It's popular to hate the press these days. Between visions of Princess Diana's mangled black sedan and MSNBC's apparent broadcasting credo of 'all Monica, all the time,' it's easy to see why. Many who don't go so far as to hate the press still distrust it, thinking that a broadcaster's emotional ties begin and end with the Nielsen ratings. Again, given today's programming, this isn't difficult to understand.

RENEWAL THANK YOU! Dear (Customer Name), We know we don't say it often enough, but we want to thank you for being a valued customer at (Your Agency Name). It's clients ...

SENDING THE WRONG MESSAGES: 18 WAYS TO BRAND A BUSINESS ... BADLY by John Graham In the West, cattle ranchers still brand cattle. Once the brand has been burned into the ...

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,...

THANK YOU FOR YOUR BUSINESS - SOLICITATION OF NEW BUSINESS THANK YOU FOR YOUR INSURANCE BUSINESS! Dear (Customer Name), Perhaps we don't say it often enough, but we sinc...

THE ART OF LISTENING by Jack Burke Picture yourself at your desk shuffling through some new paperwork you've just received from one of your companies. Propped to your ear is the telephon...

THE NEXT CHALLENGE: CUSTOMIZED DISTRIBUTION MODELS As the demand to identify and meet customer needs intensifies, the insurance industry is being challenged to respond with customized, multiple-...

UNDERSTAND YOUR E-MAIL: XOBNI by Steve Anderson A new, free plug-in module for Outlook called Xobni (pronounced 'ZOB-nee,' which is inbox spelled backwards) adds some social-networking ...

It's amazing to think that the first commercial radio station didn't go on the air until 1920 -- KDKA in Pittsburgh for trivia buffs. From that modest beginning, radio has grown to be a ubiquitous presence in our lives.

It wakes you up in the morning and gives you the news. You get in the car, and you probably turn on the radio. It goes to the beach, the ballpark, and the office. It gives everything from "heavy metal" to talk shows to Bach.

WHAT TO ASK AND NOT TO ASK ON JOB APPLICATION FORMS The application form is your first line of inquiry into a job candidate's qualificat...