For folks in the insurance industry, social media works to broaden your network and complement your sales efforts. Consider these tips for using social media as a broker.

1. Recognize it's not a fad. Consider these facts: 96 percent of millennials are on a social network; 80 percent of companies use social media for recruitment and 78 percent of consumers trust recommendations. And the insurance industry is at the forefront of the Facebook revolution: as an industry, they have the most Facebook pages, Schneider says.
2. Ask questions. Who do I want to reach? Where are they online? What are my resources?
3. Keep clients informed. A social media platform enables you to direct clients to important information—such as health reform or business practices. Also, it's a good opportunity to tell them about you. 
4. Remember the customer is always right. The old adage applies here, too. What is your customer going to expect to see from you? How will social media help you fulfill that expectation? Keep your image and brand consistent.
5. Update, update, update. Ensure your content is ongoing and high quality. If you are only updating once every few weeks or every month or so, don't bother.
6. See it as a road for two-way communication. Sites like Facebook allow for two-way communication with customers and prospects. You can post news articles and FAQs for customers about things that affect them—small business tax credits, advantages of an HSA, etc.
7. Bring your brand to life. Think about this: The Aflac duck has more than 315,000 friends on Facebook.
8. Blog. Put your point of view out there—why not talk about what's happening in Washington regarding health care? Blogging makes sure you regularly communicate with your customers.