15 Super Effective Call Script Samples
15
Super Effective Call Script Samples
Cold
calling may look old-school, but 69% of the
buyers have accepted calls from salespersons in the last 12 months. In the life
insurance sector, phone calls are the most effective way of initiating
conversations with prospective customers.
Thus,
phone calls for prospecting still work, and people also like to talk to a human
to address their queries.
In this
article, we will disclose 15 super-effective insurance sales scripts that
seasoned professionals use.
15 Engaging insurance sales script samples
Case 1: When you have only a few seconds to explain
your product.
You: Hello, Mary. My name is Jack
Black. I from XYZ insurance company/agency. We are expanding
our insurance coverage to your area. Do you have a few seconds for me to tell
you about our services? Because I think we can save you money on insurance
premiums.
Mary: I have some work to rush to, but I can give you 15
seconds.
Here you
can include either of the two elevator pitches.
Script 1:
You: Thanks, Mary. On average,
we have saved our customers $100 per year on insurance, and we have many
five-star reviews from our customers. If you want, I can send you the custom
quote over email.
Script 2:
You: Thanks, Mary. Our insurance
program lets you combine your XYZ insurance with your PQR insurance
renewal. By combining these insurance policies, we can lower your policy costs
and provide a quicker turn around for your claims. You know, we are the only
insurance provider in Minnesota that currently offers this policy combination
and savings.
If I could have your email address, I can send you all the details.
Also, I would love to set up a 10-minute call to discuss our insurance policies
and how our firm can save you money. How about tomorrow?
Mary: Sure, you can give me a call tomorrow.
Touch the
pain point of your insurance prospect for a successful cold call. In insurance,
it is usually about saving money!
A successful elevator pitch has four parts:
1. Hook your prospect with a strong
opening sentence: It should address the needs of customers and why do they
need insurance.
2. Address their pain points: Most insurance customers tend
to have common questions, and these are usually their concerns. It may include
the premium amount, coverage, and even claims.
3. Illustrate the benefits
of your insurance policy: It may include pricing, special offer, buying
process, and claims settlement.
4. USP: Highlight what differentiates
you from your competitors.
Case 2: Cold calling insurance sales script to
offer a free quote
Script 3:
You: Hi, am I speaking to Mary?
Mary: Yes.
You: Hi Mary, my name is Jack Black, and I am from XYZ insurance
company. I am calling to let you know that our company is offering free custom
quotes on many policies.
Of course, there is no obligation to buy. It is just so that you can see what
insurance options are available to you and your family.
We have already saved our customers over $100 each per year on insurance. Would
this be of any interest to you?
If the prospect says yes but does not have the time to discuss, you can offer
to send an email and set an appointment for a later day. If the prospect is
willing to continue the call, continue with your sales proposition.
You can
also download the pdf to share with friends
or refer to the script later.
Case 3: Insurance call script for cross-selling
If you
use CRM software, then based on some triggers,
the system will notify you about an opportunity to cross-sell to an existing
customer. For example, if your customer is searching for car insurance,
updating his social media status about his plan to buy a new car, then you can
call the customer and pitch your product.
Script 4:
You: Hi, Mary. My name is Jack Black,
and I am calling to thank you for being a valued client. Do you have a couple
of minutes to talk?
Mary: I have some work to get to, so not right now, please.
You: I understand. Shall I give you a call tomorrow, or what time
suits you?
Mary: Okay, tomorrow works.
If the answer is yes, then you can continue with the pitch.
You: Do you currently have car insurance?
Mary: Yes.
If the customer already has an insurance policy, ask him when the expiry date
is and follow up accordingly. However, you can use the following pitch to hook
them on for a future purchase.
If the customer does not have the other insurance policy, it is the best time
to pitch your product immediately.
You can
also download the pdf to share with friends
or refer to the script later.
Case 4: value pitch
Script 5:
You: Hello Mary. My name is Jack
Black, and I am from XYZ insurance company. You may have heard
that we cannot beat ABC insurance company’s rates, but in
fact, we do not want to.
XYZ Insurance customers value our ability and quick measures to take care of
everything from the moment you call us with a claim.
Plus, we will take care of:
>>Getting you a loaner car
>>Scheduling an adjustor immediately
>>Dealing directly with a qualified auto repair service station on your
behalf
>>Returning your vehicle as soon as possible.
>>We strongly believe in the value of our service. To prove it, we offer
a 30-days money-back guarantee.
Mary: Okay, send me the details.
You: Thank you, Mary. I will email you the details asap.
Case 5: objection handling sales script for
insurance agents
Overcoming
objections is a vital skill for sales success. Successful sellers also
concentrate on objection prevention apart from cutting down the number of
objections. The following are some of the common objections from customers
during the call.
- I
don’t think I need insurance right now.
- I
have already shortlisted another insurance firm.
- I am
extremely busy this week.
- I am
unable to decide which insurance policy is best for me.
- I do
not think I can really afford insurance.
- Money
is a little tight right now for an insurance policy.
- I do
not know if my budget can accommodate an insurance plan.
The
following insurance sales scripts can prepare you for handling such objections.
Script 6:
You: Hi, Mary there?
Mary: Yes, speaking.
You: Mary, I am Jack Black from XYZ Insurance. This call is with
regards to your query on our website.
