According to LinkedIn specialist Kate Nankivell, many of today’s insurance agents and brokers are potentially missing out on a great opportunity to grow their network and expand their business by ignoring the power of their LinkedIn profiles. Nankivell shared with Insurance Business that LinkedIn has become a vital asset in the range of marketing tools available to insurance agents and brokers, and by not utilizing this resource they are effectively losing business opportunities.
Nankivell estimates that while most insurance brokers have a very wide network of connections, they are only following up with a small fraction of them on LinkedIn, and therefore are missing an opportunity to position themselves as the professionals they are.
If an insurance agent or broker wanted to utilize LinkedIn, how should they go about it? How could it affect Insurance Agent Professional Liability? If you are an insurance agent or broker, you know how important it is to remain relevant and credible. With this in mind, it’s important to look at the “do’s and don’ts” of LinkedIn etiquette.
LinkedIn professionals recommend treating your profile as if it were a professional brochure; meaning your profile image should be appropriate for the business world and any information, work history, certifications, etc. should be up-to-date and accurate. These two factors often will give clients and leads their first impression of you and your agency. In addition, it’s important to avoid making connections that you don’t really know. Just because you are connected with someone doesn’t necessarily mean that person is willing to vouch for your credibility. This in turn could work against you and hurt your value as an agent rather than help it.
What are some of the “don’ts” of LinkedIn? One of the most common suggestions social media professionals make is that you don’t treat LinkedIn as a chore you have to keep up on, but rather a valuable networking tool. LinkedIn is free, and invaluable, and if you dedicate real time and effort to making the most of your connections, you’ll establish worthwhile, long-term relationships. Another “don’t” of LinkedIn use that is commonly recommended is don’t blindly connect with individuals. Learn about the candidate and be ready to explain why they should connect with you. This shows them that you have a real, legitimate interest and in turn may boost your credibility.
In addition to Insurance Agent Professional Liability, PLRisk Advisors offers customized insurance coverage for many different professions. Also called an Errors and Omissions (E&O) policy, this coverage provides you and your clients with coverage that contributes toward legal defense costs, damage awards and settlements. To learn more, please contact us today at (855) 403-5982.
