Guarantee your advertising will work

  July 31, 2019

By Jerry Bellune   Highly successful retailer R.H. Macy said he suspected half of his advertising didn’t work. He just didn’t know which half. Macy was smarter than that. You…

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

Call for Entries – 2019 Palmetto Awards

  July 31, 2019

The South Carolina chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators is ready to celebrate South Carolina’s best and brightest communicators! If you are a communicator who has created, directed…

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

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

MGA Marketing

  July 25, 2019

From social media to newsletters, community outreach and event planning, your priorities are ours. We offer a unique level of service that is not always found at larger agencies.

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: marketing-and-communications

What are your business’s values?

  July 25, 2019
Jerry Bellune

by Jerry Bellune   Paul Davis believed that for your business to succeed you must always practice your basic values. What are yours? Here are 3 of our values: •…

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

Rank your business on the SWAG Meter

  July 17, 2019
Jerry Bellune

By Jerry Bellune   Last week we talked about you and your business’s SWAG. That’s: S = Self Confidence. Customers trust you because you believe in yourself. W = Wonderment.…

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

Have you and your business got SWAG?

  July 10, 2019
Jerry Bellune

By Jerry Bellune   If you are an entrepreneur or business owner striving to grow your business, you need SWAG. This attracts and keeps customers, says our friend MaryEllen Tribby.…

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

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

Maverick entrepreneurs’ independent lives

  July 7, 2019
Jerry Bellune

By Jerry Bellune   When anyone asks what’s so special about maverick entrepreneurs, we laugh. It’s like asking why your faith is important to you or why it is that…

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

Jean Cecil Frick joins the ranks of Riley Fellows

  June 28, 2019
Jean Cecil Frick

Jean Cecil Frick, a senior strategic advisor with NP Strategy, successfully completed the Spring 2019 Midlands Class of the Riley Institute at Furman’s Diversity Leaders Initiative (DLI), becoming a Riley Fellow.…

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

Your local advertising drives higher sales

  June 27, 2019
Jerry Bellune

By Jerry Bellune   Local advertising is a small business’s best bet to attract customers, say advertising experts Brian and Michelle Mattingly. A simple, targeted approach to advertising will almost…

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

8 questions, millions of answers

  June 19, 2019
Jerry Bellune

By Jerry Bellune   Ken Blanchard, co-author of “The One-Minute Manager,” “Raving Fans” and other books, has a challenge for us. As business owners and community leaders, we need to…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   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

Can Absolut vodka teach us anything?

  June 12, 2019
Jerry Bellune

By Jerry Bellune   Have your products and services become commodities? Are you forced to compete on price, discounts and other concessions? Take a lesson from a former dish washer…

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

SC Restaurant and Lodging Association welcomes new communications manager

  June 11, 2019

The South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association (SCRLA) recently welcomed Lenza Jolley as their new Communications Manager. Jolley will be responsible for developing and implementing strategic communications campaigns to increase…

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

Columbia Metropolitan Airport names advertising agency of record

  June 11, 2019

Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) announced that Sparkloft Media has been named the airport’s advertising agency of record. Sparkloft Media, in partnership with Columbia-based Period Three, will assist the CAE team…

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

How to win the war with your rivals

  June 5, 2019
Jerry Bellune

By Jerry Bellune   Remember what Sun Tzu taught us in his “Art of War” – know your strengths and weaknesses and your competitors’, too. Our competitors are in print,…

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

Are you neglecting your best branding tool?

  June 3, 2019

By Marcia Purday, APR NP Strategy   Companies throughout the nation invest millions (or billions!) in their brands – from research and communication strategies, to analytics and more. But ultimately,…

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

Make it fun to do business with you

  May 29, 2019
Jerry Bellune

By Jerry Bellune   Dian and Gerald Harmon worked hard to make their concrete business successful and sold it for a bundle long before they were ready to retire. They…

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

Social Media and the Need for Brand Standards

  May 23, 2019

By J. Bradley Studemeyer NP Strategy   Small businesses often find themselves in a difficult position with social media marketing: on one hand, many feel like their current revenue streams…

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

How to get prospects to open your emails

  May 15, 2019
Jerry Bellune

by Jerry Bellune   Want to write subject lines that work? Subject lines that prospects will open? You are competing with the 121 other emails most of us receive each…

