School, work, COVID, oh my

  September 15, 2020

By Amanda Loveday NP Strategy   I continue to read stories about the demise of the working mother. Every night I scan my Facebook and Twitter feeds before going to…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, on-the-move

Crisis Management in The Year of the Crisis

  September 1, 2020

By Erin Sanders Senior Communications Advisor with NP Strategy   As a professional crisis manager, I help organizations prepare for and avoid a variety of crisis situations. Despite all of…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: advice, marketing-and-communications

Tax tips for emergency preparedness: securing your tax records

  August 18, 2020

With the height of South Carolina’s hurricane season approaching, the South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR) offers tips to help you keep your tax records safe in the event of…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc, laurenscountybuzz   Category: advice, government, on-the-move

Internal Communication Tips during COVID-19

  August 4, 2020

By Jesica Johnson Mackey NP Strategy   Effective and regular communication during COVID-19 is a must for any organization. As COVID-19 changes the daily operations of organizations, so should your…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, on-the-move

Charitable Considerations When Selling a Business

  July 30, 2020

By Bethany M. Griffith, CFP®, EA   Running a business is full of decision points, strategy planning, and opportunities. All of these factors remain when it is time to sell…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: accounting, advice, banking-and-finance, on-the-move, philanthropy

Why Stakeholder Engagement Matters

  July 22, 2020
Jean Cecil Frick

By Jean Cecil Frick NP Strategy   I’ve long been a fan of the insights of author Seth Godin. Last week, one of his blog posts spoke to me: I…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, on-the-move

Has COVID-19 Opened the Door to Business Fraud? 

  July 13, 2020

Bauknight, Pietras & Stormer CPA Jessica Kaczor Says “Yes!”   Editor’s Note: I recently sat down, virtually of course, with Jessica Kaczor, a business fraud super sleuth and Certified Fraud…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: accounting, advice, on-the-move

What to Consider in a Buy-Sell Agreement

  June 30, 2020

By Jonathan J. Robertson, CFP® If your business has more than one owner, having a buy-sell agreement in place is vital. A buy-sell agreement is used to determine in advance…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: accounting, advice, banking-and-finance, on-the-move

COVID Positive Employees: How to communicate with stakeholders

  June 23, 2020

By Heather Matthews NP Strategy   If you are a business serving the public you know this all too well: there is no playbook for navigating COVID-19.  You are making…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: advice, marketing-and-communications

Tax tips for newlyweds in South Carolina

  June 16, 2020

While your wedding plans may have changed this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, however you get married carries tax changes you should consider before walking down the aisle. The…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: advice, government, on-the-move

Post COVID-19, What’s Your Social Media Plan?

  June 9, 2020

By Sarah Robinson NP Strategy   After three full months of navigating the coronavirus in the United States, let’s check in on how it has impacted the marketing landscape, and…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, non-profit

Video as an ongoing investment

  May 12, 2020

By Taylor Kearns NP Strategy   The Hollywood film industry runs on a system of expectations, standards and edicts that are probably pretty dissimilar from the work you or your…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: advice, marketing-and-communications

Unemployment Benefits for Furloughed Employees in South Carolina

  May 4, 2020

By Reggie Belcher and Hannah Stetson The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect all aspects of society. For many businesses and employers in South Carolina, the pandemic’s effects have necessitated tough…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: advice, law, on-the-move

Put Empathy Into Action

  April 28, 2020

Leighton Lord Board Chair, Nexsen Pruet Founder and Managing Director, NP Strategy, LLC   Empathy is a key element of emotional intelligence – the connection between self and others. We’re…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, on-the-move

What’s ‘the Buzz’ with SC Business?

  April 14, 2020

By Burnie Maybank Nexsen Pruet   Today’s dominating business buzzwords are a little different than what we might have thought they’d be a few months ago. “Uncertain times;” “a new…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, media

Watching Working Parents – and Learning A Lot

  March 30, 2020

By Sarah Robinson NP Strategy   This ‘new normal’ is unlike anything any of us have ever experienced – forcing us to adjust and evolve our day-to-day routines. As our…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, non-profit, on-the-move

Aging and Eldercare – What’s Your Plan?

  March 27, 2020

By Molly Thomas FPQP® at Abacus Planning Group Benjamin Franklin wisely said, “When you fail to plan you are planning to fail”. Many of us and most of our parents…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: advice, banking-and-finance, business-services, health-care, insurance, on-the-move

After Uncertainty Comes Opportunity

  March 24, 2020

By Bryan Stange Director of Business Development, Mashburn Construction   If you’ve spoken with a real estate developer over this past year, just about every one of them will have…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: advice, construction, on-the-move

You know what the good news is?

