Create loving messages for your customers
April 14, 2021By Jerry Bellune Our friend Bill Edmonds checked into a hotel and found a message in his room. “Sure, life can be messy. That’s why I’m here. Don’t worry…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: advice, marketing-and-communications
Ads that ring your cash register
April 14, 2021By Jerry Bellune Bob Bly and I are direct response apostles. It’s the best way to advertise. Bob says if we embrace direct response ads in print and online, the…
Read MorePosted in: laurenscountybuzz Category: advice, business-services, on-the-move
Marketing Minute: Crisis Communication
April 12, 2021Marketing Minute with Jean Cecil Frick, NP Strategy Communication isn’t always as simple as it sounds, especially if the information you’re sharing is sensitive, or even controversial. Knowing your audience…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, on-the-move
Outplacement and Career Transition Benefits Promote the Bottom Line
April 12, 2021By Gene Mills Gallivan, MS Whether you call it reorganization, right-sizing, termination, downsizing, layoff, reorganization or restructuring, turnover is daunting for both the organization and the individuals involved. In today’s…
Read MorePosted in: laurenscountybuzz Category: advice, on-the-move
Ads that ring your cash register
April 8, 2021By Jerry Bellune Bob Bly and I are direct response apostles. It’s the best way to advertise. Bob says if we embrace direct response ads in print and online, the…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: advice, marketing-and-communications
Outplacement and Career Transition Benefits Promote the Bottom Line
April 7, 2021By Gene Mills Gallivan, MS Whether you call it reorganization, right-sizing, termination, downsizing, layoff, reorganization or restructuring, turnover is daunting for both the organization and the individuals involved. In today’s…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: advice, employment, on-the-move
Reading, Writing… and Financial Literacy
April 5, 2021By South Carolina Treasurer Curtis Loftis Where did you learn about personal finance? Did a patient parent explain the difference between spending for what you need versus what you want?…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc, laurenscountybuzz Category: advice, education, on-the-move
Why ads should appeal to our emotions
March 31, 2021By Jerry Bellune Consumers rarely buy on the facts. Even the most analytically minded. They buy with emotion and justify it with logic. Think about your last purchase, why…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: advice, marketing-and-communications
How to Think About Insuring that Second Home
March 30, 2021By Molly A. Thomas, FPQP™ Many people dream of a second home—a place to go for some rest and relaxation, a place to call your own, a place for family…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc, laurenscountybuzz Category: advice, banking-and-finance, financial-advisors, insurance, on-the-move, residential-real-estate
Marketing Minute: Responding to Controversy in the Media
March 30, 2021When damaging information about your organization is publicized, your credibility matters. NP Strategy’s Vice President Jean Cecil Frick shares tips on responding to controversy in the media.
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, on-the-move
How to deal with difficult decisions
March 24, 2021By Jerry Bellune All of us must make many decisions each day in business and in life. Most of them are relatively easy and we make them. Even if they…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: advice, marketing-and-communications
Suffering and perspective
March 18, 2021By Jeff Becraft Suffering has a way of shifting our perspective. Whether it be an illness, a death of a loved one, a disappointment or whatever it is. Often times,…
Read MorePosted in: laurenscountybuzz Category: advice, on-the-move
Who can you help today?
March 17, 2021By Jerry Bellune A local banker and his wife were among the most successful couples in our town. Each morning, they prayed for guidance about who they might help…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: advice, marketing-and-communications
Be Distinct or Become Extinct
March 15, 2021By Ken Gasque Tom Peters said “distinct…or extinct” in his book The Brand You. He was talking about personal branding, but the same tactics apply to businesses. If your product/service…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: advice, marketing-and-communications
Become your customers’ best friend
March 11, 2021By Jerry Bellune Tiffany Wright operates a small business bookkeeping service in our county. She believes in building a close, personal relationship with each client to better understand and…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: advice, marketing-and-communications
Retain your loyal customers for life
March 4, 2021By Jerry Bellune When loyal customers’ friends ask who they use for what you offer, they not only mention your name but tell them about something special you did for…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: advice, marketing-and-communications
Effectively Increasing Your Engagement on Social Media
March 2, 2021By Joshua Simelton Strategic Communications Specialist, NP Strategy For companies with an online presence, there are several ways of executing a successful social media strategy. In this article, we’re going…
Read MorePosted in: laurenscountybuzz Category: advice, business-services, on-the-move
Effectively Increasing Your Engagement on Social Media
March 2, 2021By Joshua Simelton Strategic Communications Specialist, NP Strategy For companies with an online presence, there are several ways of executing a successful social media strategy. In this article, we’re going…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: advice, marketing-and-communications
What is your most important branding tool?
