Grow! By ERG

  February 24, 2020

Grow! by ERG has brought together a team of marketing mavens from across the U.S. with 20+ years of experience. This team is fueled by providing small businesses with the…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: marketing-and-communications

New digital marketing agency in Columbia

  February 24, 2020

Grow! By ERG is now open and providing clients with digital marketing services. Grow! by ERG has brought together a team of marketing mavens from across the U.S. with 20+…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: headlines, marketing-and-communications, on-the-move

Local FASTSIGNS recognized among top-performing centers nationwide

  February 19, 2020

FASTSIGNS® of Columbia-Harbison Blvd., a local sign and visual graphics provider, was recognized as a top-performing center at the 2020 FASTSIGNS International Convention held in Phoenix, Arizona. Owned by Gerry…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: manufacturing, marketing-and-communications, on-the-move

Your book can change your life

  February 19, 2020
Jerry Bellune

By Jerry Bellune   Could writing and publishing your book take your success in life to a higher level? It has in mine. 15 years ago, I was struggling to…

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

Your advantage is always in jeopardy

  February 12, 2020
Jerry Bellune

By Jerry Bellune   You don’t have to be a football fan to appreciate 3 lessons from the Super Bowl. You may recall the year the Atlanta Falcons ran all…

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

Shawn Skillman joins communications team at Flock and Rally

  February 12, 2020

Flock and Rally, the women-owned integrated communications and marketing firm based in Columbia, South Carolina, celebrates the addition of accomplished public relations professional Shawn Skillman to its team as a…

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

Don’t ruin your reputation online

  February 5, 2020
Jerry Bellune

By Katie Ritchie and Jerry Bellune   Business owners know the importance of a strong online presence, says our ace Tech Talk columnist Katie Ritchie. Even if you don’t sell…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, technology

Swanson featured in Facility Management Magazine cover story

  February 3, 2020

 Cheryl Swanson, vice president and general manager of the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center (CMCC), is featured in the cover story of the January/February issue of the International Association of Venue…

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

Give customers memorable experiences

  January 29, 2020
Jerry Bellune

by Jerry Bellune   Here’s a competitive strategy: Create memorable experiences your customers can share with friends and have everyone talking about you and your products. The Wall Street Journal…

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

Beware new package delivery scam

  January 29, 2020

By Katie Ritchie   Are you expecting a package? If you get a text on your phone asking to set delivery preferences, you’ve been targeted by a new scam. Here’s…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, technology

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

Two former journalists join NP Strategy

  January 24, 2020

  Kara Gormley Meador and Casey Watson Expand NPS+ Client Services NP Strategy adds more than two decades of journalism experience to the strategic communication firm’s bench with the addition…

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

The results of being an extra miler

  January 22, 2020
Jerry Bellune

By Jerry Bellune   You don’t have to be a sports fan to appreciate this story and the important business lesson you will discover in it. Joe Burrow transferred from…

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

Your 2020 whats, hows and whys

  January 15, 2020
Jerry Bellune

By Jerry Bellune   We met with our Congressman earlier this month to talk about his 2020 agenda. He is a busy man whose district covers a lot of territory…

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

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

Do you have a future on YouTube?

  January 8, 2020
Jerry Bellune

By Jerry Bellune   What can you learn from an 8-year-old entrepreneur? How to sell lemonade? It’s far simpler than that. What has made Ryan Kaji highly successful is that…

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

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

Develop your own millionaire habits

  January 2, 2020
Jerry Bellune

By Jerry Bellune   Thomas C. Corley spent 5 years studying wealthy people. He found that they practice many of the same daily habits, such as reading, exercising, sleeping at…

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

Giving becomes enlightened self-interest

  December 26, 2019
Jerry Bellune

By Jerry Bellune   Last week, 15 local authors and 5 of us from our publishing company gathered at the library to autograph books. These books make unique gifts because…

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

How to beat the Grinch in 2020

  December 26, 2019
Jerry Bellune

By Jerry Bellune   How do you get the Grinch to go away? Think about where you want to go, what you want to do and write it down, advises…

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

Governor McMaster appoints Richard Cohn, Sr. as Chair of SCETV

  December 19, 2019

Governor Henry McMaster has announced that Richard Cohn, Chairman of Cohn Corporation, will serve as the Chair of South Carolina Educational Television Commission (SCETV). As Chair of SCETV Commission, Rick…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: government, headlines, marketing-and-communications, media, non-profit, on-the-move

SCPRSA announces 2020 Board of Directors

  December 16, 2019

Professionals from across SC to lead state’s largest organization for PR practitioners The members of the South Carolina chapter of the Public Relations Society of America recently appointed the organization’s…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: 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

Want to be the low price leader?

