Office Support

Free Access: Marketing is the sign of our times

Marketing is an essential part of running a business in today’s world. As a business owner, you need to ensure your company has a solid presence in and around Augusta. “The sign says,” outdoor marketing is one of the most effective ways to raise awareness of your business and increase brand visibility. It is important to create a consistent brand identity that is eye-catching and visually appealing. Here are a few outdoor marketing tips to boost business and brand visibility in the CSRA: Use window graphics and displays to boost

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Consumer Stories

The business of surviving breast cancer

When you’re in business, you often roll with the punches. If employees call in sick, you cover their shifts. When inventory doesn’t arrive, you hustle to find another source. Time overruns on a job? You tighten up and meet the deadline. Life is like that too, only the stakes are higher when you are dealing with a life-threatening disease. Whitney O’Connor didn’t plan to get breast cancer six weeks after she got married and one week after celebrating her 30th birthday. She also didn’t plan a diagnosis of Li-Fraumeni Syndrome,

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B2B Stories

Cybersecurity expert discusses ways to prevent data breaches

In 2016, Uber experienced a major data breach, when hackers accessed sensitive information on millions of the company’s customers and drivers. But regardless of size, every business is vulnerable to these attacks, according to Patrick Reynolds. Reynolds, President, and CEO of Cross Link Consulting, a local IT and cybersecurity services firm, spoke to a large group of local business leaders at ABD’s Business Recharge event yesterday at the Kroc Center. He said no amount of money or knowledge can protect a company’s data. “Budget size doesn’t equal breach avoidance,” Reynolds

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B2B Stories

Marketing professional discusses strategies for creating customer connections

Kate Sanders loves a product called Blender Bombs because the company, which sells smoothie boosters, adds a note from its founder, Helen Hall, to each of its products. Sanders, COO, partner, and lead strategist of the Alison South Marketing Group was one of the speakers at the Business Recharge Event, a business expo hosted by Augusta Business Daily yesterday at the Kroc Center. The title of her presentation was “Utilizing Your Loyalty Loop to Create Recurring Customers.” Alison South creates marketing campaigns for companies of various sizes. “There’s some sort

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Consumer Stories

Faith Friday: A Cut Above: Businessman Uses Barber Chair as Pulpit to Community

You should run for mayor. Ever thought about being on the county commission? You would make a great civil servant. All are sentiments expressed over the years to a local businessman, John Milton. However, he has realized he arguably affects more change with a pair of clippers in one and shears in the other. That’s because every subject, social and political issue known to man is discussed, debated, discounted, lauded, applauded, rejected, and resolved on any given day at Jay’s Place Barber and Beauty Shop, 1927 Olive Road in Augusta.

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Shawna Woodward

Free Access: Real Talk Real Estate: Will assumable loans make a comeback?

At the beginning of 2022, we saw an unprecedented housing market. Demand was high, interest rates were close to an all-time low, and prices had skyrocketed. Now, at the end of October, we see that interest rates have doubled but the prices remain high. This has removed many buyers from the housing market. Now that the interest rates are up to 7%, an assumable loan with a lower interest rate looks enticing and could benefit buyers and sellers alike. However, I don’t know if they will make that great of

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Cyber Security

Cybersecurity expert discusses ways to prevent data breaches

In 2016, Uber experienced a major data breach, when hackers accessed sensitive information on millions of the company’s customers and drivers. But regardless of size, every business is vulnerable to these attacks, according to Patrick Reynolds. Reynolds, President, and CEO of Cross Link Consulting, a local IT and cybersecurity services firm, spoke to a large group of local business leaders at ABD’s Business Recharge event yesterday at the Kroc Center. He said no amount of money or knowledge can protect a company’s data. “Budget size doesn’t equal breach avoidance,” Reynolds

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Consumer Stories

Business Lunch Review: Mosh Pit Eats

Editor’s Note: Wes Hennings never met a meal he walked away from and is an opinionated eater! Each Thursday he shares the results of a business lunch he’s had with a colleague as a way to advise our business community on the good, bad, and tasty across the CSRA. He doesn’t let ABD or the restaurant know where he is going and his opinions are his own. He grades the restaurants he visits on a 1-5 scale with “5” being outstanding. We call this our “Real Business Lunch Review”. Food

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Consumer Stories

National collision repair company gives all its employees $200

Breania Dorsey put an extra $200 in her pocket yesterday morning. Dorsey, a customer service representative with Classic Collision, a collision repair shop in Augusta, along with all the company’s employees nationwide, received two $100 bills to celebrate the opening of its 200th location, which is in Houston. She has worked for Classic Collision since the summer of 2018 when the Augusta location opened. In Aug. 2021, the company gave every employee a $100 bill to celebrate its 100th location. “I didn’t know they were going to do it again;

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Darin Myers

Free Access: Maintain an active LinkedIn presence in just minutes per day

Darin Myers is the local facilitator of  The Alternative Board (TAB), a peer-to-peer advisory board designed to help company leaders maximize their opportunities and work through challenges. Darin recently retired after a 30-year career in the nuclear industry as the leader of Plant Vogtle I and II. He has proven success regarding strategic planning and alignment, employee development, organizational performance improvement, accountability, and coaching. Recently, he has started a family business in Augusta focused on home health care, providing him the knowledge and experience surrounding small- to medium-sized business operators.

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