This article was written by our team and was initially published on Meidum https://medium.com/p/7062abcde7c5/edit

We've Analyzed 20+ ICO Pitches, and Here's What We've Learned

Pitching an ICO, as well as delivering any other spiel, is something that puts even experienced executives and marketing managers under the gun. No wonder: when participating in a pitching contest, you have a severely limited amount of time to give the big picture of your project and to explain to potential investors why your ICO is worth their attention and money. In a case that we recently examined, a poorly written campaign speech accounted for a considerable portion of the startup's non-success, which proves, yet again, how important mastering the art of giving presentations is. To help you out, we've analyzed more than 20 ICO pitches that won various competitions in order to devise a successful formula.

Attention-grabbin' good

Attracting listeners' attention is the first step of any presentation. How do speakers usually do that? Well, the most common hook we noticed in the analyzed pitches is a question. The majority of presenters started off by asking the audience a "what if", "did you know", or "how many of you are thinking" question. Not only was such an introduction helpful in drawing people's attention, but also it was quite engaging.
Alternatively, you can begin your speech with a short personal anecdote and or by asking listeners to think back to some relevant period or event. Whatever option you prefer, it should logically lead your talk to the next point.

The next point being…

Much like the whitepaper, your pitch should also indicate a problem that people are confronting. In other words, a gap in the market that your product is seeking to fill. In comparison with any technical document, however, stating an issue when on stage shouldn't be term-laden and immensely detailed. Most successful presenters always give an illustrative and practical example which leaves the audience with a clear understanding that such a problem exists and they are about to hear your blockchain solution to it.

How you'll fix the problem

This is the part where you actually walk the public through your token and the technology behind it. We've made a couple of interesting observations that unite all the successfully delivered speeches we've examined.

First, today it's difficult to imagine a spiel without a presentation. However, very often slides are overloaded with text and lack images. What we noticed when examining the selected pitches is that they all were accompanied by presentations with minimum textual information but clear visual aids, especially at the part where the presenter walks the audience through the technical details. Various charts and graphs helped highlight the most important data and make the complex technical information more digestible.

Second, not only did all the speakers touch upon their roadmaps, but they clearly stated where they were with respect to their plans and goals. It showed the audience that the presenters and their startups had a clear sense of direction as well as feasible short-term goals.
Finally, when presenting the project, several speakers made a strong before/after contrast, which spelled out how the product they are launching will solve the previously stated problem. Those who did not do this at least provided examples of use cases.

The people behind it
Another inherent part of a pitch is introducing the people on board. Most speakers mentioned several core team members and their most impressive credentials, such as years of professional experience, past companies, and patents. Furthermore, all the presenters gave a couple of names of the most prominent people on their advisory team.

Final thoughts

If you've read our previous article on neuromarketing, you must have noticed that all of the aforementioned items (intro, stating the problem, giving a solution to it, and introducing the team) fully align with the six stimuli that appeal to the reptilian part of the brain responsible for pushing the "buy" button.
Coincidence? Of course not.

Real professionals understand that such principles as addressing a relatable problem, indicating tangible benefits of your product, offering a sharp contrast, clearly marking the beginning and the end, appealing to emotions, and having good visual presentation actually work. So when writing your next ICO pitch don't forget to incorporate the 6 components of the winning formula.

This article was written by our team and was initially published on Hacker Noon https://hackernoon.com/how-marketing-meets-neuroscience-and-what-it-has-to-do-with-your-ico-1d07fc6b0bd3

Wait, you said marketing and neuroscience?

Exactly, and the result of such a collision is called neuromarketing (admittedly the name is rather less imaginative than the concept). The field started to develop in the 1990s and took off quite quickly, as it didn’t take big corporations long to see its substantial benefits. What the research primarily focuses on is the brain’s response to various marketing stimuli. Therefore, the main goals of neuromarketing are to figure out how customers make their purchasing decisions and how to make various tools used for promoting goods and services more effective.

And how does it work?

