Gone are the days of relying on business cards and networking alone to expand your title agency business. Although word-of-mouth advertising still has its place in this industry, it certainly isn’t the most effective way to expand and get more business.

Your website can be your greatest referral and advertising tool, if used effectively. With a title insurance calculator, your website can give out title quotes 24 hours a day, meeting the needs of returning customers as well as generating new business. The more quotes your website gives out, the faster your business can grow. Here are 5 proven ways to get more quotes from your title insurance website.

1. Make sure your website is mobile-friendly

More and more agents are utilizing mobile devices to get title insurance quotes. While younger agents tend to use their phones more often, and older agents may rely on their desktop computers a little more, nearly everyone will be in a pinch at one time or other and need to do an estimate on both of these options.

Mobile requests for closing cost estimates peaks during early morning and evening hours, when agents are most likely to be away from their desks, while desktop requests are more common during typical working hours.

2. Install a branded title insurance calculator

There are several title insurance calculators available online to choose from. Some are definitely better than others. Features and usability are definitely important. Is it clear and easy to use? Does it work well on all devices? Can it be customized to create a precise quote?

A key feature is also its appearance. Some title insurance calculators allow your title agency to brand the calculator with your own name and logo, instead of being branded with the calculator widget developer. This is extremely valuable to your agency and helps you build trust and credibility with your prospective customers.

3. Claim your Google Profile listings

It’s relatively simple to claim your local search profile on places like Google+ Local, Yelp, and Facebook, but it’s surprising how many companies overlook this step. Take a few hours out of your day and do it yourself or hire someone to do it for you. Your business doesn’t stand much of a chance in a mobile-dominated world without accurate business listings on Google, Yelp, Foursquare, Facebook, LinkedIn, Yahoo! Local, BBB, Chamber of Commerce, and other listings. Start with the most popular places for the title insurance industry in your area, which will probably be Google, LinkedIn, Yelp, Facebook, and the BBB (Better Business Bureau).

You can do all this online, as long as you have an account (or by setting up an account). In most cases, it’s as simple as finding your business or entering it in, and adding relevant information (including phone number, website, and address). This allows people to find you online, grab your phone number quickly, leave reviews (if you turn on this feature), and look more trustworthy and legitimate.

4. Use social media wisely

Create social media profiles if you haven’t already, and share new content your company creates and posts, along with industry news your clients will find helpful and relevant company news (such as adding new agents or moving to a new office). If social media isn’t your cup of tea, hire someone to manage it or ask around your office and see if there’s someone already there with an affinity for it.

Posting once a day on several channels is usually adequate; overdoing it with too many posts can be annoying and staying quiet for too long makes you forgettable. A few sales promo posts are okay, but don’t overdo these types of posts. Make your posts primarily about giving out helpful information and you’ll be more likely to create an audience.

5. Create and share valuable content online

When you are interested in learning more about a future purchase, where do you go? Chances are, you’ll look online. This holds true for people in the real estate industry as well. Real estate agents, mortgage brokers, loan officers, and individual investors and buyers are all looking for information online, and your title insurance agency could be the one to offer it.

Blog posts, question and answer pages, video tutorials, white papers, and other types of online content can be added to your website on a regular basis. Not only does this help cement good relationships with your existing customers, but it also helps new customers find you. How so, you ask?

As you add new content to your website, you gain credibility with search engines. This means that it helps your website pop up higher in search engine results pages. Over time, this effect is cumulative, so the longer you have regular blog updates or occasional video spots on your site, the better it is for your listing. So, when prospective customers are searching out title insurance companies in your home state, a blog posted by your agency might pop up on the first page. This can be an effective way to expand your business.

Another type of valuable content is offering free e-books and white papers. This type of information is often emailed to prospective customers. Since you have to gather their name and email to send it, it can become a great way to capture prospective leads and grow your business. It’s also a great way to develop relationships of trust with your existing clients, which helps them come back again and again. Studies show that maintaining existing customers is the most cost-effective way of generating business, so don’t ignore the clients you already have.

By using these five strategies, you can give out more title insurance quotes online and grow your business. In the process, you will also attract new customers, generate more interest in your title insurance agency, build solid relationships with your clients, and deliver valuable information for your clients that you can share with them when they have questions.

You will see big results by claiming your local listings, sharing valuable content, connecting with your customers through social media, making your website mobile friendly, and installing a branded title insurance calculator on your website. These key factors can help you grow your title insurance agency and reach more customers.