Search is Key

Over the last few years most IFA practices now have a website.

However many still insist the internet is not producing, however the fact is its their websites that are not as the internet now provides the major insurers with over 60% of their new business.

It is still only a relatively small number of IFAs who have truly embraced this new source of enquiry.

Search Engines drive 90% of Internet Traffic and that means 90% of people who are there looking for financial advice too. If you are not appearing on the first two pages of Google for your chosen keywords or phrases then your chances of getting the client are slim.

There are two solutions to this:-

1. Ensure you are not targeting impossible keywords i.e. if your page is optimised for the word "pensions" or "financial adviser" then you have little or no chance. However if you optimise for (say) "financial advisers in yourtown" then you shouod easily be able to achieve a top 10 listing on some of the major search engines, maybe all.

2. Having chosen targeted key words you then need to optimise the site. There are two ways to do this.

Firstly you can engage a search engine optimisation company. This is generally expensive and many make ridiculous guarantees. Do NOT use a web "design" firm, that's like going to a doctor to have a tooth pulled.

Secondly you can do it yourself. This isn't as hard as it seems - see the links below.

Axandra SEO Software - Top 10 in Google Guaranteed providing you follow their instructions.

Axandra FREE SEO Brochure.

Axandra's iBP product is the most highly regarded SEO software on the market and is used by the likes of Ebay, Zurich, Canon. For a list of their users click here.

It is also very affordable ($249.95 - about £130).

However there is a FREE Trial you can download and if you do upgrade there is a Money Back Guarantee if you don't get the top 10 place on Google.

Search Engine Friendly Websites

Did you know you can build as many websites as you like using Xsitepro.

Xsitepro produces very search engine friendly websites and is so easy to use anyone can do it.

It is ideal for building a company website OR building lots of topic specific sites, which I would suggest is a better bet, i.e. run sites for pensions, sipps, long term care etc alongside your existing company websites, not in place of it.

The beauty of XsitePro sites is that they are keyword optimised for high ranking in Google etc so there is an obvious advantage in keeping each site on just one subject matter.

For more information just visit www.xsitepro.com

Whether you create (in hours NOT days or weeks) one site or a hundred site the cost is the same as you are buying the developer NOT the sites.

Leads for IFAs

Interesting couple of pages re Leads for IFAS

Click here for further info'

Probate Opportunity for IFAs

Probate Earning Opportunities for IFAs.

Year after year you provide individual one-to-one financial advice for your clients and their families helping them invest for the future and prepare for the unexpected. And then, although thankfully not very often, the unexpected happens, one of your clients’ passes away. Sometimes it happens after a long illness but often it comes completely out of the blue.

So, what happens next? And how can you, as their IFA, help your client’s family now?

Sorting out the affairs of someone who has passed away is not an easy job. Dealing with the Probate on someone’s estate can be complex, tedious, time consuming, stressful and frequently very expensive, often going on for months on end.

It’s not surprising therefore that most people give this work to a local solicitor. Although don’t we always regret it when we see the solicitors final bill?

Everyone agrees that banks and solicitors charge far too much for probate work. Now, Will Drafters Ltd aim to change all that.

Most solicitors will not give a fixed fee quote. Often they quote a percentage of the estate, plus an hourly rate, plus disbursements, and finally, plus VAT!

However, Will Drafters don’t ask clients to sign a blank cheque. They offer a fully inclusive fixed fee service with no hidden extras, no last minute surprises and nothing more to pay – guaranteed.

Will Drafters will beat any other written quote - guaranteed!

The client can choose how much of the work they want Will Drafters to do. House clearance and/or sale can also be included and the client can even choose whether the estate monies are paid into their account or into Will Drafters clients’ account.

For any introductions you give Will Drafters which lead to the successful sale of their probate service they will pay you, on completion, a commission of 15% plus a quarterly bonus (subject to volume).

Will Drafters fee income on each probate case can vary from £500 to £10,000 - with most being £2,000 to £5,000. Therefore, your total earnings could average, say, £300 to £750 per case. Not a bad sum of money for a simple introduction.

Will Drafters also pay commission for Will introductions. To find out more visit www.willdrafters.com

Using Email Newsletters

Email marketing has received mixed reviews over the past few years. Most of revolving around the dreaded scourge of spam.

However at the same time the use of email newsletters has also become both an accepted and some might say necessary tool for any business. This is especially true in a service business where it is important to keep in touch with clients and keep them informed about new opportunities, products and especially legislation changes changes.

Very few IFAS are using quality Email Newsletters, but you are in the perfect profession to utilise these. If you have (say) 300 clients and get (the standard) 3% response that would be 9 clients making an enquiry every time you send a mailing. If you keep this to a reasonable level (I would suggest monthly) that is a very nice extra income for about 45 minutes work a month.

One of the most widely used Newsletters, and many think the best, is Constant Contact.

They have a FREE 60 day trial - why not give it a go? After all it is something you SHOULD be doing anyway. Check out the FREE 60 day trial here

If you need some tips about wrting newsletters or building your email list (legitimately) there are some good articles here

Will Writing

Over 80% of people looking to Make a Will are now looking on the Internet first.

A very high percentage of these then use one of the Online Will Writing Websites.

Probably the best of these is 10MinuteWill.co.uk.

They offer an excellent "affiliate scheme" which you can join, completely FREE HERE

All you need to do is sign up to the 10minutewill.co.uk affiliate scheme then add the banners to your website. They even give you an email signature you can use on every email you send out along with other marketing tips to help you promote the service.

Like any affiliate scheme it needs a little effort but the rewards can be excellent and it can work particularly well for IFAs and their client base. The more you can promote it the higher the rewards can be.

Most of us could do with an extra revenue stream and this is an excellent tool you can use the further monetise your website.

My suggestion would be that you add the banner(s) to your site but also aftre you sign up copy the email signature into your newsletter, or simply email every client in your data-base individually.

Remember its FREE so even if you don't get actively involved it can't do any harm to join.

SIGN UP HERE

Why you MUST have a Website

I just read an article by Philip Calvert on the great IFA Forum at Ecadamy. If you have joined this yet I would suggest you do so. Philip and his partner Martin really know their stuff.

On one of Philips threads (see here) I was alarmed to see that apparently 56% of IFAs still don't have a website. Given that a survey by IFAP shows that "4 out of 5 people looking for an IFA look on the internet first" this is SCARY.

That is 80% of the new business market and you are handing it to the big players.

The article goes on to ask the question about what is important on a website. Martin adds some useful tips but there are ONLY THREE THAT REALLY MATTER!

Contact Us

Contact Us and...................

Contact Us

I usually talk with IFAs who DO have websites and I despair of the times I see websites without even an address and telephone number on the home page.

Come on Guys and Gals!!! Sure, tell them about IHT and A-Day, add your testimonials etc but tell them its COMPLICATED and they need to CALL you at every possible opportunity. Trust me its the guys who are ASKING on the internet that are getting the business. NEVER give the visitor the "answer" on the site - you need them to CALL you.

If you don't have a website get one NOW.

Its easy to market - just join www.searchifa.co.uk and www.unbiased.co.uk and you have INSTANT top level exposure on all the major search engines. If 80% of the business is there you need to get your share or you simpy will not grow your business.

Forget about "my website is there for my clients" - thats bull - its there to get you NEW clients. Existing Clients just do NOT surf IFA websites, its simpy not interesting enough.