Features

• 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.

• Powerserve Powers Your Business

  June 30, 2014

  Powerserve, a custom software development, website design and marketing company, has been serving Augusta and beyond since 1998. Jeff Partl took over the reins in 2003 and has helped the company roll with the punches through market shifts and economic downturns. Powerserve offer services that help businesses get attention in our fast-paced, online-heavy world, from developing custom software solutions, iPad, iPhone & Android Apps to mobile website design, social media services, to improve their website's visibility through Search Engine Optimization.

• Aflac-Backed Communicorp Gives Customers FORTUNE 500 Stability

  June 26, 2014

  The seeds of Communicorp, Inc. started over fifty years ago as a vehicle to provide Aflac headquarters and field force offices with business cards, letterhead, and brochures. The concept quickly grew to an internal print shop chartered in 1981 to the Georgia-based corporation it is today with locations in Columbus and Atlanta, with a presence throughout Georgia.

• 3 Surefire Ways You Can Achieve Public Relations Success

  June 25, 2014

  The lines between advertising, marketing and public relations have always been a little blurred, with many firms providing a combination of two or more of the services. But the Internet has almost removed the lines completely, as advertisers reach out to customers on social media and press releases begin to make appearances in search engine rankings. Here we are going to show you three surefire ways to find PR success.

• Georgia Ranked 10th Friendliest State for Small Businesses in Nationwide Survey

  June 24, 2014

  Thumbtack.com, in partnership with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, today released new data showing that Georgia has won praise as one of the top ten states for small businesses. Jon Lieber, Chief Economist of Thumbtack.com, said “Creating a business climate that is welcoming to small, dynamic businesses is more important than ever, and Georgia's friendliness towards small business is helping to make that happen.”

• The 5 Game Changing Benefits of Networking

  June 23, 2014

  We live, work and play in two worlds today – in person and online. They are equally important, inter-dependent and mutually beneficial. The importance of consistent, qualified, dedicated networking can never be stressed enough as a requirement, not an option today.

• 13 Best Practices for Building Solid Small Business Operations

  June 19, 2014

  Running and scaling a business will always be challenging. But having a solid foundation of smoothly operating practices underlying your company can make it much easier. To find out how successful entrepreneurs were building their operations, we asked 13 founders from Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) the following question: “As a business owner, what do you feel is most important when it comes to building solid small business operations?”

• 5 Ways to Boost Your Retail Sales This Summer

  June 18, 2014

  For many retailers, summer isn’t exactly the high season. But that doesn’t mean it has to be a bust. With summer about to go into full swing, have you thought about how you’ll boost business for your retail store this season?

• 12 Tips for Training Your Summer Interns

  June 16, 2014

  Summer interns can be an invaluable resource for a small business. But although these bright young college kids are ready to tackle challenges, they’re likely inexperienced in the business world and won’t automatically integrate with your team. We look at how other entrepreneurs were successfully training their interns for the summer.

• 4 Steps to Facing the Challenge in Strategy

  June 13, 2014

  Strategy is a way through a difficulty, an approach to overcoming an obstacle, a response to a challenge. If the challenge is not defined, it is difficult or impossible to overcome it.

• Blanchard Leadership Forum Brings Big Names to Georgia

  June 12, 2014

  The Jim Blanchard Leadership Forum consistently hosts some of the biggest names in business during this annual event on August 25th and 26th, and this year’s event lives up to its expectations. The 2014 line-up is headlined by Entrepreneur Mark Cuban and Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg.

• Is the USDOJ Trying to Shut Down Businesses it Doesn’t Like?

  June 09, 2014

  What if government officials suddenly decided they didn’t like your business? Then they went to your bank and warned them you were a bad risk and that the government had its eye on you? Suppose the government brought so much pressure to bear that before long, your bank closed down your account or refused to open new ones in your name or the name of your business. Apparently, this is exactly what is happening with the U.S. Department of Justice initiative called “Operation Choke Point.”

• Georgia Manufacturing Activity Continues Growth in May

  June 03, 2014

  Georgia manufacturing activity remained strong for May, even as new orders fell from its high April reading, according to the Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) released today by Kennesaw State University’s Econometric Center in the Michael J. Coles College of Business.

• Five Health Insurance Tips that Can Make Your Workforce Appreciate You

  June 02, 2014

  Over the past several months, small businesses may have grappled to understand the many changes and regulations to the evolving health care landscape. In developing compliant strategies, employers have made, and continue to make, key benefits decisions that will impact the personal and financial well-being of their workers for years to come.

• Georgia Credit Unions Impact Their Members, Their Communities & Beyond

  May 29, 2014

  Georgia credit unions are committed to helping their members afford their lives. But the impact of credit unions reaches far beyond the branch walls. As not-for-profit institutions, credit unions contribute their resources to the greater good of their communities. They live out the values of working together to accomplish more, and the difference they make is felt across Georgia every day.

• Behind the Scenes at Medient's $700 Million Georgia StudioPlex

  May 28, 2014

  “Georgia’s film industry is booming,” touted Governor Nathan Deal in last week’s video address to the Savannah Economic Development Authority’s (SEDA) annual luncheon, and rightfully so. Employment, tax revenue and new construction are rising steadily throughout the state. However, one proposed development in Effingham County near Savannah should be a warning to all counties in Georgia. This is the story of how a proposed $700 million “Disneyland meets Googleplex” development has created high hopes for one Georgia community only to be at risk by the players involved.

• Your Brand Equals Higher Profits

  May 23, 2014

  It's proven. Strong brands drive higher profits. In fact, most of the value of some of the biggest corporations in the world are their brand, not their buildings or the equipment.

• Local Real Estate Firm's Growth Coincides with Greater Augusta's Economic Expansion

  May 22, 2014

  The real estate market in the Greater Augusta area has recently been undergoing some new and exciting changes. These changes are also reflected in the positive growth at CENTURY 21 Larry Miller Realty.

• Georgia Primaries Bring Expected Congressional Runoffs

  May 21, 2014

  Tuesday’s primary election results brought runoffs for candidates for both houses of Congress.

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