Inside this month's issue:

In addition to being easy to use, LinkedIn is well adapted to the needs of an insurance agency. Sign up today!

A successful marketing program is vital—but you must have a strategy before you implement any new technology.

If you’re thinking about passing your business along to your kids, make sure to avoid common traps.

Introducing GoToMyPC, DropBox, Mozy, and Jing—4 Web-based services you may find useful.

Is your brand and message being tarnished by sloppy e-mails, faxes, letters, and proposals?

Ready to move? Take note of some lessons learned before you travel too far down the wrong path.

In part 5, learn to succeed at e-business by measuring progress, setting milestones, and purchasing gear.

LinkedIn makes improvements; BCBS suffers $7 million data breach; insurance industry launches personal lines initiative.

Quickly find missing contact information using LeadResearcher, an intelligent research tool.

March 2010

Connections

Jack Burke

The Family Connection

If you're thinking about passing your business along to your kids, make sure you avoid some common traps.

My mind often works in strange ways. I was waiting for inspiration to write this month's column and didn't receive any. So, I procrastinated by taking time to review tax filings and forms for 2009. (I can be a masochist at times.) As I looked over the filings, my mind turned to thoughts of family—and that's when inspiration hit.

As I looked over the 2009 results for our company, I began feeling some sense of loss and regret that none of our children has expressed an interest in our business. The good news is that I have no intention of retiring. I plan to go out with my boots on! But, whenever that exit arrives, my wife will be left with making a decision to continue the business or sell it. There aren't any "little Burkes" in the wings waiting to take over.

At the same time, I also felt a sense of relief. I have watched and assisted too many family companies during a period of ownership transition and it hasn't always been a pretty picture.

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