jennifer.leuriot@outlook.fr
Jennifer LEURIOT – Master 2 Manager de l’Assurance – Ecole Supérieure d’Assurances–2010/2012
Quelles stratégies les assureurs doivent-ils adopter sur les médias sociaux?
ABSTRACT
“Social media” has become really important for over the past 5 years, in people’s daily lives.
No one can ignore this phenomenon. Social media is a revolution on the internet, because
thanks to it, there are interactions and exchanges between Internet users about their opinions
and their experiences on various topics. Internet users have web communication power.
Anyone can now produce and distribute information thanks to social media.
The rules of communication have changed. Communication is no longer in a one way
direction: Businesses communicate with customers, but now, clients also communicate with
each other.
Insurers always have special relationships with their customers, because of the anxiety side of
insurance. Moreover, insurance products are complex, and policyholders don’t really know
their policies. Insurers have a bad image among the public, evidenced by the term “insurers-
thieves” often used to designate them. That’s why insurers have to register on social media.
Insurers will have to be careful to adapt their strategies before embarking on these types of
media. Indeed, at the beginning, social media was created for the peoples’ private circle, and
not for professionals. Insurers have to adopt social media codes before their enrollment.
Moreover, in order to adopt the right strategy, insurers have to see what people think about
them on the internet. Internet users expect from the presence of insurers on this media:
listening, understanding, and answers to their questions. Insurers have to be careful about
what they say on this media, in order to preserve their online reputation. A "community-
manager" can assist and help insurers in this process. Thanks to social media insurers could be
in the daily Internet users (customers, prospects, professionals) and have interactions with
them. Moreover, insurers may develop their brand image, use the Internet users’ data present
on the media, and develop a trusting relationship with their customers. We have to remember
that insurers’ customers are also ambassadors for their brand. The concern around the concept
of return on investment (ROI) must be exceeded; indeed, insurers have more reason to be
worried about the risk of non investment (RONI) in social media.