We hope by 2024 you have a website, even if you are an agency of one. A website proves legitimacy, in the way that a well-paid and prominent yellow page ad used to. A website to a Gen-X or younger is more important than a brick and mortar. We’re still working with Boomers in the Medicare world, but that doesn’t mean they don’t look at them too. Many website-building platforms are cheap, or even free, and they’ve become quite user-friendly. You will need to purchase the domain name (ie: www.ImTheBestAgent.com) and pay monthly/annually a place for the website to live (server/hosting), but it’s a minimal fee compared to the credibility it provides. Keep in mind, a rudimentary or obviously incomplete website can deter users, so include a couple paragraphs about your company, employees, services, contact info, and a few nice photos. Nowadays when a consumer has a question, they hop on over to Google to find the answer. So you can bet when it comes to insurance, they’re looking online too.

There are some rules about what you can and cannot do via email. CAN-SPAM is an international rule cracking down on princes in foreign countries needing money. According to this rule, people must give you their email address, or “opt in” via a web or physical form. If they’re in your BOB, and have given you their email, you’re golden, but you still need to either add an “unsubscribe” button in the footer of your (marketing) email, or honor their wishes if they tell you to stop. Besides that, emailing is one of the best ways to get information to them cheap and fast. Email birthday wishes, AEP reminders, or just a note to check in. If you find you enjoy blogging or podcast marketing efforts, you can email a mini-newsletter to share what you’re up to and the resources available.

The power of a handwritten thank you and birthday card has yet to be replicated by anything digital. You can include a couple business cards and ask them to give them out to friends and family.

While Pablo Picasso once said, “Good artists copy, great artists steal,” it is also widely known that, “To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research.” So go see what your competition is doing, follow their pages, take bits of their content and tweak to your own voice and style. Staring at a blank page only works for some of the greatest minds. Us people in the real world, however? The juices don’t just flow by themselves. Take what you like, and make it yours. This is probably one of the only times in life when it’s good to be full of yourself—be aware of your strengths and don’t hesitate to let them shine.

Hear us out on this one. Social media may seem like an annoyance in many regards, but it shows your clients you’re legit, you’re active, and that you are going to be there when they need you. It’s mostly free advertising. Yes, you can do paid ads, but you don’t have to. When posting, keep in mind the rule of threes: make one third of your posts about your company (employees, events, awards, etc.), one third of your posts about the services you offer (don’t forget your call to action… “Give us a call today!”), and one third of your posts are about something relevant to your audience, but not about you at all. In the Medicare space that means posts about aging, exercises for bad knees, and healthy low-glucose recipes. You’re offering them something that can assist them, at no benefit to you (except that they’re going to see you as a resource for all kinds of things!).

Yup, these have gotten huge. There is a plethora of information you can discuss, simply by yourself talking about everything you know and have learned about the industry, or you can have a coworker, business partner, or even an interviewee participate. The options are limitless, and every one-of-a-kind niche in your back pocket is where you should start.

Much like podcasts, videos can be a great way to connect with potential and existing clients, and show off your expertise. Post them to Youtube, or add them to your website. Science has proven that when you watch people in your home (on TV or device), you feel more comfortable with them than if you just meet them on the street. Let yourself be animated inside their home, so when they do finally meet you face to face, they’re already at ease.

Marketing is so easy to forget! We cannot say this enough: if you don’t set reminders or tie a new task to an existing task, you can’t build new habits. Sit down with your first cup of coffee in the morning and post one thing on your socials. Or better yet, make calendar reminders to accomplish your marketing goals. Reminders to write a short blog, or to schedule another 101. Adding clients’ birthdays into your calendar with a reminder a week before to send a card is good, but you can also make one calendar reminder at the beginning of the month that has a list of all clients with birthdays who need cards and get it all done at once. Plus, you don’t want to be “that guy” who only posted one thing in 2014 and nothing else since. Who knows if that guy is even still around?

Is there something you know better than a lot of people out there? Do you have a cool and unique way to explain the difference between MA and Med Supp, or have clients told you you’re “animated” when talking about a particular topic? These little niches are unique to you, and people enjoy hearing about them! Type out how you would explain it to a client, and have someone else give it a read for typos and clarity. You’ll be surprised at how fun it is to blog about your unique take on the industry. Don’t forget to also write about yourself and your company’s history!

CMS requires certain events to be registered, if plan benefits or specific plans and carriers will be discussed, which is an awesome thing to do and only requires a *little* bit more work, but holding 101s is fair game! Hold them in your office, a library, a hotel conference room, or better yet, work with a local healthcare provider and see if you can get inside one of their facilities. MedicareCompareUSA works with providers across the country to coordinate these events, and we have our Ambassador Agents present.

Much like podcasts, videos can be a great way to connect with potential and existing clients, and show off your expertise. Post them to Youtube, or add them to your website. Science has proven that when you watch people in your home (on TV or device), you feel more comfortable with them than if you just meet them on the street. Let yourself be animated inside their home, so when they do finally meet you face to face, they’re already at ease.

Does your logo need updating? What? You don’t even have one?! Just like jean styles ebb and flow across the decades, logos need to stay fresh to speak of an active and responsive company that cares enough to stay relevant. Clipart from the ‘80s looks exactly like clipart from the ‘80s (which is not cool anymore). Seek the help of a professional on this one. You can also secure many fresh stock photos from the internet that help create a look and feel you enjoy, which leads to attracting people who jive with your vibe. Those are always the easiest clients to work with. And don’t underestimate the value of hiring a professional, most graphic designers work by the hour and welcome big and small jobs alike.

Send out a post-AEP survey asking how the experience was for them. There are free online services and you can push it out via email, or go with a tried and true hard copy in the mail. Better yet, get something setup so that when you finish your appointments with them you can ask them to do it right then. The information gathered tells you not only how your service was, but what other products you could provide for them.

Search Engine Optimization… that weird algorithm that nobody can tame. Your current clients will know to look for you specifically, and if you use your domain name on your marketing materials they’ll know exactly the web address to type in, but if you can spend some time making sure your content is keyword rich, or hiring someone to help you figure it out and run some ads, you’ll be found by many, many more potential clients on the web.

Always remember to ask for the referral. This one is obvious, and possibly the only one you truly focus on. Keep it up! You can add this to your email signature line, include in surveys, send extra business cards so they can hand out to friends and family, send in thank you cards, and include in your enrollment process. Word of mouth is always the best form of marketing!

People are crazy about free pens! It makes no sense! But they’ll use them and your company name will get out there. Find inexpensive, fun ways to get your brand seen. And remember, MedicareCompareUSA has swag if desired! Hit up your National Sales Manager and they’ll make sure you get it.