Consumer Stories

Local business lets customers smash stress one breakable at a time

While business ownership comes with its share of perks, it often comes with more than its share of stresses. But, so does writing about businesses. Before ABD publisher, Neil Gordon offered me the job of business reporter, I was well acquainted with stress. For many years, I juggled various full-time jobs in higher education and freelance writing gigs that consumed much of my spare time. Writing is now my full-time profession, and, while I still love storytelling, I often feel stressed out. And I’ve discovered I’m not alone. According to

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Digital Marketing

Free Access: Get more views for your website by pumping up off-page SEO

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is like the weather in Augusta – it is always changing. From hailstorms in the morning to sunny skies in the afternoon, it’s hard to keep up with what to wear, how to plan, and what to think. SEO is a lot like this. SEO has been around for more than 20 years and has changed, it seems, almost daily during that time. The impact on your website’s online visibility and your business results can be monumental. With so many types of SEO, it’s hard to

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ADAcompliancemeeting
B2B Stories

Nonprofit leader and digital strategist discuss websites and ADA compliance

In 2016, a blind man sued Domino’s Pizza because he couldn’t place an order using the company’s website or app. A federal court judge ruled against the pizza chain because its site wasn’t compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. That legislation applies to not only large corporations but also your business, according to Mike Parsons. Parsons, digital strategist with M3 Agency in Augusta, and Ann Campbell-Kelly, Director of Development & Communications at Walton Options for Independent Living, discussed the importance of ensuring business websites are ADA compliant on Thursday,

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B2B Stories

Mondays with Rick: TechNet boosts Augusta’s economy, cyber brand

  Dr. Rick Franza, Dean of the Hull College of Business, discusses a different, timely business topic each Monday in this column. This week, he talks about the impact of the TechNet cyber conference on the CSRA’s economy and status. The interview has been edited for clarity and impact. ABD: All last week we heard about the TechNet Cyber conference taking place in downtown Augusta. Please explain the purpose of the conference. It sounds like a geeky Army thing. Rick: It probably is geeky, but it’s more than Army. It’s

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Consumer Stories

Frontier adds air routes to vacation spots, offers low rates

If you just need to get away, Frontier Airlines is offering some new destinations from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. In November and December, Frontier will start flying to San Jose, Costa Rica; Liberia, Costa Rica; Nassau, Bahamas; San Salvador, El Salvador; and Kingston, Jamaica. Less than a year ago, Frontier had also added routes to Cancun, Mexico; Montego Bay, Jamaica; and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. To celebrate, Frontier is offering some special introductory fares. Flights to Nassau and San Salvador have an introductory rate of $69; to Kingston and Liberia,

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Top Story

Business group peppers mayor-elect for answers

Mayor-elect Garnett Johnson got “real” with realtors from the Greater Augusta Association of Realtors—and they responded with some good questions. Johnson, born in East Augusta, asked the group with 2,000 members to recommend Richmond County along with Columbia County. Realtors asked for updates on what they consider obstacles to those recommendations. The following are some questions from the capacity crowd of more than 200 professionals. They’ve been edited for clarity and length. Realtor: What about the safety aspect of going to downtown Augusta? GJ: We need to improve the quality

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B2B Stories

Local entrepreneur takes the risk and discovers a passion for beauty

Camarie Casper was able to do something many aspiring entrepreneurs only dream about: She quit her full-time job as a dental assistant and opened her own business. But the licensed esthetician and tattoo artist caution others to take their time and figure out if that’s the best path for them to take. Casper, the owner of Charmed Beauty Company located at 119 Davis Road, Unit 5B, offers eyelash extensions and permanent makeup, which involves using tattoos to replace a client’s natural eyebrows. Some of these clients lost their eyebrows due

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Consumer Stories

New leadership for two CSRA hospitals

Doctor’s Hospital in Augusta has tapped Joanna Conley as the CEO of the HCA-owned facility. Conley has served in healthcare and leadership roles with HCA in Nashville and Kissimmee, Fla., prior to assuming her role in Augusta. She holds a B.S. Degree in Public Health, Health Policy and Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an MBA from Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management. Conley is also a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. She assumes the role following the retirement of CEO,

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