Mary: Yes, but I am not interested right now.
You: Sure, but let me tell you – there is no application fee, and
you can get a 20% discount on insurance premium today. I only need some
information to offer the best deal. So, you said you live in California with
your husband and two children. Am I right?
By offering a benefit, you can cut the objection and continue the discussion
with the prospect.
Script 7:
You: Out of these three
insurance policies, which one fits your needs the best?
Mary: 3rd one.
You: I agree with you. That was my pick as well. Your neighbor
Alicia also bought the same policy and is happy with it. I just need some
information to process the application for you. So, you spell your name as
MARY?
Other
types of objections that insurance salespeople often face are:
- I
have to run this through my wife/husband/partner.
- I
need to recheck with my manager (seeking advice from someone they trust).
Script 8:
You: Absolutely, no problem. So,
I will send you the details by email so that your friend will have all the
information he needs. Meanwhile, if you can help me with some basic
information, I can also arrange a personalized quote as well. So, your date of
birth is?
Case 6: Call script for business insurance
Script 9:
You: Hello, am I speaking to Mary?
Mary: Yes.
You: Hi Mary, my name is Jack Black, and I am
from XYZ insurance company. How have you been?
Mary: Good.
You: That’s great, Mary. The reason I am calling today is to talk about
your business insurance. Can you tell me a bit about your current business
insurance cover?
Mary: I am happy with my current plan.
You: That’s awesome. Would you consider a total insurance policy review
and audit? We will be able to tell you where you are covered right now if
anything goes wrong, and what better options our insurance company can offer in
the same price range. We can also provide a competitive quote on your
business/commercial insurance, even for when it renews.
If the prospect seems even slightly interested, continue your pitch. If the
time is a constraint, book a follow-up appointment, and never forget to send an
email with all the details.
However,
keeping a track of all these activities, making notes, and revisiting them from
time to time can be a daunting task. It is very common to miss follow-ups with
leads and prospects. Therefore, you must consider a solution that automates
these tasks. Take for instance, LeadSquared Insurance CRM software. Using this,
you can automate task reminders, schedule emails, and more. It also integrates
with RingCentral, CallTrackingMetrics,
and other telephony/cloud calling solutions to enable one-touch calls from the
CRM portal itself.
Case 8: Call script for mortgage protection
insurance
Script
10:
You: Hello, am I speaking to Mary?
Mary: Yes.
You: Hi Mary, my name is Jack Black, and I am from XYZ insurance
company. How have you been?
Mary: Good.
You: That’s great. I am calling you because I saw that you have recently
purchased a property. Congratulations! I was interested to know if you have
already taken out a mortgage protection insurance.
Wait for the response from the prospect. If the prospective customer says
no, then go ahead with the sale closure. However, if they reply that they
already have mortgage protection insurance with another carrier, continue with
the below script.
You: It is great to know that you already have insurance in place. Could
I ask how long your mortgage is? Depending on the term, I can check what type
of insurance policy would benefit you the most and where you could save some
money.
If the
prospect wants to continue the conversation, then you can follow this script.
You: Nice. Well, it is always great
to explore more options for informed and better decisions, especially when you
are a new property owner. I do know that paying the mortgage is your main
priority right now. So, based on the information, the XYZ policy can help you
better.
And you can elaborate on the policy benefits, savings for customers, and ask
for closure.
Case 9: Calling a lead generated from the website
Script
11:
You: Hello, am I speaking to Mary?
Mary: Yes.
You: Hi Mary, my name is Jack Black, and I am from XYZ insurance
company. How have you been?
Mary: Good.
You: That’s great. I am calling with regards to the health insurance
information you recently requested online. I am looking at the
information you submitted here, and it seems that you are considering a [x]
policy with [x] number of years and an [x] amount of benefit. Is that correct?
Mary: That’s correct.
You can ask for further details, the process to buy insurance,
verification/eKYC process, and other details that you need to close the sale.
Many
insurance firms also use CRM for capturing leads from websites, ads,
marketplaces, and other network sites. These systems automatically distribute
the leads with complete information about the prospect. Thus, you don’t have to
ask for the details again. All you need is to verify the details.
Case 10: Promotional sales script for insurance
agents
Script
12:
There are
times when insurance carriers suddenly release new rates with discounts up to
50% on new sign-ups. These are simple to handle, and the objections are also
less. It is because everyone would want to save on their premiums.
You: Hi, I am Jack Black from
XYZ Insurance. I am calling to let you know that the XYZ insurance company has
just released new rates that can save you up to 50% on your health insurance
premiums. Can I explain further?
Prospect: Sure.
Go ahead, provide the information, and try for a closure. If the prospect is
busy at the moment, then ask for an email address.
You: No problem, can we send you the information via email?
Prospect: Sure.
You: Great, please help me with your email address. Also, can I call you
tomorrow to go over all the insurance plans and the new prices?
Case 11: Raising curiosity
Script
13:
You: Hi Mary. Jack Black this side from
XYZ insurance. Mary, I know you are busy. So I will be quick. Last month
we saved PQR company $10000 on their group insurance policy for employees. I
thought you would also be interested in saving on premiums.
With your permission, can we talk for a few minutes to understand your
requirements, coverage from existing policies, and what we can do to save you
dollars annually?