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

Riggs Partners announces 2019 pro bono marketing marathon for nonprofits

  May 15, 2019

Riggs Partners will hold its 22nd annual CreateAthon event to benefit Midlands- and Upstate-area nonprofits on October 17-18, 2019. CreateAthon is a 24-hour creative marathon during which professionals provide marketing…

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

The Toughest Crisis May Be the One You Don’t Know You’re In

  May 8, 2019

By Erin Sanders Senior Communications Advisor with NP Strategy   The shooting at the UNC Charlotte (UNCC) college campus on April 30th resulted in the death of two students and…

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

How to double your productivity

  May 8, 2019
Jerry Bellune

By Jerry Bellune   Our friend Andrea Nierenberg shared with us these ways she makes her 24 hours each day more productive: Awaken 10 minutes early and you’ll be surprised…

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

CyberSC to present Annual Awards for Cyber Excellence at 3rd Annual Cybersecurity Summit in Greenville on May 16th

  May 6, 2019

CyberSC announced the recipients of the 2019 CyberSC Awards for Cyber Excellence. Award recipients in three categories – Industry, Government, and Academia – will be recognized at the SC Chamber…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: banking-and-finance, business-services, economic-development, education, employment-agencies, government, hi-tech-information-tech, insurance, it-services, manufacturing, marketing-and-communications, non-profit, on-the-move, philanthropy, technology, telecommunications

Max Metcalf elected Chairman of the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance

  April 24, 2019

The South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance (SCMA) has elected Max Metcalf, Manager of Government and Community Relations at BMW Manufacturing Company, LLC, as the next Chairman of the organization’s Board of Directors. The…

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

Engaging Your Employees with Your Social Media

  April 24, 2019

By Angela Rogers   In the last 20 years, a horde of social media platforms have emerged. Odds are you’re an active user of at least one platform; between Facebook,…

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

How to drive more profit to your bottom line

  April 24, 2019
Jerry Bellune

By Jerry Bellune   Are you happy with your business’s bottom line? We never are. I mean NEVER! If you are happy with yours, take another look. Over time your…

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

Your ‘Goldilocks Offers’ will close more sales

  April 17, 2019
Jerry Bellune

By Jerry Bellune   If you’ve shopped at your local grocer lately, you may have noticed “Yogurt-copia.” There are so many choices – apple, banana cream pie, orange, peach, strawberry,…

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

MidlandsBiz

  April 7, 2019

MidlandsBiz.com is part of a family of statewide, local online business magazines in South Carolina.  The websites were founded to provide local business people real-time information about their community and…

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

Networking 101: How to build strong connections

  April 4, 2019
Jean Cecil Frick

By Jean Cecil Frick   When I was a child, my parents would constantly remind me of the importance of making a good first impression. Little did I know that…

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

What lawyers and public relations pros can learn from each other

  March 8, 2019

Leighton Lord  Founder and Managing Director, NP Strategy, LLC   In July, I wrote about the natural conflict between legal and public relations. Legal wants to win a case or…

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

Jackson named agency of record for NAPA Filters

  March 5, 2019

Jackson Marketing, Motorsports & Events, South Carolina’s second- largest integrated marketing communication and events agency, has been named agency of record for the NAPA Filters brand. As agency of record,…

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

David Hunt Creative, Inc. celebrates 25 years

  February 28, 2019

Since 1994, David Hunt Creative has provided strategic branding and design solutions for business, health care, retail, educational, industrial, government, and non-profit organizations. The business offers comprehensive creative services that…

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

Padgett Communications established

  February 28, 2019

Padgett S. Mozingo, APR announces the establishment of Padgett Communications, a consulting firm specializing in communications strategy, public relations, event planning and social media for nonprofits, small businesses and professional…

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

David Hunt Creative, Inc. celebrates 25 years

  February 28, 2019

Since 1994, David Hunt Creative has provided strategic branding and design solutions for business, health care, retail, educational, industrial, government, and non-profit organizations. The business offers comprehensive creative services that…

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

Film like it used to be – for modern day

  February 25, 2019

By Taylor Kearns   As the old folks would say, “’Memba film? That’s when the moving pictures MEANT something!” The days when artists would craft thoughtful, moving stories; capturing them…

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