See The Yachts

Friday, July 16, 2010

Yacht Insurance

A yacht or boat owner always has to insure the vessel. It is not only one of the basic requirements by the financer, but is also advisable so that the yacht or boat owner doesn’t have to foot huge financial losses owing to boat accident. Hence, as a yacht or boat owner, you should subscribe to a yacht/boat insurance policy that covers most common boating/yachting accident related losses. However yacht or boat insurance policies generally don’t cover wear and tear owing to time and usage, scratches, minor dents and like.

If you own a boat, you might want to opt for an ‘all-risk’ insurance cover as it covers losses occurring owing to most common boating accidents. If you own a larger vessel like a yacht, then a Hull Insurance, True Yacht Policy or Protection and Indemnity insurance is recommended.

In case of Hull Insurance, an amount of coverage is pre-decided and the insured gets the amount in the even of a total loss of the yacht. A True Yacht Policy provides the insured with the replacement cost in the event of partial losses. However a true yacht policy exempts a few parts. Most 3^rd party liability falls under the umbrella of Protection and Indemnity insurance.

The insurance amount can very from person to person and policy to policy. The yardstick to determine the insurance cover amount would be the price you’ll have to shell out to replace the current vessel with one that’s similar in terms of size, features and quality. Some insurance policies cover damages amounting to replacement cost minus the depreciation. Such policies should be steered clear of, since they will not fund you in replacing your boat or yacht in the event it’s totaled. Some insurance policies, especially for larger yachts even cover yachting equipment and tax. Insurance policies may also cover medical payments, personal injury, towing charges, equipment and 3^rd party liability for different amounts.

Some insurance companies offer a ‘lay-up discount’, which means you pay a lesser premium when your boat’s in dry-storage owing to weather conditions prevailing in your area of residence. Also check if your policy dictates who can operate your boat. Sometimes, the policy specifically only covers accidents when the policy holder’s at wheel.

Always check the fine print in the yacht/boat insurance policy so that you know the terms and conditions very well. This is important to ensure that you don’t unknowingly breach them, because in the event of breach the insured stands to lose as the loss would not fall under the scope of the insurance policy. Here’s a list of yacht insurers who are members of the National Marine Bankers Association, to help you get started.

American Modern Insurance Group

The Wave Insurance Services, Inc.

Markel American Insurance Company

Global Marine Insurance Agency

Charter Lakes Marine Insurance Agency

SeeTheYachts.com is the number one portal when it comes to listings of yachts and boats for sale. The yachts and boats listings on the site are quite comprehensive. There are numerous motor yachts, cruiser boats, sailing yachts, luxury yachts and power yachts listed on the site for sale. The site features both, new and pre-owned (used) yachts and boats for sale. With our listings encompassing every kind of yacht and boat—sailing or power, anyone can find the boat that suits their requirements perfectly, on the site.

Not just that, the portal also acts as a stop shop concept for yacht and boat brokers, manufacturers and their sales staff to manage and market their inventory. Beyond a listing portal, it offers the following integrated marketing solutions to showcase sales, including: broadcast email campaigns and tracking, website development, custom print design tools that help create and manage customer relationship management (CRM), and much more.

All these make SeeTheYachts.com, the #1 online listing portal for a prospective yacht or boat buyer, seller and yacht and boat brokerage and manufacturer community.

Friday, July 9, 2010

Tips For First Time Boat Buyers

So, the idea of boating appeals to you and you want to venture into new waters…literally. But, you’re not sure how to go about it. This article tells you what you should consider when buying your first boat. Read on…the hints will come handy when you go boat scouting.

Try out boating: Before you invest in a boat, ask yourself why you are doing so? Is it because you like boating or because ‘Fred has it and he says it’s nice’. Go on a couple of boating trips with ‘Fred’ or whoever owns a boat and make sure you enjoy it. Also, don’t forget your family. Would they enjoy boating as much as you do? Or, if they don’t are you fine with the idea of hitting the water without them? These are some questions that you should answer before purchasing a boat.

Boating costs time & money: Owning a boat doesn’t come cheap. You have to invest considerable money and time into it. Ask yourself, if you are ready for that kind of commitment. Even after you have purchased the boat, you’ll have to spend some amount towards boat maintenance, gas and enhancements. Boating activities also take up quite some time. So, decide if it’s the thing you would want to do on holidays and weekends. There’s no point in buying a boat and leaving it rusting in your garage because you don’t have the resources to use it more often.

