It's easy to lose sight of the fact that agencies are in the service business. But consider that all agents sell the same product-insurance. Why do some agencies blossom while others wilt? Service and marketing are keys. Too often, getting new customers (through marketing) is emphasized at the expense of keeping customers (through service). You have to do a first-rate job at both to have first-rate growth and to control expenses

SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF: SUCCEEDING BY SERVING THE CUSTOMER by Jack Burke The top-selling book Don't Sweat The Small Stuff gave me pause to think. Many businesses today aren't sweating the...

TARDINESS - WHAT TO DO WITH THE INHERENTLY TARDY? by Al Diamond Although you want everyone to be at work on time, yo...

TELEPHONE TECHNIQUES by Mary Beth Bolen A business telephone is like a window: The telephone allows a person to 'see' into your company without ever walking through its doors. Moreover, you ha...

Even though marketing is a well-established concept in business, committing...

TEN RULES OF E-BUSINESS by Patricia Berry Proven ways to target your end user without face-to-face contact. Relationships matter.The most important e-business soluti...

TEN TIPS FOR WRITING GOOD AD COPY by Patricia Berry Writing an ad? These tips and warnings from Patricia Berry will help you to get the very best response. Start by choo...

TEN WAYS TO MAXIMIZE THE RETURN ON YOUR TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENT by Jack Fries All too often, installing technology-based tools doesnt produce either the promised payback or the ...

THE 'CHICKEN LITTLE' SYNDROME by Brian Burke 'Brokers to Decline as Direct Sales Gain,' read the headline of the lead story in the Agent/Broker section of a r...

THE lsquo;IM NOT A COMPUTER PERSON AGENCY OWNER by Jack Burke Anyone in a leadership position walks a fine line everyday, balancing the needs of clients and emplo...