Cultivating contacts with care By Leslie T. Snadowsky According to LinkedIn, 85 percent of jobs are obtained through networking. That means whether you’re at a happy hour event, a career fair, a regional conference or a splashy convention, you need to network if you want to get ahead. But there is a lot of “work”…
How AlphaGraphics’ rebranding appeals to all five senses The long-awaited re-opening of Sprout Momma is any day now. Sprout Momma won LOCAL Biz’s Business Makeover Contest presented by AlphaGraphics. As part of the grand prize, AlphaGraphics is refreshing the Sprout Momma brand, including logo, graphic assets, menus, in-store graphics and more. Barry and Rita Wilson,…
Catapulting to a new level of success By Lucy G. Rosen Whether you are looking to share risk, resources or expertise, a strategic partner might be what your company needs to grow. Getting an edge on a competitive marketplace is usually the reason that people form strategic alliances. They are different from networking relationships, although…
Short and clear. That’s the winning combo By Lucy Rosen An elevator speech is a short, concise message that sums up who you are, what you do and what makes you unique. Developing an effective elevator speech is crucial for networking, job interviews and other professional interactions. Developing an effective elevator speech is essential for…
Calm those jitters and just get out there By Lucy Rosen You feel a flutter in your stomach. You find yourself uncharacteristically apprehensive, giving everything the once-over before you go out the door – making sure you’ve got the right outfit and the right frame of mind for what lies ahead. You’ve got your mental…
The real networking happens with the follow-up By Lucy Rosen Networking events are a great way to expand your professional network and meet new people. However, the true value of networking events lies in the follow-up. Following up with someone you meet at a networking event is essential for building a strong professional relationship. By…
How smart networkers are using social media to make (and keep) great contacts and what you need to know to keep up It’s easy to forget that platforms like Facebook started as something other than a place to post selfies and see what your ex is up to these days. If original Instagram filters are…
Three mistakes that can destroy your family business By Hannah Massen While many entrepreneurs dream of building a lasting business that becomes part of their families’ legacy, family businesses have low survival rates beyond three generations. Data suggests that around 70 percent of family businesses fail by the time the second generation comes into power,…
Renaissance man markets olive oil to millennials By Leslie T. Snadowsky Tommie Williams grew up on a farm in Georgia but fell in love with Italian olives in the 1970s when studying abroad in Tuscany as an art major at the University of Georgia. “I just loved the tree and the fruit and the oil…
How micro-influencers can make a major difference to your marketing strategy By Hannah Massen They say that bigger is better, but when it comes to influencer marketing, the opposite could be true. If you’re active on social media – whether it’s Instagram, TikTok or YouTube – chances are, you follow at least one macro-influencer (a…