Category Archives: Blog

Hazelton Business Insurance: Top Social Media Management Apps

Hazelton Business Insurance: Top Social Media Management Apps Has your business integrated social media in its marketing plan? If so, you know how important and advantageous it is for businesses of all sizes to shift from paper to web. There are a number of social media networking sites developed every year; some cater to the general public, some to the youth and some to businessmen.  But as a small business, it’s important to utilize more prevalent platforms such as, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Google Plus. However, as it applies to all aspects of business, your audience can’t grow overnight. Unless you have a designated social media marketing team, it is difficult to manage all social media accounts. The key to success in social media marketing is nurturing these accounts and engaging with followers. Arbitrarily typing a status or tweet is not efficient. Implementing a successful social media strategy is more than creating profiles and tweeting twice each month; it’s a constant upkeep. The number of inactive accounts is growing because businesses don’t allocate sufficient time to create content and engage with followers. Fortunately, there are a number of useful desktop applications and mobile apps capable of preparing a week’s worth of posts on all social media platforms. But remember, these apps don’t function as efficiently as a human touch. There are few drawbacks, but if you don’t have the time and budget to hire a team of social media enthusiasts, these apps may be the right fit for you and your business. Here are our top two social media management apps! HootSuite- Arguably the best app, HootSuite is composed of several features and serves many functions. At $9.99 per month, HootSuite’s Pro Plan schedules postings for an unlimited number of personal and business accounts. Other features include a built-in analytics system that helps you track your campaigns. They also offer a Free Plan with features such as, scheduled postings on 5 social media accounts and two RSS/Atom feeds. SocialOomph- This app offers a free and professional plan.  The Free Plan offers features such as scheduled tweets and keyword tracking. In addition to its basic features, the Professional Plan also includes auto follow and management of all social media accounts. When you partner with the Dryfoos Group of Insurance of Agents to insure your Bethlehem business, you will have someone working to help…
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Auto Insurance: How to Practice Defensive Driving

Auto Insurance: How to Practice Defensive Driving You may be an excellent driver with a driving history free of traffic tickets and car collisions, but there are some things you can’t control when on the road.  Each year fatal car accidents take away the lives of over 35,000 Americans.  With such a high number, car safety simply can’t be overlooked. There are many drivers on the road who are distracted by a less than important text and some drivers who genuinely believe their fully able to simultaneously drive, eat and rummage through their belongings. There are even drivers who simply never use their warning signal and some that are fueled by rage.  We can’t deter these individuals from driving, but we can practice defensive driving to decrease the possibility of these bad behaviors turning into a car accident. Being educated in defensive driving is an important tool to acquire. Defensive driving requires a driver to always be cautious and alert.  It’s about always being aware of your surroundings. You need to be able to spot any potential collisions and correctly react to them. Don’t be distracted. Although this may seem obvious, many drivers are guilty of this. Distracted driving is not limited to answering a phone call or text.  Distracted driving also includes eating, interacting with passengers, applying makeup and rummaging through your belongings. Distraction driving enables a driver from focusing on the road. Be cautious of the drivers who are practicing poor driving behaviors such as speeding and driving drowsy.  Make it a habit to constantly check your mirrors. Keep a safe distance from the car ahead of you.  This will give you extra space to move forward if the driver behind you isn’t able to break in time. Always yield regardless if you have the right of away. Not every driver on the road abides by traffic laws. Many are eager to get past a stop sign or a stop light. Source:  http://autos.aol.com/article/defensive-driving-101/ Nobody covers Pennsylvania drivers like we do at Dryfoos. We specialize in helping our clients cover their personal automobiles against unforeseen damages and injuries. As independent insurance agents, we have access to many top-rated, financially sound insurers that operate here in PA, and can set you up with the most affordable rates and most appropriate coverage. When reviewing your Personal Auto insurance needs, we’ll carefully create a comprehensive program…
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Pennsylvania Hospitality Insurance: Hotels Welcome Reflagging

