer free tools).

5. Newsletters can be of great value: Agency newsletters, if done professionally, are often the foundation for blogs, vlogs and ePublished articles. Above all else, make your content of value to your audience, then push it into cyberspace using social media marketing best practices. Newsletters, if organically created, can help generate content and pay ongoing dividends for your Social Media Marketing initiative.

6. Join the major social media networks: Join and learn about LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and the other major networks. If you are a B2B oriented agent, make sure you leverage LinkedIn's 100 Million members, groups, and B2B networking opportunities.

7. Create a Blog: Some might argue this is step number one in your Insurance Agency Social Media Marketing Program. Your blog should be completely integrated into your website. Why integrate a blog? It will help with  insurance SEO, search engine marketing, insurance agency website traffic, stickiness and dynamic content. All of these items are important to the health and efficacy of your  website. Fully integrate blogs can still be WordPress blogs. For example, you can port over the files from WordPress then add your website branding. Make sure you take advantage of the many widgets available to ensure a professional and up to date blog. Make sure you have an RSS feed available and a simple and easy subscribe box for sign ups. If you're not ready to integrate your blog, start with an external blog, then move it over to your website when time or budget allow.

Insurance Agency Social Media Marketing is about engaging with prospects and clients in a consistent and valued online dialogue, which then allows brokers and agents to foster a relationship with their respective target prospects (and to remain better connected with clients). Prospects who visit a website and find valuable content will be more likely to engage with agents for their services. If your agency lacks the resources to implement a successful social media marketing program, this function can be outsourced to a reputable insurance agency web marketing agency.

7 Important Steps To Jump Start An Insurance Agency Social Media Marketing Program