In today’s fast-paced digital environment, financial advisors need to leverage every available tool to reach potential clients effectively. For instance, a financial advisor who understands the ins and outs of email prospecting has a higher chance of expanding their client base. This process involves identifying potential clients, reaching out to them via personalized emails and following up to establish a relationship that may turn a prospect into a client. When deployed effectively, email prospecting can reach a large audience at a low cost, build relationships and track client engagement all at once.
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What Is Email Prospecting?
Email prospecting is a systematic approach to reaching out to potential clients or customers through emails with the aim of eventually converting them into actual clients. It begins with identifying potential clients, often referred to as prospects. But how are these potential clients identified? Ideally, prospects show interest in financial advice or demonstrate characteristics suggesting they would value the insights offered by a financial advisor.
Once these prospects are identified, you will craft custom-tailored emails for each individual. The content of these emails might range from providing valuable financial insights and offering services to introducing the financial advisor’s firm.
Financial advisors who master this direct and personal mode of communication stand a good chance of establishing a rapport with prospects, gradually building trust and credibility over time.
Tips for Writing Prospecting Emails
Crafting an effective prospecting email takes careful consideration and a touch of savviness. Here are six common tips to keep in mind to help you write better prospecting emails:
Define Your Target Audience
Before you start crafting prospecting emails, it’s crucial to have a clear understanding of your target audience. Define the demographics, financial goals and pain points of your ideal clients. Tailoring your emails to resonate with their specific needs and interests will greatly improve your chances of success.
Craft a Compelling Subject Line
The subject line is the first thing your recipients will see, so it must be compelling. Rather than simply grab the person’s attention, your subject line should pique their curiosity. Make it concise, relevant, and intriguing. Avoid clickbait or overly salesy language, as this can lead to your emails being marked as spam.
Personalization Is Key
Personalization goes beyond just addressing your recipient by name. Show that you’ve done your homework by mentioning a recent achievement or referencing a mutual connection. This demonstrates that your email is not a generic mass message but a thoughtful outreach.
Provide Value Upfront
In the opening of your email, offer something of value to your prospect. It could be a relevant industry insight, a solution to a common problem like retiring with enough money or an invitation to an informative webinar. Most importantly, whatever value you’re offering should be relevant to the individual. This immediately establishes your credibility and shows that you’re focused on helping, not just selling.
Keep It Concise and Scannable
People are busy, and their attention spans are limited. Keep your prospecting emails concise and easy to scan. Use short paragraphs, bullet points, and subheadings to break up the text and make it more digestible.
Start a Conversation, Not a Sales Pitch
The goal of your initial email isn’t to immediately turn the recipient into a high-value client or even show them all of the ways in which you can help. Instead, focus on simply starting a conversation with them, getting to know their unique and individual needs. If things go well, there will be plenty of opportunities to sell but your initial contact isn’t necessarily one of them.
Mistakes to Avoid in Prospecting Emails
While email prospecting can yield considerable results, it’s essential to avoid certain missteps. Consider seven common mistakes below, each accompanied by a more practical approach and insights from expert financial advisors:
Templatized Emails
One common mistake is sending out templatized, generic emails to your prospects. While templates can be time-saving, they often lack the personal touch that can make a prospect feel valued and heard. Each prospect is unique, with distinct financial needs and goals. Using a one-size-fits-all approach can give the impression that you’re more interested in making a sale than genuinely helping them.
Overly Persuasive Language
There is a fine line between persuasive and pushy. Emails that are overly persuasive or too forceful can seem insincere, deterring recipients from responding. An example of an overly persuasive sentence might be: “You need our services to secure your financial future!” A less forceful version could be: “We can offer strategies to help safeguard your financial future.” Balance is key.
Emails Are Too Long
Long, text-heavy emails can be overwhelming. Keep your prospecting emails concise. Highlight the most important information and provide links to more in-depth resources if needed. Shorter emails are more likely to be read and acted upon. The goal should be to arouse the recipient’s interest, not to inundate them with exhaustive information all at once.
Immediately Attempting to Set Up a Meeting
Proposing a meeting in the first email can be off-putting. It’s essential to build rapport and establish trust with the recipient before suggesting a meeting. The initial emails should focus on delivering value and building a relationship.
Sending Attachments
Attachments may trigger spam filters, preventing your email from reaching the recipient’s inbox. Instead, consider providing links to content hosted on your website.
Ignoring Compliance Regulations
Financial advisors operate within a highly regulated industry. Failing to adhere to compliance rules in your emails can have serious consequences. Make sure your prospecting emails are in line with regulatory guidelines, especially regarding the use of disclaimers and the disclosure of potential conflicts of interest.
Forgetting to Proofread
Lastly, typos and grammatical errors can undermine your credibility. Always proofread your prospecting emails before sending them. Consider using grammar and spell-checking tools to catch any mistakes.
Bottom Line
Email prospecting is a viable tool for financial advisors, allowing you to reach a wide audience, build relationships with potential clients and potentially grow your business. By understanding the nuances of email prospecting, crafting compelling subject lines and avoiding common missteps, financial advisors can effectively engage with potential clients and possibly convert them into actual clients. In a digitally interconnected world, developing skills in email prospecting can certainly enhance a financial advisor’s toolkit.
Tips for Growing Your Advisory Business
- SmartAsset AMP (Advisor Marketing Platform) is a holistic marketing service financial advisors can use for client lead generation and automated marketing. Sign up for a free demo to explore how SmartAsset AMP can help you expand your practice’s marketing operation. Get started today.
- The financial advisory industry is continuing to expand and some firms are growing significantly faster than others. See how your firm stacks up against the 100 fastest-growing registered investment advisors (RIAs) in the country.
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