Just like Nessie, the fabled Loch Ness monster, myth seems tofollow millennials everywhere. But has anyone bothered to askmillennials themselves what they think are the best ways to reachthem? It would seem no one has … until now.

We not only asked them, we also consulted with marketingexperts, researchers and millennials on the frontlines in theinsurance and financial industries. The tips that follow werecompiled from interviews with industry thought leaders, includingLindsey Pollak, The Hartford's millennial workplaceexpert; Amy McIlwain, vice president of social and digitalstrategy at Denver-based Moore CommunicationsGroup; Samuel Rad, a millennial advisor based in BeverlyHills, California; Matt Wallaert, behavioral scientist atMicrosoft; and Breana Macken and Emily Tracey, LIMRA analysts.In addition, we spoke with 30 millennials in the insurance industry, tofind out their own preferences, and those of their millennialclients.

(Read the full feature aboutmillennials; and how to attract millennials to the insuranceindustry.)

1. Talk to the millennials in yourcompany.

Evaluate your internal communication and other types ofcommunicational materials, such as benefit packages. How accessibleare the things that you, as a company, are offering to them?

2. Request or reach out for their input orfeedback.

Ask them how you are doing or how you can improve.

3. Engage your millennials.

Ask them how they would change the industry and listen to them.See if from that brainstorming session, one idea can become areality soon.

Related: 4 ways to create a symbiotic relationship betweeninsurance vets and new talent

4. Seek them out.

You can seek millennials where they dwell, for example on Yelp,since millennials seek validation and community input for theirdecisions. They will research you before they call you anddouble-check every fact they hear when they talk to you.

5. Have an online presence.

You need to have both a website and some type of social mediapresence. This is of upmost importance. Not having a website equalsa big red flag to millennials, since it could signal thattechnology (or even customer experience) is not important toyou.

6. Be personable.

Have photos of what you do for fun on your website or socialmedia page(s) so that they can relate to you. Think about how youfeel when you find a prospect or client who loves the same baseballor football team as you? Exactly.

Related: How millennials are changing the workforce, andwhat to do about it

7. Cater to the type of client that youwant.

If you want to attract millennials, make sure that your workingenvironment is relatable to them (as in, your office must haveWiFi, at the least)!

8. Relate to them.

Millennials view estate planning as something for old people,but if you turn it around and ask them would happen to theirdigital lives once they die, then they really start payingattention. Hence, a new type of planning emerges: digital estate planning.

9. Post engaging or interactive content on yourwebsite.

You need to have video, pictures, infographics and otherengaging content on your website and social media. Millennials havea shorter attention span than older generations — and,across the board, the average attention span is now just eightseconds. (That's less than a goldfish!)

Related: Infographic: Reaching the millennialconsumer

10. Adjust your communication channels to fit theirneeds.

Maybe they prefer to text instead of call or email. Boomers liketo receive calls to remind them of appointments, but millennialsprefer either receiving texts or emails about them; calling mightannoy them. Ask them which method of communication they prefer.

11. Once you make your pitch . . .

Give them space to research the information provided or yourbackground online. Millennials will double-check the informationonline, because this is something they've always had the luxury ofdoing. In contrast, many boomers will take your word if they thinkyou're wise.

12. Make retirement planning relevant tothem.

Meet them where they are at in their lives (new professional,new homeowner, new parent) and have plenty of analogies that theywill understand.

Related: 12 'types' of millennials every sales pro shouldknow

13. Be where they are.

If they are on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Netflix, pick oneplace that makes sense for you and advertise there. You won't beable to reach millennials via TV or newspapers, since they are nolonger there.

14. Know that they will judge yourwebsite.

So you better make sure that it is up-to-date, looks clean andmodern. Nothing will make a millennial flee faster than a websitethat was built in 1996.

15. Update that Facebook page!

If millennials see a Facebook company page that hasn't beenupdated in more than three months, they'll judge you and yourpractice as old-fashioned or not to be trusted.

Related: 4 unusual ways millennials are different fromboomers

16. Millennials don't want to be soldonline.

They will do their due dilligence online to verify everythingyou've told them during your meeting (over the phone, email, etc.).However, you must have your information and your services available24/7 on your website. Your online presence should be to establishtrust in what you do.

17. Be findable.

Can you be found via a Google search? Google yourself right now!If your company or name — or both — don't show up in the results,millennials won't be able to find you or might lose trust in yourbrand.

Related: 5 ways for insurers to attract millennialsonline