marketing a PI business to others

“When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” -Joseph P. Kennedy
It’s tough being a private investigator (PI) during this recession, just as it’s tough for many small business owners. But now’s not the time to get static. Instead, get dynamic. Rather than wait for the phone to ring with a new case (the popular image in movies and books of what PIs do when business is slow), create a list of marketing tasks to attract new clients.
You don’t have the money to advertise? You think marketing means shelling money out of your already stretched finances? Think again. There are numerous free, or relatively cheap, ways to advertise your PI business, some of which are listed below:
Create brochures. There are easy-to-use, free templates on the Internet that you can download (for example, type “brochure templates free” in your browser). Fill the template with content about your skills, background, investigative expertise, memberships, and tools. Add quotes from satisfied clients… Highlight your contact information (name, phone number, website, blog, etc.), then print. For the cost of envelopes and stamps, you can mail brochures, or skip the mailing costs and take them along on cold calls, leaving one with every office you visit.
Write a letter of introduction about your business and services. Easier than making a brochure is simply writing a letter. Write a punchy opening paragraph that tells them why they want your services. Follow up with a brief list of your skills and expertise. Let them know how to reach you. Mail letters or take them along on cold calls.
Make business cards. For little money, you can purchase business card forms at an office supply store. For free, you can download a business card template off the web. Be succinct as space is at a premium. Name your business, contact information, key skills. Carry the business cards with you at all times – hand them out to people you meet, friends, associates, and other contacts.
Update your website. Add new skills you’ve developed, investigative courses you’ve taken, quotes from satisfied clients, new organizations you’ve joined. Write a short article about your area of expertise, the steps you took to successfully complete a case, or a review of a new investigative tool or book. If you don’t have a website, there are Internet sites that offer free websites to their members (in your browser, search for “free websites”).
Advertise online. Check where your competitors are advertising online, then visit the site and check their requirements for listing your business. Many offer free listings to all who register.
Join reputable PI organizations. For a listing of state, international, and miscellaneous PI organizations, check out http://www.irbsearch.com/links_resources.shtml. Not always free, but worth the price of membership.
Start a blog. You can build a free blog through sites such as blogger, WordPress, LiveJournal. Not sure how to build a blog? In your browser, type “How do I create a blog?” and see how many links display!
Write articles. Lucky for you, the Internet is hungry for content. Check out online article sites, study their requirements, and start submitting articles. Write about what you know–for example, a how-to article for an investigative specialization, a list of recommended equipment for a PI office, a checklist for people wanting to hire a PI, etc. Make sure to include contact information in your byline (your website link, blog link, business email address, etc.).
Speak to a group. Offer to speak to an organization on a topic of interest to them. And don’t forget to bring your business cards!
Start an e-newsletter. Easy to do for free on sites like Yahoo! Add a sign-up link on your website and/or blog. There are many Internet articles on how to set up an e-newsletter (for example, type “how to set up an e-newsletter” in your browser).
Join social networking sites. Doesn’t cost anything to sign up on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, and other social networking sites. Post links to your investigative website, blog, articles, etc. Offer investigative tips, insights, resources. These are opportunities to network with other PIs as well as attract new clients.
Broadcast your PI business on YouTube. Use your video camera to film a short piece about an investigative technique, trend, or tool. Add your contact information at the beginning and end of the video so potential clients will know how to reach you. After you download the link to YouTube, share that link on your website, in articles, on your blog, networking sites, etc. Not sure how to structure your video? Check out YouTube for examples of what other PIs have done in theirs.
When the tough times end, and they always do, don’t stop marketing. Continue keeping your business, expertise, and contact information visible by following the suggestions above. Just as the tough get going, they also keep doing.

DateCheck phone app gets the 411 on suitors
Program does varying degrees of legal snooping, but some question its use

A new program for mobile phones, DateCheck by Intelius, does background checks on prospective suitors for a range of fees. Some like the idea, while others think it goes a bit too far.

link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33423647/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/

Infidelity, adultery, cheating, being unfaithful, having an affair...
...whatever you care to call it, is likely to be one of the most painful and devastating things that can happen to you. Not knowing if your spouse is cheating on you or not is equally as painful. Even the prospect of a loved one being unfaithful is painful and extremely disruptive. Each private investigator at Harris Investigations, LLC helps clients like you with this issue every day. We know that you need a private investigator to get you proof so that you can move forward with your life.

What a Private Investigator can do for you...