In a nutshell, the human brain can be divided into three parts: the neocortex, the most recently developed part responsible for conscious thoughts, language, and spatial reasoning; the limbic system which houses feelings and emotions; and the reptilian or primal brain, the oldest of the three, which regulates the body’s vital functions and is purely instinctive. Why do you need to know all this? Well, because it is the reptilian brain that mostly deals with the decision-making process, so delivering content that speaks to this very part is the key to success.

Sales Brain (www.salesbrain.com), one of the pioneers in the field, compiled a list of 6 stimuli that the reptilian brain responds to:

1. Self-centered — since this part of the brain has always been responsible for survival, it’s extremely egocentric
2. Contrast — the reptilian brain reacts strongly to clear contrast such as before / after
3. Tangible — this part of the brain responds well when it sees palpable benefits
4. Beginning and end — the primal brain focuses on the beginning and end of any process or experience, rather than the middle
5. Visual — the better the visual representation of something is, the stronger it appeals to the reptilian brain
6. Emotions — feelings greatly stimulate the reptilian complex

Based on this framework, some other research, and our own experience working with ICOs, we’ll give you some hints on how to successfully implement neuromarketing in your token’s promotional campaign.

1. It’s not about you and your ICO

As we’ve mentioned before, this part of the brain is very self-centered. What it means in practice is that you should try to see your project through the eyes of potential investors. For instance, if you’ve developed an innovative blockchain solution, don’t simply describe why the technology is unique. Explain how it’s relevant to people, how it will solve their problems and make their life better or easier. In a nutshell, offer a mental before/after contrast, or better yet, an explicit written one.

Also, don’t underestimate the power of words and diction. Even such a simple thing as using the pronouns “you” and “your” more often can help put emphasis on customers or investors languagewise.

2. Because we are visual

There are lots of different statistics which definitively prove that people respond to information with visual aids much better than to plain text. What should you take from this? Well, first of all, that the project’s website must be well designed and easy to navigate. Second of all, that the white paper has to contain tables and charts that will visually support the text. Also, that most social media platform posts need to be accompanied by images or infographics. Finally, since the reptilian brain cares about the beginning and end, the roadmap of your ICO should not only be visually appealing but also very clear and unambiguous.

P.S. We specifically expanded on the proper visual presentation of a Bitcointalk thread in this article https://medium.com/assetrush/5-easy-ways-to-promote-your-bitcointalk-thread-9727b4505e9a.

3. In praise of tangible benefits

Numbers make things look plausible and to some extent more impressive. But digits alone don’t suffice. Remember how the reptilian brain is triggered by emotions? That is why when presenting your project, you should provide testimonials. In the case of ICOs, they assume the shape of advisors, respected people who vouch for you. A short time ago we devoted an entire article to this topic, so be sure to check it out https://medium.com/assetrush/how-to-choose-ico-advisors-the-comprehensive-guide-bc821ed3de75.


4. The emotional appeal

One the of the main goals of marketing is to create positive associations with your product, which in our case is the token. There are a plethora of tools that can assist in achieving this objective. One way is to create emotionally appealing content that will resonate with people. Have you noticed that on such platforms as this one there are more and more personal anecdotes? Well, it’s easy to spell out: such stories create a bond between the reader and the writer. It also explains why community management, especially in the crypto world, is so crucially important: it adds a personal touch, which is vital when you’re basically trying to crowdfund the project.

P.S. Read our article about Telegram community management to learn how you can build a thriving community https://blog.markgrowth.com/telegram-community-management-organic-follower-growth-from-1-300-to-22-000-b79e656d6d2c.

Final Thoughts

Neuromarketing is a developing field, but it can already offer a lot of hints that can help your ICO campaign be more effective and successful. Similarly to copywriters, who optimize their texts for search engines, marketing managers can use these principles to optimize content for the human brain and thus draw customers’ attention — which is a scarce commodity.

This article was written by our team and was initially published on Hacker Noon https://hackernoon.com/how-marketing-meets-neuroscience-and-what-it-has-to-do-with-your-ico-1d07fc6b0bd3

Wait, you said marketing and neuroscience?

