April is National Home Inventory Month: Find out more
02 Dec 2020

Marketing to Seniors Course is Now Available

Online LearningWe previewed this course last month, and are happy to announce that it is now available on the NICA website. It has very helpful information on how to interact with seniors, what their preferences are, and specific proven strategies recommended for those who are seeking to grow their business in the Senior Market.

As a home inventory professional, you realize the various reasons one needs an inventory. The need is even greater for older adults, as they often transition into a smaller home, assisted living, or move in with family. Moving is one of the top life stressors to begin with. Now consider the fact that most Seniors have been in their home for many years and have accumulated a lifetime of memories and belongings. Most likely, they do not know what they own, as many now have full garages, sheds, basements, attics, and even spare bedrooms which have kept these items out of sight and out of mind.

A personal property inventory can make downsizing and moving much easier. It will also help with decision making and provide peace of mind, knowing exactly what they own before items are being shared with family members and friends, discarded, donated, or sold. Many seniors – if they haven’t already – complete their estate planning. Having an inventory is a key element of this planning process.

It is helpful for inventory professionals to understand the needs of the Senior market. Knowing their needs and wants is the first step in developing relationships with your prospects. There is often a two-tier prospect level, as often an adult child is assisting their parent in making their decisions. If not their adult child, Seniors often reach out to their trusted, professional advisors for advice and guidance.

The course includes:

Module 1 – Marketing to Older Demographics

  • Understanding the 50+ Demographic
  • Marketing to Seniors
  • Social Media
  • Time Well Spent

Module 2 – Marketing Methods for Senior Clients

  • Strategies for Marketing
  • Listen for Opportunities
  • The Importance of Educating Your Prospects
  • Sales and Marketing Tools

Module 3 – Referral Opportunities

  • Trusted Advisors
  • Associations
  • Additional Opportunities

As with all NICA courses, Marketing to Seniors is offered as an on-line, self-directed course. This allows you to learn the information and take the quizzes at your own pace and when you can fit it into your schedule.

12 Aug 2020

Time to Begin Thinking About Recertification

CertifiedWe have entered the 2nd half of 2020. It’s been a unique year, to say the least! One constant is the benefit of being industry certified. We have a growing library of courses from which to choose when planning your recertification, which consists of acquiring five (5) Continuing Education Units annually. Two new courses are being created and will be available within the next few months. One of the new courses will cover the benefits of blogging and the other course includes information on marketing to the senior population.

This month we are featuring Social Media for Businessa course that is currently available and is helpful as you begin or increase your social media presence. Remember, most social media sites are free, which means you can make others aware of your inventory business and it only costs you your time! 

There is no longer a question of whether social media is here to stay. For the business owner, the questions now are often how to use social media to market their business, what platform(s) would be best for their industry, what type of content to share, and where to find the content.

Knowing the format and purpose of each site is important so you know which ones are a good fit for your industry and will help you achieve your goals. Should you have a personal and business account or just one account for each social networking site? Is it best and keep them totally separate, completely intertwined, or partially mixed?

You will be introduced to the most common business social media platforms and their cultures, how to market your business using social media, and how to integrate social media into your current marketing initiatives. Also included are tips on finding and creating content, along with time-saving tools to assist you in the process. This is not a how-to course on setting up your accounts. Since formats, pages, and settings change frequently, we leave that up to the individual companies to provide current information.

The three modules are:

  • Introduction to Social Media
  • Using Social Media to Market Your Business
  • Posting and Analyzing Your Information

Upon successful completion of Social Media for Business, you will be awarded three (3) Continuing Education Units.