INVENTORY YOUR ASSETS by Mitchell Axelrod Take an asset inventory, using the attached worksheets to lift your leverage-ability and vault your value-ability. The first is a Business Streng...

IS CUSTOMER LOYALTY DEAD? by JoAnna Brandi When an agency meets some or all of our expectations we usually say that we're satisfied. When an agency goes a few steps further ...

IS EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP RIGHT FOR YOUR AGENCY? PART II by Carol Hammes Offering your employees the opportunity for agency ownership can help attract and retain quality people. Sooner or later,...

IS THIS STILL YOUR FATHER'S AGENCY? by Pegi Flahault To paraphrase an automobile advertising slogan: Is this still your father's agency? Are you trying to run the agency the same way it was ru...

IS YOUR AGENCY SENDING THE RIGHT SIGNALS? by Emily Huling When was the last time you viewed your agency, either by phone or in person, as if you had never done business before? If you're...

Marketing may be second-nature in large companies, but smaller firms often have a tough time implementing, managing, and monitoring an effective marketing strategy. The 'marketing director' title is often conferred on the person designated to answer requests for sales literature, or given as an afterthought to the sales manager (who thinks that marketing is just another way of spelling s-a-l-e-s).

The international insurance market offers a variety of benefits to independent agents and brokers. It provides a perfect tool for solidifying your Commercial Lines accounts and insulating them from inroads being made by alphabet house brokers. International insurance operations also offer an entree to new product lines and markets that will expand your facilities abroad. For example, U.S. agents can introduce their expertise in such lines as Auto, Medical, Surety, and Workers' Compensation to third-world countries that are privatizing these coverages. Canadian brokers can expand their expertise in out-of-country private Medical insurance and, potentially, Workers' Compensation.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE BRAND: USING PUBLIC RELATIONS TO BRAND by Michael Maynard How do you brand your business? A catchy name and logo certainly help, and if you have an advertising budget t...

ITS HUNKER- DOWN TIME! by Edward Curry How well is your agency prepared to deal with todays economic and market woes? Now might be a good time to...

JOB DESCRIPTION: MARKETING MANAGER OBJECTIVE: Under the direction of the agency manager, plan, lead and control an effective marketing function to ensure the development, maintenance and gr...