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A megashift is a basic change in thinking about the
products and services we offer and market to clients. A megashift
in thinking has just occurred. In fact, it's likely the biggest
megashift in thinking to occur in modern American history. September
11th, 2001 has changed everyone's thinking and that thinking
is certainly filtering down to our industry. America has become
aware of the importance of security measures at all levels.
In a way, nothing has changed and in a way everything has. We
have been warned for years that it was just a matter of time
before something like that which happened on September 11th would
take place. But it appears no one was paying much attention.
Now, everyone is paying attention. The perception of American
has changed. Perception of the way things are, is an underlying
driving force behind almost every action taken by every American.
When people change their perception of things in massive numbers,
major megashifts happen. A few years ago when our embassies
were bombed by Al-Quada, the Clinton Administration launched
a cruise missile attack against them. What did America do? It
cried out loud that the Clinton Administration was merely trying
to change the subject away from the Monica Lewiniski scandal.
There was not much support for the military action. All that
changed on September 11th. In light of the fact that America's
perception of security has changed, it's time to rethink the
products and services we offer and how we offer them. Here are
some ideas and concepts to explore as you rethink the products
and services you offer and the way in which you offer and market
them.
Pre-Employment And Background Checks
Prior to September 11th, it was sometimes difficult to get some
business people and professionals to think about background checks.
It was often through of as an added expense that moved the
bottom line of profit. That's all changed. Almost every businessperson
and professional person now understands the vital importance
of background checks in the area of pre-employment and the market
is rip for obtaining new clients. But what are the best types
of clients to go after? It depends on the types of clients you
wish to develop and the type of volume you are looking for but
here are some considerations.
Hotels And Child Care Centers have long been a large market
for pre-employment investigative services. However, they tend
to be quickie criminal records checks and the amounts of per
case charges you can obtain are limited.
Professionals such as law firms and important management positions
for large corporations are willing to pay for more extensive
background investigations. A recent survey revealed that a typical
background check for hotel and child care businesses averaged
less than fifty dollars but a pre-employment background for law
firms averaged two-hundred fifty dollars plus.
There are major nitch areas some investigators have been able
to tap into in the area of background checks. For example, there
are a handful of agencies that do quite well screening domestic
workers such as maids and private childcare providers for the
well-to-do. Other operators have developed pre-employment screening
with basic services tailored to fast food employees and hotel
employees. Although the type of screening investigation in these
areas are very limited and based on a small flat rate fee, massive
volumes of work can be built up as employee turnover is high.
On the other hand, there are agencies that specialize in nothing
but pre-employment background checks on new members of a law
firm. Naturally, these cases are more in-depth background checks
and bring in a much larger amount of revenue per case.
For More Information On Pre-Employment Investigations, see:
Don't
Hire A Crook
Complete Guide To Pre-employment Backgrorund Investigations
Pre-Employment
Investigation For Private Investigators
How To Market Your Services And Conduct The Investigations
Business Background Checks
Business background checks in general are on the rise. America
has developed into an economy that depends on global connections.
Business people throughout America are starting to ask themselves
if they really want to do business with a certain overseas company.
Business people naturally want to make sure that they are dealing
with honest companies and certainly don't want to deal with foreign
concerns that might have ties to terrorists.
For More Information On Business Background Investigations,
see:
How
To Conduct Business Investigations And Competitive Intelligence
Gathering
By Ron Mendell
Countermeasures Sweeps
Countermeasures has been an area of opportunity for the investigative
and the security industry for several decades. In the last twenty
years, it has taken on increasing importance as business and
industry has shifted to information driven businesses.
With the increased level of security in all areas of American
life Americans are rethinking their need for information security.
Now more than ever, business and industry is seeing the vital
importance of protection of information from wiretapping and
eavesdropping.
In the private sector, countermeasures is often divided into
two different categories. There are domestic countermeasures
and corporate/professional countermeasures. Domestic countermeasures
usually involves a search for eavesdropping equipment in a home.
These types of sweeps are rather simple and basic with fees of
five hundred dollars or below. However, the real opportunity
for countermeasures lies in the area of corporate and professional
countermeasures. A complicated sweep of even a small business
typically runs at least several thousand dollars. The difference
between the two are wide as is the equipment and know-how you
need.
