As an insurance agent, you know that generating leads is essential to your success. And while you may be tempted to purchase leads from a lead generation company, there’s really no need! There are ways you can actually score free Medicare leads with a little time and effort. Keep reading as we cover five ways you can score free and exclusive turning 65 Medicare leads, Medicare Advantage, and Medicare Supplement leads.

How to get Medicare leads

Build an Online Presence

Having an online presence is a great way to generate free Medicare leads. How many times have you thought about a service and the first place you went to search was online? We’re guessing many times and your prospects are most likely doing the same. 

In fact, Medicare-eligible individuals are spending more time online than ever before.  According to Pew Research, 75% of adults age 65 and older reported regular internet use, and 45% reported being active on social media. By establishing a digital presence you can reach your prospects where they are searching, and spending their time. Here are a few ways to create a digital presence and capture Medicare leads effortlessly:

• Have a Branded Website: position yourself as an industry expert with educational information your prospects are looking for.  Give them a way to get in touch with you.  Tell them about your services and how you can help them.  

• Create a Google Business profile:  Google business profiles are free and easy to set up.  This allows those who are searching for your business in a local area to find you.  Add your website, contact details, hours, and what services you offer.  Be sure to add keywords that represent your business.  For example, “Independent Insurance Agent.”

Establish a social media presence: Having a social media presence not only allows you to engage with prospective clients but also allows you to keep in touch with current clients who may share your posts with family and friends. Check out our Independent Agents guide to Effective Social Media Marketing to find out how to create a successful social media strategy.

Get Involved

Do you have that one business owner in your community that seems to have their name on everything? That’s because they get involved and make sure their name is recognizable. You can do this too!  Get your name out there by involving yourself in community events. Whether it’s sponsoring a local event, hosting an educational seminar for older adults, or volunteering at a senior center, the more you get involved the more community partnerships you’ll build that can eventually lead you to become the go-to agent for Medicare in your community.

Ask for Referrals

Word of mouth marketing has been proven to be effective and possibly the most convincing form for generating Medicare leads. In fact, 92% of people trust referrals from people they know.  Consider your current client base when asking for referrals. Start with the ones you have built a strong relationship with. Ask them if they know anyone who is turning 65 soon and could benefit from your services. Family and friends can also be great sources of referrals. This may feel uncomfortable at first, but as long as you are providing top-notch service, your clients will be more than happy to share your services with family and friends.

Network

Another great way to generate free Medicare leads is to network with other insurance agents in similar industries. Join your local chamber of commerce and attend events to get to know other business owners. Exchange information with those that compliment your industry. For example, a Life Insurance agent may be interested in referring clients who are Medicare-eligible if you commit to doing the same.  

Partner with an FMO

Finally, another way Independent Insurance Agents can generate free Medicare leads is by partnering with an FMO. When partnering with a field marketing organization it’s important to find one that not only has a robust leads program but also invests in its agents. 

At AGA, not only do we provide our agents with a strong leads program but we also invest in our agents through our co-op marketing and marketing dollar programs. Both of these programs allow agents to earn free money they can use to generate leads. Our co-op marketing program covers 50% of an agent’s marketing cost. Agents can use these dollars on anything from traditional media ads to hosting an event. Many of our agents have found a lot of success through our programs.