Pennsylvania Hospitality Insurance: Hotels Welcome Reflagging As a result of the growing economy, the hospitality industry is beginning to recover. During this time, hotel owners are shifting perspectives and implementing changes. While many hotels have been demolished or gone unchanged, as much as 2,500 hotels were reflagged in 2011. According to Smith Travel Research, that is a staggering 39% increase from 2010. Times have changed and new needs need to be met. Some hotel owners have noticed a change in customers and some have noticed a new design trend. Many hotels are taking these new changes as an opportunity to reflag and rebrand. Initially, reflagging can be very costly, but it does pay off in the long run. Reflagging often raises revenue, increases guest count, introduces new marketing strategies, and creates new business relationships. Sought as a promising opportunity to expand profitability, Stephen M. O’Loughlin converted a Marriott to the DoubleTree. O’Loughlin, president of Lodging Hospitality Management had previously worked with Hilton Worldwide on a different project. Although keeping the brand was taken into consideration, reflagging to Hilton was more beneficial. Reflagging allowed O’Laughlin to convert the Marriott into mid-scale hotel brand, DoubleTree. Reflagging and rebranding is more than changing a hotel name.  Many executives who reflagged have made improvements by addressing  customer complaints and preferences. Some hotels have replaced existing furniture with contemporary furniture and some have hired new employees. The hospitality industry is competitive and hotels are forced to make changes. At Dryfoos, one of our long-time specialties has been providing Pennsylvania Hospitality Insurance to the hospitality industry. If your business is a restaurant, bar, hotel or similar type of organization, you may well have heard of us. We understand your industry. We talk your talk. And we have the insurance products that will fit your unique needs. You may not need it all, but if you’re in the hospitality industry, you need many of them to cover your investments and assets. We’ll show you how to bundle them for maximum coverage and minimal cost. Call us today. 1-800-253-6728 Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/25/business/to-lure-travelers-hotels-preen-and-change-brands.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=commercial

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The Dangers at Your Desk: Breaking Down Your Workspace

Your desk is the hub of your career. Post-its, highlighted notes, to-do lists galore; your workspace is integral to the work that you do. Yet so often, it’s disregarded and grows messy and disorganized, an effect new studies say can have some detrimental effects. According to Forbes, a new survey of over 1,000 workers by staffing firm Adecco, a majority of Americans admit they judge coworkers by how clean or dirty they keep their workspaces, and often attribute messiness to laziness. An Office Max study found that office clutter can undermine productivity and motivation. In the spirit of spring cleaning, here are a few tips to project forth your best image at your workplace and make your life easier. Organization. Set a weekly appointment to clean your desk. Don’t just create piles, but make specific places for the various tasks in your office. Clear your desk of stacks of paper and unnecessary items that just hog space. Designate a drawer or shelf to keep your gym bag off the floor. The result will be a space that is not only more aesthetically more appealing, it will help you to better organize your work. Cleanliness. The results are highly unappealing, and well, gross. According to some reports, the average keyboard harbors 5 times the amount of germs found in a public bathroom. Disinfect your office regularly, wiping down everything from your phone to your mouse and coffee mugs to ensure you have a healthy, clean workspace. Sedentary Dangers. You want to ensure maximum productivity at your desk? Step away from it. Being chained to your desk can be exhausting and draining. Take 5 minutes to walk outside and drink your cup of coffee. Leave your desk for lunch. You’ll come back to work feeling refreshed and ready to go. From a teacher with a mountain of assignments to grade, to a retail manager analyzing sales reports, or a contractor managing multiple bids and projects, keeping a clean desk can help out professionals in all types of industries. Our Business Insurance Plans are no different. At Dryfoos Group we proudly provide a variety of industries with comprehensive insurance solutions from non-profits to hospitality and construction. We’ve dedicated ourselves to providing the most comprehensive and affordable risk management and insurance solutions to business owners across the state. Contact us today for more information.

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General Liability: Facebook Files Motion to Dismiss Case

Facebook Inc. filed a motion this week to dismiss the case brought against them by Paul Ceglia. The wood-pellet salesman is suing Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook for a major stake in the social network. Ceglia contracted Zuckerberg for website work when the CEO was a student at Harvard. Ceglia claims in his suit that he had a contract with Zuckerberg that entitles him to 50% of what was Zuckerberg’s fledgling side project at the time, known as “The Face Book.” As for the rest of the story, well that is social media lore; “The Face Book” is now a multi-billion dollar company, with Zuckerberg’s stake estimated at 28 billion. Facebook has responded vehemently to Ceglia’s claims, calling them “a fraud and a lie.” They have launched their own investigation into the case, and claim the documents Ceglia produced were fraudulent, according to the Wall Street Journal. Media hype aside, from a business standpoint the case highlights the urgent need for businesses to have general liability protection. The Facebook case is playing out on a national, multi-billion dollar scale. Most business will never experience that kind of exposure or risk; however the basic principals remain the same. Businesses need protection against unforeseen claims and lawsuits. And if Facebook is any indicator, the more successful you are, the more expensive the claims become. We live in a lawsuit minded society. The sheer numbers of lawsuit prone individuals is so vast it has turned into a joke; just Google “most ridiculous lawsuits” to find a litany of ludicrous claims that have come before courts and won. You’ll laugh and shudder simultaneously. As a business owner or manager, you already know that many business owner policies don’t carry enough liability coverage to completely protect you against unforeseen claims and lawsuits. That’s where a general liability policy can save the day and your wallet. At the Dryfoos Group, our liability specialists can show you how to set up a relatively inexpensive, full coverage policy that can protect you and your company. Contact us today for more information. Sources for the facts in this article can be found at The Wall Street Journal & CNN Money.

