If you’re a technologically savvy person – or even if you aren’t – you’re likely aware of the myriad of ways that technology affects our everyday lives in the modern world.
The world and how it conducts its business has changed significantly as compared to twenty years ago, particularly involving how computers, the Internet, and cell phones have caused our workplaces and private lives to evolve.
One of the more recent developments in the field of communications technology has grown to such a stature as to deserve its own terminology – social media. If you’re not familiar with the term itself, you’re likely very familiar with the programs and items it references: Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, and Friendster are all forms of social networking. In fact, according to recent studies, social networking is the second most popular activity on the Internet, only after e-mail! Social networking can also include the use of smartphones (such as Blackberry, Android, and the ever-popular iPhone) to exchange information with persons and entities outside of an old-fashioned phone call.
What this means for sales agents is that if you want to be successful, you need to find a way to tap into this thriving communication vein. Many sales agents have done so by creating accounts on popular social media sites, with both personal and business profiles. Then they use these accounts to reach out to their clients and keep them abreast of updates in the company or changes in the insurance world. Many companies have developed smartphone applications (popularly known as “apps” when they’re used to refer to cell phones) that can walk customers through the process of filing a claim.
Technology is the way that business gets done. It doesn’t just stop at reaching out to your customers and being able to assist them through applications, but also much of the rest of the world has gone wireless. Virtually all banks offer online checking and savings accounts these days at no charge to their clients, and some banks operate entirely online.
Where money goes, the sales agent must go also. It’s imperative for you to consider signing up for social media accounts and look into the value of developing smartphone applications if you haven’t already. Even a small presence into social media platforms can pay off big when it comes to dividends.
Not all forays into the jungle of social media have to be so serious, either. The LIFE foundation created a “What Matters Most To Me” app to allow customers to think about their need for life insurance in a fun and engaging way. It’s not just all about technology, after all – creativity matters, too!
