At the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, insurance agencies were among the first businesses to adapt their communication and marketing strategies to remain engaged with customers and position themselves as trusted advisors during one of the darkest periods in modern history. Strong sales and marketing strategies should be at the core of every insurance agency. And as business and life slowly return to 'normal,' now is a great time for agencies to step back and evaluate their current plans — regardless of business goals. Whether an agency aims to increase client retention, build a bigger book of business or create a stronger brand voice, improving sales and marketing strategies is critical. In a blog post written earlier this year, Andrew Metz, regional vice president of sales at Zywave, an insurance agency software company, shared his five tips on how agencies can drive growth in 2021. Click through the above slideshow for Metz's tips on creating strong agency marketing strategies to drive growth this year. Related: 

• Three visions for the future independent insurance agent
• How to shift social media marketing from branding to sales
• How 'healthy stress' can improve agency sales production