  March 23, 2020

By Taylor Kearns NP Strategy   When I was a kid, my mom would ask us that question immediately following what – at the time – seemed like a soul-crushing…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, on-the-move

Effectively Communicating in Uncertain Times

  March 17, 2020

By Heather Matthews NP Strategy   Silence fuels fear in a crisis, especially when the crisis is changing by the day and is something few people have experienced before.  Over…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: advice, headlines, health-care, marketing-and-communications, on-the-move

The Ultimate Gift: A Road Map for Funeral Wishes

  March 9, 2020

By Laird W. Green CFP® from Abacus Planning Group “Facing death with a sense of practicality, equanimity, and clarity is the ultimate gift you can leave your children, friends, and…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: advice, banking-and-finance, on-the-move

Avoid Being the Cobbler with Bad Shoes

  March 3, 2020

By Amanda Loveday NP Strategy   For many of us, our day-to-day activities are dictated by the services we provide to our customers – so much so, that we too…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, non-profit, on-the-move

A Roadmap to Your Savings Journey

  February 24, 2020

By Curtis Loftis South Carolina State Treasurer   Saving money can be like driving a car. Your desired destination may be near or far, the direction you choose might change,…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: advice, banking-and-finance, education, on-the-move

Going the extra mile for clients: A guide

  January 28, 2020
Jean Cecil Frick

  By Jean Cecil Frick NP Strategy   For those of us in the professional services industry, clients are our bread and butter. We are constantly looking for ways to…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, on-the-move

The Importance of Brand Reputation in a Crisis

  January 13, 2020

By Erin Sanders Senior Communications Advisor with NP Strategy   When a crisis hits your organization – and it will – it’s important to have a solid crisis management plan…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, on-the-move

3 Steps to Improve your Public Engagement In 2020

  January 6, 2020

By Jesica Johnson Mackey NP Strategy   2020 is here, and if you haven’t already, now is the time to identify some New Year’s resolutions for your company or organization.…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, on-the-move

5 Tips to Plan your 2020 Social Media Strategy

  December 16, 2019

  By Sarah Robinson NP Strategy   This year has flown by, and as the New Year approaches, so do the deadlines for 2020 planning. If you’re getting started with…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, on-the-move

Business Communications in an Era of Fake News

  December 2, 2019

By Alfred Leach NP Strategy No one knows what to believe anymore. Misinformation, disinformation and propaganda are being shared from an ever-increasing breadth of “fake news” sources (from social media…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, on-the-move

State Treasurer’s Office Works to ‘Serve Those Who Serve’

  November 20, 2019

By South Carolina Treasurer Curtis Loftis   Our nation’s military members know what it means to serve. They are selfless individuals who have committed themselves to safeguarding our country, its…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: advice, government, on-the-move

Making Your Event Stand Out Through Sponsorships

  November 18, 2019

By Emily Eckert NP Strategy   Think back to an event that stuck out in your mind. The one you attended where your mouth dropped open when you walked in,…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, on-the-move

Bipartisanship: in Business and in Politics

  November 4, 2019

By Sam Johnson NP Strategy   Senator John McCain notably stated that “Courage is not the absence of fear, but the capacity to act despite our fears.” He understood that…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, non-profit

Whistleblower Protections and Retaliation Risks

  October 9, 2019

By David Dubberly Whistleblower issues are in the news, mainly because a U.S. intelligence officer recently filed a complaint against President Trump under the Intelligence Community Whistleblower Protection Act (ICWPA). …

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: advice, on-the-move

How to Pitch a Reporter and Be Heard

  October 7, 2019

By Angela Rogers  NP Strategy   Today’s reporters – both print and broadcast – are always on the move. Pivoting from one story to another, preparing a “package” for the…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, on-the-move

Unconventional Excellence

  September 20, 2019

By Heather Matthews NP Strategy   A standing ovation, mixed with enthusiastic cheers and a chorus of “good mornings” welcomed me as I walked in to get my car oil…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: advice, marketing-and-communications

Do you need a videographer?

  August 26, 2019

By Taylor Kearns   Finding the best videography services for your business Ask a barber, and he’ll tell you yes, you need a haircut. Ask a videographer if you need…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: advice, marketing-and-communications

Six Benefits of Stakeholder Engagement

  August 12, 2019
Jean Cecil Frick

By Jean Cecil Frick   Business is about relationships, both good and bad. Successful organizations must be constantly aware of who will help move the organization forward, and those who…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: advice, marketing-and-communications

Breaking the Bad News: How to best deliver tough information

  July 29, 2019

By Sara McCarthy   We receive bad news almost every day. It comes to us indirectly through the news and social media, or directly in emails, letters, phone calls, and…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: advice, marketing-and-communications

Workplace Safety and Summer Heat

  July 10, 2019

By David Dubberly Summer temperatures can create hazards for workers, and employers can be liable for not addressing conditions that could lead to injuries and illnesses, such as heat exhaustion…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: advice, law, on-the-move

It’s a Match: Pairing Your Passions and Career Goals

  July 8, 2019

By Amanda Loveday   The perfect job can be described as the combination of your passion with your potential. Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate enough to work with interesting and…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: advice, marketing-and-communications

Four Common Mistakes When Engaging The Media

  June 17, 2019

By Heather Matthews NP Strategy   In all my years as a journalist, it never failed: 5:50 p.m. and my work phone would ring.  Did the caller not know we…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: advice, marketing-and-communications