THE 10 COMMANDMENTS OF TELEMARKETING 1. Thou shalt cover thy database. Your database is constantly changing and must be reached many times to be fully informed about what you have to s...

THE AGENCY DATABASE by Tripp Leach Are your computers a fundamental part of your agency or just desk ornaments? Do they provide you with a competitive edge or a convenient excuse? Do they ad...

THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS OF MARKETING Craig Shields, president, Direct Marketing Agency, Inc., Irvine, CA, recently identified seven categories of basic mistakes that make marketing expensive, wasteful,...

Before implementing a telemarketing campaign, several key issues need addressing to be sure your objectives are met.

The best way to master the tools reviewed here is to practice using them on the next spreadsheet you create. Sometimes it pays to take a step back and ask, "How can this basic spreadsheet be enhanced?" When these tools (along with a myriad of others that Excel has to offer) are applied properly, it's amazing what a spreadsheet can do.

Once these tools are mastered, it will be difficult to go back to that old pocketknife. When preparing your next spreadsheet, keep in mind the Excel tools discussed here, and use them often. Just as your trusty pocketknife comes in handy in many different situations, so will these tips for Excel spreadsheets.

WORKING YOUR PLAN FOR RENEWALS by Mary Beth Bolen Remember when 'renew same' or 'renew as is' with your initials written on the copy of a declarations page were acceptable directives for a...