CUSTOMER SERVICE: REALITY CHECK by Mike Manes Mike Manes presents a series of episodes that he observed in a single week while visiting his mother-in-law during a rece...

The sale of Life insurance to Personal Lines Property/Casualty customers has long been an issue with traditional independent insurance agents and brokers. There are very few agencies that haven’t tried, at one time or another, to develop a program to cross-sell Life, Health, or Disability to existing customers. Many agencies have even hired a “Life Person,” only to end up with a big expense and little income to show for the effort. This has only added to the frustration of the agency owners. So what’s the answer?

Recently, I came across an interesting column in a national marketing publication. The writer indicated that marketing programs don't perform well because of 'business marketers' dogmatic belief that 'selling is the only form of marketing I need to do.''
This is an amazing statement because our experience at Graham Communications is quite different. As we see it, the problem is failing to achieve the benefits of marketing because the emphasis is always on sell, sell, sell.

PERSONALITY TYPES: THE HIGH-S PROFILE by Steve Anderson The high-steadiness (high-S) person is generally amiable, easy-going, and relaxed. Steady people may be perceived as low-key, undem...

Are you a trained or an untrained listener? Do you know the difference? This quiz by Lynn Thomas, based on her one-day workshop "Communication: The Essential Ingredient to Success," will help you to refine your listening skills.