Guest Post - Mike McRitchie | Resume and LinkedIn Profile Writer | Telecom Marketing Content Writer

10 Ways You Can Market Like Apple [Infographic]

December 7, 2017 by Guest Post Leave a Comment

Photo credit: telepathicparanoia via Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND

It was a small white boxy thing with a little black and white screen. Hardly bigger than a lunchbox. But it saved me.

Up until that time I’d hammered away at a top speed of 30 words a minute on the electric typewriter. Keeping the correction tape and fluid handy to fix the mistakes I often made. Doing a college paper was a nightmare. I had to draw a line an inch from the bottom of each piece of paper so I didn’t type too far and end up with a mess on the last line of the page.

For many who didn’t grow up with manual typewriters, carbon paper, and lots of painful redo’s, you probably won’t recognize the joy that came in that little white box.

My roommate got it. And it turned things around for me.

I was a computer major at U. C. Davis. It was my first time on my own. Away from family. And school was difficult. And help wasn’t around. Typing papers was slow. Until…

…that little white box.

Yes. It was the first Macintosh Computer.

And it was a Godsend.

What it did for me was help me type of a college paper and even if I made mistakes I could correct them and print out a clean report. No messy mistake-riddled or painstakingly slow redo’s. Just pure word processor joy.

That was the Apply promise. Make it simple, easy and fun. Yes, not having to be at the typewriter for hours on end retyping pages, was fun.

Over the years Apple has evolved. Steve Jobs when from a crazy dictator, to being run out of his own company, to coming back as an evangelist leading an Apple resurgence and a mission that would not be stopped.

Now Apple may seem unique. And it was in many ways. But the marketing approach that Steve made into a juggernaut is available to you.

This graphic (from The Website Group) brings out 10 lessons from Apple. 10 ways you can revamp your marketing approach and get more traction.

And like moving from a typewriter to a computer’s word processor, you too can put your marketing on rocket fuel.

Courtesy of: The Website Group

Drone Insurance: On-Demand [Verifly] Or Annual Policy?

November 24, 2017 by Guest Post Leave a Comment

Photo via Foter.com

The drone industry continues to advance, and while many feel the insurance industry is always a step behind, technology is helping to bridge the gap.

In this article I asked Evan “The Drone Insurance Guy” Garmon to clarify the difference between on-demand and annual insurance policies and when each should be used.

Note that I am not providing insurance advice and you should consult your insurance agent for your specific needs. Evan has specialized in insurance for drone operators and so you should consider him as a resource when trying to sort out your options.

On-demand drone insurance has been available for UAV operators since 2016 and has helped many operations to get started on their dream of owning a business. There are many uses for on-demand drone insurance, but annual policies available for drones still have advantages over the on-demand option.

In this article, we will discuss when an operator/ business owner would be best served with on-demand drone insurance and when an annual drone insurance policy is more appropriate.

How Does Verifly [On-Demand] Work?

First, let us consider that the most popular on-demand drone insurance option, Verifly, does not discriminate between hobby use and commercial use to set up a policy. The coverage area on the application is geographically based, so the underwriting takes into account the risks in the area to calculate the pricing. Commercial operations will have access to more coverage options including flying in restricted airspaces and flights at night, but a hobby pilot and even an operator competing in a drone race can get coverage through the app as of the October 2017 updates.

Hobby Operations

Hobby operations can insure their operations under some annual style policies, but the operator must first pass the Part 107 or hold a current part 61 pilot certificate. The benefit is that the hull coverage can be added to the annual policy if the unit cost more than what the operator is willing to pay out for damage or a replacement unit. Due to current pricing for the annual policies though, most hobby operations should look to their homeowners or renters insurance company for physical damage on their units.

Commercial Operations

Commercial operations have the option of using on-demand insurance or setting up an annual policy. Deciding which option is best for your operation requires a self-assessment. Not all UAV operations are going to be exactly similar, but looking at the guidelines of both the current on-demand option and the annual policy will help to form a path for a UAV business owner to make an informed decision.

Flying outside of the United States?

