What if you could obtain 30 qualified long term care insurance prospects over a 30-day period? What would that be worth to you?
Well, let's assume you can close one out of three of these prospects -- that would yield 10 sales. At a modest premium of say $1,500 per sale, you might net $6,700 in first-year compensation. Do that consistently and factor in renewals, and you have yourself a pretty successful business.
But here's where the plan comes to a screeching halt for most insurance agents. How much money are you willing to invest in marketing in order to achieve these results? Would you be willing to spend $3,000, $4,000, or even more to build your business?
What if you knew it might take three or more months of commitment before results were achieved? Would you be willing to implement an ongoing marketing plan? Chances are you would not. Don't feel bad; you're not alone.
According to Agent Media's 2008 LTCI Study, 26 percent of insurance professionals note that finding long term care insurance prospects is a major obstacle to making more sales. The problem is that there are more than enough interested prospects out there -- they simply are not contacting you. And the blame for that rests squarely on your shoulders.
In 2007, some 400,000 Americans purchased long term care insurance protection. This year, the number is likely to come close to that again. There are ample prospects; you just have to make your phone ring. Following are three low-cost marketing programs to make that happen.
Focus on year-end tax deductibility
While headlines talk about a struggling economy, many businesses are enjoying highly profitable years. And higher profits equal higher taxes.
The third quarter of the calendar year is when many small-business owners start to look at their company ledgers and begin the frantic search for ways to reduce their year-end tax liability. Long term care insurance can provide just such an opportunity, and chances are no one has raised the possibility.
Now is the perfect time to communicate the tax advantages offered to small-business owners who purchase LTCI. Whether costs are fully tax-deductible or only partially deductible (up to stated limits), few owners will turn down the opportunity to have Uncle Sam share in the cost of their benefits package.
Mailings to clients who own small businesses or are self-employed are the lowest-cost means of communicating this important message. Don't overlook calling local accountants and tax preparers to make certain they know the current tax-deductible limits and the rules for each type of business entity.
Market to women living alone
Everyone will acknowledge that long term care is a woman's issue. Women live longer than men.
They make up 70 percent of all nursing home residents, and almost two-thirds of formal (paid) home care users are women.
But long term care is an even more important issue for women living alone. That includes those women who are divorced, widowed, or never married. It's a segment of the female population that is rarely addressed.
Women living alone face the double jeopardy of needing more long term care and not having a spouse available to provide that care. They are very viable prospects once they understand the increased risk and, therefore, the increased need to plan.
From delivering free talks about long term care planning before women's organizations to writing articles for your local newspapers and specialty magazines, this is a vital message that you can deliver. It will resonate. It will make your phone ring.
Network with local providers of LTC services
In every community, there are numerous providers of long term care. These include organizations that provide assistance in the home care field, assisted living communities, and, of course, nursing homes and convalescent facilities.
While the recipients of their services are no longer health eligible for LTC insurance, each recipient usually has one or more family members, often their children, who are eligible. And, most importantly, they are eyewitnesses to the risk and cost of care. The first two elements of your presentation are already in the bag.
You each have two things in common with these providers. First, you are both involved in the long term care profession. Second, you are both seeking prospects (and each can refer clients to the other).
Many of the care facilities have community rooms where seminars can be held. Others have informational brochure racks where you could place appropriate literature. Networking is free (aside from your time and gas money), but focusing on those in the community who understand the issue can yield enormous results.
The ideas shared here are all low-cost efforts. Frugality is not a bad thing. That said, low-cost efforts often don't yield immediate results (as compared with costly direct mail or advertising).
Thus, you must be willing to maintain the effort over an extended period of time.
If you do and you commit to investing a percentage of the resulting sales in more expanded marketing efforts, you'll find yourself with those 30 prospects over 30 days.
Jesse Slome is executive director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance (www.aaltci.org). He can be reached at jslome@aaltci.org.