  December 11, 2019

By Jerry Bellune   No, you don’t. Leave that to Walmart. Our friend Ruth King tells the story about Chuck the auto mechanic and Charles the Master Jaguar Craftsman. Chuck’s…

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

How to earn your prospects’ trust

  December 4, 2019

By Katie Ritchie   Occasionally you may have to cold call. It’s no fun, but there are ways to get in the door. Here are 2 suggested by so-called experts…

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

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

Have you planned your exit strategy?

  December 2, 2019
Jerry Bellune

By Jerry Bellune   This time of year many of us have much to be thankful for. And those of us who have been at it many years are starting…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: advice, business-services, marketing-and-communications

4 magic words to deal with fear

  November 25, 2019
Jerry Bellune

By Jerry Bellune   Physicist Albert Einstein said that to solve problems we’ve never dealt with before we must develop a new way of thinking about the problems and our…

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

Flock and Rally earns three IABC/SC Palmetto Awards of Excellence

  November 25, 2019

Creative agency honored for brand communication and advertising Flock and Rally, the women-owned integrated communications and marketing firm based in Columbia, S.C., was honored with three 2019 Palmetto Awards of…

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

Flock and Rally earns three IABC/SC Palmetto Awards of Excellence

  November 22, 2019

Creative agency honored for brand communication and advertising Flock and Rally, the women-owned integrated communications and marketing firm based in Columbia, S.C., was honored with three 2019 Palmetto Awards of…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: marketing-and-communications, 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

The 20% rule of costs and returns

  November 13, 2019
Jerry Bellune

By Jerry Bellune   A friend called the other day to pick our brains. He wants to start a small weekly newspaper in his community and wanted to know what…

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

Your 3 best connecting strategies

  November 6, 2019
Jerry Bellune

By Jerry Bellune   MaryEllen Tribby believes “connecting” is a better word than “networking.” Her 3 best connecting strategies are: 1. Cultivate relationships. Project an image of warmth, approachability, understanding,…

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

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

Never forget the Scouts’ motto

  October 30, 2019
Jerry Bellune

By Jerry Bellune   Were you a Scout as a kid? If so, you will remember that famous motto – “Be prepared.” It’s not just for when you were young.…

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

Five things your graphic designer wants to tell you

  October 28, 2019

  By Stephanie Heikkila Holman NP Strategy   Working with a designer to bring your business or organization’s vision to life should be an exciting and creatively fulfilling experience. Based…

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

Can your business pass this financial test?

  October 23, 2019
Jerry Bellune

By Jerry Bellune   Our friend Ruth King says financial statements are our scorecard. We need them on time to properly price our offers, make good decisions to earn a…

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

South Carolina ETV announces changes to staff structure

  October 21, 2019

Assistant general manager and director of Digital Strategies positions created South Carolina ETV (SCETV) announced a slight restructuring and the creation of two new positions – assistant general manager and…

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

MPA Strategies’ Leah Johnson awarded national education certification

  October 16, 2019

The American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA) has appointed Leah Johnson as a Certified Education Administrator (CEA). The ASHA CEA is charged with overseeing the ASHA Approved CE Provider’s continuing education program…

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

Avoid your biggest business nightmare

  October 16, 2019

By Jerry Bellune   Running out of cash can give you hyper-stress and sleepless nights. This happens when you don’t have enough revenue in slow times, haven’t saved enough to…

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

Padgett Communications

  October 14, 2019

Padgett Mozingo, APR of Columbia, SC has nearly 30 years of public relations and communications experience. Before launching Padgett Communications, she was most recently director of communications for Family Connection…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: marketing-and-communications

Improve decisions & your bottom line

  October 9, 2019

By Jerry Bellune   Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie’s top advisers are women – an exception in a male-dominated sport. Lurie says he didn’t set out to hire women but…

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

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