Articles

How to maximise your membership of IFA Life

It’s very important to us that IFA Life adds value to you and your business.  When consumers want to find an IFA on the Internet, if you follow these steps you greatly increase the likelihood that you will stand out from the crowd and that your membership of IFA Life will pay dividends for years to come.

1.  Your profile page

Upload your photo to your profile page. It’s the first thing people see and makes a big difference to whether they will read any further. You don’t need to look like Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie – what’s important is that visitors to your profile get a sense of who you are and what you’re like.

Don’t ramble on too much about your business at the top of your profile page. ‘People buy people’ online just as much as they do face-to-face. So, include information about you as a person at the top; your passions, your travels, your story - and so on.  And then, add detail about your business and your expertise – ticking all the boxes that apply when editing your profile. Yes, upload your company logo too.

Many IFAs take advantage of an ‘enhanced directory listing’ on IFA Life, where you can have an additional entry on the website which is highly optimised to help you appear higher in Google and search engine results.   You can also add your details to our new IFA Google Map – a smart and simple new way for consumers to find an IFA.

• For an enhanced listing on IFA Life and on our Google Map, click here >>>

IFA Life works closely with My Local Adviser - a leading industry website which promotes independent financial advice and helps consumers to find an IFA in their local area.  Most IFAs are probably already listed on My Local Adviser, but to ensure that people get accurate details of your services, please visit IFA Life at this link and follow the instructions to update your listing.

2.  Read, contribute and invite other IFAs

Use the IFA Life Forum to post your opinions, ask questions and to respond to others. It’s good fun, and it’s where you’ll meet hundreds of likeminded financial advice professionals. Also add your comments to our Articles because this enhances the perception of your expertise and professional credibility. It gets you noticed by potential clients and professional connections – and boosts your profile in Google and other search engines.  Feel free to add your own Articles.

You can also contribute by telling a colleague or other IFAs about IFA Life.  The more people who join, the better it is for everyone.  Go to your Account > Refer a Friend.

3.  Internet Marketing training and consultancy for your IFA business

The majority of IFAs don't yet have an Internet strategy for their business.  This will cause them problems in the future and has implications for Treating Customers Fairly. 

That's why many IFAs ask us to help them make better use of the Internet in their businesses - because it's vital that you now start to clarify how you will use the Internet in the future to find new clients, to add value to existing clients and to build relationships with professional connections.

• For information on Internet Marketing Consultancy for small/medium IFA firms, please click here >>>
• For details of our open one-day IFA Internet Marketing Seminar, please click here >>>
• For bespoke marketing training and workshops for IFA Networks and larger firms, please contact us at the number below

4.  Providers and Suppliers of services to IFAs and Financial Planners

Providers and suppliers of all sizes (life offices, fund managers, software companies, paraplanners, recruiters, businesss consultants etc) are asking us how they can use IFA Life to advertise and to engage with our members.  IFA Life offers an exciting and inexpensive new distribution route, and we have a range of competitive options available.

IFA Life's founder Philip Calvert is also available to speak at Provider sales meetings and conferences on Marketing to IFAs and the impact of the Internet in financial services distribution.

Thanks again for joining IFA Life.  If something's broken or you need help - please do not hesitate to contact us.

Philip Calvert
Founder of IFA Life

Telephone: +44 (0)1483 548 666 or +44 (0)7773 359 619
Email: philip@ifalife.com

Author: Philip Calvert
Posted: Sunday, September 28, 2008 | 10:24:54 AM