Content marketing is a method of promoting your business that involves the creation of relevant and valuable content—blog articles, webinars, podcasts, ebooks, and a host of other types of content—in order to attract a specific audience. The key is to inform, not to sell—at least not initially. But ultimately, effective content marketing boosts both traffic and sales.

Word-of-mouth is an important way to get new business—whether you’re just starting out or have an established roster of customers. Referrals are one of the most effective ways of getting new business, because a customer who’s been referred to you is most likely to trust you—they heard good things about you from someone else they trust. A referral that results in new business might seem like a stroke of good luck—but there are a lot of specific things you can do to boost referrals, and this can be one of the most important parts of an insurance agent’s marketing plan. Here are a few ideas.