May 2014 Features

• How to Use Twitter for Customer Service

  May 30, 2014

  In order to provide the best possible customer service, smart small business owners learn from the big companies’ best practices. One tactic more and more big corporations are using is providing customer service on Twitter.

• 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.

• Working Flextime? According to New Research, Bosses Prefer Early Birds to Night Owls

  May 27, 2014

  In a new study of flexible work policies, researchers at the University of Washington Foster School of Business have found that people who elect to work an early shift are perceived by their bosses to be better employees than those who work a later shift.

• 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.

• Secondary Self-Employment in Decline

  May 22, 2014

  Fewer Americans are working for themselves than did at the turn of the 21st century. That’s true for both people’s primary and secondary jobs, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data indicate.

• Georgia Primaries Bring Expected Congressional Runoffs

  May 21, 2014

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

• Underdog Businesses Must Work Harder

  May 20, 2014

  Small business owners are almost always underdogs. They deal with competition from companies with much larger budgets and more resources at their disposal. So how can David compete with Goliath? In a recent sit-down with Inc.’s Issie Lapowski, author Malcolm Gladwell explained.

• How to Keep Your Family Business All in the Family

  May 19, 2014

  Is your small business family-owned? Family business owners are feeling optimistic about the short term, but pessimistic about the long-term outlook for their companies, says a recent survey by The Alternative Board. The good news? If your family business is on the wrong track, there are some simple steps you can take to right it before it’s too late.

• A Quick Guide to What You Should Be Doing NOW for the Affordable Care Act

  May 16, 2014

  Between the time President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law in 2010 and today, there have been a number of adjustments and changes to its implementation. One thing hasn’t changed, however. As of 2014, Americans, including solopreneurs and employees of small businesses, are required to carry health insurance as individuals. If you don’t, you may face a penalty come tax time. However, subsidies may be available to make coverage affordable.

• 36 Percent of Small Business Owners Feel Optimistic – Do You?

  May 15, 2014

  Given the way people and politicians talk about us, you might think all small business owners are exactly alike, with the same motivations, goals and challenges. Of course we small business owners know that’s not true, and a sneak peak from the Infusionsoft 2014 Small Business Market Survey, conducted in partnership with Audience Audit, proves it.

• CooperCraft, Now ISNetworld Certified and Ready for Continued Growth

  May 14, 2014

  CooperCraft made the move from Sylvester to Tifton December 2011, and the transition has treated the company well. The easy access to I-75, continued growth of Tifton, and larger office space have all led to increased productivity and volume for the statewide company ran by childhood friends Jerry Cooper and Darrell Powell, who lived three houses apart since elementary school while growing up in Sylvester.

• Three Ways to Cut Costs for Your Small Business

  May 13, 2014

  Even with the economy on the rise, it’s general good practice to keep a check on your business costs and see if there’s any room for improvement when it comes to savings. As the old adage goes, “a penny saved is a penny earned.” Here are a few ways you might be able to cut costs and save your small business some money in the long run.

• When the Boss Calls After Hours

  May 12, 2014

  We shouldn’t laugh too hard about the agreement announced last month in France that sought to protect employees from after-hours texts and emails but confused a lot of people. Here in the United States, where we are known for our relentless work ethic, we are ignoring this issue and letting confusion govern what is expected from employees after they leave work.

• No Such Thing As Bad Publicity? Apparently There Is

  May 09, 2014

  Think all that matters is how much people are talking about your brand online? Think again. A recent study finds sentiment is more important than volume of online conversations when it comes to driving sales.

• Georgia's Tourism Industry Impact Hits Record High With $53.6B

  May 08, 2014

  Georgia Tourism, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), announced Thursday that tourism demand generated $53.6 billion in business sales including direct, indirect and induced impact in 2013, up 4.5 percent, according to the U.S. Travel Association and Tourism Economics.

• Self Employment Continues to Decline, Despite the Recovery

  May 07, 2014

  The recently released Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity (KIEA) shows that pace of entry into self-employment declined last year. The media has put a positive slant on the news. Because many people go into business for themselves out of necessity when the economy is doing poorly and they have few employment alternatives, this decline is okay, the reporters say. It means that the jobs market is doing better.

• Curt Fowler on How GE Uses Lean Innovation

  May 06, 2014

  Lean innovation is not just for startups. According to a recent Harvard Business Review article by Brad Powers, GE is implementing lean innovation principles into its appliance division as it attempts to prove that it can bring manufacturing back to the US and compete successfully.

• Athens Chamber Helps Update the Classic City

  May 05, 2014

  Athens is experiencing a renaissance. With the steep incline of telecommuting jobs and the close proximity of bustling, big-business Atlanta, the darling of Georgia is attracting a new host of economy-boosting dwellers.

• Did You Know That Wrong Conversations Rule Workplace Communication?

  May 02, 2014

  There’s a new concept, The 4 Workplace Conversations, which came out of a recent client case study from facilitating a training session to help a senior leadership team of a clients confront issues directly in a way that reduced workplace conflict.

• SunTrust Finds Business Leaders Rank Companies Stronger Than Economy

  May 01, 2014

  Business owners and top decision-makers are more optimistic about their own businesses in 2014 than they are about the overall U.S. economy, according to an annual survey sponsored by SunTrust Banks, Inc.

• Talk to the Hand, Cause the Face Ain’t Listenin’

  May 01, 2014

  When I was in the fourth grade, I had a crush on Jill. It was a one-sided relationship, but as Valentine’s Day came closer I decided the best way to wow her was to walk to Lintner’s Drugstore and buy her a heart-shaped box of Russell Stover chocolates. It took about 6 weeks allowance to be able to afford that purchase, but to me Jill was worth it.