March 1, 2021By Ken Gasque Your logo, if you do it right. However, your logo is not a brand, but there is no brand without a logo. The Starbucks logo is…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: advice, business-services, marketing-and-communications, on-the-move
Business Trends to Watch in 2021: Adapting to the New Normal
March 1, 2021By Brian T. King Founder and President of A M King The events of 2020 reshaped business significantly. The changes we experienced did not occur in ripples, but more…
Read MorePosted in: laurenscountybuzz Category: advice, business-services, on-the-move
Business Trends to Watch in 2021: Adapting to the New Normal
February 25, 2021By Brian T. King Founder and President of A M King The events of 2020 reshaped business significantly. The changes we experienced did not occur in ripples, but more…
Read MorePosted in: upstatebizsc Category: advice, construction, op-ed
Trouble Sleeping? Wear Socks to Bed
February 24, 2021The struggle is real. Millions of people have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. Sleep is a vital part of our life and much needed to stay healthy and be…
Read MorePosted in: laurenscountybuzz Category: advice, health-care, on-the-move
Avoid becoming a public disgrace
February 24, 2021By Jerry Bellune Every business owner, manager, entrepreneur or politician should learn a critical lesson from NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s cover-up of his fatal nursing home blunder. By sending…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: advice, marketing-and-communications
Whom Should I Select to Serve as Trustee?
February 24, 2021By Jonathan J. Robertson, CFP® When people are updating their estate documents, they frequently leave assets in trust for someone else. The key concept behind the idea of a trust…
Read MorePosted in: laurenscountybuzz Category: accounting, advice, financial-advisors, law, on-the-move
Whom Should I Select to Serve as Trustee?
February 22, 2021By Jonathan J. Robertson, CFP® When people are updating their estate documents, they frequently leave assets in trust for someone else. The key concept behind the idea of a trust…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: advice, banking-and-finance, law, on-the-move
Your abominable No-Man
February 17, 2021By Jerry Bellune When it comes big bucks CEOs, you could not pick a pair more different than Angelo Mozilo and Warren Buffett. Angelo founded Countrywide Financial, a giant…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: advice, marketing-and-communications
Periodontal Disease and COVID-19?
February 17, 2021What is Periodontal Disease? You may have heard the term “periodontal disease” or “gum disease” at your dental office before. Periodontal disease is defined as serious infection and inflammation of…
Read MorePosted in: laurenscountybuzz Category: advice, health-care, on-the-move
A lifetime of lessons in stakeholder management
February 15, 2021By Amanda Loveday NP Strategy I recently celebrated five years at NP Strategy. Since I began as the first full-time employee, we’ve built an incredible group of 25 individuals…
Read MorePosted in: laurenscountybuzz Category: advice, on-the-move
A lifetime of lessons in stakeholder management
February 15, 2021By Amanda Loveday NP Strategy I recently celebrated five years at NP Strategy. Since I began as the first full-time employee, we’ve built an incredible group of 25 individuals…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: advice, marketing-and-communications
The Value of Going the Extra Mile
February 4, 2021By Michelle Legaspi NP Strategy For businesses, success can look like many things: bottom-line revenue; year-over-year growth, etc. Though, not all success is as easily defined as a metric…
Read MorePosted in: laurenscountybuzz Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, on-the-move
How to attract your Ideal Customers
February 4, 2021By Jerry Bellune Knowing your Ideal Customer is critical to attracting and retaining them. Our friend Bill Edmonds advises you to narrow your research to better understanding of your…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, on-the-move
The Value of Going the Extra Mile
February 2, 2021By Michelle Legaspi NP Strategy For businesses, success can look like many things: bottom-line revenue; year-over-year growth, etc. Though, not all success is as easily defined as a metric…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, on-the-move
Gain new customers without costs
January 28, 2021By Jerry Bellune Russell Brunson started his 1st business while in college. Now he owns 3 online businesses and probably will start several more. That’s what entrepreneurs do. Russell…
Read MorePosted in: laurenscountybuzz Category: advice, business-services, marketing-and-communications, on-the-move
Gain new customers without costs
January 27, 2021By Jerry Bellune Russell Brunson started his 1st business while in college. Now he owns 3 online businesses and probably will start several more. That’s what entrepreneurs do. Russell…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: advice, marketing-and-communications
What we can learn from Walt Disney
January 20, 2021By Jerry Bellune When you think of being visionary, compare your vision with Walt Disney’s vision for Disneyland 65 years ago: “Physically, Disneyland is to be a small world…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: advice, marketing-and-communications
Using SEO to Improve your Website Strategy
January 19, 2021By Jill Baker NP Strategy Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of increasing both the quantity and quality of traffic to your website through search engines. SEO impacts…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: advice, marketing-and-communications
Holy Halitosis, BATMAN!!!! Got mask breath???
