Here’s a snapshot of key stories we’ve been following:

• After the SEC’s announcement of fake ICO’s, a website called Dead Coins was created to help track ICO’s across the globe. Recently, the website found more than 800 cryptocurrencies were worth less than a cent. The reason for this is because most of them were fake, known as scams or did not have the bandwidth to materialize.
• The U.S. News World Report shed light on the purpose of regulations towards cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and how the regulations will make them safer. Investors believe that the regulations will help Bitcoin grow, as it was traded up 4% since Monday of last week, which compares to their 50% decline from the year so far.
• The Maltese parliament became the first in the world to set a series of laws that determined a regulatory framework for blockchain, cryptocurrency and Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT). This may lend itself to become a more desirable location for companies to invest within the blockchain space.
• Bitcoin Bull Tom Lee expressed that he did not cut back on his year-end forecast for Bitcoin. Earlier, the Wall Street strategist told CNBC that he saw the price of cryptocurrencies as more than $20,000 per unit, which is 20% less than his original forecast. After evaluating the costs to mine for cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Lee explained that the price would reach to $25,000 per unit.
• South Korea announced that their Financial Services Commission (FSC) has revised the guidelines for crytocurrency exchange operators. The reason behind these revisions is to strengthen their policies and help them detect and prevent illegal activities or money laundering issues with cryptocurrencies.

Stay tuned for more news stemming from the crypto world next week!

Here’s a snapshot of key stories from this week in crypto:

• Wells Fargo announced recently that they’re banning cryptocurrency purchases on credits cards issued by the company. Following in the steps of other large banks, Well Fargo moved forward with this decision due to the volatility of cryptocurrencies. They were also worried about the potential risks their customers would run into if they were to purchase cryptocurrencies on their card.

• Entrepreneur published an article sharing the future predictions of the current cryptocurrency market. Even though cryptocurrencies have had their share of failures, many people believe that it has a bright future to succeed, mainly because cryptocurrencies are still developing and once they fully advance, more users will want to invest and use them for digital transactions because they could be more secure transactions.

• In CNBC this week, tech giant Apple decides to update their developer guidelines to prevent users from mining for cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, was reported by Kate Rooney, a well-known reporter and influencer in the space. They are restricting apps that drain battery, generate excessive heat and put strain on iOS devices, which include Bitcoin mining. The date on this policy update has not yet been announced.

Here’s a snapshot of key stories from this week in crypto:

• Seen in Bloomberg this week, Coinbase, the popular cryptocurrency exchange decides to expand their offices in Japan. Since Japan is becoming a hot market for crypto, Coinbase wants to broaden their influence in the space and build trust with new crypto influencers and customers. The article also states that if Coinbase secures the license needed for this partnership with the Japanese FSA, then Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. will be a potential banking partner.
• The crypto start-up Ripple donates $50 million to 17 universities across the nation to speed up the adoption of blockchain technology. Ripple made these donations as students started to see a demand in job offers within the crypto and blockchain space. In fact, 4,500 jobs related to both were posted on LinkedIn last year.
• Stemming from SEC’s prior news of fake ICO’s, the agency has now appointed Valerie Szczepanik as the new crypto chief. In her new role, Szczepanik will be managing digital assets, ICO’s, and future innovation. As a senior member of the SEC, it’s great to see a powerful woman and thought leader to be recognized in this space.
• Some of the biggest companies in the world today are adopting blockchain technology and can’t escape from it any longer. According to Forbes’ Global 2000 list, companies such as JPMorgan, Apple, The Industrial Bank of China and Berkshire Hathaway are using the tech to digitally advance.
• Quartz shared this week that China is now warming up to the idea of using blockchain technology and realizing its importance. The reason for this is because of an hour-long show that was recently broadcasted on China’s Central Television (CCTV). The hosts of the show included international crypto influencers such as Don Tapscott and Chinese government officials to educate the country on the value of blockchain tech.

If you want to learn more, we’ll be sharing more updates on key stories of relevant crypto news next week. Stay tuned!

This recognition from Inc. demonstrates Affect’s “commitment to employee engagement and creating an advantage over our competition” and the fact that we foster a workplace where employees willingly go above and beyond in their work, advocate for the organization and intend to stay into the future The program measures a wide range of research-validated workplace factors that impact employee engagement and satisfaction.

To get listed our employees had to take and submit an anonymous survey and we are so thrilled with the responses. Here are a few snippets:

“Affect is the epitome of the work-­life balance. We are given the tools we need to be successful in our career, and are accompanied by inspirational leaders who are committed to the development and success of each individual employee and the organization as a whole. In addition, we have outstanding benefits­­ including two paid days off to volunteer at an organization of our choice, an incredible amount of vacation time, paid monthly transportation, and more. Affect cares about its employees­­ and the team is what makes it the best place to work.”  

“This organization values employees first. Affect invests in employees by investing in trainings and professional development opportunities and even though Affect is a small agency, it provides every employee with a $1,000 professional development stipend. They also value work life balance and have a work from home schedule for all employees and year round early closures on Friday. Affect is a place I know I can grow my career and continue to grow professionally.”