If the
prospect chose to talk, then you can continue your pitch. Or else you can ask
for an appointment someday soon to continue the discussion.
Case 12: Call script for auto insurance
Script
14:
You: Hi there, is this Mary? Jack
Black this side from XYZ insurance.
Mary: Hi Jack. I am busy right now; can you call later?
You: I understand. The reason I am calling is to let you know that we
are offering very competitive quotes that could save you lots of money. Do you
have a quick 30 seconds to hear about our service?
Mary: Okay.
You: Thanks, Mary. With the new rates we’re offering, we have saved our
customers about $325 per year on auto insurance. We have hundreds of five-star
reviews on Google. You can see what others have to say. I know you’re in a
hurry, but if I could have your email address, I could send you more details.
Would you be open to that?
After
receiving the email address, you can ask to schedule a call over the weekend or
some other convenient time to stay in the mind of the customer for faster
closure.
Case 13: script for selling income protection
insurance
Script
15:
You: Hi there, is this Mary? Jack
Black this side from XYZ insurance.
Mary: Hi Jack. Tell me.
You: Mary, the reason for my call is to talk about how you can protect
yourself and your family if something happened that stopped you from working.
We all know that life can be unpredictable. Sometimes an unexpected injury or
illness can keep you from working for weeks or maybe even months.
Income protection insurance can ensure that you still receive your income
during such times. It lets you and your family focus on your recovery without
worrying about finances. Would you be open to learning more about this
insurance?
Mary: I need time to think about it.
You: Sure, Mary. I understand. Our consultation calls only take a few
minutes. In this, we walk you through all your options and rates. There is no
commitment for you to sign up. If you’re free sometime in the evening tomorrow,
can I schedule a call?
You can
also download the pdf to share with friends
or refer to the script later.
Insurance sales calling best practices
I hope
these insurance sales scripts gave you an idea about how the calls should be.
Remember, people do not appreciate sales-y, elaborate calls. You will have hardly
two minutes to win or lose the customer. Therefore, you need to sound confident
and make the best first impression.
- Make
your intro to-the-point. Briefly introduce yourself, your company, and the
reason for your call.
- Tell
the benefits of your insurance policy to the customer and their peers who
have bought your insurance policy.
- Know
when to call. Usually, the best times for insurance calls are during lunch
hours.
- Practice
your script. Record your call to check how you sound. Are you using too
many stop-words like so, that is, etc.? Do you need to work on
pronunciation? Do you need to speak faster or slower? Rehearsing your
script will make you sound more confident.
- Be
flexible with the script. Go with the flow and show empathy to the
prospect.
Keeping
these points in mind, you can always win customers and build a healthy,
long-lasting relationship with them.
Cold
Calling Scripts Designed for Insurance Agents
Copper Staff
Contributors from members of the Copper team
May
14, 2019
The cold calling game in insurance is
tough. A lot of people look at insurance as boring, bland and not worth their
time—which makes pitching it with a cold call especially difficult.
You’ll get hung up on. You’ll have to build trust and
establish credibility.
And chances are, you probably won’t book an appointment on
your first call.
It’s also likely your prospect has already been contacted by
(many) insurance agents trying to sell them insurance. But the best scripts for
insurance cold calls don’t focus on selling insurance.
They focus on the prospect.
An engaging script hooks your prospect
from the opening line. It gets your prospect to think about whether they’re
paying a good price for their insurance. And it can even make them reconsider
their current policy—and wonder if you could give them a better option.
Here are seven scripts that will keep your prospects engaged
from your very first cold call, including:
·
An elevator pitch you can use in any call,
·
A script for offering up free quotes,
·
A script that plays the neighborhood card,
·
A script that focuses on selling value,
·
A script to ignite a price war,
·
A script for a lead who has already looked at a policy
on your website, and
·
A script for someone who already has insurance
1. An elevator pitch you can use in any
call
Let’s call this your cold calling elevator pitch.
Whether you’re selling household, workplace, or travel
insurance, to be successful, you’re going to need to touch on a pain point your
prospect has. (If you’re selling multiple types of insurance, once you’ve
perfected your elevator pitch, you can just swap the insurance type out to fit
the cold call you’re making.)
A great elevator pitch has four parts:
·
1: An opening sentence that hooks your prospect - Think about the
best answer to “what does your insurance company do” that you can come up with
and put it here
·
2: Your prospect’s pain point(s) - Are
they spending too much on insurance? Are they worried they aren’t covered? Have
they had problems with claims before? Pick a pain point and address it—really
well.
·
3: The benefits of your company’s policy - Is it a lower
price point? Do you offer policy combinations? Do you process policies faster?
·
4: Your competitive differentiator - What is your unique selling proposition (USP)?
Explain why the prospect should buy insurance from you, not your competition.
For example, your elevator pitch might be:
·
“Our workplace insurance program is saving other companies
in (prospect’s area), just like yours, anywhere from 20 to 25% off their total
annual insurance costs. Does this sound like something you might be interested
in for your business?”
or
·
“Our insurance lets you combine your workplace insurance
with your worker’s compensation renewal. By doing this, we’re able to lower
your policy costs, as well as turn around your claims quicker. Plus, we’re the
only insurance provider in (your area) that currently offers this combination.
Does this sound like something you might be interested in for your business?”
To use it in a cold call, make sure you introduce yourself
and your insurance company before jumping into the pitch.