Your boating requirements: Give a lot of thought to your boating requirements. Ask questions like:

What are you buying the boat for?
Do you plan to have overnight boating expeditions or would you be just fishing for few hours a day?
How many people are expected to be in the boat; is it your family of 5 or just you and your spouse?
How much storage space would you require?
Where will you be boating mostly? In choppy ocean waters or in smaller, calmer water bodies around your home?

Answering these questions will narrow down your choice of boats, making it easy for you to select the boat that’s right for you.

Research: Do a lot of research before you zero in on a type of boat. Look around the area where you live, which is most probably where you’d be boating. What kinds of boats are mostly used? This will give you an idea of the kind of boat you should be looking to buy. There are a lot websites out there that provide information on boating and boats. They’ll tell you the kind of experiences you are most likely to have as a boater. Whether it’s maintenance or safety, you’ll know what to expect. It pays to read up a bit on these topics before you venture into boating.

Consider buying a used boat: As someone out to discover boating, it is tempting to buy a brand new boat. But it may be wise to dodge that temptation and go in for a used/pre-owned boat. As someone new to boating, you may be subjecting your boat to a couple of dents or scratches. So, it makes more sense to buy a new boat later on, as you become more comfortable with your new role as a boater and go in for a pre-owned boat as a first timer.

Look for a broker: While it may be tempting to respond to advertisements for boats, it is advisable to buy your first boat from a broker. Make sure your broker is credible and reputed. Getting in touch with a broker is not difficult. Many brokers list their boat and yacht inventories online. Visit www.seetheyachts.com to get started!

Tips For Buying A Used Boat

While buying a new boat ensures that you don’t have to worry much about its condition and maintenance costs, buying a used or previously owned boat also has its own advantages. It costs less than new boats and is definitely better for first time owners as they are more prone to cause a dent or two to the boat than experience boaters. Considering these, it’s not a surprise that pre-owned or used boats sell more in the US than new boats. But, buying a used boat means having to pay extra attention at the time of purchase so that you get full value for your money. This article gives you a couple of tips that can help when you are looking to buy a used boat.

Get a Trial: Buying a boat is just like buying any other vehicle. So, make sure you try it out before deciding. Most boat owners give their boats a new coat of paint before putting them up for sale. Just because the boat looks good, doesn’t mean it’s really good. There may be flaws that will come to light only when the boat hits water. So make sure you take a long drive in the boat before setting your heart upon buying it.

Usage: Check the number of hours the boat has had. If the boat has already been used a lot, you are probably better off looking for one that’s not been used as much. Boats that have been used a lot tend to require more maintenance and repairs. Even though such used boats come cheap, you might end up spending a lot trying to keep the boat in good condition. This will not only burn a hole in your pocket, but will also ruin your experience of owning a boat.

Price comparison: Compare prices before you commit to a used boat seller. While it may be tempting to accept the first offer that comes your way, you should curb the temptation and shop around. Check out various newspaper advertisements, visit Boat Shows, and get in touch with reputed Boat Brokers. One of the best places to shop around for used boats is the web. You could also visit www.seetheyachts.com and key in your requirements and hit search. You are bound to find a used boat of your choice from the vast used boats listing on the site.

Marine Survey: More often than not, you will find that you lack the skills to determine the accurate value of the boat or even its quality. Consulting a Marine Surveyor would help in such cases. The basic work of a marine surveyor is to determine if the boat is sea worthy, i.e. if it can withstand the unpredictable weather and water conditions. A marine surveyor would also be able to tell you if the boat is in need of any repair or servicing to maintain it in top condition. A surveyor would also be able to tell you the urgency of those repairs or servicing requirements. Be present when the marine surveyor is surveying the boat. It is recommended that you choose your own marine surveyor and not one recommended by the boat seller. For tips on choosing the right marine surveyor, click here.

Check: Here are some areas that you should take a good look at, before buying that boat:
Propeller—a slight dent in the propeller can cause considerable loss in fuel efficiency
Hull—a well maintained hull increases your boat speed
Fuel tank—check fuel tank to ensure there are no possibilities of leakage
Deck—make sure the deck is not rotten. You can test this by poking it with a sharp object like an ice pick.
Upholstery—check condition of the upholstery. If it’s in too bad a shape, you’ll end up spending there to beautify your boat’s upholstery

Accidents: Ask the seller if the boat has been in any accidents. Ask for any insurance documents or reports that provide information on the intensity of the damage. Chances, every boat would have been involved in a minor accident at some point of time. It could be a simple dent at the time of docking or a major one, but as a prospective owner of the boat, you must be aware of it.

