Communication is changing drastically, especially with the growing acceptance of social media in the workplace. We connect via Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, blogs, etc., and we can now use these platforms to communicate with our clients. At the end of the day, many of our clients want to be able to explore life insurance–along with other financial tools–through sophisticated technology. They want to see what company will give them the best offers, how much life insurance they may need and, most importantly, they want to see reviews from other consumers.
Advisors need to become proficient in the skills that attract and inform both current and potential clients through technology and social media. Connecting with your clientele when addressing critical protections can sometimes be difficult, especially when discussing the life insurance product–one of the most personal financial tools we offer. Oftentimes the discussions surrounding life insurance are uncomfortable because clients fear planning for their death. Social media platforms provide a forum to spark conversation between consumers and agents, and they allow for two-way conversation in a more informal environment.
Both LIMRA's 2012 Life Insurance Conference and 2012 LIMRA/LOMA Social Media Conference for Financial Services highlighted social media as a trend with growing importance in the financial industry. Social media and technology can not only give your clients an information pipeline, but it can also house data and help with the underwriting process. Both conferences showcased various social media tools and ways to come up with the right digital strategy for your practice.
