1. Agencies & Apps: Three Case Studies of Early Adopters
By Mark E. Ruquet

Learn how independents are creating low-cost, custom apps to improve customer service and brand their businesses as tech-savvy.

2. Get Visual With Video
By Rick Gilman

If you haven't started using multimedia content to educate and communicate to your market, your competition will—or more likely, already is. Second, if you are among those agents who are using video on a regular basis, now may be the time to consider how well you've integrated this communications tool into your marketing efforts.

3. Overcoming  Carrier/Agency Technology Challenges
By Robert Regis Hyle

Today, more focus is returning to the business of commercial lines and how carriers and agents can help each other overcome issues that challenge their business. Carriers have to deal with a soft market that forces them into difficult underwriting decisions, while agents face cost uncertainties that arise from the often laborious task of processing complicated policies. Here are five viewpoints on the challenges faced on both sides and ideas for overcoming them.

4. Social Media ABCs
By Rick Gilman

Planning a social-media strategy and managing its execution is not as simple as ABC, but learning how to most effectively approach the process is half the battle.

5. Matchmakers
By Mark E. Ruquet

Technological advances change the relationship between the client, producer and insurance carrier. As more clients turn toward direct writers and online insurance purchases, agents' value has changed. Jeff Yates, executive director for the Agents Council for Technology, details how agents and carriers need to work together to benefit the client.

6. App Attack

By Melissa Hillebrand

Smartphone users are growing in number every day. Develop your own app and interact more closely with your clients and prospects. Andy Dillow, producer at Torian, Hoffman & Dillow Insurance, published a personal app called "Insurance Dude." Dillow includes on his app's homescreen:

1. Report a claim
2. Get service
3. Get a quote
4. Contact

Learn how to build an app and what features to include in your app.

7. Article: Cloud-y Days Ahead
By Richard Roberts

WikiLeaks data breaches and other hacking incidents highlight the importance of solid enterprise risk management practices, which help avoid costly litigation. Richard Roberts identifies five requirements that avoid unnecessary e-discovery risks:

1. Centrally controlled document access management
2. Document classification policy management
3. Retention policy management
4. Destruction and disposition policy management
5. Legal hold management