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Remember the Healthcare Overhaul? ACA Goes To The Supreme Court

President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act (ACA) into law two years ago. Refuted immediately by 26 states, the law comes before the Supreme Court for review late March. The Courts will review the constitutionality of the act and are expected to return a decision in June. The ACA is a 900 plus page bill with hundreds of amendments and components. Most visibly, the overhaul requires all individuals to have healthcare- failure to comply incurs fines and possible imprisonment. This mandate is a huge reason for the ACA’s appearance before the Supreme Court next week. The issue hotly debated is the constitutionality of the ACA, specifically the federal government’s right to require all individuals to purchase healthcare. The main points of each side were summarized in a video between Neal Katyal, Former Acting Solicitor General who defended the ACA in three appeals courts and Randy Barnett, a Libertarian legal scholar and anti-ACA intellectual architect behind the challenges to the individual mandate. Below are the key issues they argue. Interstate commerce:  Katyal and proponents of the bill argue that the individual healthcare mandate is included in the umbrella of interstate commerce, and thus Congress has the right to regulate it. Barnett argues that the institution of fines and potential imprisonment for those who don’t comply with the requirement is an aggregation of federal power. Congress is requiring individuals to “buy” a product: Opponents argue it is unconstitutional and beyond Congress’ taxing power to fine individuals for not purchasing a product (i.e. healthcare). Proponents argue that Congress is not asking individuals to buy a product they wouldn’t usually consume. A national problem calls for national solution: Katyal views the issue as a national problem that the states can’t fix; Barnett argues it is a violation of state sovereignty and a dangerous concession of power to the federal government to allow them to regulate the healthcare system. The Supreme Court’s decision could transform the state governments’ role in the provision of healthcare. The case is so significant it has been allotted six hours, featuring multiple lawyers, to be argued over three days, the longest oral argument heard in the Supreme Court in almost half a century. Show your employees you care about their well-being with Group Insurance/Benefits from Dryfoos.  We offer a variety of comprehensive policies that can be custom tailored to fit…
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Workers Compensation: Why It Is Crucial For Business

Workers Compensation and businesses go hand in hand. Thinking about going without proper coverage can lead to serious lawsuits and substantial medical expenses to pay for an employee’s on-the-job injury or illness. Whether you obtain coverage through a commercial market, a state fund, or choose to self-insure, Workers Compensation is not only a vital component of conducting business, it is also a requirement in most states. It must be provided to employees of any company with five or more workers, as it’s the sole remedy for injured employees. Although the incidence rate of workplace injuries and illnesses were down for 2010 as compared to 2009, according to stats released in the Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (Annual) Report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number is still quite significant: 3.1 million non-fatal on-the-job injuries and illnesses were reported by the private sector. What can you do as a business to stem Workers Compensation claims in your operation? First be sure your safety program is updated and that all employees are vigilant about following it. Second, work with your insurance agency and company to implement an effective Return-to-Work (RTW) program so that if an employee is injured while on the job, there is a concerted effort to get him or her back to work as soon as possible, even in a part-time position. The key to a successful RTW program is early intervention. Return to Work Programs can reduce business costs by eliminating the need for overtime by other employees or in having to hire temporary workers. They can also help reduce Workers Compensation costs in terms of increased premiums. What’s more, RTW programs can help reduce employee turnover as you mitigate the need to replace the employee. The cost to replace an employee can be up to 1.5 times his or her annual salary. What’s more, it takes a new employee more than 13 months to become efficient at his or her job. And, RTW programs can serve to boost morale. You get the injured worker back on the job and he or she in addition to your other employees will know that you see them as a valuable resource. Workers Compensation can save you from costly lawsuits in case of on-the-job accidents and injuries. Equally important, it helps keep your employees healthy and, if injured, helps ensure that they…
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