Exactly, and the result of such a collision is called neuromarketing (admittedly the name is rather less imaginative than the concept). The field started to develop in the 1990s and took off quite quickly, as it didn’t take big corporations long to see its substantial benefits. What the research primarily focuses on is the brain’s response to various marketing stimuli. Therefore, the main goals of neuromarketing are to figure out how customers make their purchasing decisions and how to make various tools used for promoting goods and services more effective.

And how does it work?

In a nutshell, the human brain can be divided into three parts: the neocortex, the most recently developed part responsible for conscious thoughts, language, and spatial reasoning; the limbic system which houses feelings and emotions; and the reptilian or primal brain, the oldest of the three, which regulates the body’s vital functions and is purely instinctive. Why do you need to know all this? Well, because it is the reptilian brain that mostly deals with the decision-making process, so delivering content that speaks to this very part is the key to success.

Sales Brain (www.salesbrain.com), one of the pioneers in the field, compiled a list of 6 stimuli that the reptilian brain responds to:

1. Self-centered — since this part of the brain has always been responsible for survival, it’s extremely egocentric
2. Contrast — the reptilian brain reacts strongly to clear contrast such as before / after
3. Tangible — this part of the brain responds well when it sees palpable benefits
4. Beginning and end — the primal brain focuses on the beginning and end of any process or experience, rather than the middle
5. Visual — the better the visual representation of something is, the stronger it appeals to the reptilian brain
6. Emotions — feelings greatly stimulate the reptilian complex

Based on this framework, some other research, and our own experience working with ICOs, we’ll give you some hints on how to successfully implement neuromarketing in your token’s promotional campaign.

1. It’s not about you and your ICO

As we’ve mentioned before, this part of the brain is very self-centered. What it means in practice is that you should try to see your project through the eyes of potential investors. For instance, if you’ve developed an innovative blockchain solution, don’t simply describe why the technology is unique. Explain how it’s relevant to people, how it will solve their problems and make their life better or easier. In a nutshell, offer a mental before/after contrast, or better yet, an explicit written one.

Also, don’t underestimate the power of words and diction. Even such a simple thing as using the pronouns “you” and “your” more often can help put emphasis on customers or investors languagewise.

2. Because we are visual

There are lots of different statistics which definitively prove that people respond to information with visual aids much better than to plain text. What should you take from this? Well, first of all, that the project’s website must be well designed and easy to navigate. Second of all, that the white paper has to contain tables and charts that will visually support the text. Also, that most social media platform posts need to be accompanied by images or infographics. Finally, since the reptilian brain cares about the beginning and end, the roadmap of your ICO should not only be visually appealing but also very clear and unambiguous.

P.S. We specifically expanded on the proper visual presentation of a Bitcointalk thread in this article https://medium.com/assetrush/5-easy-ways-to-promote-your-bitcointalk-thread-9727b4505e9a.

3. In praise of tangible benefits

Numbers make things look plausible and to some extent more impressive. But digits alone don’t suffice. Remember how the reptilian brain is triggered by emotions? That is why when presenting your project, you should provide testimonials. In the case of ICOs, they assume the shape of advisors, respected people who vouch for you. A short time ago we devoted an entire article to this topic, so be sure to check it out https://medium.com/assetrush/how-to-choose-ico-advisors-the-comprehensive-guide-bc821ed3de75.


4. The emotional appeal

One the of the main goals of marketing is to create positive associations with your product, which in our case is the token. There are a plethora of tools that can assist in achieving this objective. One way is to create emotionally appealing content that will resonate with people. Have you noticed that on such platforms as this one there are more and more personal anecdotes? Well, it’s easy to spell out: such stories create a bond between the reader and the writer. It also explains why community management, especially in the crypto world, is so crucially important: it adds a personal touch, which is vital when you’re basically trying to crowdfund the project.

P.S. Read our article about Telegram community management to learn how you can build a thriving community https://blog.markgrowth.com/telegram-community-management-organic-follower-growth-from-1-300-to-22-000-b79e656d6d2c.

Final Thoughts

Neuromarketing is a developing field, but it can already offer a lot of hints that can help your ICO campaign be more effective and successful. Similarly to copywriters, who optimize their texts for search engines, marketing managers can use these principles to optimize content for the human brain and thus draw customers’ attention — which is a scarce commodity.

