Insights
Understanding Animal Mortality Insurance: Protection for Livestock Owners
Animal death is an unfortunate, yet expected, reality in the world of livestock and animal management. All animals have an average lifespan, and livestock owners take that into account when considering their operational costs. However, accidental or unexpected deaths — those not caused by old age — can be devastating to a farm or ranch operation’s bottom line. For instance, let’s say a severe storm kills 20 beef cattle that would have sold for $3,000 a head at...
Getting Seen and Followed on Twitter
Twitter is its own unique social media platform. Although you have followers, how you post, engage, and create content varies from the other social media networks. Here are some tips to help you get seen and grow followers on Twitter. Credibility Followers matter. The more followers you have, the greater the reach your posts will have. Having...
All About QR Codes
QR codes look like a cubism form of a barcode. These encoded symbols can be printed out onto a product, sticker, or marketing material, and then scanned to share information. It’s a great way to provide information to clients without having to write it all out on every brochure or other marketing piece. In the past you had to download a separate...
MiniCo Insurance Announces Two Strategic Leadership Promotions
Rick Krouner and Jim Henry have been tapped to lead MiniCo's Specialty Programs and National Programs divisions. MiniCo Insurance Agency (MiniCo) is pleased to announce two leaders stepping into strategic leadership roles. Rick Krouner, formerly President of MiniCo’s Casualty division, has been named President of MiniCo’s Specialty Programs...
Jencap Creates Strategic New Role for Their Programs Division
NEW YORK, NY (January 13, 2022) – Jencap Program Administrators (JPA), a division of Jencap Group LLC (Jencap), is pleased to announce the newly created executive role of Chief Revenue Officer. Mike Schofield, formerly President and Chief Executive Officer of MiniCo Insurance Agency (MiniCo), a JPA company, will assume this new...
Planning Ahead for Tornadoes
Tornadoes are one of the most devastating weather events in terms of property damage and potential for injury and loss of life. While tornadoes can occur anywhere, the United States experiences the highest number of any country. As of mid-December 2021, there were over 1,000 confirmed tornadoes in the U.S. including 14 events that resulted in...
Instagram Stories: Creative Ideas to Try
Are you always seeing Instagram stories at the top of your newsfeed but never know what to post for your agency? A creativity roadblock can be frustrating. Instagram gives you a lot of fun creative options, but it can be overwhelming at first because not everything is quite as simple as it seems. Smoke and Mirrors There’s no magic trick to...
Reexamining Corporate Culture In The “Great Resignation”
Corporate culture is a determining factor in the success of every business. It influences how your employees interact and communicate with customers and each other, how they conduct assigned tasks, how they behave while at work, and how they solve problems and address conflicts. As the United States approaches the two-year anniversary of the...
How to Build A Social Media Calendar
It’s important to have a routine schedule with your social media presence. One of the best ways to do that is by having your own social media calendar to keep your thoughts and posts organized. There are many sources that can help you plan, but the last thing anyone needs is another app on their phone. Using programs you likely have on your...
Self-Storage Lease Agreements Protect Your Clients
A self-storage lease agreement (or rental contract) is one of the most important elements of your self-storage operation's risk management program. It is the most critical document executed between the business and the tenant in terms of protecting the facility's interests. The lease agreement formally establishes the relationship between the...
How to Get onto Instagram’s Explore Page
Instagram’s Explore page isn’t anything new, but it is unique to other social media platforms. It’s essentially a page full of content from Instagram accounts you don’t follow that the algorithm thinks you will be interested in. Being featured on the explore page is independent to a user’s interests and engagements. Every explore page is unique...
MiniCo Insurance Agency Named Best of Business in Self-Storage Commercial Insurance for Tenth Year
For the tenth consecutive year, MiniCo Insurance Agency has claimed the top spot in self-storage commercial insurance among voters in the self-storage industry. MiniCo Insurance Agency has been selected by readers of Inside Self-Storage magazine as a Best of Business winner in the category of best commercial insurance for the tenth consecutive...
MiniCo Insurance Agency Announces Rebrand as a Jencap Company
MiniCo's new brand reflects its association with parent company Jencap Group, LLC (Jencap). Under the Jencap umbrella, MiniCo is now one of the largest program administrators in the United States. MiniCo Insurance Agency, a leading program administrator offering specialty programs for a variety of industries, today announced the company's...
MiniCo Insurance Agency Introduces Architects And Engineers Professional Liability Insurance
MiniCo Insurance Agency now offers an Architects and Engineers Professional Liability Insurance program to provide errors and omissions (E&O) coverage for a vast spectrum of architects, engineers, construction managers, and other professionals serving the construction, manufacturing, and environmental industries. Professional liability...
MiniCo Insurance Agency Adds Artisan Construction, Landscaping, And Nonprofit Social Services Programs
The specialty programs have moved over from MiniCo's Jencap affiliate company NIF Group, Inc., as part of the newly formed Jencap Program Administrators division. MiniCo Insurance Agency has joined forces with its Jencap affiliate company NIF Group, Inc., as part of Jencap Program Administrators, a newly formed program division under the Jencap...
