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

Flock and Rally ~ Featured Listing

  October 4, 2019

Founded in 2010, Flock and Rally is a full-service, women-owned creative agency based in Columbia, South Carolina. The firm integrates branding, public relations, marketing, traditional advertising, digital advertising, social media…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: marketing-and-communications

3 steps to own your digital marketing power

  October 4, 2019
Jerry Bellune

By Jerry Bellune   We see many large and small businesses make these 3 digital marketing mistakes: 1. They have a family member set up a clunky web site that…

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

Tiny ads can pack a powerful punch

  October 2, 2019

By Jerry Bellune   Imagine you are desperate for steady work to get your spouse off your back about feeding your family. Your kids are under-fed and always hungry. Then…

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

Carolina Event Consultants, LLC

  September 27, 2019

Plan: The first step in the plan for your next event should be to work with a professional team to ensure success. Manage: Your association and its members deserve a…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: marketing-and-communications

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

5 questions all business owners must ask

  September 18, 2019
Jerry Bellune

By Jerry Bellune   How do you build a business that rocks? Our friend Ruth King told us that Jim Howard who published her book, The Courage to be Profitable,…

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

Riggs Partners announces 2019 CreateAthon clients

  September 16, 2019

Eight South Carolina nonprofit organizations will be the beneficiaries of pro bono marketing and communication services provided by Riggs Partners during its 22nd annual CreateAthon®. The 24-hour marketing marathon will…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: business-services, marketing-and-communications, non-profit, on-the-move, philanthropy

Are starvation diets a dumb idea?

  September 11, 2019
Jerry Bellune

By Jerry Bellune   Fellow Maverick Entrepreneur Suzanne Riley Whyte asks if you have ever been really hungry. Maybe you’ve gone on one of those diets where you eat almost…

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

Please, make a profit!

  September 9, 2019

By Ken Gasque   Have you heard the news media reporting that Warren Buffett wants to pay more taxes? “Please, raise my taxes.” Legendary investor Warren Buffett said on Monday…

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

You should live large – like your dog

  September 4, 2019
Jerry Bellune

By Jerry Bellune   Ace ad copywriter John Carlton reminds us of an essential truth. To be successful, rich and happy, “we gotta be healthy.” That means taking time every…

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

You’d better make a profit – or else

  August 28, 2019
Jerry Bellune

By Jerry Bellune   Our old boss Don Carter liked to ask job applicants what they thought was the 1st duty of a business. A few got the right answer…

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

Leah Johnson Named Director of Association Management

  August 27, 2019

MPA Strategies has hired Leah Johnson as their Director of Association Management. Johnson, a Certified Association Executive, serves as the Executive Director of the South Carolina Speech Hearing Language Association, a client…

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

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