Thank you for your comments! I'm glad this info is helpful.

Cult, YoBit must have changed something very recently because they always had 3 listing options, one of them being free.

Please note that this article was initially published in our blog on Medium https://medium.com/assetrush/what-we-talk-about-when-we-talk-about-free-ico-listing-exchanges-82981933878f

Various ICO-related prices are shooting up and therefore in our previous article https://medium.com/assetrush/what-we-talk-about-when-we-talk-about-free-ico-listing-websites-9095ba70ad21, we looked into the process of applying to free ICO listing websites. To continue on this topic, we’ve decided to explore the possibility of getting your token added to cryptocurrency exchanges without any cash outlay.

Way 1: completely free

This is, naturally, the best option, as instead of spending anywhere from 3 to 50 BTC or even more on listing, your altcoin will be published absolutely free of charge. There are several ways to get to the Crypto Promised Land.

First, some respected exchanges like Bittrex and Gate.io are willing to list ICOs for free. Needless to say, getting your token added to such platforms will instantly give it a boost and help gain a considerable reputation on the market. However, as the exchange’s good name is at stake, the review process is stringent and might be lengthy as well.

Second, you may submit your token to some middle-size exchanges such as YoBit where there are three listing types, one of them being free. The catch is that in comparison with the premium and exclusive options, it doesn’t guarantee that your token will be considered and added to the exchange within a certain number of days. So, again, the process might take a long time.

Third, you can always find smaller exchanges that are seeking to grow and expand the number of ICOs they are trading. As a result, they are less choosy and more likely to list your altcoin. A good example would be Stocks.exchange.

Finally, from time to time cryptocurrency exchanges of various calibers run vote contests; the main prize, as you might have guessed, is a free listing. For instance, just a couple of days ago KuCoin held such a competition, and the lucky winner will soon be added to the trading platform.

Way 2: pseudo-free listing

On some exchanges listing per se is free, but platforms will charge you hidden fees, most commonly for marketing services. For example, you don’t need to pay for getting your altcoin listed on OKEx, but the exchange will require you to sink some digital money into the token’s marketing campaign.

They are some other charging models as well. One of them is used by Bancor and implies levying approximately 1% of the total supply after the ICO has been published. Cobinhood, in contrast, doesn’t collect any fees for itself, but will still ask you to pay a certain amount of money in your tokens which will later be distributed to their community as airdrop rewards.

The application

The application for exchanges to some extent resembles that for listing websites. As a rule, you will need to impart the following information regarding your ICO:

1. Background (name, type, various dates, concept description, etc)
2. White paper
3. Community (links to social media)
4. Trading (if the token has been listed on other platforms, trading volume)

In addition, some exchanges will request that you provide details concerning the legal and security aspects of your altcoin.

Final thoughts

Getting your coin published for free on an exchange is definitely more difficult than on a listing website. Nevertheless, it is not impossible. If you’re offering a truly innovative product that has great potential, exchanges will certainly be interested in adding your token to their trading platform.

Please note that this article was initially published in our blog on Medium https://medium.com/assetrush/what-we-talk-about-when-we-talk-about-free-ico-listing-websites-9095ba70ad21

With all kinds of ICO-related prices soaring, getting your token published on a listing website for free might be a good option to consider. However, in order to get your digital asset listed without charge, it should go through an application process. In this article not only will we examine that process, but also give you some useful hints on how to actually nail it.

Why do you need to get your token listed there anyway?

Although having your token listed on ICO listing websites is not as vital as on exchanges, it’s still worth doing. Mainly because it’s a great way to promote your altcoin, reach a larger number of potential investors, and bring in new blood to your community. Also, it will help you increase your credibility on the market. Being listed on at least 4 or 5 respectable websites will make your ICO project much more trustworthy.

How do you prepare your application?

The application process can take two forms: either filling out an online application form or e-mailing the listing website of your choice directly. One way or the other, you should have all the particulars regarding your ICO project figured out and be able to provide the information listed below.