“Hi, am I speaking with (prospect’s
name)? I’m (your name) and I’m calling from (your insurance agency).”
Keep it simple and short. After all,
your prospect’s time is important.
2. A script for offering up free quotes
Everybody loves free stuff. And as an insurance agent, it’s
probably become second nature for you to offer up free quotes to keep the
conversation flowing with prospects.
In this example, we’re going to be selling life insurance to
our prospect, with the offer of a free quote.
“Hi, am I speaking with (prospect’s
name)?”
“Ok great, This is (your name) calling
from (your insurance agency). How have you been?”
If asking a prospect, “How have you
been?” sounds a bit odd, you’re right. It is. But apparently, it works.
The study found that using the phrase interrupts your
prospect’s thought process (in a good way). By talking to your prospect in a
way that you might talk to a prospect you’ve already met, it can actually move
the conversation forward because you’re keeping it friendly.
Keep it casual. Insurance agents are often hung up on quite
early in a cold call, so you need to try and keep the prospect on the line long
enough that they hear your pitch.
Once you’ve managed to keep them on the phone, it’s time to
offer up the free quote.
“The reason I’m calling is to let you
know our firm has agents out and about in your area just now. What we are doing
is talking through life insurance options and offering up free quotes as well.
Obviously, there’s no obligation to buy, it’s just so you can see what options
are available to you and your family. Would this be of any interest to you?"
Wait for a response. If they seem hesitant, then you can
gently push the solution a bit more.
“I understand you’re hesitant. But in
my experience, for (describe the prospect’s family to show you’ve been paying
attention and understand their unique qualities) families, like yours, it helps
to have a bit of extra help when it comes to life insurance planning. Are you
sure you don’t want to just have a quick chat tomorrow with one of my
colleagues?”
Wait for a response.
It’s at this point in the conversation your prospect will
probably throw some objections at
you. Don’t look at this as a negative. Instead, listen to their objections and
let them know that you understand their concerns.
Once you’ve managed to overcome their initial objections,
move them onto the next phase of the call and gather some information to
qualify them.
“I just need to ask some quick
questions to make sure you qualify for our program, and it’ll save you time when
you’re talking to one of our specialists later as well.”
Remember to make sure you’ve got their details, including:
·
Their
age
·
Their
annual income (an approximate number will be fine)
·
If
they’re on any medication
·
If
they’ve ever had any serious illnesses (stroke, cancer, etc)
·
Finally,
if they’ve already got another policy with another agent
Then, close the call.
“That’s great. Thank you very much
(prospect’s name). The last thing we need to do is set an appointment time to
have one of our specialists get in touch. When would suit you?”
This script will work with any type of
insurance—just switch out the wording to the type of insurance you’re selling.
3. A script that plays the neighborhood
card
Painting yourself as a champion of the neighborhood is a
tried and tested sales tactic. If you
show your prospect that your company is familiar with their neighborhood, it
can help build trust.
In this example, we’re going to be selling workplace
insurance.
“Hi, is this (prospect’s name)? Okay
great. My name is (your name) and I’m calling from (your insurance agency). How
have you been?”
Wait for a response.
“That’s great. (Prospect’s name), the
reason I’m calling you today is I’m contacting locals in our area to chat about
workplace insurance. I know you’re a business owner yourself, are you open to
having a conversation about your current cover?”
Wait for a response. You’ll often get an objection here from
the prospect about how they’re happy with their current provider.
“Absolutely (prospect’s name), I
completely understand. What would you say if I told you the reason we wanted to
start a conversation within the local area was to offer business owners like
yourself a total insurance policy review and audit? Our audit will tell you if
you’re covered in case anything goes wrong, and what our comprehensive coverage
can offer your business for the same price bracket. Would this be something
that you’re open to?”
Wait for a response. If they show any signs of interest,
book a follow-up appointment and close the call.
“That’s great (prospect’s name). Our
review process only takes about 15 minutes, so that’s perfect as I’m sure
you’re super busy. When would suit you to catch up and go through this
together?”
This goes without saying, but defer to
the times that work for them if it's at all possible. Compromise is key in the
early stages of a prospect relationship, so do whatever you can to work on
their schedule.
4. A script for a prospect who fails to
see value in your insurance
Some insurance policies are harder to sell than others.
While a lot of people might be open to hearing your pitch on a product like
life insurance, they might not be as open to hearing about income protection or
travel insurance.
In this example, we’re going to be selling income protection
insurance.
“Hi, can I speak with (prospect’s name)
please? Hi there, my name is (your name) and I’m calling from (insurance
agency). How are you today?”
Wait for a response.
“That’s great to hear. The reason I’m
calling today is to talk about protecting yourself if something happens that
stops you from working. You know (prospect’s name), life is unpredictable, and
sometimes an unexpected injury or illness can sideline us from our jobs for
weeks or even months. A policy like income protection insurance can make sure your
income is protected even if this happens, and it can minimize the impact it has
on you and your family. Is an insurance like this something you’ve ever
considered?”
Wait for a response. It’s likely that the prospect will tell
you that they’re not interested in the insurance and it hasn’t been on their
radar.
