BLUEPRINT TO FREEDOM
PART II: PREPARATION
Once the evaluation of your business and prior commitments is underway, it’s time to cultivate alliances and brand yourself to your clientele. At this critical junction, you are ready to build your unique blueprint for transitioning into life as an independent agent, but first you must decide how this will happen. In the second step, you will gradually start building a new book of business while maintaining a relationship with your existing career organization or transition full-throttle into business on your own.
To get preparations started, identify your market, determine your niche and develop a strategy to reach your target clientele. Create tactics that showcase your services and expertise while promoting your new business. Focus on being strategic and methodical in the process; design a plan that’s well-thought-out and addresses all of the most important aspects of how you will do business
moving forward.
Your efforts should be “laser pointed.” Your blueprint should address who, what, when, where and how.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you focus efforts and build a marketing plan to effectively communicate with both clients and prospects:
EXPECT RESISTANCE, BUT REMEMBER PEOPLE DO BUSINESS WITH PEOPLE NOT COMPANIES
If you’ve chosen to sever your relationship with your career organization, they may fight to retain the business you placed and start trying to transition relationships with the clients in your book of business. They’ll reassign your clients, which will take time. You have the advantage – you’ve already spent time building and maintaining these relationships, getting to know the areas in which your clients live, and have developed an understanding of their individual needs and goals.
Spend as you earn
As we all know, spending money is easy, but earning it is more difficult. Once you’ve created a cash flow, ensure your structured plan is realistic and budget your expenses.
FOCUS YOUR EFFORTS
You can’t be everything to everyone. Develop a laser-focused approach and heavily target your efforts in one direction. First, look within your existing book of business and develop a niche approach – and remember the 80/20 rule. Find opportunities to grow services for specific areas in which you’ve already started building trends. Find a niche and do it well, then expand.
DEVELOP A MARKETING PLAN TO APPROACH TARGET CLIENTELE
Due to non-compete agency contracts, you can’t market directly to your previous clients, but you may target the market they represent. Using any previous research you’ve done on the densest ZIP codes in your target market area, you may want to begin leveraging relationships with strategic alliance partners, The Chambers of Commerce in your area and other groups with whom you’re well positioned to expand your reach in the area(s) where you are known best.
Use this to your advantage, and implement marketing strategies that educate individuals about your new position.
When you come on board with CreativeOne, you join a team of seasoned life insurance professionals who are truly excited to work with you. Since 1984, we’ve focused on helping life agents reach their goals and grow their business. Our team of experienced, knowledgeable individuals can help you meet the needs of even the most discerning clientele while streamlining the process from application
through placement.
Download the PDF version of the Blueprint to Freedom on Preparation now!
Read the first part of this four-part series Blueprint to Freedom – Evaluation >>
Here’s how we can support your life business:
• Back-office support, including case design, development and preparation, as well as carrier coordination
• Application submission support, including illustrations, proposals, APS request coordination, scheduling assistance, application review and case follow-up
• Underwriting support, including a concierge in-house underwriter with over 40 years of experience
• And some of the most exciting, beneficial incentives available in the business
How could your practice benefit from a partnership with a team that’s consistent, accountable and committed? Work with us and find out how to get even your toughest policies placed.