TS Gustav Headed Towards New Orleans

A tropical storm is headed towards the Gulf of Mexico ... and may build into a hurricane before it reaches New Orleans. City leaders there are sounding the warning now ... and it's time for you to use this opportunity to get publicity for your home inventory service business.

My 16-page special report on "Getting Publicity for Your Home Inventory Service Business" includes a hurricane news release. You can purchase for $10 using the link below and the report will be delivered to you immediately. The special report also has information about how to build your media list, what to put in your media kit, ideas for what to write about in your news releases, sections you can target in your local newspaper, 12 timely news release topics, and 20 reasons to send a news release.
http://payloadz.com/go/sip?id=357385

The Power of Public Speaking

One of the most effective ways to promote your home inventory service business is public speaking. I know, I know -- most people would rather do almost anything than get up in front of a group of people and talk, but the type of public speaking I'm talking about is fairly low-key.

What you're looking for is the opportunity to talk for 10-15 minutes about disaster preparedness -- and the ideal group is a homeowner's association's regular meeting. You'll create a basic handout with 5-10 tips for preparing for the types of disasters that are likely in YOUR area. (In Nebraska, where I'm located, that's tornadoes and flooding. In California, it would be earthquakes and wildfires. In Florida, it would be hurricanes.)

One of the tips, of course, is conducting a home inventory. I recommend giving away some information related to this -- for example, a checklist of items that should be included in their home inventory. Believe me -- even if a prospect has a list of what they should do (and these lists are widely available on the Internet), that doesn't mean they are going to do it.

In exchange for speaking to the group, negotiate for a free or reduced cost ad in the organization's newsletter. Hand out a coupon good for a %/$ off the cost of the inventory if they sign up within a specific period of time (30 days?).

How can you get the opportunity to speak to a group? Contact your local city government and see if they maintain a list of local homeowner's organizations.

"Disaster" Closer to Home

This is what's left of the tree in my front yard.

The tree just split in two -- fortunately, it fell away from the house
(although it completely blocked the street).

We've had more than a foot of rain over the last few weeks, weakening the hold the roots have on the ground. When 80-mile-an-hour winds came through, the tree just came out of the ground. This is the view of my backyard from my neighbor's driveway.

Just yesterday, I talked with my insurance agent after receiving my business insurance renewal policy. I wanted to make sure that my coverage was still adequate, since it had been a couple of years since I'd looked at it.

Good thing. A huge, fast-moving storm moved through today, packing 80- to 100-mile-per hour straight-line winds. We lost two of our mature trees in our yard (see photos), although it could have been much worse. Neither tree hit the house -- although the way the wind was blowing in (straight from the west), the one in the back yard should have crashed into the house. Instead, it fell to the south, taking out the fence, but sparing the house.

As I told my husband MANY times today ... it could have been a lot worse.

The damage wasn't significant enough to require a claim, but I've got my updated home inventory ready anyway. When disaster strikes close to home, make sure you're a good example for the public about being prepared.