“That’s fine (prospect’s name), I
understand it’s probably something that you haven’t really had a chance to
think about. Our initial consultations are just a quick call and there’s
absolutely no commitment for you to sign up. It’s a good chance for you to
compare rates and know your options. Does this sound like something you’d be
interested in?”
If they agree to a consultation, try and book them in for an
appointment the following day.
“So (prospect’s name), when is a good
time to have our specialist call you tomorrow?”
Work with them to set an appointment time and date.
“That’s great. Thank you very much
(prospect’s name), have a great day and please don’t forget our appointment
tomorrow at 3 pm.”
If they don’t agree to a consultation,
don’t push them. Thank them for their time, tag them as a cold lead and make a
note in your CRM to follow up with them in a month
or two.
PRO-TIP
More on CRM...
Learn about all the ways a CRM can help
you with prospecting with this free guide.
5. A script to ignite a price war
If your rates are reasonable (or if you can be flexible),
starting a price war and letting a prospect know they’re possibly paying too
much for their policy is a great way to keep them on the line.
In this example, we’re going to be selling life insurance
again.
“Hi, is this (prospect’s name)?”
...
“Great, this is (your name) and I’m
calling from (insurance agency). The reason I’m reaching out to you today is to
let you know that a lot of our life insurance carriers are currently having a
price war.. Because of that, there's a good chance we can get you a lot more
coverage for the price you’re paying now, or you could get a significant
discount on what you’re currently paying. Is this something you’d be keen to
talk about further?”
Once they’re open to discussing the
cost of their policy and if they may be paying too much, then you can steer the
conversation to specific aspects of their policy such as their premium or
deductible.
6. A script for a lead who has already
looked at a policy on your website
Following up with prospects who have shown interest on your
website is crucial. They’re already qualified because they’ve shown an interest
in a policy, but they may just need an extra nudge to get them to buy.
In this example, we’re going to be selling travel insurance.
“Hi, is this (prospect’s name)?”
…
“My name is (your name) and I’m calling
from (insurance agency). I’m just calling about the travel insurance
information you recently requested with us online. I’m looking at the
information you submitted here and it seems you’re after a 30-day comprehensive
cover, is that correct?”
Make sure you mention the policy they’ve shown interest in
right away so they know you’re following up on an actual request.
Once they’ve acknowledged the policy request, you can use it
as a segue to talk about what you can offer them.
“Is now a good time to talk? … Okay,
great. If you’d like, we can go over the details of some popular policies I
think will work for you, based on the information you provided when you visited
our website. And a lot of our policies can be customized for your needs, which
I can help you select.”
Wait for their confirmation. If they’re interested in going
over some policies right then and there, talk them through some pain points
when it comes to picking travel insurance.
“I know it can be complicated to pick
the right travel insurance for a trip, so please ask away if you have any
questions.”
If they're short on time, offer to send them some policy
options in an email.
“I completely understand you’re busy,
(prospect’s name). What I can do is email you some information about some
policies to go over when you’ve got the time? Then, once you’ve found a policy
you like, or want some more information on, I can walk you through the
application process right over the phone.”
7. A script for someone who already has
insurance
Chances are, a lot of the prospects you reach out to may
already have a policy for the insurance you’re selling. (Even more so when it
comes to policies like life insurance and mortgage protection.)
In this example, we’re going to be selling mortgage
protection insurance to a prospect who already has a policy.
“Hi, can I please speak with
(prospect’s name)?”
...
“Hi (prospect’s name), I’m (your name)
from (insurance agency). I’m calling because I see you’ve recently purchased a
property and I was interested to know if you’ve taken out mortgage protection
insurance?”
Wait for their confirmation.
“Okay, that’s great you’re already
covered. Just so I can find out a little more on what type insurance policy
would benefit you the most, can I ask how long your mortgage is?”
Wait for their answer. Any information you can gather that
will help you build a relationship (either
on your initial phone call or on follow-up calls) is crucial.
“Perfect. For new homeowners in
circumstances like yours, it’s always interesting to see what else is out
there. I’m willing to take a look over your current policy to see if there’s
any way I can save you some money, as I know as a new homeowner, paying a
mortgage is your main priority. Would this be something that you’re open to?”
Pick a cold calling script that works
and adapt it to the policy you’re selling
The great thing about cold calling scripts for insurance
agents is that when you find that one script (or two) that works really well
for you and your style, you can adapt to sell different kinds of insurance.
Separating yourself from the herd of insurance agents who
are cold calling prospects is key—instead of trying to sell your products right
off the bat, position yourself as a friendly agent who wants to know about your
prospect’s pain points.
Everyone wants to do the right thing
for themselves and their families. Highlighting how insurance policies can
provide a safety net in any situation will work better than just hard selling
your policies on a cold call.
9 best cold calling scripts for insurance agents
Insurance agents usually dread cold
calls. But here's 9 cold call scripts that could make your experience better
and achieve results!
Even insurance agents
are not insured against the rejections that come with cold calls.
However, let’s get
one thing straight. Cold calling has worked, and still works for today’s
insurance agents.
In fact, 82% of buyers accept meetings with reps
who proactively reach out.
This doesn’t mean
that outbound
calling is easy, though. Quite the opposite in fact.
That’s why we’ve
compiled a list of the best insurance cold call scripts. But before we start,
let’s look at some important things that every cold call should have.