For some getting into the industry, their work will require them to go abroad to perform work. The country you’ll be operating in will determine whether or not there is an option available for on-demand drone insurance. For operators located in the United States who wish to travel abroad, an annual policy that includes world-wide coverage will be your best option.

Do you require physical damage coverage on your unit or any payload your unit carries?

Drones range in price considerably. For businesses looking to save money, a drone less than $1,000 is very easy to replace. And if it is a unit purchased from a large company like DJI, a warranty plan may be available.

However, as the needs of the client increase, the equipment prices may increase as well. It is much harder for the average drone operation to self-insure a $10,000 UAV with $7,000 of payload. On-demand insurance does not currently offer hull coverage as of the date of this article publication. This is not to say that option won’t be available in the future, but if physical damage coverage is needed, an annual drone insurance policy will be able to provide the physical damage and liability coverage.

Do you live and work in a state that has not approved on-demand coverage or will not approve it for commercial use?

For operations in Minnesota, on-demand insurance is available, but to comply with state statute 360.59: Aircraft Registration And Listing For Taxation, a valid certificate of insurance must be on file with the MN Department of Transpiration Commissioner as there is not a distinction between a UAS and a manned aircraft at this time.

Public safety is one of the main reasons for the requirement as all vehicles and aircraft are required to be insured.

New York is another state that has not approved an on-demand drone insurance policy at the time this article is being published.

The newest state that has restricted on-demand style insurance is North Dakota due to a state statute that has been on the books for more than forty years. Under Chapter 26.1-30-18. Inception and expiration of policies – Inception of hail insurance policies, all insurance policies, except hail insurance policies, are required to go into effect at 12:01 a.m on the day of inception and end at 12:01 a.m when the policy expires.

Are you performing work under a contract or need a permit that requires insurance?

Contracts can vary widely and most up for negotiations. Contracts may have clauses that require aviation insurance policies among other coverages – like commercial general liability, commercial auto, workers compensation, umbrella liability, and possibly professional liability. When a contract calls for these requirements, chances are the client will not accept on-demand coverage and will need an Acord certificate of liability that an independent insurance agent can work up. Permits are very similar and one governing body may require insurance for the duration of the project.

Are You using the UAV for internal operations?

UAV technology can be adopted by many companies and those that are looking to use UAV’s internally may consider on-demand coverage if the general liability policy is not endorsed to cover UAVs. When the flights start to add up to between 60-70 hours a year, the on-demand option may no longer be the most cost effective option. Rates for a $1,000,000 drone liability policy with one UAV have recently dropped to below $700 a year. Businesses looking to integrate drones info their operations, should consult with a licensed insurance agent familiar with UAV exposure.

Which Option Is Best For You?

There are many factors to determine if on-demand insurance for drones will be a good option for your business going forward.

If you are looking to enter the drone business, consider starting out with on-demand to see if you will have the client base in your area to support your business.

On-demand insurance should not be looked at as a long-term option if you plan to grow your business as the costs will add up very quickly.

Buying insurance on-demand is purchasing insurance at retail pricing instead of wholesale pricing. It is affordable if you only plan to use it a few times a year and do not need any other coverage outside of the coverage window.

For More Information Or Insurance Questions For Your Specific Situation

If you have questions about drone insurance or would like to learn more about insuring drone operations, please contact Evan Garmon at Evan@harpenauinsurance.com

Evan Garmon is an Insurance and Risk Management Professional at Harpenau Insurance Agency in Indiana. Since 2015, Evan has specialized with insuring UAS operations across the United States. As a hobby drone pilot himself, Evan loves hearing clients stories and chatting about the latest technology. With a solid team backing him at his agency and partnered insurance carriers, Evan is proud to be a one stop insurance solution for his clients.

Other related posts you might want to check out…

Drone Insurance – What You Need To Know

7 Drone Service Hiring Tips For Residential Real Estate Agents [From Drone Operator-Insiders]

Hot To Get Your First Paid Drone Gig [18 Brief Case Studies]

Drone Insurance – What You Need To Know

November 18, 2017 by Guest Post Leave a Comment

Drone Pilot Drone Insurance What To Know Whether you’re hiring a drone operator for your project or are a drone operator who is asking yourself, “What insurance do I need for my drone business?”, this article will get you pointed down the right path.

