With so much going on in our lives these days, commuting to work and working in an office isn’t for everyone. Depending on what industry you work in, there can be plenty of benefits:
- Friendly environment: An office can be a crowded place and not necessarily the best place to be productive. By working from home, you can be in a quieter setting to be as productive as you need to be.
- Flexibility: By working from home, you can work at your own pace. You can work at your own pace without feeling rushed.
- Contacting people: For companies with independent contractors such as insurance companies hiring to work from home, working from home also offers the benefit of being able to make calls and contacts in the comfort of your own home. Surveys have indicated that 61% of customers still prefer dealing with salespeople over the phone, so making calls in a quiet environment can be very beneficial.
- Fewer distractions: Working from home also allows for fewer distractions. You won’t be distracted by chatty co-workers or the chilliness of the office AC.
- No commuting: This is pretty self-explanatory. Working from home allows you to go from your bed to your home office space in a matter of seconds.
For folks working for insurance companies hiring to work from home, there are plenty of helpful tips if you’re working from home and selling insurance over the phone. With that in mind, here are five tips to make that process easier.
- Set up a workable office: Independent contractors working for insurance companies hiring to work from home can be successful by having a home office that is set up for success. Having a computer, laptop or tablet that’s updated with all the programs you’ll need will make it easier for customers to sign up for insurance. One of the biggest tools an insurance salesman can have is customer relationship management (CRM) software. This allows salesmen to supply customers with a quote in a matter of minutes and also allows for a customer’s questions to be readily answer.
- Prepare for anything: Buying an insurance plan can be a stressful experience for some customers. Because it’s stressful, some clients may not be readily willing to commit to buying insurance. If you do get objections or rejections, don’t despair. Keep plugging away and work with customers to help them get past any reservations they have.
- Ask questions: Salesmen for insurance companies hiring to work from home can be successful by asking a lot of questions of their customers. Assuming things will get you nowhere. Instead, asking customers guided questions will help you determine his or her needs. Ultimately, you want to find out what’s important to a client to help narrow what their insurance needs might need or be interested in. Asking questions also helps you make connections with customers that can pay off in the long run. It’s been shown that 78% of consumers have bailed on a transaction or not made an intended purchase because of poor customer service.
- Listen to customers: Whether you’re a full time or part time insurance agent, actively listening to a customer can be extremely beneficial. You may think it’s easy to listen, but the challenge is listening to learn rather than just listening to respond to a question. Customers think a lot of insurance agents who are sincere and actually listening to what they have to say rather than just trying to sell them insurance policies.
- Cater to the customer: If you’re talking with a repeat customer, customize the conversation. Use their name, review any notes you took from your previous conversation and speak to the customer like you’ve actually spoken before. You want to make your client feel important and taking time to personalize a conversation with a customer can add a lot of value to your business down the road.
The chance to working from home and work with flexible hours can be a welcome change, especially for those in the insurance business or in other customer service jobs. Taking the time to set up a workable office and establishing a rapport with your customers will set you up for success now and in the future.
