Earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, and other natural disasters can be truly devastating for everyone in the path of destruction. They can also be devastating for the companies that provide coverage for people and businesses in the affected region. Payouts can be astronomical, and the sheer volume of claims can be overwhelming for many agents.
As a wholesale insurance broker, you have an important role to play for agents you work with who do business in affected regions. Here are a few things you should do if a region you work in is affected by a natural disaster.
Reach out immediately. Don’t wait to get in touch with the insurance agents you work with. Get in touch with them personally and let them know that you’re there as an expert resource to help them handle the increased demand on their business and answer tricky questions.
Provide important information. Put together information packets or report for the lines of insurance you specialize in, and get it into the hands of the insurance agents you work with. Include answers to all frequently asked questions and information they’ll need. Do this within the first few days after a natural disaster.
Communicate across media. Put the information online on your website—and promote it across all the social media platforms where you market. In addition, be active on social media platforms to make sure the insurance agents you work with know that you’re there and listening. Offer concise information as events unfold, or let your agents know you’re there to take their questions.
Take questions and give answers. Social media outlets such as Twitter are great mediums for taking questions and providing answers in real time. Start a hashtag that’s relevant to the disaster, and ask your insurance agents to ask questions and get your attention using that hashtag. Check Twitter regularly and respond to questions as they come in. This is a great way to support insurance agents in affected areas.
Be prepared. If you do business in markets and regions where there is elevated risk of certain disasters—such as earthquakes in California—be ready. Prepare information packets ahead of time for insurance agents, detailing insurance coverage information they might need. Update it periodically to reflect current regulations and other factors. This way, you’ll be ready if something happens.
In case of a natural disaster, your insurance agents will need your support—so be sure to show you can be relied upon. Make yourself available, have information ready and updated, and keep lines of communication open via phone, email, and social media. Be as responsive as possible to your insurance agents’ needs and questions, and you can strengthen relationships as you help the people you work with serve their customers in emergency situations.
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