Title: Make sure the title of the boat is clear before you purchase it. You can ask the boat seller for documents confirming the same. Also, check if there’s a loan on the boat. In such cases, sometimes, it’s the lender who has to transfer the title to you.

SeeTheYachts.com is the number one portal when it comes to listings of yachts and boats for sale. The yachts and boats listings on the site are quite comprehensive. There are numerous motor yachts, cruiser boats, sailing yachts, luxury yachts and power yachts listed on the site for sale. The site features both, new and pre-owned (used) yachts and boats for sale. With our listings encompassing every kind of yacht and boat—sailing or power, anyone can find the boat that suits their requirements perfectly, on the site. Not just that, the portal also acts as a stop shop concept for yacht and boat brokers, manufacturers and their sales staff to manage and market their inventory. Beyond a listing portal, it offers the following integrated marketing solutions to showcase sales, including: broadcast email campaigns and tracking, website development, custom print design tools that help create and manage customer relationship management (CRM), and much more. All these make SeeTheYachts.com, the #1 online listing portal for a prospective yacht or boat buyer, seller and yacht and boat brokerage and manufacturer community.

Friday, June 11, 2010

Blogging your way to marketing success

Marketing boats can be tricky. In today’s competitive world, merely placing signs is not sufficient. To stay ahead in the race you have to give up conventional marketing techniques to make way for new ones.

If you’re a yacht broker and if you’re looking for guaranteed visibility in the market, try Blogging. Though considered as the current vogue, blogging is here for keeps. Proactive marketers swear by it and millions are raving about the immense response and attention garnered through blogging.

Blogging has now become a fundamental part of all marketing plan. Improved web traffic followed by new partnerships and contacts has made blogs a favorite among professionals and businessmen alike.

Why blog?

Are you asking yourself “Is blogging for me?” In fact ask yourself “why not?” Blogging is for everyone. People around the world have already jumped on this bandwagon. Imagine having a simple and effective tool to market and communicate your business on a large platform.

Blogs can help take your brand to the next level of worldwide exposure.
Blogging is a creative way of showcasing your business interests. You can simply share your expertise or write descriptive about the latest news in your line of business, promotions etc.
Blogging improves web traffic to your site
Blogging serves the purpose of networking with wider sets of people.
Blogging broadens the chances of you getting recommended to clients.
Blogging is simple and inexpensive

If you’re writing your first blog, then here are a few tips to get you started.

The main idea of a blog is to connect with your target audience. If you are successful grabbing a few eyeballs, then half the battle is won.
Employ a variety of writing technique. Good bloggers engage in techniques which are easier to read and appealing to the eyes of the readers. Neatly list the points rather than essaying it up and never go overboard in formatting your text.
Keep your readers attention engaged by limiting the length of your blog
Keep your title short, simple and easy to understand
Visual representation is great for grabbing instant attention. So be generous in using images.
Include links to useful resources
Proof read your blog content for grammar and spelling before publishing
Give a killer title to your blog

SeeTheYachts.com is a one stop shop concept for yacht and boat brokers, manufacturers and their sales staff to manage and market their inventory. We want to create a simple yet effective online experience to help drive sales and promote you and your brand. Beyond a listing portal, we offer the following integrated marketing solutions to showcase your sales, including: broadcast email campaigns and tracking, website development, custom print design tools that you create and manage customer relationship management (CRM), and much more.

Friday, May 14, 2010

Selling Yachts on Social Media

Social media is an important element in a business’s communication strategy. Marketing on social media not only costs less than other channels, but also provides access to a large number of people. Facebook has around 400 million users, while Twitter has around 75 million and LinkedIn is catching up with over 65 million users. That means social media puts your in direct contact with millions of prospects. Just imagine your new yacht listing being visible to over 400 million people! The kind of exposure offered by social media is incomparable to any other medium. So, now that you are all set to market on social media, here are a few tips that you could use.

1. Add value to your contacts: The purpose of your presence on social is to add value to your contacts. By adding value to your contacts, you can build a strong relationship with them. For example, you know someone in your contacts is planning on investing in a good weekender yacht. You could provide them with tips on what they need to look for when investing in one.

2. Be consistent in your online participation: Once you are into social media, be consistent. Spend a few hours online every day responding to comments/questions you receive. Your contacts on the social networking site should see you as someone who’s genuinely interested in interacting and building a relationship. For example, post at least one interesting article on yachting every week. Upload pictures of new yachts, write a short description and share those with all.

3. Show your expertise: Join forums that are related to the area of your expertise. Provide advice where you can and participate actively. If someone’s asking for good yachting destinations, go ahead and make suggestions. For example, if somebody’s looking for a cruising yacht, tell them you can help.