Things that the best insurance
cold calls scripts should have
An engaging and persuasive angle
People have limited
attention spans – it has actually dropped to just 8 seconds in
2018. That’s a ridiculously short amount of time to get someone engaged before
you start talking about what you have to offer.
When preparing your
script template, include something that will quickly engage them. A relatable
incident. Or even an event that recently made news headlines.
Time is of the
essence and you’ll want an anchor that will grab your prospects’ attention so
that they’ll continue listening to you.
(Humble) Bragging material
It’s normal for
companies to use success stories to show potential customers that their product
or service works. SaaS companies like ourselves do it all the time.
Check out our case studies page
as a reference.
Novocall’s
case studies page.
If companies use
their success stories to promote themselves, we don’t see why you shouldn’t
follow suit! Mentioning one or two big deals successfully closed, or how one of
your clients has benefited from your investment policies can go a long way in
positioning yourself as the trustworthy go-to agent. So prepare one or two of
these stories in your script!
Of course, you don’t
want to end up being the arrogant show-off. This brings us to our next point.
Making prospects the star of the show
No one likes a
show-off. In your cold calls, don’t overly focus on how great you are.
Remember, the prospects are always the stars of the show. Make the call about
them.
Be genuine in finding
out about their pain points. Ask them what type of policies they currently
have. Ask them how they are benefitting from their policies. Ask them if they
are achieving what they want with their existing policies. Show that you care.
Engage in active listening when
speaking to your prospects and never ever pass judgment
over anything they say.
Keeping these 3
points in mind, let’s move on to 8 of the best insurance cold call scripts we
crafted for you.
The best cold calling scripts for
insurance agents
1. For pitches with a very
limited timeframe
You don’t always get
a lot of time to pitch to your prospects. People are busy and oftentimes, you
need to get straight to the point within the span of a minute or two.
You can make use of
the elevator pitch format to quickly introduce yourself and present what you
have to offer. As its name suggests, the pitch should last around the duration of
an elevator ride. That’s approximately 30 seconds to 2 minutes.
Your pitch should
include these parts: an engaging opening to draw your prospects in, addressing
the problems your prospects are facing, what you can offer to
them, as well as how your policies are better than their existing ones.
Now let’s examine
this script to see how it achieves the aforementioned criteria:
- Draw your
prospects in:
Relate to them by showing you are aware of their financial struggle
- Addressing the
problems:
Inflation and rising costs
- What you can
offer:
Investment plan that helps them grow their passive income
- How your
policies are better: (depends on your policy)
Of course, this
script is tailored for insurance agents selling investment plans to young people.
You can tailor it based on the type of policies you are selling and your target
audience.
2. For pitches where you offer
free quotes
The end goal of your
cold calls isn’t always to sell something. Sometimes, it’s better to establish
good rapport with your prospects first. And one of the ways to do so, is to
provide them with freebies such as free quotations
Position your pitch
in a way that makes them feel:
- That they’re not
pressured to buy
- That they’re
gaining something without doing anything
Now, offer the free
quote and use it as a hook to quickly engage the prospect.
3. For those who have existing
insurance policies
An insurance policy
is one of those things that is considered a commodity, a must-have of sorts.
Most of the time, the
people you are reaching out to already have insurance policies. How then can
you still sell to them? Or should this even be a focus?
If the prospect
already has a policy and is insistent on not buying another one, accept the
rejection. But this doesn’t mean that the call was for nothing.
Make use of the opportunity
to build a strong connection with the prospect. In the future, these prospects
may just think of you when they happen to need a new one, or when someone they
know is looking for one.
If the prospect
rejects you, just thank them nicely. Thank them for their time and leave your
contact.
Assure them that you
are there to provide a free consultation if they ever need it. Even if the
policy they own was not brought from you.
4. For you to position yourself
as the trustworthy go-to agent in the community
People are more
likely to trust you if they know you belong to their community.
In this scenario,
your script should include:
- Genuine
questions about the prospect’s well-being
- Knowledge of the
neighborhood your prospect lives in
- (Bonus)
Name-drops of some of the more well-known residents in the community (with
consent, of course)
5. When the prospect doesn’t see
value in your offer
No doubt, it is
harder to sell some insurance plans as compared to others. While a lot of
people see a value in your life insurance plans, they might not see a value in
your offers regarding travel or income protection.
Let’s take a look at
a hard to sell insurance plan:
Now you should
mention your purpose of calling – make it simple and clear.
The prospect might
raise some objections but you should be ready to address them.
If they show no
objections, schedule a consultation for them as per their schedule.
If they don’t agree
to a consultation, don’t pressurize them. Make a note of them as a cold lead in
your CRM and follow up with them in a month or
two.
6. For when your prospect is busy
When you’re making a
cold call, there’s a high chance you’re calling a prospect when they’re in the
middle of something.
The key aspect here
is to get your main point across as quickly as possible while also making sure
to get the prospect’s information to follow up with them later on.
You could first start
by introducing yourself, as usual. The prospect could possibly interrupt you to
say that they’re busy at the moment. Don’t be phased, this is pretty normal
when they’re in a hurry.
You could continue
with:
Give them some time
to respond. We’ve crafted 2 scripts according to what their response could be.
You get your main
point across within two sentences, and you still get their email address as a
means of communication without taking too much of their time.
