Being in sales today is challenging, especially in the insurance industry. Insurance salespeople are knowledgeable when it comes to topics such as analyzing and managing risk, but always appreciate insight into generating more sales. Below are six steps insurance salespeople can take to improve their sales, compiled by Insurance NewsNet Magazine:

  1. Recognize the changing roles of salespeople. Consumers now value companies they feel a personal connection with. In fact, eighty-three percent of consumers will spend more if they feel a connection to the company. This means that sales people are charged with the task of aligning a company with consumers in a way that continues to increase customer loyalty. Some call this role the “customer experience facilitator” role as the sales associate is an intermediary between the company and the client.
  2. Respond immediately. Sales professionals receive customer emails constantly, and it is easy for them to get put on the back burner. It is important that customer inquiries receive priority attention.
  3. Always think strategically. Keep in mind your company’s unique vision and value proposition. It is important to know your company mission and formulate a strategy that will help you get there. A company must have a goal and a strategy in order to make their brand relevant and successful.
  4. Focus on solving your client’s problem, not just making the sale. Modern consumers do not want to feel as though they are “being sold,” but rather want to feel as though a salesperson is helping them solve a problem. Take the time to ask the consumer questions about their individual needs rather than just pitching your product. Customers value sales professionals that understand what it means to help.
  5. Make compelling statements. Powerful and compelling messaging is what puts a company ahead of its competitors. The messages a company develops separate one company from another and can attract customers away from other companies.
  6. Continue engaging customers. Though this may seem obvious, many companies fail to continue engaging customers after the initial sell. Customers begin to feel unimportant when this happens and their loyalty diminishes. Following up about a sale, especially as time goes one, goes a long way in building loyalty to the company. Without continued engagement and interaction customers feel they can shop elsewhere the next time they make a purchase.

Though sales is a complex field, there are effective solutions and tips for sales professionals as listed above. Insurance salespeople generally focus on learning about risk management, but it is also important to learn about customer satisfaction and how to build brand loyalty among clients. If insurance salespeople follow these simple steps, sales can be expected to increase.

If you’re in healthcare, insurance, technology or other professional services industries, and need help with a PR, marketing or social media campaign, contact Scott Public Relations.

Like what you’ve read? Follow Scott Public Relations on Facebook , Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn and Google+. For convenient blog updates, sign up for the Einsight RSS feed!

(Note: Many internet browser platforms are discontinuing their internal RSS reader. If you are viewing this in Google Chrome the RSS feed will not work properly since they discontinued Google Reader. If you have an independent reader set up already you should be fine. If you do not, may we suggest you look to Digg Reader, AOL Reader, or our personal favorite – Feedly to handle your RSS feeds. Happy reading.)