B2B Stories

Local marketing firm, nonprofit to discuss ADA website compliance

You may have hired another company to build and maintain your business website, but you’re still responsible for ensuring the site complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to Rick Donaldson. Donaldson, CEO of the M3 Agency, a local marketing firm, will discuss that topic at this month’s Third Thursday Business Builder hosted by the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, August 18 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Chamber Conference Room. He will be joined by two other presenters: M3 Digital Strategist, Mike Parsons and

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B2B Stories

Sales tax revenues give city employees a pay boost

Like many businesses, the city of Augusta has plenty of unfilled job openings. But it has taken a step to help ensure it won’t have even more. The Augusta Commissioners recently approved a pay raise and incentive bonuses to help the city with employee retention. Employees who didn’t receive a raise last year will get a 3 percent boost this year. In addition, employees can receive bonuses of $1,000 to $2,500 if they reach certain incentives. The pay raises are expected to cost the city an additional $500,000 this year

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B2B Stories

Simon Says: Mixed local variables present an uncertain economic outlook

Job openings in Georgia and South Carolina decreased in May from April. In Georgia, job openings fell 16 percent to 367,000. The fall in South Carolina was much less at just half of one percent. There were 179,000 job openings in South Carolina in May. Job openings in Georgia are at their lowest since May 2021. However, these numbers still show there are 2.3 job openings for every unemployed worker in Georgia and South Carolina. Job openings are one variable included in the Augusta Leading Economic Index (LEI). Other variables

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Consumer Stories

Saving a life could be the ultimate customer service for a business

Let’s say a customer walks into your car dealership and while car shopping slumps to the ground or you’re in a meeting with 15 other business leaders, and one falls out of their chair and clutches their chest. What do you do? You could (and should) call an ambulance, but the average response time is seven minutes. From the time you call 911 until the time they arrive, it’s probably more like 10 minutes, maybe longer. Guess what? That’s too late. During cardiac arrest, brain activity stops in about four

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B2B Stories

Successful entrepreneurs share stories of perseverance at Global Leadership Summit

Like millions of business leaders around the world, Erik Smith attended this year’s Global Leadership Summit and was particularly inspired by British entrepreneur, Sahar Hashemi. Smith, the owner/operator of Chick-fil-A’s Grovetown location, watched the annual live broadcast event at TrueNorth Church, one of more than 500 host sites throughout the United States, on Thursday and Friday. The summit featured 14 speakers, including Hashemi, co-founder of Coffee Republic. She told her story and shared her motto: “Anything worth doing is worth doing badly.” That resonated with Smith. “The learning process is

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Digital Marketing

Free Access: Five common reputation management mistakes you can avoid

I found this while browsing the web last night. It’s a great start for our topic today. A manager in the board meeting after poor customer reviews and brand reputation results: “If it gets worse, it may force us to make reliable products and provide better customer service.” (Source: https://www.boredpanda.com/funny-customer-service-jokes/) That’s how some people feel about reputation management. It is something that can only penalize you. The fact is, reputation management is something to embrace and positive reviews can have a big impact on your business. Here are three jaw-dropping

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Consumer Stories

Pro golfers file an antitrust lawsuit against PGA, allege involvement of Augusta National, other Majors

Eleven professional golfers taking part in the LIV Golf Tournament have filed an anti-trust lawsuit against the PGA Tour. Included in the suit are allegations the PGA colluded with Augusta National to dissuade the players from joining the LIV tour. Plaintiffs in the case are Phil Mickelson, Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford, Matt Jones, Bryson DeChambeau, Abraham Ancer, Carlos Ortiz, Ian Poulter, Pat Perez, Jason Kokrak, and Peter Uihlein. In an earlier ABD story, Rick Franza, Dean of Hull College of Business at Augusta University, had predicted this could happen. “Nothing

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B2B Stories

Governor extends gas tax suspension, local gas prices among nation’s lowest

Georgians will have at least another month to enjoy slightly lower gas prices, by order of the governor. Last week, Gov. Brian Kemp extended the suspension of the collection of the gas tax until Sept. 12. This is the third extension of the original executive order. The previous order had been set to expire at the end of this week. The gas tax in Georgia is 29.1 cents per gallon. By suspending that tax, Georgians have been able to fill up with some of the lowest gas prices in the

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