5 Free Tools to Run Your Bail Business

Running a business can be both stressful and expensive. Luckily, there are several free resources online that will help you run your business more effectively without putting a dent in your pocket book. Learn how these five free applications can help save you money. 1. Google Docs - Have you ever gone home for the night and needed a file that was on your computer at work? With Google Docs, that headache is eradicated. By storing all your data online, you can access your files in Google docs from any computer. Google Docs gives you the opportunity... Read more

Tying Your Social Media Together

You’ve started experimenting with social media. You’re listening, you’re networking, you’re even writing a blog… now what? It’s time to tie all your social media efforts together to get the most out of the content you are creating and sharing. While the different sites are updated individually with different goals in mind, they should work together to promote your business. First, analyze what is working for you and what is not. Do you have commercials for your bail company? Having a YouTube channel makes sense,... Read more

To Blog or Not to Blog…

Now that you are online and connected to people, how do you build these relationships to better your business and establish yourself as a leader in your field? In the internet world, it’s not just about how many connections you have, but the value you have to these contacts. To create value, provide people with information that is of interest to them. How can you do this? One of the best ways is by starting a blog. What is a blog? A blog is short for “web-log,” or essentially an internet journal. There are millions of blogs on... Read more

FaceSpace? MyLinkedIn?

In the first post of the social media series, we covered what social media is, and why you need to pay attention to it by listening to what other people are saying. Now that you’ve heard part of the conversation, become a part of the conversation! There are several ways to become involved in social media. With so many different sites, how do you know which ones to choose? This article will focus on the websites that allow you to interact on a deeper level with your online network. You’ve probably heard of many of these sites - Facebook,... Read more

Why Do You Need Social Media?

In the past 5 years, the internet has gone from a place to discover information to a place to share information.  This shift has resulted in what is commonly called Internet 2.0. What does Internet 2.0 involve? Everything from being able to comment on articles (like on Collateral), write product reviews on sites like Amazon.com, and being able to network with others via sites like MySpace and FaceBook are included in Internet 2.0. Often times these sites are referred to as “Social Media” because anyone has the ability to publish and share information... Read more

Smartphones That Work For You

“Smartphone” is a word that you are probably hearing more often.  It refers to a phone that is essentially a mini-computer; it can surf the web, hold pictures and music, allow you to easily check your email and much more.  Bail agents can benefit from smart phones by staying connected to their office while they are waiting at the jail or courthouse.  With so many smart phones on the market, how do you know which is the best for you?  Below are a few smart phones that can help you run your business wherever you are.  It is important... Read more

60 Minutes to a Better Bail Site

Adam Camras, co-founder of AboutBail.com, presented “60 Minutes to a Better Bail Site” at the PBUS 2009 Winter Convention.  When creating a website for your bail agency, ask yourself the following questions: Did you register your web domain in your name? Did you register all the extensions (.com, .us, .info, .net, .biz)? Do you have your phone number at the top of every page with a call to action, such as “Call now for a free consultation”? Do you have a page that talks about your services? Does your website make it clear... Read more

Websites: Increase Your Earning Potential

Website If your bail bond business does not have a website, you are not getting as many calls or earning as much money as you could with the additional exposure that a website offers. When deciding how to market your bail business you need to ask yourself, “How are my clients finding me?” More and more people are turning to the Internet. In 2008, internet search engines overtook print Yellow Pages and White Pages as the first source people turn to for business information. According to TMP Directional Marketing, the first sources that... Read more

E-Mail Etiquette 101: Be Professional!

Don't forget to be professional when you communicate via e-mail. Though e-mail actually predates the internet, modern e-mail really came into existence as a popular means of communication in the mid-1990s with the rise of internet service providers such as AOL.  While many people can no longer imagine life without e-mail, others are just starting to embrace this electronic form of communication.  Whether someone has been using e-mail for 13 days or 13 years, everyone can use a refresher on e-mail etiquette. Sexxyhotmama4ever@isp.com Quite... Read more

Are You Marketing Your Bail Agency Online?

It is important to develop a web presence for your bail agency. When we were first talking about Collateral, we spent a lot of time debating whether or not to do a print magazine or an electronic magazine.  We (obviously) decided to go with a magazine hosted on the Internet. The question you may ask yourself is, what does the internet have to do with the bail industry? The answer is - a lot. The Professional Bail Agents of the United States have recently decided to “go green,” which involves switching to more electronic communication... Read more

Next Page »