1. Know thy product and thy token

Let’s start with the token. Application forms for most listing websites will ask you to supply some concrete details, including but not limited to:

1. Name
2. Type
3. Ticker
4. Price per token
5. Total supply
6. Pre-ICO and ICO dates
7. Unit distribution
8. Accepted currencies
9. Hard cap
10. Fund allocation

As for the product, the most important part is a well-written white paper, which must be prepared and published. Besides, it’s highly likely that listing websites will request a brief concept description stating the value of your product and the features that will help it stand out on the market.

2. Submit the brand

However obvious this may sound, by the time you submit an ICO to a listing website, the brand image should already have been created. Such items as the project’s name and logo as well as the aforementioned token’s name and ticker must be ready since you’ll need to submit them when filling out an application form. Furthermore, the project’s official website has to be built and correctly functioning.

3. Social Media

Listing websites will absolutely require that you provide links to all the ICO’s social media profiles, especially on such essential platforms as Twitter, Telegram, Bitcointalk, and Medium. It won’t hurt, naturally, if you add Facebook, Reddit, Slack, or YouTube — the more the better. Be aware, however, that only creating profiles won’t suffice; what such websites will actually check is your community and its vibrancy.

4. Get ready for verification

When reviewing an application, listing websites perform a team background check. And while you can’t really affect the reputation earned by your colleagues and yourself in the community, what you can do is create verifiable, professional-looking profiles on LinkedIn. It goes without saying that it would be best if every person on board also has other means of communication, such as a personal Twitter profile or Telegram.

How do you find free listing websites?

By carrying out extensive research, of course. There are numerous aggregations online like Top ICO Listing Sites which can significantly narrow down your choice. After that, you need to check out every website separately to explore the possibility of publishing your altcoin without any fees.

We’ve done part of the work for you and drawn up a list of several free websites:

1. https://www.icoalert.com
2. https://icobazaar.com
3. https://icobench.com
4. https://icotracker.net
5. https://icodrops.com

Pros and cons of listing for free

Whereas the pros of getting your token listed without any fees are obvious, it’s worth paying attention to the cons. First of all, be prepared to wait. Since the websites that publish ICOs cost-free receive a plethora of applications, considering, approving, and finally listing your token may take some time. Second of all, even if you get your altcoin added to the website without any cash outlay, there might be some useful additional services that you’ll need to pay for. Finally, the ranking of your ICO on paid websites partly depends on the type of promotional package you buy, which is not an option on a free platform.

Final thoughts

Submitting your ICO to a free listing website is worth trying and is actually more doable than it might seem at first. Nevertheless, if you have any difficulties and need a hand, be sure to reach out to us at assetrush.com.

Please note that this article was initially published in our blog on Medium https://medium.com/assetrush/what-we-talk-about-when-we-talk-about-free-ico-listing-websites-9095ba70ad21

With all kinds of ICO-related prices soaring, getting your token published on a listing website for free might be a good option to consider. However, in order to get your digital asset listed without charge, it should go through an application process. In this article not only will we examine that process, but also give you some useful hints on how to actually nail it.

Why do you need to get your token listed there anyway?

Although having your token listed on ICO listing websites is not as vital as on exchanges, it’s still worth doing. Mainly because it’s a great way to promote your altcoin, reach a larger number of potential investors, and bring in new blood to your community. Also, it will help you increase your credibility on the market. Being listed on at least 4 or 5 respectable websites will make your ICO project much more trustworthy.

How do you prepare your application?

The application process can take two forms: either filling out an online application form or e-mailing the listing website of your choice directly. One way or the other, you should have all the particulars regarding your ICO project figured out and be able to provide the information listed below.

1. Know thy product and thy token

Let’s start with the token. Application forms for most listing websites will ask you to supply some concrete details, including but not limited to:

1. Name
2. Type
3. Ticker
4. Price per token
5. Total supply
6. Pre-ICO and ICO dates
7. Unit distribution
8. Accepted currencies
9. Hard cap
10. Fund allocation

As for the product, the most important part is a well-written white paper, which must be prepared and published. Besides, it’s highly likely that listing websites will request a brief concept description stating the value of your product and the features that will help it stand out on the market.

