Tag Archives: services

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Turn Your Handwriting Into a Font

In this age of e-mail, handwritten notes can make a big impact. Think about it: when was the last time you received a handwritten note? vLetter is a company that will reproduce your own handwriting as a font that you can use on your computer. This allows you to use the speed of typing to create a handwritten look.

The company offers several products. For $150, vLetter Pro will create your own handwriting and signature into a font that allows for completely connected cursive writing. vLetter Print ($70) is a simple printed font that is made from your own handwriting. And vLetter Sig ($30) creates your signature as a font. With your signature as a font, you can sign documents and checks by simply typing your name and choosing the font to display it. This allows you to choose any font size and color for your signature.

The company also offers handwriting fonts as Ready-Made Styles. “Declare” is a font made from the handwriting in the final copy of the Declaration of Independence. This font is a formal calligraphic style that includes an old-fashioned tall “s” character. “GWashing” is a font made from George Washington’s handwriting, taken from archives of his actual correspondence. This less formal style also includes the old-fashioned tall “s” character in combination with a small “s.”

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“Click-to-Call” Provides Instant Connectivity to Qualified Leads

VimoLive Click-to-Call is a new service that immediately connects insurance brokers to consumers in their area who are seeking health insurance. Millions of visitors currently access Vimo for health insurance comparison shopping information, and now have the option to click a button and talk to an insurance broker in their geographical area, free and instantaneously.

Many people prefer talking to a live human being when it’s convenient for them, rather than completing a form and waiting for a callback. The immediacy of response makes this solution incredibly strong.

Here’s how it works. When the prospect requests a live conversation, VimoLive rings the customer’s phone, and immediately starts searching for an available agent in the customer’s area. If the first agent selected by Vimo’s expert system does not pick up, the system will keep hunting until it finds an agent who does. Additionally, brokers will be able to track and annotate all of the calls they receive through VimoLive’s online lead tracking system.

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Make Bank Deposits Over the Web

Due to the federal Check 21 law, banks are beginning to allow businesses to make their daily deposits using the Web. The latest bank to begin offering this service is InsurBanc. Their new Virtual Deposit Delivery system allows you to electronically submit checks for deposit utilizing a high performance scanner and a PC with an Internet connection at your local office without having to go to the bank. The benefits include saving time and money by eliminating trips to the bank, improved cash flow because funds are available faster, and reduced credit risk due to faster returned-check notification.

The service is easy to use. You simply log onto the system, scan the checks and verify the data, and then send the images to the bank for processing.

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Google With Your Voice

As part of Google’s ongoing effort to make the world’s information universally accessible, they have created and are testing a free service called Google Voice Local Search. The service allows you to use any phone to search for a business listing. Simply call 800-GOOG-411 (800-466-4411) and speak your search phrase.

You can search for a specific business name or for a category. For example, you could just say “pizza” — and you’ll get a listing of pizza providers. You can then send the listing details to your mobile phone via SMS by saying “text message.”

The service is fully automated, so it doesn’t rely on human operators. It connects you directly to the business, free of charge. However, your telephone company may apply regular charges for making a phone call or receiving an SMS. The information provided is the same local information you’d find on Google Maps.

Google Voice Local Search is still in its experimental stage. It may not be available at all times and may not work for all users. They are fine-tuning the service to get better at recognizing users’ requests and finding the businesses they are looking for. It’s currently only available in the United States in English.

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Keep Track of Who’s Off

Effectively managing human resources is one area where many agencies struggle. As a case in point, it can be a hassle to keep track of employee vacation and sick time. In small agencies, the agency owner typically tracks vacation and sick time — but most of the time, not very well.

WhosOff.com is a free Web site that helps organizations of any size manage and track vacation schedules, holiday planning, and sick time. The program is completely browser-based. Once you establish an account, you and your staff can request holiday/vacation time. The request goes to whomever you designate to approve or decline requests. Then, staff is notified of the decision. If you have remote offices, you could assign one individual to review all requests for time off. You could also designate a department manager or supervisor.

In addition to paid holidays and vacations, the system can also track sick leave. WhosOff enables you to visibly see patterns of sickness across the organization or for each individual, because sick days show up as red blocks on the user’s calendar. With this program, you’ll know who has a chronic case of Monday illnesses.

If you set WhosOff to allow your staff to log sickness for each other, a person who calls in sick can have his or her absence logged immediately. Then, an automatic e-mail is sent to that person’s approver, enabling managers to plan and backfill as appropriate.

The system also allows you to set rules and restrictions. For example, you might want to set a rule that Tony can’t be absent when Alan is absent. The WhosOff system alerts the user of the restriction when he or she initially requests leave.

To register for a free account, go to www.whosoff.com.