SELL YOURSELF AND YOUR AGENCY Karen Flaherty, president, Professional Training Systems, Inc., conducted a telephone survey of 50 independent insurance agencies to evaluate how well agencies responded...

SIMPLE WAYS TO DIFFERENTIATE YOUR AGENCY by E. Al Diamond Every year, I see agencies struggling with the problem of how to differentiate themselves from their competition. This is an especi...

STUFF EMPLOYEES NEED TO KNOW by Mitch Axelrod A recent article from a scholastic business journal, entitled something like the Three Things Your Employees: Need to Know, imp...

In a recent edition of The National Underwriter, Editor Sam Friedman recommended that risk managers begin to explore the capabilities of sophisticated regional and local brokerages. This recommendation was based on recent broker megamergers and the growing lack of choice available to buyers.

For an independent agency or brokerage to take advantage of this opportunity, it should adopt the consultative brokerage style. In particular, its managers must learn the techniques that these sophisticated buyers have come to expect. The stewardship report and the executive summary are two techniques that firms must master to be successful in large accounts.

WHAT DO CLIENTS NEED? THAT DEPENDS ON THE CLIENT by Mary Beth Bolen Your job title is customer service representative (or customer service agent) -- but just what does that mean? What is the ex...

WHAT MAKES YOU SPECIAL? by Pegi Flahault 'So, tell me a little about yourself.' Remember how important an intelligent and succinct response to that question was when you were out job ...

Far from just another sales technique or gimmick, Productive Selling Attitude (PSA) is a fundamental approach to making sales.

PSA is emerging from a clear understanding of how customers think, as well as from the expectations of suppliers and vendors.

Only those who are brutally honest with themselves really make it in sales - this means admitting that it is getting more difficult to "make the sale."

The obstacles to success are everywhere. Automated telephone systems serve as an impenetrable wall. The fear of making a wrong decision creates endless delays and false starts.