WHAT CAN AN INVESTIGATOR DO FOR AN ATTORNEY?
A PRESENTATION BY HARRIS INVESTIGATIONS, LLC
Bonded, Licensed and Insured in Pa, De, and NJ
　
I. HIRING AN INVESTIGATOR
II. TRIAL PREPARATION
III. WITNESSES
IV. EVIDENCE
V. RECORDS
VI. SURVEILLANCE / VIDEO / PHOTOGRAPHY
VII. POST TRIAL
　
I. HIRING AN INVESTIGATOR
Request yearly copies of Private Detective License, Bond and Liability Insurance
Verify insurance with their insurance company or request your company be added to their policy
County requirement for Detective License: minimal bond (usually $10,000) – does not cover you should the investigation go wrong or the investigator’s information be incorrect
II. TRIAL PREPARATION
Why should an attorney use an investigator?
Private Investigator vs. Attorney
· More cost effective (charge less)
· Better results
· Do not divulge what side they are working for
· Trained to find existing laws as opposed to people and facts
· Limited time to execute full investigations
· Must divulge which side they are working for
　
Prepare trial exhibits including maps, enlarged photos, diagrams, overlays, jury instructions, etc.
Prepare case chronology
Prepare reports and personal testimony as requested
Prepare alphabetical witness summary with name, address, telephone numbers, and short statement of relationship to the case
Assist with large case management
Pick up and review records pursuant to subpoena duces tecum, court order or signed release

Due Dilliegence

http://www.workoninternet.com/article_28254.html

Pa Court Rules Trademark law too vague

Pennsylvania no longer has a law prohibiting the use of trademarks without permission, as the highest court in the commonwealth declared the Trademark Counterfeiting Statute unconstitutional last Monday.Two Centre County cases were factored into the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's 4-3 decision, which said the law was too vague and breached First Amendment rights.In one case, police arrested a man in May 2007 after finding boxes of counterfeit Nike shoes in his car during a speeding stop. The other case involved a man selling hats with the Penn State logo near Beaver Stadium in 2008.Defense attorney Karen Muir, who defended the man police said had counterfeit shoes, said the law was too vague and could apply to the smallest of things.Muir said she and Centre County Public Defender Sean McGraw appealed their cases to the Supreme Court in 2008, after Centre County Judge Thomas King Kistler said the law was too vague -- and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court agreed. "We are pleased that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld Judge Kistler's decision," Muir said. "Kistler was saying the statue was unconstitutional, so no one should be charged or convicted."Justice Max Baer wrote that the law was unconstitutionally vague and overbroad, applying to constitutionally protected activity such as writing the words "Penn State" on a political sign.Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Aaron Tiracorda said he's been involved with six to 12 incidents in the past nine years involving trademark laws."It's no longer a crime," Tiracorda said. "As far as I'm concerned, there is nothing we can do because there is no legislation against it."Tiracorda said most of the cases he's encountered have been along Interstate 80 with items coming from New York. Many suspects are found transporting counterfeit Nike shoes, various brand-name clothing and Louis Vuitton handbags."We're trained to identify it along the roadside," he said. "And once we encounter it, we have to photograph the items and send it to different companies to authenticate it for court purposes."Centre County District Attorney Michael Madeira said no arrests will be made under the nullified law, but local and federal copyright laws still exist and could be applied in certain areas, including Beaver Stadium and across state lines. Penn State Police Deputy Director Tyrone Parham said his department is prohibited from charging anyone under the stricken law, and they haven't since the Supreme Court appeal.In a statement released on Penn State Live, the university said the high court's ruling will not affect Penn State's ownership of its trademarks. Individuals and businesses still have to obtain approval from the university to use Penn State's trademarks, according to the statement.Muir said she doesn't know how future cases will be handled, but she credits McGraw for the change in state law."Sean McGraw paved the way for these arguments," Muir said.

If you have an I Phone!!

http://tinyurl.com/qw2pweYou might want to look at some of those apps your bought!

Back from Continuing Education Classes

Not all PI's take these sort of thing, but we at Harris Investigations, take them in several states. We just took two days worth in Carlisle, Pa and we learned alot . We are expanding our company as well. We have offices in Pa, NJ, and De. Yes ACTUAL offices, tho PO boxes are listed on the websites.

We are available for presentations (What a Private Investigator Can do for an Attorney/Paralegal/Claim rep) and available to talk about many other things.

We hope to hear from you soon.. POST SOME QUESTIONS!!

Harris Investigations, LLC
1-888-484-9827

top 7 ways to prevent identify theft

1. Do not carry your Social Security number in your wallet or purse. If your social security number is listed on your driver’s license, health insurance card, or checkbook, request to have it reissued with the sensitive information removed.

2. Make a list of all your credit card account numbers and bank account numbers with customer service phone numbers, and keep it in a safe place. An easy way to do this is to photocopy or scan the front and back of all the contents of your wallet regularly. This will make it easier to contact the creditors in case of theft or loss, as well as replace items such as your health insurance card and driver’s license.

3. Review your credit report annually and correct any mistakes promptly. Credit reports are available for free from http://www.annualcreditreport.com/. This central site allows you to request a free credit file disclosure, commonly called a credit report, once every 12 months from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. At no time should you have to enter a credit card number or provide other type of payment for these services. What I do is to request one credit report from each bureau every four months. The information is fairly common so there’s no need for you to get all three reports at the same time.