After they’ve given
you their email, be sure to follow up with them ASAP so that they don’t forget
about the conversation you just had.
Make sure to take
note of this in your CRM and follow up with them again.
7. For when your prospect has
already shown interest
Just because your
prospect shows interest in purchasing a policy doesn’t necessarily mean they‘ll
buy it straight away. As insurance plans are high-value products, it’s common
to still have to nurture prospects before they decide to buy.
Here’s a script you
can follow:
It’s important to
reassure them that for any savings plans they’re going for, they’re still able
to save with what they have currently. If they’re going to break their bank to
save for the future, what’s the point then?
Again, once they’ve
given you their email address, quickly send over the necessary documents for
them to browse through. You don’t want them to forget about this and lose
interest!
After a few days,
drop them a call again to follow up.
8. For when you’re able to offer
competitive prices
If you have a
competitive price bracket, you could use this as a way to get your prospects
hooked to the call.
After all, no one
likes paying for anything more than they should, especially if they can get it
at a better price.
If the prospect shows
interest, ask them what policies they currently have that you’re able to offer
a better price for. You can then focus on the particular features of your
policy that make it better than your competitors.
9. For when age is not just a
number
When trying to sell
health insurance, age plays an important role.
Prospects in the
early stages of their life wouldn’t consider purchasing a health insurance plan
for one simple reason – they’re still young. It just isn’t their
priority.
So how do you pitch
to someone who’s in their mid-20s to 30s?
The key here is to
dial down the upfront costs and dial up the long term benefits.
Here’s a script you
could follow:
If the prospect
agrees, you can share the different plans and coverage that each plan provides.
However, it’s
important to note that it is rare for a young person to want to buy health
insurance. But don’t worry, we have a script for when situations like these
arise:
See how we managed to
tie in “low price” with “maximum benefit”?
It’s also important
to mention that health insurance policies are the most worth it to get when
you’re young. You can then use this to gauge their interest in getting a health
policy
How to know when a script is
working (and what to do if it isn’t)
Even with a good
script for every possible scenario, you’ll still experience
rejection. That’s just the nature of cold calls. But you should be able to see
improvements simply by handling different situations differently.
To ensure that your
scripts are effective, monitor the performance of your agents through in-depth
reports from the dashboard. You can easily do this with a holistic
call management phone system like Novocall that helps you automate
your outbound calls.
Another measurement
to consider is whether you get referrals from a cold call.
Sure, you didn’t connect on the first call, but getting a referral from someone
who’s not interested is still a win.
And of course, watch
your sales numbers. With a few good cold calling scripts, those figures are
sure to rise at least a little bit. If they don’t, review your text with a
trusted colleague to try to improve it.
Conclusion
While we’ve prepared
insurance cold call scripts for many different scenarios, the possibilities are
endless.
It’s important that
you remain flexible and adjust the script depending on the situation you’re in.
Also, test out different scripts to see which works best, and once you’ve
found the one, stick to it.
Make sure you don’t
skimp on the practice too – after all, practice makes perfect.
If you need more help, check out some
cold call tips we have on our blog!
What Should a Life
Insurance Call Center Script Look Like?
Here’s
the initial two-step flow of a typical life insurance call center conversation.
Step
1 - When the prospect answers the phone, start by introducing yourself and
sharing the name of the insurance company you represent:
Hi,
May I speak with [PROSPECT NAME]?
(Pause
for them to identify themselves or get the prospect on the phone)
Hi,
[PROSPECT NAME]! My name is [YOUR NAME] and I'm calling from [COMPANY NAME].
How are you today?
Before
moving to step two, remember that you asked “How are you today?” and it’s
perfectly acceptable to converse with the prospect and build rapport with them.
By listening to them and responding as a human, it makes them more open and
receptive to the rest of the message.
Step
2 - Tell the prospect why you're calling and how you can help. Find out
how interested they are in purchasing life insurance by offering to have them
speak with a representative or having your company call them back tomorrow.
The
reason I'm calling is to let you know that we have local agents offering free,
no-obligation life insurance quotes to residents of [CITY/COMMUNITY NAME]. Are
you interested in learning more and seeing if you qualify?
(Pause
to allow the prospect to respond)
When
is a good time tomorrow for one of our agents to give you a call?
While
we’d all love an enthusiastic “Yes!” from the prospect, we must be prepared
with responses to any objections that will inevitably arise.
Objection Handling
Here’s
a short list to common objections and rebuttals. It’s a great idea to build a
running list of these, so agents are always prepared with an appropriate
response. This list can help you get started.
Objection
#1 - I’m too young/old to think about life insurance.
Rebuttal
- It’s never too early/too late to plan for the future for you and your family.
Objection
#2 - I’m too busy right now to concern myself with this.
Rebuttal
- I promise you that this is a short call and you’re not obligated to buy
anything.
Objection
#3 - I already have life insurance with another company.
Rebuttal
- Even if you already have insurance with another company, it doesn’t hurt to
get quotes from other companies. By comparing rates you may ultimately get a
better deal on life insurance.
Hopefully
you were successful in overcoming the customer’s objections. Next, it’s time to
ask your own questions to qualify them for a quote.
Collecting
Information and Qualifying Questions
Here’s
the initial request to collect information.
I
just need to ask you a few questions to see if you qualify for a free quote
from us. After that, I can either transfer you to one of our agents or we can
set up an appointment to have them call you back when it's convenient for you.
