Are you LinkedIn?

Gone are the Rolodex’s with the business cards, names and phone numbers.  Now we have LinkedIn.  But unlike a business card, once we connect with someone on LinkedIn we virtually have their resume at our fingertips.  We know who their friends are, and we know where they used to work.

LinkedIn has become The Business Networking Tool.

But once you make a profile, what next?  Easy… get engaged.

·         Connect with people

·         Join groups

·         Ask and answer questions

·         Make sure to keep your profile updated with searchable key words

Here is a great article by www.marketingprofs.com (Shelly Kramer) on using LinkedIn Announcements.

Jimcor employee's are on LinkedIn - find us, connect with us, and tell us what you would like to see on this blog!

Let us know where you are on the Social Media Highway, what tools you are using and successes you have seen!  Maybe you will see them mentioned here in this blog J

Coryn Thalmann - Finding Time to Pay It Forward

Why do we volunteer?  How do we choose among the so many important causes?  Does it add to our lives or take time away from other things?  We asked Coryn Thalmann, CEO, COO of Jimcor Agencies, to answer a few questions for us on her personal thoughts about volunteering - thanks Coryn for taking the time to talk to us!

Q: What groups do you / have you volunteered for?
C Thalmann: Special Olympics, YIP's, UFO, Board of Directors for NAPSLO Education Foundation to name a few

Q: How do you find the time to volunteer with family and work commitments?

C Thalmann: First, I prioritize all the aspects of my life when making a decision to begin something.  Then, I work with my husband to schedule everything we need to do and continually communicate about changes.  Finally, I try to be 100% present wherever I am.  If I am home playing with my kids, I try and focus on them.  When I am at an event, I focus on those I am meeting.

Q: Do your children know you volunteer?  How do they feel about it?

C Thalmann: They know I am away at times, but don’t really understand what volunteering entails.  They are getting to an age where I will be able to take them to certain events so they can see versus hear about what I am doing.

Q: What is the best experience you have had from volunteering?  

C Thalmann: Seeing a smile on a person’s face!

Q: What would you say if someone said they didn’t have the time to volunteer for a cause?  

C Thalmann: Do what you can.  Every little bit helps so try and find ½ hour to help.

Q: In closing – is there anything else you would want to say?  Any cause close to your heart you would want to talk about?  

C Thalmann: The world is based on people helping other people.  I have been fortunate in my life and feel that paying it forward is a must for me.

So, in closing think about how you "pay it forward"!  What cause is important to you?  Do you volunteer your time?  Let us know :)

Know you want to volunteer but not sure where to start?  Try Volunteer Match! http://www.volunteermatch.org/

Did you know yesterday was Mandela Day? 

http://www.mandeladay.com/
An annual celebration of Nelson Mandela’s life (started in 2009) and a global call to action for people to recognize their individual power to" make an imprint" and change the world around them -- by giving 67 minutes of volunteer service. Celebrated on July 18 

Wearing a Life Jacket is Still the Most Important Step Boaters Can Take to Ensure Their Safety on the Water

It is boating Season!
Beautiful weather and fun with family and friends.  But please - be careful!

Boating fatalities jumped 12.8 percent in 2011 and are now at the highest level since 1998, according to the U.S. Coast Guard's just released report 2011 Recreational Boating Statistics.

Last year, 533 of the 758 boating fatalities resulted from drowning, with 84 percent of the drowning victims not reported as wearing a life jacket. The Coast Guard is urging recreational boaters to make sure everyone on board wears their life jacket at all times on the water.

This information is taken directly from the US Coast Guard website.  For more information go to http://www.uscgboating.org/

PS - read this

We are always trying to find ways to get a client or prospect's attention.  We think of new ideas, fancy pictures, videos - whatever we can to get them to click on a link or ask for more information.

What about getting back to the basics (and by basics think all the way back to grammar school when you passed notes in class to your friends).  Remember that last line you would always add?  Well, it started with:
"PS"

Those infamous 2 letters - they got our attention when we were 10, and they get people's attention even now as grownups.  It says to the reader, "Wait!  I almost forgot this amazing bit of news!"

So think about your emails - think about your marketing pieces.  Try it in your next campaign...

Here is a great article from MarketingProfs.com.  If you are looking for new marketing ideas and information this is a great site with much of the information free!

http://www.marketingprofs.com/short-articles/2596/four-ways-to-increase-clicks-with-a-ps

PS - thanks for choosing Jimcor Agencies and reading our blog!

Hurricane season is officially here - are you prepared?

Did you know that today begins the start of Hurricane Season?

2011 showed us that there is no area of the country immune to weather related disasters.  Please take a moment to review information from the National Weather Service Hurricane Preparedness Center and FEMA.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/prepare/

Don't forget to take care of your office as well as prepare your clients for the upcoming storm season.

Actual Cash Value vs. Replacement Cost

A recent article by PropertyCasualty360.com looked at the confusion that can be caused by the standard replacement-cost provisions on Commercial Property forms.  The article explores how the Commercial Property forms can offer the insured the option to accept settlement on an ACV basis, but the insured can later decide to receive the replacement cost amount.

Take the time to review this article.  ACV vs. Replacement Cost issues are nothing new, and knowing how to professionally handle questions is what separates the independent agent from an 800#.

Actual Cash Value vs. Replacement Cost: Navigating the Policy

Happy Anniversary Jimcor!

Happy Anniversary Jimcor Agencies!

May 3, 2012 marks Jimcor's 26th anniversary.  In honor of the Mastowski's first putting the sign on the door 26 years ago, let's take a look at headlines from that May weekend in 1986!

·      Frank and Ellen Mastowski opened the doors to Jimcor Agencies on Sullivan St., Westwood, NJ

·    American Top 40 with Casey Kasem released a compilation of songs whose track list included “Kiss” by  Prince and the Revolution, “Addicted to Love” by Robert Palmer and Janet Jackson’s hit “What Have You Done for me Lately!”

·         Senate proposes first budget over $1 trillion

·         Crude oil is at $14.73 per barrel

·         Mike Tyson goes for 20-0 record at the age of 19

·         According to results of the Gallup Poll in 1985, fishing is the second most popular leisure activity in America

·         Dow Jones indicator closes Friday at 1,774.68

·         Britain’s Prince Charles and Princess Diana travel to Vancouver to open Expo ’86 in hopes for an economic and spiritual renewal for British Columbia