“Affect provides a welcoming and exciting atmosphere, filled with employees that take pride in the quality work they produce. There is a strong emphasis on work life balance and a focus on enabling employees to move up within the company. For all of these reasons, I’m proud to work here and alongside some of the most talented people in the industry and launch my career further into the world of PR.”

If you’re interested in working with us, you can see our open job positions here: http://www.affect.com/openings/

Stellar job, Affect team! Congrats!

While traditional outlets such as The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times will most likely always have their place in the media, it’s not the only place people are getting their news.  More and more, people are turning to social media, particularly social media influencers, for news, reviews and opinions on the latest products and services.

So, how can you leverage social media influencers to promote your brand?  We’ve rounded up best practices when looking to engage influencers for promotion.

Know Your Audience, Know Your Brand

What type of brand are you and what product or service are you trying to sell?  Are you looking to target 18 -24 year old gamers, baby boomer tech enthusiasts, or teen fashionistas? Depending on your audience and brand category, you may want to consider prioritizing specific social media platforms.  For example, Facebook users tends to skew older so if you want to target 30 – 45 year old people with families, that may be your best bet.  If you want to reach more business-focused individuals, tapping a LinkedIn influencer could help tell your story.

While some influencers may promote a product or service they don’t believe in if the price is right, followers are usually quick to catch on and it can often hurt the reputation of the brand and influencer alike.  Make sure to not just focus on the number of subscribers when looking for an influencer to partner with – the type of audience they attract is just as, if not more important for your brand.

Business Goals

When choosing an influencer and social media platform, what business goals are you trying to achieve?  Do you want to drive clicks to your website, increase sales for your product or just increase overall awareness of your company?  Sometimes a YouTube video review or sponsored video could drive more sales than a profile piece of your CEO in a respected publication.  Many influencers will be open to using trackable URLs when linking back to your company, which can help you measure the true ROI – something that can be difficult to track when just relying on earned media placements alone

“Control” the Message

Since most influencers require some sort of compensation, brands will have a bit more say over the content created compared to traditional earned media.  While I don’t advise trying to provide a word-for-word script for these influencers, most are willing to abide by some general guidelines around positioning and messaging while still giving them creative control to match their audience.

Consider Sponsored Content

Even if the content is sponsored by a brand, the influencer’s reputation is on the line and they take a risk when supporting a product they are promoting.  Because of this, users tend to trust influencers a bit more as they often portray themselves as a person who appreciates honesty and transparency.

Sponsored content and influencer campaigns have grown rapidly over the past several years, and can be a strong component of your media relations strategy.   They may not be appropriate for all products and brands, but if it does work, it can be a great way to create a steady cadence of brand visibility during slower times.

Whether it’s on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Snapchat or YouTube, thousands of influencers have turned their passions into their own voice and brand, with millions turning to them for their valuable insights and opinions. This is why these campaigns are valuable for promoting your brand to your target audience in a meaningful way.

In this post, we’ve rounded out key takeaways of the conference and what we learned about the future of the healthcare industry.

1. Virtual health is the new telehealth: Speakers from the main stage spoke about how the terms “telemedicine” and “telehealth” are antiquated, in that they simply describe what healthcare already does, just at a distance. The term “virtual health” was touted as a more accurate way of describing the evolving digital way that the healthcare industry is treating and engaging with patients. This term was used throughout the event and is now being seen with some vendors across the industry.
2. Remote collaboration between medical professionals and patients is advancing: There are so many new devices and software that will make it easy for patients and doctors to collaborate remotely. Most of the technology provides results in real time to doctors so patients can get an exam just as they would at an in-person visit. Some of the more advanced devices require nurses or PAs to operate them in a home or clinic with a doctor dictating their movement in real time, which can include vital checks and EKGs, while other devices are for consumer use and include digital imaging of ear, nose, throat and skin to share with their primary care doctor. This remote collaboration will bring big benefits to rural and underserved communities along with very ill and elderly patients.
3. Medical schools are still trying to figure out how to train the next generation of medical professionals: As technology and the healthcare landscape advance, medical schools are trying to figure out how to educate future doctors and nurses with emerging telehealth technology. The field is rapidly changing and what practices and tools are standard now, might be outdated by the time medical students even graduate from their programs. Medical schools need to rethink their curriculum, the skills of the future doctor, and who they should be recruiting, and figure out how they can best prepare students for the healthcare field of the future. It’s not an easy puzzle to solve.
4. Telehealth is here to stay: One thing was apparent at the conference is telehealth has been rapidly changing the healthcare industry and there is no going back. Advancements in imaging, devices, software and AI for the industry have made a significant impact and are now will be a vital part of any medical practice. Telehealth affects all areas of healthcare including psychiatry, dermatology, dentistry, cardiology, hospital and general practices and will continue to evolve as technology does.

As advancements in technology are helping the healthcare industry change and deliver patient care and engagement like never before, practices and medical professionals are going to continue to have to learn about emerging technology.