No matter what industry you’re in, it’s crucial to know your audience. Depending on the type of insurance you sell, you may be in a B2B (Business to Business) or a B2C (Business to Consumer) market. These two are fundamentally different in some ways—but similar in others.
Here’s a look at things to keep in mind when selling to a B2B and B2C market.
Informative content works for both. Business buyers and consumers may have different needs in terms of what they need, but they both have something in common—you know more about insurance than they do. If they’re searching out information about insurance, chances are they have an immediate need.
No matter whether your customers are primarily B2B or B2C, keeping them informed with well-produced content can be a great strategy.
B2B marketing tends to be more targeted. With B2C marketing, you may be selling homeowners insurance to anyone who just bought a home within your target area. That’s a pretty wide net, compared with the specialized professionals who make the purchasing decisions within companies of certain types and sizes.
B2B marketing can be more complex. With B2C, you’re generally selling insurance to a single person or family. One person—or two people as spouses—make the purchasing decision, and their interests are generally aligned.
With B2B, you may need to convince various executives—including the company CFO, CEO, COO, and others. All of these people have different needs when it comes to working with an insurance agent. Your content and messaging need to speak to all those perspectives and needs. In addition, it needs to give the person with purchasing authority the information they need to explain their decision to higher-ups.
B2B is more about trust. If you’re working to place challenging risks that can’t be insured through an off-the-shelf policy—possibly working with a wholesale broker— your clients’ needs are complex and custom policies have to be crafted. In these situations, trust is key, demonstrating your expertise is crucial with B2B markets.
B2C customers prioritize speed, convenience, and price. The consumer market is much more oriented to speed and convenience—and will appreciate instant quotes and other streamlined features. In addition, many consumers are price-driven.
B2B customers tend to expect that finding an insurance policy may take a while, and require multiple conversations with experts—particularly if they have custom needs for specialized risk. And cost often isn’t as important as appropriate coverage.
Business and consumer markets can be very different when it comes to generating business—but both can be highly rewarding. Keep the differences in mind, and you should be able to get great results.
FAQs
From a psychological marketing standpoint, B2B customers are driven by logic, whereas B2C customers are more emotionally driven. This is because B2C consumers are more likely to purchase an insurance policy based on how they feel from an ad campaign or when they can connect emotionally with the insurer.
Are insurance companies B2B or B2C? ›
The B2B2C insurance market refers to a business model in the insurance industry where insurance companies sell their products and services to businesses (B2B) who then offer those insurance products to their customers (B2C).
Which is better B2B or B2C marketing? ›
You can make a lot of money in the B2C sector, too, but it requires you to first build a massive customer base. You need a lot of customers to make good money in the B2C sector. There is often more money in B2B, and with B2B, you don't need as many customers to make good money, since you can charge higher prices.
What does B2C mean in insurance? ›
B2C Marketing for Insurance Brokers. No matter what industry you're in, it's crucial to know your audience. Depending on the type of insurance you sell, you may be in a B2B (Business to Business) or a B2C (Business to Consumer) market. These two are fundamentally different in some ways—but similar in others.
Is it more difficult to sell to B2B or B2C customers? ›
Sales Process
B2B purchases often involve multiple decision-makers and require more negotiation. In contrast, B2C sales tend to be more straightforward and often involve a single decision-maker. B2C purchases are often made on impulse or based on emotional appeals.
Why is selling insurance generally B2B and not B2C? ›
From a psychological marketing standpoint, B2B customers are driven by logic, whereas B2C customers are more emotionally driven. This is because B2C consumers are more likely to purchase an insurance policy based on how they feel from an ad campaign or when they can connect emotionally with the insurer.
Is insurance sales considered B2B? ›
B2B insurance differs from traditional B2C marketing in that it caters to business-to-business relationships rather than business-to-consumer interactions. The goal of B2B insurance marketing is to attract, engage, and convert other businesses into customers or clients.
How to decide B2B or B2C? ›
The main differences between B2B and B2C
B2B companies prioritize tactics to capture qualified leads, provide continuous answers in the sales funnel, and offer dedicated support. For B2C, tactics emphasize capturing active consumers, encouraging quick purchases, and offering efficient customer service solutions.
Which is more profitable B2B and B2C? ›
B2B has the advantage of high profit margins and retention rates, and less competition, but has the disadvantage of a long sales cycle and fewer customers. For SaaS, B2B has a higher churn rate than B2C, less competition, and a higher average revenue per user, making it more profitable.
Which is more successful B2B or B2C? ›
In terms of market, B2C is more profitable as you can sell a product to many different individuals. That is, you don't have to spend on customizing products for every customer. However, the market price is fixed for every B2C product. So, your profit will depend a lot on the number of items sold.
Bumper to bumper insurance, nil depreciation or zero depreciation is a type of car insurance policy that offers complete coverage to your vehicle irrespective of the depreciation on its parts.
What is B2B insurance policy? ›
Bumper-to-bumper insurance is simply the comprehensive motor insurance policy to which the zero depreciation add-on is added. Under bumper-to-bumper insurance plans, the claim amount is higher because the insurer does not deduct depreciation from the parts of the vehicle that have been repaired or replaced.
What are the two categories of insurance customers? ›
Here are some of the key insurance customer types:
- Individual Consumers: This segment includes private individuals seeking insurance for personal needs. ...
- Families: Families often require a combination of insurance products to protect their members and assets.
What are the 7 differences between B2B and B2C? ›
Those differences include branding, order fulfillment and shipping, customer assurance, marketing strategies, volume and size of transactions, and buyer intent. The purchasing habits of businesses and consumers are very different, yet the considerations are fundamentally the same.
What are the disadvantages of B2C? ›
3 Disadvantages of B2C Business Models
This competition can drive prices down, which can lead to lower profits for businesses. More risk: The B2C business model can also be riskier than the B2B model since consumer buying habits can be harder to predict than corporate buying habits.
Why is B2B marketing harder than B2C? ›
B2C is a transactional relationship—often a one-and-done with little follow-up. In B2B, it takes much, much longer to complete a sale. You're also selling fewer products and services.
Which companies are B2B and B2C? ›
B2B businesses target other businesses, offer more complex services, and require long-term investments to build relationships, while B2C companies target individual consumers, offer simpler services, and prioritize shorter-term relationships.
What is an example of a company that is B2B and B2C? ›
However, there are companies that operate under a B2B and B2C model. For example, Amazon generally serves the needs of consumers, but it also has a B2B arm: Amazon Business.
What is an example of a B2B or B2C company? ›
B2B ecommerce utilises online platforms to sell products or services to other businesses. B2C e-commerce targets personal consumers. A company that sells office furniture, software, or paper to other businesses would be an example of a B2B company.
How do I know if I have B2B or B2C? ›
B2B stands for business-to-business, referring to a type of transaction that takes place between one business and another. B2C stands for business-to-consumer, as in a transaction that takes place between a business and an individual as the end customer.