The virtual office concept, also known as telecommuting or a mobile office, emerged as the American work force shifted from physical labor to knowledge-based work. Workers who create or manipulate information can generally perform anywhere there is a telephone, desk, chair, and computer. Technology enables the knowledge-based worker's office to be portable.

TELECOMMUTING: BRING THE WORK (BUT NOT THE RISKS) TO THE WORKER Welcome to the future of work. Telecommuting, also known as telework, uses telecommunications to allow employees to work off-site one...

TELEMARKETING CAN BUILD BUSINESS by Randall Marc and Adam Seid Before beginning a telemarketing campaign, some internal research needs to be done. Everyone would like to believe th...

TELEMARKETING: ONE STEP TOWARD SALES EFFICIENCY by Phil Zinkewicz As the agency system strides to be competitive, some agencies find telemarketing pays off. The efficiency of the...

If you offer a policy review, your agency must be prepared to handle responses. The first 10 seconds of a phone call may be crucial in forming the caller's impression of your professionalism. Depending on the agency's system for routing incoming calls, we advise that Life calls be handled by Life staff. In emergency situations, enough information should be obtained on the first call to enable the Life producer to reach the caller again, even if communications are difficult; don't lose the caller!

TELEPHONE PROSPECTING TECHNIQUES THAT GET RESULTS One of the best articles IMMS has seen about getting through to prospective clients was written by a pro, Ed Drake of SAFECO. SAFECO is,...

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...

TELEPHONE TIPS FOR THE FAINT OF HEART by Mitchell Axelrod The telephone is one of the most powerful business tools ever created. But too many people underuse it. Are you making...

TELLING AN E&O CARRIER, 'I WANT YOU TO PAY' by Curtis Pearsall From time to time, insurers' E&O claim departments receive calls that go something like this: 'This is Brad from the XYZ Agenc...

TEN DEADLY WEBSITE SINS by Patricia Berry What NOT to do in building your site. This article will discuss 10 Deadly Website Sins. Of course, there are many more, but these ar...