Does that sound good?
Assuming
they say yes, here are the questions to ask.
1. May I know your age?
2. What's your
approximate annual income?
3. Have you ever been
sick with a serious illness such as cancer, heart attack or stroke? If yes,
please explain.
4. Are you currently
taking any prescription medications? If yes, which ones?
5. Do you already have a
life insurance policy? If yes, with what company?
6. Is there anything
else I should let the agent know?
Once
these questions have been answered here are scripts for transferring the
customer to an agent and scheduling an appointment. Wherever possible we
recommend a warm transfer to the agent for the best customer experience.
Live
Transfer - Thank you so much for answering these questions. Please hold for a
few moments while I connect you with a life insurance agent. If you have any
additional questions, they'll be happy to help you out.
Next
Day Appointment - Thank you so much for answering these questions. When is a
good time tomorrow for an insurance agent to give you a call?
Finally,
if you scheduled a call as opposed to a transfer, here’s a script for
concluding the call.
Thank
you. Before I let you go I just want to confirm one more time your appoint for
[TIME] tomorrow. It’s not a bad idea between now and then to prepare a list of
questions you might have and our agent will be happy to answer them for you at
your appointment. Have a great day!
As
discussed earlier, this script is a template to help create better, more
successful interactions between agents and life insurance prospects. For
maximum impact, be sure to focus both on the message itself and how they
deliver it.
Scripts Get smart insurance leads with real-time interest
Money Examples:
• I don't think I can really afford…
• Money's a little tight right now…
• I don't know if my budget can…
Solution: Stress the
fact that there's no need for any upfront payment and that you can find a
policy for practically any budget.
Script: "The good news is that there's no application
fee and you are NOT charged today … all I need is some basic information …
LET'S GET YOU STARTED … AND YOU SAID YOU'RE REALLY HEALTHY CORRECT?"
[Continue call...]
Time
Examples:
• I'm really crunched for time right now… • I don't have
time to go through this… • Can you call me back when I have more time
Solution:
Stress the fact that you can complete their application
quickly and that it will actually save more time doing it now.
Script:
"We'll have this done in less than 5 minutes over the
phone; and you will NOT be charged today. Also, you'll actually save more time
by doing it right now, because you'll no longer have agents calling you day and
night. HOW WOULD YOULIKE YOUR NAME TO APPEAR ON YOUR CARD?"
Shopping Around
Examples:
• I'm just shopping
around right now… • I'd like to get competing quotes… • I want to see how you
compare to other agents…
Solution:
Stress the fact that there's no need for any upfront
payment and that you can find a policy for practically any budget.
Script:
"The good news is that there's no application fee and
you are NOT charged today … all I need is some basic information … LET'S GET
YOU STARTED … AND YOU SAID YOU'RE REALLY HEALTHY CORRECT?"
Indecisive
Examples:
• I can't make up my
mind on these plans… • It's hard to decide the best way to go… • I don't know
what I want right now…
Solution:
Guide them toward a decision that works for them.
Script:
"Out of the 2
(or 3) policies I quoted — if you had to pick one — which would fit your needs
the best? ... I AGREE — THAT WAS MY PICK AS WELL … I JUST NEED SOME BASIC
INFORMATION, AND WE'LL BE DONE IN LESS THAN 5 MINUTES … IS YOUR NAME
SPELLED…?"
Need Spouse's or 3rd-Party Review
Examples:
• I really have to run this by my husband… • I'd like my
wife to take a look at this first… • I need to check with ___________ for
advice…
Solution:
Reiterate the fact
that they'll get copies of everything and have the right to cancel the
application if the other person doesn't like it.
Script:
"No problem. You'll be receiving a copy of everything
by email and postal mail as soon as we're done with these preliminary steps …
so if your husband/wife wants to go over the documents, they'll have
everything… WHY DON'T WE GET THIS OFF YOUR TO-DO LIST RIGHT NOW? CAN I CONFIRM
WHICH ADDRESS YOU WANT YOUR WELCOME KIT TO BE SENT TO? IS IT ______________
Too Many Calls
Examples:
• I'm sick and tired
of all these phone calls… • You're the 20th person to call me… • I'm getting
too many offers…
Solution:
Acknowledge their frustration, then highlight why you're
different from all the other agents bothering them.
Script:
"I understand a
lot of brokers are calling, and you know what? We're all selling the same thing
for the same price - EXCEPT THAT I'M NOT A BROKER. I'M AN AGENT…I CHARGE NO
FEES.” "GIVE ME A CHANCE AND I GUARANTEE I CAN FIND THE BEST PLAN AND BEST
COVERAGE IN YOUR AREA. SINCE I DON'T WORK FOR ONE INSURANCE COMPANY, I CAN SHOP
AND WORK FOR YOU — NOT THE INSURANCE COMPANY! SO HOW IS YOUR HEALTH?"
Too Busy
Examples:
• I'm too busy to go through this now… • You caught me at a
bad time… • I'm so swamped right now…
Solution:
Acknowledge their
busy schedule, but stress the fact that you can help them save time.
Script:
"I understand you're busy. Me too. But I just need to
know which plans I can send out to you. I'm looking at about 100 plans in your
area. HOW IS YOUR HEALTH?"
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