For More Information On countermeasures, see:
Books
And Manuals On Connducting Countermeasures
Countermeasures
Gear For Professionals
Bodyguarding And Executive Protection
There isn't any doubt about it. Bodyguarding services and executive
protection services is on the rise. It's important to understand
the context in which the lives of the rich and famous now operate.
They now understand that there are people out there that have
verbally claimed that they want to kill Americans. Has that
changed since September 11? No, but what has changed is the awareness
and perception of it.
American citizens who use bodyguard and executive protection
services are rich and famous or involved as high-ranking members
of larger corporations. Those who have not used them in the past
are now looking into it and those who already use such services
are beefing up their own security.
For more information , check out the new selections of books
and manuals on bodyguarding and executive protection:
Bodyguarding
And Executive Protection Training
Security Guard Services
Security guard services of all types are on the rise. We have
all witnessed the failure of airport security since September
11th but airport security is not the only area of opportunity.
Almost everywhere, private security forces are being beefed up.
What seems to be needed is more professional security services
above and beyond that of the typical security guard service.
For more information , check out the new selections of books
and manuals on security guard and sercurity serrvices, go to:
Security
Services And Guard Services Books And Manuals
Video Surveillance Services
Before September 11th, there seemed to be more video surveillance
cameras than people on the plant earth. However, since September
11th, there has been an increase in security awareness and thus
a new level of demand for video surveillance services on all
levels. Some private investigative agencies have developed strong
business in the rental and/or setup and maintained of video camera
systems. This could involve large contracts for office buildings
to someone as simple as renting out one camera systems for private
clients.
For Extensive information on video surveillance technologies
go to:
The
Covert Video Surveillance Shop
Identity Theft
It became worldwide headlines that some of the airplane hijackers
had stolen the identity of a San Antonio doctor of middle-eastern
decent. The doctor was arrested by the FBI for possible ties
to the terrorists. He was later released when it was discovered
that his tie was nothing more than a typical case of identity
theft. This case is just the tip of the iceberg. Identity theft
has become a huge problem and services that learn to specialize
in this area to help people clean up after the ID theft are in
big demand. New laws have been passed in many states but the
nation really needs federal legislation that will make the banks
and credit card companies more responsive to the problem. Is
identity theft more prevalent now than before that day in September?
No it's not but people are more aware of the problem.
For more information on Identity Theft Prevention, see:
From
Victim To Victor- The Identity-Theft Protection And Prevention
Manual
By Mari Frank, Attorney, Author, and Identity-Theft Victim
Metal And Bomb Detection
There is certainly a new level of awareness for metal and bomb
detectors. Although many of us think of metal detectors that
you walk through as well as though portable handheld metal detectors
as something we see in airports. However, concerns and organizations
that never even thought of such security tools before September
11th are now buying them. There is a new portable vibrating
metal detector that can be worn on a police officer or a security
guard belt. There is even one new metal detector in the shop
of a small frame in which a package can be passed through which
is being used by small businesses to check for metal and bombs.
Prior to September 11th, a small business interested in such
a device might have been considered somewhat paranoid but today's
awareness of security has changed all that.
For more information on Metal And Bomb Detection Equipment,
go to:
Metal,
Weapons And Bomb Detection Equipment
Upgrades And Training
Upgrading for new levels of security services of all types has
become something in big demand. America is crying for better-trained
security professionals and those firms who can offer such services,
either in the form of training or in the areas of offering better-qualified
security people should prosper. The age old saying about building
a better mousetrap will drive the world to your door certainly
applies.
For more information on:
NAIS
Certified Courses Click Here
For
Investigastive/Security Training Manuals, Click Here
Overall Approaches
Fine-tuning your services to meet the megashifts in thinking
that has taken place is important. It's important to understand
that the old standard cases such as missing persons and service
of process are not going to disappear. However, an overall approach
to the marketing of your services needs to incorporate the new
levels of security awareness in America. At the same time, you
should think about new areas of services you can offer that would
tie in with the new awareness for security in America.
For more information on books and manuals on marketing your
services, go to:
Marketing
Manuals For Private Investigators
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