July 2014 Features

  • Should Your Small Business Just Ignore These 7 Technologies?

    July 31, 2014

    New technologies are released every day. For those small business owners that have shiny object syndromes (SOS), they can be hard to resist. Many are pushed to thinking that in order to have a competitive edge, they need to offer their customers the latest technology. However, for the good of your company, here are seven that you may need to ignore for now.

  • Should You Demand a Return on Investment From Business Travel?

    July 30, 2014

    How do you choose when to travel, and when not to, for your business? The smart business owner expects a return on investment from business travel. That means having a plan for your trip, and then following through on the plan after the trip.

  • The Hidden Costs of an Unreliable Internet Connection

    July 28, 2014

    In business, an unreliable Internet connection costs dollars and cents. It’s that simple. Let’s break down the real issues and what they could cost you, to measure how important your Internet connection is.

  • Profile: Fran Glover Forehand, Georgia Power East Region VP

    July 24, 2014

    Fran Glover Forehand, Georgia Power’s East Region Vice President has a passion for talent development, and with more than 23 years at Southern Company, Georgia Power’s parent company, Forehand considers it the most important part of her job.

  • What are Some Sources of Start-up Funding?

    July 22, 2014

    The latest Gallup-Wells Fargo Small Business Index, a representative telephone survey of 600 small business owners conducted at the end of March 2014, provides some interesting statistics on where current small company owners got the money they needed to start their businesses.

  • How to Improve Your Self Control – It’s the Key to Your Success

    July 21, 2014

    If you’re tired of reading self help books and seemingly never getting anywhere, you may be interested in a study that found a single factor — self-control — to be one of the primary keys to success.

  • Merrill Lynch Scorecard Shows Productivity Tied to Employees’ Financial Well-Being

    July 17, 2014

    Merrill Lynch recently released their 401(k) Wellness Scorecard for the second quarter, with results showing a positive increase in financial habits from plan participants. We spoke with James Wallace and Deborah Howard, Managing Directors – Wealth Management, Global Corporate & Institutional Advisory Services, to get their take on the results of the scorecard and why more companies need to become invested in the financial well-being of their employees.

  • Study: Yes, There Are Benefits of Offering Free WiFi

    July 16, 2014

    It’s gotten much more common today to find businesses that offer complimentary WiFi for their patrons, especially in cities. Still, there are many places outside of Big-City-America where free WiFi is the exception and not the rule.

  • Chamber of Commerce Enhances Columbia County’s Business-friendly Image—and Its Own

    July 14, 2014

    Today’s pro-active Columbia County Chamber of Commerce is not your father’s chamber, that is, that it’s just a group of ribbon-cutting officials. “It’s the voice of the business member,” said Tammy Shepherd, President/CEO of the economic development organization.

  • Should You Ever Make a Counter Offer to an Employee?

    July 11, 2014

    It’s no secret that competition for experienced employees is heating up. Despite the economy’s ups and downs, the news continues to be filled with reports that businesses seeking to hire can’t find qualified workers. So if you have qualified workers on board, how far should you go to retain them? When a key employee gets a job offer, should you consider making a counter offer?

  • 3 Classic Recipes in Case Your Brand Ever Gets Grilled

    July 10, 2014

    Yes, it’s true. The Paula Deen Network is launching in September. The celebrity cook, whose career was nearly burnt, is cooking up something new – and digital. Just in case your brand ever gets grilled, we look at three fast and easy tips inspired by the digital rebranding of Paula Deen.

  • Will Your Next Business Suit Be an Executive Hoodie?

    July 08, 2014

    Whoever thinks that hoodies don’t belong in the workplace has probably never seen the Executive Pinstripe Hoodie from Betabrand. The Executive Hoodie is made from suit fabric and retails for $168. Mark Zuckerberg provided the inspiration behind the hoodie, and its launch coincided with the social media giant’s IPO.

  • Do Customers Buy Because of Your Core Values?

    July 07, 2014

    As we've discussed in previous posts, customers buy brands and they pay more for brands that they want to be associated with. But, it's not just your logo and advertising that creates your brand.

  • 15 LinkedIn Mistakes You Can Easily Avoid

    July 02, 2014

    Are you a B2B professional who wants to make a standout impression with your expertise and build your personal brand? Want to meet and engage with other quality professionals in your industry? Want to stay up to date on interesting information shared by peers in your field? Then LinkedIn is the professional party you should attend when it comes to your social media mix.