4. Password protect your PDA’s, laptops, etc. Safeguard these items as you would your wallet or purse. Although, those passwords can be broken by a skilled hacker, you will want to at least have a deterrent in place for that petty thief.
Memorize your Social Security number, passwords, and PIN numbers. If you must write them down, do not carry them with you. For good tips on choosing a password read this article on: How to pick a good password.

5. Clean out your wallet or purse frequently. Do not carry around your social security card, birth certificate, or passport unless absolutely necessary. Remove receipts or statements with your account numbers on them, then shred or file as appropriate.
Shred your old statements and other sensitive documents. Invest in a cross-cut or confetti type shredder. Destroy anything with personal information that can be used in identity theft, such as account numbers, social security numbers, pre-approved credit applications, cash advance checks, etc.

6. Keep your phone number and address unlisted. Pay the additional fees, if necessary.
Remove rarely used credit cards from your wallet or purse. Cancel any credit cards that you no longer need. Make sure your credit report reflects the account closures.

7. Be wary of anyone who tries to solicit sensitive information from you over the phone. If they claim to be from a company you do business with, they should already have your account number, address, etc. on record. You should never be asked for your password or PIN. If you are suspicious, ask the caller for a number they can be reached, and compare it to the information in your records.

If you have a blackberry you MUST read the article

http://tinyurl.com/yc8rqbb

daily PI news updates

Want the best place to find updates relative to the PI world?

http://feeds.feedburner.com/PINewswire

Its an excellent place to start!

What a Private Investigator can do for you...

Whether is follow a cheating spouse, checking up on your employees, pre employment background checks or mystery shopping, Private Investigators can assist you in many ways. At Harris Investigatoins, LLC we are a full service agency. We can do all of the above things and many many more. We offer armed and unarmed security (only in the State of Pa). Sweeps of your office, voice stress analysis (differnt than polygraph but as effective if not better, surveillance, skiptracing, DMV work, processs service and MUCH MUCH MORE.

Most of our clients are Major Law Firms nationwide (references on our website harrisinvestigations.net), and Insurance Companies. Believe it or not, we also do alot of work for other private investigators, nationwide.

We are a family owned and operated company, with most of our employees family members.

We are Small enough to care yet Large enough to serve.

Give us a try.. toll free 888-484-9827

We have licenses to operate in Pa, De and NJ.. With 4 offices to suit your needs!

