You may have heard the saying “the sales process doesn’t end with the sale,” or some variation of that. Well, the same applies to insurance and financial services. When someone purchases a policy from you, that should be considered the beginning of a beautiful client-agent relationship. And, like all good relationships, there are things you need to do to show appreciation for the other person.
Maintaining a healthy relationship between your agency and its customers is a good way to ensure long term success. There are many ways to keep in touch with clients and keep your brand top of mind. But there are few things more powerful than a surprise “thank you” to let your clients know that you appreciate them.
Of course, there are numerous, creative ways in which to deliver a thanks to your insurance clients. But here are twelve creative ideas to get you started.
Send Flowers, and Jokes
Flowers for that special client. You don’t have to splash out on expensive bouquets, though. Fake flowers are often cheaper, and you can buy in bulk if you want to send to multiple clients.
You don’t even have to send actual flowers. A postcard with a picture of some flowers would work just as well. You can even include one of your best jokes in the message section on the back of the postcard. Just be sure to avoid jokes related to politics, sex, religion, nationality: basically anything that someone might find offensive.
Send an eCard
An alternative to sending physical postcards, or flowers, is to send an electronic card (eCard). There is much that can be done with an eCard such as add music, animation, and of course, a nice “thank you” message.
You will find many sites that allow you to create eCards for free, too. Opt for something funny. Injecting some laughter into a person’s day is a powerful thing.
Mention Them on Social Media
Social media probably plays a fundamental role in the lives of many of your clients. Posting a nice thank you message on your agency social media pages not only helps broadcast recognition for your client, but it will also endear other readers of your page. If you have a particularly good relationship with a client, and you know them well, you could post the thank you message directly onto their personal wall.
Take care when posting thank you messages on social media. People use different platforms for different reasons. A client might not, for example, appreciate a message from her insurance agent being broadcasted to all her professional LinkedIn connections. She might, however, be delighted to see one on Facebook.
With this method, you should make sure you have, approval, and a good relationship with your client beforehand.
Prepare a Thank You Video
If social media is not an option, despair not. A video is as good, if not better, at achieving the desired effect. You can do something outlandish like create a video of you and your office staff lip-syncing through a song like Dido’s “Thank You.” Or, perhaps you could do a quick video of everyone in the office saying “thank you” in unison.
One creative way to make a truly impactful video is to record everyone in your office individually stating a “thank you” message. Put the mini clips together over a background of music and voila! A truly memorable video that your clients will cherish.
You can even upload the video to YouTube. There, you have the option to broadcast it to your entire channel or keep it hidden and send the YouTube link to your clients.
Mention Them in Your Newsletter
If your agency has a newsletter, be that electronic or print, why not give your clients a shout out in one of the issues. Dedicate a page or section in the newsletter to specific clients and include a personalized message to thank them for their ongoing business.
You might need to follow up with a telephone call to let them know about this gesture, though. Some people might only skim through your newsletters or, dare I say, not read it at all. A little prompting will help ensure they cherish the latest issue of your newsletter.
Surprise Phone Call
When a client receives a phone call from an agent, it is usually because the agent is trying to sell something or there is a problem with payments. So, imagine the surprise when your client gets a call simply thanking them for their business?
They might be a little sceptical at first. So, it might be helpful if you combine your “thank you” call with a survey to “see if there is anything our agency could do to improve our service to you.”
Handwritten Note
With all the digital media, voice recognition software, and video messaging around, it is easy to forget about the beauty of a simple handwritten note. Similar to a phone call, a handwritten note in the mail just to say thank you is certain to surprise your client in a positive way.
Unlike a phone call, however, you can simply say “thank you for your business” without sounding weird and having to back it up with survey questions. Plus, despite all the digital advances, people love getting things in the mail.
Send Free Swag
The bottom line is that people love free stuff. You can pick up all sorts of novelty gifts and gadgets for a small price. Things like coffee mugs, pens, and refrigerator magnets are quick and easy gifts that cost little but will help you show big appreciation for your client. Some wildly successful agents have a team member make low-cost purchases at COSTCO or Sam’s Club; then they have that same team member produce “high quality” gift baskets for their clients. Try to buy things that fit the lifestyle of your client.
Perhaps they mentioned a love of skateboarding during a conversation. A miniature skateboard keyring along with a thank you note might well bring a smile to that client’s face.
Buy Coffee
Finally, it can be a good idea to take your client out for coffee. Not a particularly creative move, but still highly effective. A quick coffee meet allows you to not only thank your client in person, but you can also build a stronger relationship this way.
If your clients are too far way to meet in person for coffee, send them a gift card for their favorite coffee shop. Few things say “thank you” quite like a free coffee at Starbucks or Pete’s.
