Never trust a seller – check it out
May 20, 2021by Jerry Bellune An entrepreneur we once worked with was a hard-nosed negotiator. We didn’t like his style but we had to admire the little empire of more than 25…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: advice, business-services, media
How to make business plans that work
May 19, 2021By Jerry Bellune When an angel investor hired us to advise him on a proposed new newspaper, we took the plan to 3 publishers we knew. Each one thought the…
Read MorePosted in: laurenscountybuzz Category: advice, business-services, on-the-move
How to make business plans that work
May 19, 2021By Jerry Bellune When an angel investor hired us to advise him on a proposed new newspaper, we took the plan to 3 publishers we knew. Each one thought the…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: advice, business-services, media
What to do if you can’t afford to pay your taxes, Individual Income Tax returns are due May 17
May 13, 2021The Individual Income Tax due date is fast approaching on Monday, May 17. If you have a tax bill and are worried you can’t pay, the South Carolina Department of…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: advice, government, on-the-move
Learn to spot the signs of elder abuse in South Carolina during Older Americans Month
May 13, 2021By Justin Hawkins, Wells Fargo Bank The 73-year-old woman put her trust in, and handed over her financial resources to, her two supposed caregivers. In return, they stole all of…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: advice, banking-and-finance, on-the-move
We’re Not Out of the Woods Yet! Continuing Safety Measures for Those Vaccinated Against COVID-19
May 11, 2021By Mike DuBose If you’re one of the more than 56% of American adults who has received your first COVID-19 shot, congratulations! You have seen through the misinformation and conspiracy…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: advice, covid-19, on-the-move
Marketing Minute Video: Asking for Feedback
May 10, 2021Marketing Minute with Matthew Gallagher, NP Strategy Asking clients for feedback can be scary if you’re not sure how they will respond. As business professionals, we may assume if a client…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc, laurenscountybuzz Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, on-the-move
Colliers Op-Ed: Three Things Hoteliers Should Start Doing Today
May 6, 2021Some hoteliers hit the pause button in March 2020 with COVID-19’s arrival to wait and see what would happen, but now is the time to set things into motion again.…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: advice, commercial-real-estate, on-the-move, op-ed
Find their needs and fill them
May 5, 2021By Jerry Bellune One of our favorite cities, Charleston, SC, has an inaffordable housing problem. The average cost of a 1-bedroom apartment is $1,223 a month. That may compare…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: advice, marketing-and-communications
Keeping an eye on healthcare insurance changes
May 5, 2021By Guy Furay The last few months have been fairly monumental when it comes to changes in the healthcare industry. As an independent health insurance agency based in the Upstate…
Read MorePosted in: laurenscountybuzz Category: advice, education, on-the-move
At Long Last: South Carolina Passes COVID-19 Liability Immunity
May 5, 2021By Brittany Clark Employment and Labor Law Associate On April 28, 2021, Gov. Henry McMaster signed South Carolina’s COVID-19 Liability Immunity Act into law. The state’s employers will now have…
Read MorePosted in: laurenscountybuzz Category: advice, covid-19, employment, on-the-move
SCDOR busts 10 common tax myths
May 5, 2021Taxes can seem confusing and complicated, leaving room for misconceptions and myths to pop up – especially during tax season. The South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR) wants you to…
Read MorePosted in: laurenscountybuzz Category: accounting, advice, government, on-the-move
At Long Last: South Carolina Passes COVID-19 Liability Immunity
May 4, 2021By Brittany Clark Employment and Labor Law Associate On April 28, 2021, Gov. Henry McMaster signed South Carolina’s COVID-19 Liability Immunity Act into law. The state’s employers will now have…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: advice, law
SCDOR busts 10 common tax myths
May 4, 2021Taxes can seem confusing and complicated, leaving room for misconceptions and myths to pop up – especially during tax season. The South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR) wants you to…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: advice, government, on-the-move
Order of Contributions
April 30, 2021By Corinne Hanna, CFP® Whether you are an employee deciding about your annual benefits at election time or an employer deciding which benefits to offer, make your workplace benefits work…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc, laurenscountybuzz Category: accounting, advice, banking-and-finance, financial-advisors, on-the-move
How to win prospects’ trust
April 29, 2021By Jerry Bellune Successful negotiation will get you what you want if you give prospects what they need, says Walker McKay of No BS Sales. You have equal stature with…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: advice, business-services, marketing-and-communications
Keeping an eye on healthcare insurance changes
April 28, 2021By Guy Furay The last few months have been fairly monumental when it comes to changes in the healthcare industry. As an independent health insurance agency based in the Upstate…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: advice, insurance, on-the-move
Marketing Minute Video: Communicating Your Expertise
April 26, 2021Marketing Minute with Catherine Dingler, NP Strategy Whether you’re an entrepreneur working hard to build your brand or a business owner with tough competition, mastering your work won’t help…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc, laurenscountybuzz Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, non-profit, on-the-move
Become a creative contrarian
April 21, 2021By Jerry Bellune What do Judy Wald, JD Powers and Fred Segal have in common? These 3 highly successful entrepreneurs were contrarians. Contrarians are creative thinkers who turn accepted…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: advice, marketing-and-communications
United Community Bank Offers Families Tips for National Teach Children to Save Day
April 20, 2021United Community Bank is proud to celebrate National Teach Children to Save Day on April 22 to help youth in their communities learn to make smart money choices. Established by…
Read MorePosted in: laurenscountybuzz Category: advice, banking-and-finance, on-the-move
Possible Link between Periodontal Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease?
April 19, 2021Good oral hygiene has always been important but new findings suggest even more reasons to amp up your oral hygiene routine. What is Periodontal Disease? The mouth contains both harmful…
Read MorePosted in: laurenscountybuzz Category: advice, health-care, on-the-move
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…
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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…
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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