Private Investigations-What we do

Private detectives and investigators assist individuals, businesses, and attorneys by finding and analyzing information. They connect small clues to solve mysteries or to uncover facts about legal, financial, or personal matters. Private detectives and investigators offer many services, including executive, corporate, and celebrity protection; pre-employment verification; and individual background profiles. Some investigate computer crimes, such as identity theft, harassing e-mails, and illegal downloading of copyrighted material. They also provide assistance in criminal and civil liability cases, insurance claims and fraud, child custody and protection cases, missing persons cases, and premarital screening. They are sometimes hired to investigate individuals to prove or disprove infidelity.
Private detectives and investigators have many methods to choose from when determining the facts in a case. Much of their work is done using a computer, recovering deleted e-mails and documents, for example. They may also perform computer database searches or work with someone who does. Computers allow investigators to quickly obtain huge amounts of information such as a subject’s prior arrests, convictions, and civil legal judgments; telephone numbers; motor vehicle registrations; association and club memberships; and even photographs.
Detectives and investigators also perform various other types of surveillance or searches. To verify facts, such as an individual’s income or place of employment, they may make phone calls or visit a subject’s workplace. In other cases, especially those involving missing persons and background checks, investigators interview people to gather as much information as possible about an individual. Sometimes investigators go undercover, pretending to be someone else to get information or to observe a subject inconspicuously.
Most detectives and investigators are trained to perform physical surveillance, which may be high-tech or low-tech. They may observe a site, such as the home of a subject, from an inconspicuous location or a vehicle. Using photographic and video cameras, binoculars, and cell phones, detectives often use surveillance to gather information on an individual; this can be quite time consuming.
The duties of private detectives and investigators depend on the needs of their clients. In cases that involve fraudulent workers’ compensation claims, for example, investigators may carry out long-term covert observation of a person suspected of fraud. If an investigator observes him or her performing an activity that contradicts injuries stated in a worker’s compensation claim, the investigator would take video or still photographs to document the activity and report it to the client.
Detectives and investigators must be mindful of the law when conducting investigations. They keep up with Federal, State, and local legislation, such as privacy laws and other legal issues affecting their work. The legality of certain methods may be unclear, and investigators and detectives must make judgment calls when deciding how to pursue a case. They must also know how to collect evidence properly so that they do not compromise its admissibility in court.
Private detectives and investigators often specialize. Those who focus on intellectual property theft, for example, investigate and document acts of piracy, help clients stop illegal activity, and provide intelligence for prosecution and civil action. Other investigators specialize in developing financial profiles and asset searches. Their reports reflect information gathered through interviews, investigation and surveillance, and research, including review of public documents.
Computer forensic investigators specialize in recovering, analyzing, and presenting data from computers for use in investigations or as evidence. They determine the details of intrusions into computer systems, recover data from encrypted or erased files, and recover e-mails and deleted passwords.
Legal investigators assist in preparing criminal defenses, locating witnesses, serving legal documents, interviewing police and prospective witnesses, and gathering and reviewing evidence. Legal investigators also may collect information on the parties to the litigation, take photographs, testify in court, and assemble evidence and reports for trials. They often work for law firms or lawyers.
Corporate investigators conduct internal and external investigations for corporations. In internal investigations, they may investigate drug use in the workplace, ensure that expense accounts are not abused, or determine whether employees are stealing merchandise or information. External investigations attempt to thwart criminal schemes from outside the corporation, such as fraudulent billing by a supplier.
Financial investigators may be hired to develop confidential financial profiles of individuals or companies that are prospective parties to large financial transactions. These investigators often are certified public accountants (CPAs) who work closely with investment bankers and other accountants. They might also search for assets in order to recover damages awarded by a court in fraud or theft cases.
Detectives who work for retail stores or hotels are responsible for controlling losses and protecting assets. Store detectives, also known as loss prevention agents, safeguard the assets of retail stores by apprehending anyone attempting to steal merchandise or destroy store property. They prevent theft by shoplifters, vendor representatives, delivery personnel and even store employees. Store detectives also conduct periodic inspections of stock areas, dressing rooms, and restrooms, and sometimes assist in opening and closing the store. They may prepare loss prevention and security reports for management and testify in court against people they apprehend. Hotel detectives protect guests of the establishment from theft of their belongings and preserve order in hotel restaurants and bars. They also may keep undesirable individuals, such as known thieves, off the premises.
Work environment. Many detectives and investigators spend time away from their offices conducting interviews or doing surveillance, but some work in their office most of the day conducting computer searches and making phone calls. When the investigator is working on a case, the environment might range from plush boardrooms to seedy bars. Store and hotel detectives work in the businesses that they protect.
Investigators generally work alone, but they sometimes work with others during surveillance or when following a subject in order to avoid detection by the subject. Some of the work involves confrontation, so the job can be stressful and dangerous. Some situations call for the investigator to be armed, such as certain bodyguard assignments for corporate or celebrity clients. In most cases, however, a weapon is not necessary because the purpose of the work is gathering information and not law enforcement or criminal apprehension. Owners of investigative agencies have the added stress of having to deal with demanding and sometimes distraught clients.
Private detectives and investigators often work irregular hours because of the need to conduct surveillance and contact people who are not available during normal working hours. Early morning, evening, weekend, and holiday work is common.

Private Investigations

So you want to be a private investigator? First and foremost you have to check your states licensing requirments. YES , you MUST be licensed, bonded and insured to do this work. There are a few states that have exceptions. Check http://www.pimagazine.com/links_Licensing.htm for your specific state. Next, if you are going to do this, you MUST have a client base. Its a proven fact, without a client base you will be out of business in 5 years or less. I have been in this field since 1987. Started my own company with my husband in 2005. We are now licensed in several states. I am licensed in Pa, De and NJ. My husband in Pa and De. We are both notaries in Pa. I am a notary in De.

This business is NOT like you see on 99% of the TV shows. Dont be misconcieved. This is a hard job to do, with some common sense. It can be dangerous. It can be a 24 hour a day 365 day year job, if you want to be sucessfull .

Check out our website for some of our services www.harrisinvestigations.net and check back here for more blog updates!

Service of Process Via Social Media Sites

In an increasing, distrubing and troubling trend, another court has allowed Service of Process using a social networking site. Yesterday an English High Court ruled that a court injunction (order) could be served via Twitter. The Order approving this service method is being called the Blaney’s Blarney Order after the subject matter of the litigation. The law firm representing the plaintiff in this case claims this is the first time an order has ever to be served via Twitter. Not so fast... It may not be the first time Twitter was used to provide notice to a party to a lawsuit. Earlier this year a Dutch antipiracy group brought suit against Pirate Bay (a Swedish company accused of hosting illegal downloads) and provided notice via Facebook and a Twitter account claiming they weren't able to locate the company founders. See tweet below.

It is interesting that many of the same issues process servers deal with in the physical world, exist in the virtual world.
- Can't locate the person to serve
- Get creative in serving the documents
- Claim you weren't served
- Serving the wrong person

What do you think?