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

Industry Watch

Michael Wise

How to Succeed with E-Business: Part 5

Treat e-commerce like an exercise program: measure, progress, set milestones, and get "the gear."

Editor's Note: In Part 1, Michael covered some background and set up the equipment, so to speak. In Part 2, he dove into the "workout" with a discussion about goals and sustainability. In Part 3, he discussed change and documentation. Last month he covered the benefits of establishing an e-business community and setting a schedule. This month looks at the ability to measure, see progression, experience milestones, and consider what "gear" you'll need.

"Okay! Who's got numbers?!" The shout from Renelda rings out across the stationary bikes. Dan yells back, "685!" How ‘bout you, Donna? She checks her wrist thing. "Um—840." Cool. That's a satisfying number of calories to burn in an hour—much more than the 300-400 I would likely burn on my own. And we all had fun exercising—loud music, a few funny comments from the coach or the group, great reflections during the routine, and hydration. Good stuff. Then, it was off to the scale in ...

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