I asked “The Drone Insurance Guy”, Evan Garmon, what are the keys you need to know.

Here’s what he said.

What is Drone Insurance and Why is it Necessary?

Drones (otherwise known as UAV’s or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) are here to stay and will change the airspace as we now see it. This innovative technology does not come without risk to the operator and to the general public, hence the reason UAV insurance is now an insurance product.

While operators in much of the United States (except for Minnesota) are not required to have a policy in place to cover commercial operations, it is still wise to have liability coverage.

When contracting a UAV operation whether it be for aerial photography of real estate, marketing purposes, inspection, or any other currently unknown uses, there are a few things to look for when asking for proof of coverage and the insurance certificates of UAV operators.

What Insurance is Needed and How Do You Confirm Needed Coverage Are In Place?

The Form. UAV insurance certificates do not look like the standard Acord 25 form that most see when asking for proof of coverage. UAVs are primarily insured on adapted aircraft policies and have a separate insurance certificate that can apply. The form number is the Acord 21 and will have a summary of the drones insured on the policy.

Confirm Insurance Is Current. If you’re hiring a drone operator you should verify the policy is currently in force by calling the insurance agent on the form and verify the information is accurate and up to date.

Make Sure The Specific Drone Being Used Is Covered. When looking over the aircraft coverage section, ask the operator if they will be using the unit displayed in the box or any of the other units that may be shown on another page of the certificate. An FAA registration number or UAV serial number may be displayed in the box, but make sure that the unit the operator intends to use is the same on the certificate.

$1,000,000 Limit Suggested. UAV policies currently on the market typically cover bodily injury and property damage due to a UAV crashing into a person or property. The most common limit is $1,000,000, but some policies may be written for $500,000. As best practice, Harpenau Insurance Agents do not recommend UAV operators insuring their drones liability for less than $1,000,000 since most contracts require a minimum $1,000,000.

Damage to Drone Coverage Section. Section two of the UAV policy has available coverage for the UAV itself with limits as high as the operator needs. This limit will be displayed in the Aircraft Hull limit box and will vary from unit to unit depending on the value the operator wants to cover their unit at. While not completely relevant for many to verify, it may be an indication of the operators ability to quickly purchase another aircraft in the event of an accident, thus requiring extended time to complete the work until they can either get the funds to replace the downed unit, or go purchase another one.

Other Coverages. Other coverage that may be shown on UAV certificates will be:

Medical payments coverage for small accidents that may require a trip to an urgent care clinic.
Premises liability coverage that will insure that if something happens to someone or their property while the UAV is operating and does not cause the damage, accidents can still be covered.
Personal injury coverage is a misnomer and is actually coverage for lawsuits involving invasion of privacy, libel & slander, and copyright suits. This is an important coverage to make sure the operator has due to the public perception of drones spying on people.

Additional Insured. While many request operators to show only proof of coverage, having specific language in an agreement to be added as an additional insured to the UAV policy is a great risk management practice for contractors of UAV operations to implement. Being added as an additional insured is often no cost to the operators and will make sure that if an accident occurs, you operation will have coverage under their limits as well.

Official Policy vs Insurance Certificates. It is important to note that just because the coverage is on the certificate as well as any special language in the description of operations box, it does not mean the representation is part of the official policy. Certificates of insurance are issued as a matter of fact for information purposes only. If you have questions about the operators coverage, discuss with their insurance agent the coverages they have in place. Some policies will not recognize additional insured status until the agent reports the request to the insurance carrier.

For More Information Or Insurance Questions For Your Specific Situation

Drones are here to stay and will soon be a more common part of life delivering package, recording events, and possibly saving lives with medical device delivery already being tested. If you have questions about drone insurance or would like to learn more about insuring drone operations, please contact Evan Garmon at Evan@harpenauinsurance.com

Other related posts you might want to check out…

7 Drone Service Hiring Tips For Residential Real Estate Agents [From Drone Operator-Insiders]

Hot To Get Your First Paid Drone Gig [18 Brief Case Studies]

Photo credit: Foter.com