Networking might not be the most fun part of your job, especially when it's not your area of expertise. But once you master the art of networking, you'll find it more valuable and more appealing.
Networking Tips That Can Help You Boost Your Business
Making contacts, and building new and valuable business relationships is a very important part of the insurance industry. When you run your own independent insurance agency, you know you cannot skip this process. Networking has to be approached with the right mindset, and ideally, with a plan in mind, because you will certainly want to see results after putting in all that effort.
Here are four tips to help you polish those networking skills:
Perfect Your Pitch
Having a good "elevator pitch" is fundamental when you're part of the insurance industry, particularly if you own an independent insurance agency. Come up with something short but memorable, so that those who you talk to feel the need to contact you in the near future. Your pitch should be about how you can help the person you're talking to, rather than about all your accomplishments.
Define Attainable Goals
If you don't have a plan, you risk disappointing yourself, which has an impact on your confidence for future events. Make sure those goals are realistic. Instead of planning on closing various deals in one night, go for goals like giving your contact information to X amount of people. It's all about making the right connections.
Expand Your Horizons
Official insurance networking events are not the only way to make connections. Try getting involved in your community. This will make it easier for you to connect with potential clients.
Team Up with Someone
Networking doesn't have to be a solo job. Actually, bringing someone along can shave off some of the stress that a networking event can put on you. So, don't shy away from having a colleague join you next time. It could really have a positive impact on the way you interact with others.
One of the best ways for you to generate business is to start networking. Don't shy away from it. Instead, learn more about it and embrace it as a standard practice to make your business grow. Take charge of your independent insurance agency, or take the first step to owning one by joining AAI today.