January 14, 2021As we continue to wear masks as part of the COVID-19 safety protocols, you may have had some moments of “mask breath.” Yeah, be honest, you know you have had…
Read MorePosted in: laurenscountybuzz Category: advice, health-care, on-the-move
Leave no money on the table
January 13, 2021By Jerry Bellune Whatever happened to Joyce who used to do business with us? No, she didn’t die. She just quit doing business with us. Why? Did we do…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: advice, marketing-and-communications
3 Success Strategies for 2021
January 12, 2021By Jerry Bellune Business owners and managers who survived and thrived in 2020, says our friend Ruth King, used these 3 simple strategies: 1. They paid close attention to…
Read MorePosted in: laurenscountybuzz Category: advice, on-the-move
3 success strategies for 2021
January 6, 2021By Jerry Bellune Business owners and managers who survived and thrived in 2020, says our friend Ruth King, used these 3 simple strategies: 1. They paid close attention to…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: advice, marketing-and-communications
New Year New Plan: How to Use Social Media Insights for updated 2021 Content
January 5, 2021By Jasmine Spencer NP Strategy It’s easy to get complacent when planning your social media content calendar, especially when many events have shifted or been cancelled due to COVID-19.…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: advice, marketing-and-communications
Take Care of Your Dollars in 2021
January 4, 2021By Jerry Bellune A business broker friend congratulated us on our financial management during the 2020 pandemic. He said we did not lose near as much money as many other…
Read MorePosted in: laurenscountybuzz Category: advice, banking-and-finance, on-the-move
Take care of your dollars in 2021
January 4, 2021By Jerry Bellune A business broker friend congratulated us on our financial management during the 2020 pandemic. He said we did not lose near as much money as many…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: advice, marketing-and-communications
Early Christmas gift – make it their idea
December 23, 2020By Jerry Bellune When our friend Mac Toole was serving as a SC lawmaker, he had a wise strategy. He would set out to convince one of the top…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: advice, marketing-and-communications
Looking Back to Plan Ahead: Preparing for Success in 2021
December 22, 2020By Jesica Johnson Mackey NP Strategy Like most people, I’m looking forward to closing the book on 2020. While this year has been full of challenges, disappoints, and fear,…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc, laurenscountybuzz Category: advice, marketing-and-communications
An early Christmas gift parable
December 16, 2020By Jerry Bellune Here’s another early Christmas gift to help you end a dark year on a bright note. The great physicist Albert Einstein spent most of his life…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: advice, marketing-and-communications
Planning for Public Affairs Success
December 8, 2020By Seth Palmer NP Strategy A well-organized public affairs plan is a powerful tool that all organizations need to drive focus to important issues that affect their key audiences.…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: advice
A Health Insurance Program for Medical Professionals – SCMA’s Members’ Insurance Trust
December 8, 2020By William Render Executive Director for the SCMA Members’ Insurance Trust For nearly 40 years, the South Carolina Medical Association Members’ Insurance Trust (SCMA MIT) has been committed to…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: advice, health-care, insurance, on-the-move
Can, and should, employers require that employees be vaccinated for Covid-19?
December 7, 2020By David Dubberly As the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finalizes its review of two COVID-19 vaccines and prepares to authorize them for use, employers are asking if they…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: advice, covid-19, employment, law, on-the-move
How to get high email open rates
December 3, 2020By Jerry Bellune Have you heard marketers or bloggers brag about the high number of addresses on their email lists? A blogger said he had more than 5 million.…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: advice, marketing-and-communications