Mobile App, Schmobile App: Top 3 Reasons Insurance Agents Are Tired of Hearing About Mobile Apps
Insurance agents in the independent channel are being bombarded with messages about the need to focus on technology, the importance of digital marketing and the urgency of mobile-based growth. If you’re thinking “Enough already!” this article is for you.
Here are the top three reasons insurance agents are tired of hearing about mobile apps–and why they might actually be valid reasons to invest in them instead.
- It’s too expensive. “Are you kidding? I can’t get into the mobile app space. It’s not in our budget.” Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Many agents are fed up because they believe investing in an app is costly or is not the best use of their marketing budget. Instead, agents should consider the investment as the cost of customer retention. Any tool that can improve your overall loss ratio isn’t an expense at all.
Much to someone’s surprise, investing in a mobile app for their agency is an inexpensive way to boost client engagement, retention rates and customer trust. With a one-time branding/licensing fee and monthly maintenance fees, it’s an affordable way for your agency to enhance your customer’s insurance experience. Simplifying access, claims submissions, ease of use and offering clients the ability to chose when and how they want to engage is a retention factor that too often is viewed as an expense rather than a cost savings.
- It’s too complicated. Some agents say that mobile apps are just too complex and too difficult to learn. Or that they don’t want their agents getting confused with yet another app or technological outlet. We get it–especially if you’ve struggled to implement a tech solution or struggled to figure out a new agency management system in the past.
To be honest, yes- integrating a mobile app into your digital marketing strategy will take time and resources. But you should be adding it to your existing marketing strategy not creating a whole new strategy. Mobile apps are designed to be user-friendly and free you up to focus on insurance. The Insurance Agent App toolkit offers marketing templates and User Guides with step-by-step instructions so your staff, administrators and policyholders can easily navigate the app. Don’t let the fear of the unknown stop you!
- It won’t help my business. Many agents ask, “What in the world can a mobile app do to boost revenues?” If this industry is based on personal relationships between customer and agent, it certainly doesn’t seem like technology will add value; however, if technology helps your clients, it definitely helps your business. Consumers today are overwhelmed with information. They look to service providers to streamline interactions to get things done faster, more efficiently and on the consumer’s time schedule. Most agencies can’t do that without technology that expands services to accommodate needs and minimize friction.
A mobile app helps agencies engage and contain clients and automates many simple tasks that customers can and will do themselves. Connecting with clients before, during and after events builds deeper relationships and reinforces your role as their trusted insurance agent.
Hear it from your colleagues: Check out the latest testimonials to see what we’re talking about!