This is not the time to be passive about company relationships. If you want to stay in business, you must develop and maintain strong company contacts. As you continue to court new markets, also devote time to enhance relations with your current carriers. Remember, decisive interaction with company personnel is a powerful tool in agency-company relations.

MAKE A SMARTER DEAL: BASE AGENCY VALUE ON PROFITABILITY, NOT A MULTIPLE OF COMMISSIONS! by Roger E. Thomas What multiple does an agency sell for these days? 1.25 times commission? 1...

The difference between closing a sale and losing it rests with the presentation. Whether you’re selling a product or an idea, the ability to present effectively is the difference between acceptance and rejection.

Yet, most Americans would rather die than give a speech. Whatever the facts, the idea of standing in front of an audience ranks far below going to the dentist for most people.

MAKE AGENCY MEETINGS PRODUCTIVE by Jack Fries Have you ever been in a meeting where you didnt know what they were talking about and each minute seemed like an hour? Many...

Where's your business headed this year? This article by John Graham offers recommendations on setting your priorities.

If we listen to half the politicians, everything will be coming up profits this year. They tell us to stop worrying about the economy. We're heading towards a new sunrise, they say. The other politicians paint a darker and far less optimistic picture. Where does that leave us? What are we to believe in 2004?

MAKE MEETINGS WORK This seven-part recommended agenda should be followed at each meeting. Adaptation will be necessary by department, but the general content and structure should be similar for...

MAKE MEETINGS WORK This seven-part recommended agenda should be followed at each meeting. Adaptation will be necessary by department, but the general content and structure should be similar for all d...

Public relations is all about credibility, without which you have little chance of getting your message across. In this document, Michael Maynard asks you to ask yourself, 'Would I buy it?'

MAKE SURE INCENTIVES ARE JUST THAT Incentives are designed to motivate salespeople to increase andimprove production; however, you should exercise caution when implementing an incen...

MAKE YOUR AGENCY RUN ON ITS OWN by Grace Bauer In this document, Grace Bauer highlights agency management issues that needed to be checked, and reminds you to make these checks at monthly mee...