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Monthly Archives: January 2018

January 31, 2018

Until recently, most people have heard something about Bitcoin, but after this fall, everyone knows about it. Since the second half of September, the price for a single unit of Bitcoin has gone up nearly five times. From around $3000 on average, it has jumped to almost $17,000.

All of this happened within a three month period and, compared to January, when a single Bitcoin cost $800, the jump is huge. The news about this gigantic spike in value has made a lot of people pay attention and many of them are also jumping in, looking to invest.

The first ever crypt-index fund was opened, where adequate investors can trade with Bitcoins legitimately and now, a lot of people who were reluctant before are looking at the possibility of investing in Bitcoin and trading it. However, is it really smart to invest in Bitcoin? We break it down for you.

Cryptocurrency, what was it again?

This is a digital currency generated by a computer and it has encryptions that make it secure. They cannot be found in physical form. At their core, cryptocurrencies are code and nothing else. Still, this doesn’t mean that they aren’t valuable.

Bitcoin is the most well-known cryptocurrency and it was created in 2009. However, there are many other cryptocurrencies that have showed up on the market since then and one of the mentionable ones includes Litecoin that also had amazing growth in 2017 (over 7,000 percent).

Don’t rush into investing before knowing these things

Even though there is a lot of potential, like with any other investment, there are risks and you need to understand them in order to make a sensible investment. First of all, no cryptocurrency is backed by any government and they are all decentralized.
While others feel that this is a downside, others think that that this is what’s good about them as there are no banks involved and people can transfer Bitcoins whenever they want, while at the same time having the option to do this anonymously.

Still, no regulatory institution regulates its value if it rises or drops suddenly. Additionally, cryptocurrencies don’t have intrinsic value, meaning that their price is determined by how much people are currently willing to give for it. Cryptocurrencies don’t pay dividends, neither do they generate income.

This is why extreme value swings like the ones we have been witnessing recently are possible.

Is investing in cryptocurrency in long-term a thing?

It’s still too early to discuss long-term investing in digital currencies. There isn’t any long historical data like with the stock market and it’s impossible to make a good analysis of trends. Still, there are already people who are worried about the possibility of hitting a bubble.

Should you invest in any cryptocurrency?

It is possible to buy any cryptocurrency using various exchanges. Still, before you make such a move, make sure that you’ve set aside a sum that you don’t really need when it comes to your life quality. If you are investing, make sure that you will in no way be in danger if you lose the money you invested.

January 10, 2018

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[/fusion_text][fusion_text]”WTF do I do with all these business cards?” The common question many attendees ask after a long few days at a conference (this is assuming you are still hung-over). Word of advice: Don’t worry about the business cards until you get back to the office! There is no one that is expecting a call from, well perhaps your wife but other than that, literally no one. However, it is super important to reflect on your experience for personal growth and share that reflection with your peers to show that you are proactive and actually attended the conference to GSD (if you do not know what GSD, be sure to hit me up for some enlightenment)! Weigh out the pros, cons, successes and windows of opportunity and 5..4..3..2..1 – ACT upon them NOW.

Personal Reflection: Write in your planner, journal, smartphone notepad, your daughters scratch and sniff notebook – but just write. For your own personal growth and accountability, be sure to measure your performance at the conference. Learn from mistakes and glorify the major WINS then plan ahead for the next event. Ask yourself: “What could I do better for next time? What should I have done differently? Why do some people refuse to eat fish tacos?” But I digress.

Public Reflection: Blog about it on the company website, Facebook page, Linkedin, Twitter, Instagram, etc. Post on social media. Every business should have a website with fresh content (I know, I know, I need to look in the mirror before saying it here!) From a company perspective, you want to show your audience the strong points of the conference. Try to use more visuals (photos/video) instead of text. Too much text can lead to losing the readers attention (a problem in content marketing!) Reflect on speakers, team member speeches, favorite quotes, prominent photo ops, etc. It is time to dominate.

Follow up, Follow up, Follow up: Take the five most promising people you met, and follow up with them. Send them an email that starts by reminding them of the details of where you met and what you discussed, and ends with a next step to move forward. Do NOT leave it open-ended.

Connect on Linkedin/Facebook: This is one of my favorite strategies. I look the people up on Facebook or Linkedin (or Instagram if they are cute) using their business cards and add them to my network. Now, I know their birthdays, their occupation, and their day to day status (literally!). Best Rolodex in the world.

Introduce two people to each other: One of my colleagues, Steve Lowry, is a master at this. He finds one person at each event and introduces them to someone else he thinks they should know. Now, where those two people take the relationship is up to them, but he is always remembered as the guy who made the introduction!

Thank the host: A quick note thanking them will go a long way. Do not look at these events as a chance to make money or attain clients. Think of it as a personal growth exercise where you not only get to hone your networking skills but maybe even help/enlighten someone else on something they may not have known or thought of. This is a small community and as I like to say sometimes, “It is not about making a buck but about making a difference.”[/fusion_text]

January 3, 2018

If you want to rub shoulders with the movers and shakers in your industry, then attending a trade show is just the thing for you. At a typical trade show, you will have an opportunity to come across people you normally wouldn’t, since everyone involved in the industry will be there. Such shows normally last for 2 or 3 days (unless it’s Vegas then it’s a “crap” shoot). 😉

However, if you decide to attend a trade show which is out of town let alone a different country, you will have to spend a couple of days there, so it may seem like an expensive little adventure. That doesn’t mean that you should change your plans, you just need a good guide on how to get the most out of the show, so I will make sure to provide you with some useful tips!

1. Make a good choice

First of all, you need to be certain that you have chosen the right trade show to suit your needs. The most important thing to do before choosing is to check the show’s website in order to find out which companies will attend, check their Facebook page or newsletters to gauge the relevancy of the show.

2. Register ahead

Different shows offer different pricing and policies. If you do your research right, you can possibly save some money by registering in advance. There are some shows which exclusively cater to experts and qualified buyers, while there are some that will only require your online registration.

Moreover, if you register ahead, not only that you will save money, but you might also get an opportunity to schedule appointments with some companies and yes parties you can benefit from. Shows such as the Affiliate Summit and AWA and AWE tend to sell out so be sure to register well in advance.

3. Choose the right accommodation

It is advisable to stay at the hotel that is associated with the show you are attending, even though the prices may be higher than in other accommodations, because you will get a chance to run into many of the attendees there and you never know when you may run into your next big affiliate or advertiser. This is a great chance to make some acquaintances and potential business deals.

4. Stick to your plan

Attending any kind of show without having a precise plan is a bad idea because you will miss out on so many things. You need to determine what your goals are and stick to them. Since these shows are usually huge, the first thing you need to do as soon as you arrive is to get a map and familiarize yourself with the attendee list and their location.
You should mark the booths that are your priority and visit them first. Afterwards, if you have any time left that is, you can freely explore whoever else is there.

5. Carry your business cards with you

When it comes to such events, you never know when you are going to run into someone important. That is why you should always carry your business cards wherever you go. Moreover, it would be a good idea to make copies of your sell sheets and bring them as well. This is one of my biggest peeves – people who run out of cards on the first day, when in actuality they probably just forgot them.

6. Approach booths at the right time

At trade shows, timing is everything. If you pay a visit to a booth that is overcrowded, you won’t get a chance to interact with the right people. To avoid wasting your time and waiting in lines, it is recommended to visit booths on the second day. However, never wait for the last day because the majority of the companies may be already gone by then.

To sum up, attending trade shows can give you a lot of lucrative business opportunities, so make sure you follow my guidelines and stick to your plan to get the most out of them!