4. Know your matter: While it’s good to speak about your area of expertise, make sure you present accurate information. If you err or provide wrong information, it would reflect poorly on your company brand as well.

5. Be yourself: Don’t lose your individuality on the web. Social networking is all about creating a real relationship with others and this happens only when you are yourself. Don’t adopt a rehearsed, scripted approach to social media communication. The aim is to build your company brand by forging relationships at personal levels.

6. Monitor: While social media is great because it enhances your visibility, there’s always the risk of a poor comment about you or your brand doing rounds real fast. So, monitor and moderate your social networking pages to know what people are saying about you.

7. Content Syndication: Content creation takes a quite some time and effort. Use it to the maximum by using the content you create for one social media site in another. Make subtle changes to the format and use it to make an impact at different places online. For example, if you have an article that talks about recognizing and reducing noises and vibrations in boating, you can shorten it for a blog post, put some key points into the PowerPoint format and upload on slideshare.

Marketing on Social Media puts you in direct contact with your prospect and offers you the unique advantage of having a two way interaction—something that marketing through other media doesn’t. If used effectively, it can be as much fun as yachting…well almost!

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

10 Tips For Marketing Yachts & Boats Via E-mail

E-mail is one of the most widely used tools in marketing today. It costs less than conventional marketing channels, is extremely flexible and can reach out to large number of prospects. No wonder then, that it’s an extremely handy tool when it comes to yacht marketing as well. But, how do you make your voice heard among so many competitors vying for attention? Here are a few tips that can help you do that.

Know your prospect: Gather information about your prospects, their preferences, likes and dislikes, preferable time for contact and so on. Knowing your prospect allows you to modify your e-mail message to suit prospect preferences. For example, you know a Sam is only looking for yachts built in the last 2 years. You can personalize your e-mails to Sam, so that it doesn’t list yachts that are over 2 years old.

Add value: E-mail marketing is not purely advertising. Successful e-mail marketing requires you to build a relationship with the prospect. Otherwise, they can opt out of your e-mails with the click of a button. Provide something of value to the prospect through your e-mails. It could be an offer for upgrade, interesting articles on yachting or tips related to their areas of interest such as sailing, yachting clubs and so on.

Stay connected: Keep in touch with your prospects regularly. Whether you e-mail them monthly, quarterly or fortnightly, the key is to be consistent. Don’t send an e-mail and disappear for months together and then come back and bombard their inbox with your messages.

From & subject lines: Research shows that a person typically takes 3 seconds to decide whether they’ll skim through an e-mail or delete it. The subject line of your e-mail assumes more importance because of this. Have a crisp, clear subject line that will appeal to the prospect. Avoid using words like ‘Free’, ‘Act Now’, ‘You’ve been selected!’ etc that tend to trigger spam filters. Use of symbols such as dollar sign or exclamation point is also a no-no. Ideally you should state your company name in the ‘From’ field and use a relevant subject line. For example: From: See the Yachts Subject: 15 New Weekender Yachts Listed.

Use of images: A text only e-mail marketing copy can look boring. Cut down on text and add relevant images. When the fate of your e-mail is decided in 3 seconds, you’ve got to make it look appealing! Add photographs of great looking yachts and sailing boats that lend some color and vigor to your e-mail.

Spelling & grammar: Check your e-mail copy for typos and grammatical errors. A message saddled with spelling and grammar errors reflects poorly on your brand and thus defeats the purpose of marketing.

Use short sentences: Keep your sentences short and simple. Don’t write too much just to sound like you know a lot. Come straight to the point and deliver your message clearly.

Easy unsubscribe: Make it easy for your prospects to opt out of your e-mails. By making it easy for your prospects to unsubscribe, the message you are sending across is that you are a company that respects their online privacy and rights. You could of course ask why they are unsubscribing and make a note of it. It would help in deciding if your e-mails need to improve in any particular area. For example, you find that many prospects opting out are citing irrelevant content as the reason. Now you know that either you need to take a second look at your content or your target audience.

Go Viral: There’s nothing more effective than word-of-mouth marketing. Make it easy for your readers to tell their friends about you. In fact, encourage them to do so in your e-mail itself. You could make it more appealing by providing incentives such as a certain amount or percentage off on the next charter if any of their references signed up for your e-mails.

Provide alternate contact information: Tell your readers where else they can find you. Provide links to your website, blog, your page on social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, LinkedIn etc.

Employ these techniques effectively and you are ready to sail in the world of e-mail marketing.