Managing emails with clients

[Evan Papanikolaou]

Hi all!
I'm 6 months in life insurance and I have been trying to set up my own workflow in order to improve my sales cycle. Recently, I subscribed to an online insurance CRM in order to organize my leads. Excel is OK, but a CRM offers more.
I am not quite sure how to -safely - use marketing emails with my leads so as not to get blacklisted. Emails seem so 2010s, but babyboomers seem to prefer this way. In general, do you use to email your client base from within your CRM, or via traditional email.
Thx much

 

[somarco]

Emails seem so 2010s, but babyboomers seem to prefer this way.

Boomer here.

Email rocks.

Texting annoys me unless it is my wife or kids.

Snail mail is forage for the recycle bin. Flyers on my mailbox, doorknob or windshield also get tossed.

Telemarketing must pass through my caller ID and "don't you dare call me" blocks. Even then it goes to voice mail unless I know who you are.

Don't door knock. I won't answer. Even if you approach while I am mowing the grass I will waive you off.

Boomer curmudgeon and proud of it.

 

[Travis Price]

Your assumption about emails being 2010 is weird to me.

I use emails to communicate all day long. I use text with a select number of my clients, talk to them on the phone, and after I get them as a client I send them my welcome pack with a thank you note, a promo coffee mug, some Werther's, my magnet card for their fridge, and a few paper cards for referrals.

I have a opt in on my website for a soft conversion (email for an ebook I wrote) and offer instant quotes as well.

To answer your question, I use email from within my CRM and take notes after every contact to keep a log of the conversation on my end for possible future leads/referrals, current plan and costs, special dates, like spouse birthdays or the such.

Multimodal communication is vital to developing a relationship, just don't be a stalker about it...

It's how I wrote Somarco's Medigap plan when he sells Medigap.

 

[Markthebroker]

I mostly deal with pretty high net worth business owners over 40 yrs old. They are constantly asking me to text them, which I still think is weird. I don't use text in the office, and I hold back, but I usually want to answer "no, we don't text here because this is a business, and I'm not a goddamn 12 year old."

 

[LostDollar]

I mostly deal with pretty high net worth business owners over 40 yrs old. They are constantly asking me to text them, which I still think is weird. I don't use text in the office, and I hold back, but I usually want to answer "no, we don't text here because this is a business, and I'm not a goddamn 12 year old."

Sounds like a customer service problem in your organization.

 

[WinoBlues]

Your assumption about emails being 2010 is weird to me.

I use emails to communicate all day long. I use text with a select number of my clients, talk to them on the phone, and after I get them as a client I send them my welcome pack with a thank you note, a promo coffee mug, some Werther's, my magnet card for their fridge, and a few paper cards for referrals.

I have a opt in on my website for a soft conversion (email for an ebook I wrote) and offer instant quotes as well.

To answer your question, I use email from within my CRM and take notes after every contact to keep a log of the conversation on my end for possible future leads/referrals, current plan and costs, special dates, like spouse birthdays or the such.

Multimodal communication is vital to developing a relationship, just don't be a stalker about it...

It's how I wrote Somarco's Medigap plan when he sells Medigap.

Good stuff.

You could cut and paste that into a Life Insurance thread.

 

[Travis Price]

I mostly deal with pretty high net worth business owners over 40 yrs old. They are constantly asking me to text them, which I still think is weird. I don't use text in the office, and I hold back, but I usually want to answer "no, we don't text here because this is a business, and I'm not a goddamn 12 year old."

Obviously you have the right to run your business the way you want. However, I do want to give you something to think about, even if you still disagree:

The doctors office send me a text for reminders of appointments.

Walgreens sends texts to remind me to pick up.

The State of Michigan sends me a text when there's an office closing (day job)

Text message open rates are 98% vs the Email open rate of 20%.

61% of people duck and screen calls.

For me, after I have an initial contact with a prospective client and they're moving forward, I give them some updates via text. I have clients (65+) that send me texts as part of our communication. Maybe it's a generational thing, but I'm okay with using whatever way they feel comfortable with concerning contact.

 

[scagnt83]

If a clients initiates the texting, I certainly text back. They sent the text because its their preferred method to communicate with you in that moment. Not replying back in kind is disrespectful imo.

I have HNW clients in their 50s and 60s who text me. I have plenty of business owners who text me of all ages.

I have found that business owners tend to be attached to email all day and night long. So they often like email communications. That is not as true for individuals.

If I need to send a simple message about a case update; I would use email for a business owner, but would not hesitate to text an individual client if they have used text with me before.

Texting is a great way to confirm calls that are scheduled or to see if its a good time to make an intro call for a lead.

I used to be very much against texting clients. I still prefer email and phone for most things, but Ive started to utilize texting more and more.

 

[scagnt83]

Text message open rates are 98% vs the Email open rate of 20%.

61% of people duck and screen calls.

Powerful stats there.

 

[scagnt83]

Maybe it's a generational thing, but I'm okay with using whatever way they feel comfortable with concerning contact.

I agree 100%. If they text me, imo, its inconsiderate not to reply via text.

(unless the text requested me to call them, which happens a good bit for me with existing clients)