Spring Maintenance Tasks for Risk Management
Winter storm season can bring low temperatures, high snowfall, icy conditions, and the hazards that result from extreme winter weather to many areas across the country. As spring gets closer, warmer temperatures bring additional challenges for property owners. It's important for self-storage business owners to make a plan for spring inspections...
Customer Feedback is the Lifeline of the Insurance Agency
Customer service and customer feedback are two things that can make or break an insurance agency. Customer service is something you have direct control over. However, even seasoned insurance agents with the best customer service skills can’t control the customer feedback that is received. Turning customer feedback into positive reviews and...
Is Cold Calling Dead?
There are hundreds of different ways to communicate to a prospect today, more than at any other point in time. It seems like a new app or communication tool is introduced every day. Telephone calling has been a tried-and-true communication tool for marketers for many years, but is it still relevant today? With all these different forms of...
Discover the Correct Type of Website for Your Agency
A lot goes into building a website. Have you noticed how different types of companies have websites formatted in a specific way for their industry? This is because the most important reason for having a website is to convey important information to your audience quickly and with ease. Some businesses have a lot of services and products, which can...
Why Your Clients Need Collectibles Insurance
As long as items hold value, there will be insurance coverage to protect them, and there are many different types of insurance needs. It’s your responsibility as an agent to offer your clients appropriate coverage for their valuables. If any of your clients are collectors – and millions of people are – collectibles insurance is a great way to...
Self-Storage Squatters │ Potential Signs to Look Out For
Self- storage facilities generally have a list of items in their rental contracts that are prohibited from being stored in rented units. Tenants are prohibited from storing flammable items, hazardous materials, and food, to name just a few. Most of these restrictions are due to the damage that they can cause, such as accidental fires or unwanted...
Top 5 Cybersecurity Threats
Self-storage facilities can be prime targets for cybercriminals who can use customer information to rob bank accounts via wire transfers, steal customers’ personal identity information, and commit other fraudulent activities. In general, many small businesses are vulnerable to data breaches for three key reasons: · They don’t believe they...
Flood Hazards
In the aftermath of a flood, there are a number of hazards that you may encounter. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) identifies the following hazards associated with floods.· Electrical hazardsTree and debris removalLifting injuriesMoldRodents, snakes, and insectsChemical and...
Flood Watch vs. Flood Warning
Which flood alert is more critical – a watch or a warning? It's important to know the differences in the warning system alerts and understand the appropriate action to take for each alert level. Flood Watch Meaning: Flooding is possible. Action: Monitor radio and television stations for more information. Flash Flood Watch Meaning: Flash flooding...
Flood Evacuation Planning
The growing frequency and severity of weather events such as wind, hail, and torrential rain can increase the risk of flooding. Before flood waters approach your self-storage facility, make sure to put an evacuation plan in place to ensure your personal safety and that of your employees and customers. A thorough evacuation plan should include:...
Safety After a Wildfire
The hazards associated with wildfires may persist even after the flames have been extinguished. Here are some tips for staying safe after a wildfire. · Monitor information from authorities as to when it is safe to return to an area and whether water is safe to drink. · Avoid hot ash, charred trees, and smoldering debris. · Wet down debris to...
Communicating With Tenants About Fire Prevention
September is National Preparedness Month, and creating a communications plan is a top priority when it comes to fire prevention at a self-storage facility. Regular communication to customers can go a long way toward mitigating the risk of fire on the property. Examples of tenant communication include the following: Signage: Post “no smoking”...
Creating a Defensible Space Against Wildfires
One of the most important and cost-effective steps you can take to mitigate the risk of wildfire damage at your self-storage operation is to create and maintain a defensible space around the facility. This is a zone in which vegetation, debris, and other combustible fuels have been cleared, minimized, or treated with the goal of slowing the...
First Aid for Heat-Related Illness
If you suspect that an employee or tenant is showing the symptoms of heat exhaustion or heat stroke, it is important to take action quickly. Time is of the essence in order to minimize the risk of serious injury or death. First aid actions for heat-related illness: Call a supervisor or co-worker for help. If no one is available, call 911.Have...
Happy National Safety Month!
June is National Safety Month, and the National Safety Council (NSC) is marking the occasion by focusing on workplace safety education and awareness. The most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is from 2020, and the NSC's analysis of the numbers indicates that workplace injuries are on the rise. In 2020, nonfatal injuries that...
Safety After a Tornado
Once a tornado has passed, it is important that you take steps to stay safe while navigating the debris and damage left behind. Here are some tips to keep in mind. Get HelpCover your mouth with a cloth to avoid breathing dust. If you are trapped, try to send a text, bang on a pipe or wall, or use a whistle to summon help. If you are not...
Electrical Safety and Hurricanes
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November, and severe storms can strike across the country at any time. The storm preparation checklist for your self-storage facility should include electrical safety considerations. The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) offers recommendations for before, during, and after a...
Floods and Electrical Safety
Over the past five years, all 50 states have experienced floods or flash floods, and, on average, more deaths occur due to flooding each year than any other weather-related hazard. Safety precautions during floods should include considerations for electrical safety. Guidance from the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) includes the...
Pre-Wildfire Planning
The Department of Homeland Security's website www.Ready.gov, recommends the following steps to prepare for wildfires. Stay Informed Sign up for your community's warning system.Monitor alerts from the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio.Know your community's evacuation plan. Make a...
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