2. Submit the brand

However obvious this may sound, by the time you submit an ICO to a listing website, the brand image should already have been created. Such items as the project’s name and logo as well as the aforementioned token’s name and ticker must be ready since you’ll need to submit them when filling out an application form. Furthermore, the project’s official website has to be built and correctly functioning.

3. Social Media

Listing websites will absolutely require that you provide links to all the ICO’s social media profiles, especially on such essential platforms as Twitter, Telegram, Bitcointalk, and Medium. It won’t hurt, naturally, if you add Facebook, Reddit, Slack, or YouTube — the more the better. Be aware, however, that only creating profiles won’t suffice; what such websites will actually check is your community and its vibrancy.

4. Get ready for verification

When reviewing an application, listing websites perform a team background check. And while you can’t really affect the reputation earned by your colleagues and yourself in the community, what you can do is create verifiable, professional-looking profiles on LinkedIn. It goes without saying that it would be best if every person on board also has other means of communication, such as a personal Twitter profile or Telegram.

How do you find free listing websites?

By carrying out extensive research, of course. There are numerous aggregations online like Top ICO Listing Sites which can significantly narrow down your choice. After that, you need to check out every website separately to explore the possibility of publishing your altcoin without any fees.

We’ve done part of the work for you and drawn up a list of several free websites:

1. https://www.icoalert.com
2. https://icobazaar.com
3. https://icobench.com
4. https://icotracker.net
5. https://icodrops.com

Pros and cons of listing for free

Whereas the pros of getting your token listed without any fees are obvious, it’s worth paying attention to the cons. First of all, be prepared to wait. Since the websites that publish ICOs cost-free receive a plethora of applications, considering, approving, and finally listing your token may take some time. Second of all, even if you get your altcoin added to the website without any cash outlay, there might be some useful additional services that you’ll need to pay for. Finally, the ranking of your ICO on paid websites partly depends on the type of promotional package you buy, which is not an option on a free platform.

Final thoughts

Submitting your ICO to a free listing website is worth trying and is actually more doable than it might seem at first. Nevertheless, if you have any difficulties and need a hand, be sure to reach out to us at assetrush.com.

Please note that this article was initially published in our blog on Medium https://medium.com/assetrush/figuring-it-out-on-twitter-5-tips-that-actually-work-83975cc8c809

If you go online, you will find tons of Twitter tips all of which guarantee you phenomenal follower growth and countless likes and retweets. The catch is that when you actually start reading them, most of the hints turn out not to offer any sacred knowledge. “Post great content” or “use hashtags” is something that goes without saying and doesn’t really provide invaluable help. Let’s face it: figuring it out on Twitter isn’t easy — and we at assetrush.com would know. Therefore, we’ve decided to share with you some tips that actually work.

1. Posting vs. Interacting

At first, it may seem that Twitter is about posting, which is true to some extent but not completely. You can skip tweeting for a day or two; it wouldn’t be the end of the world. What you cannot eschew, however, is interacting. Regularly engaging with other users is much more important for a steady growth of followers and impressions than publishing your own content on a daily basis. Comment on posts written by colleagues and experts (not influencers or celebrities because you’re much less likely to get their attention) and share your professional opinion with them. Not only will it produce an increase in your account metrics, but also it could be good networking.

2. Post regularly, but draw the line

The previous paragraph isn’t aimed at diminishing the importance of publishing regularly. At the end of the day, people won’t follow the account of a person who posts something once in a blue moon. On the other hand, there’s the risk of falling into another pitfall: tweeting too much. Many users publish something literally every other minute, which at first seems strange, and quickly gets annoying. The solution we’ve found to be effective is drawing up a schedule, and sticking to it. It will help you strike a balance between under-sharing and over-sharing content. Furthermore, your followers will know when to expect a new tweet from you.

3. Exercise wit and GIFs

Even if you’re on Twitter for professional reasons rather than personal, there’s still room for humor. Quick wit will never go out of vogue. So, writing something droll and enhancing its effect with a suitable GIF is a great way to create a positive public image and attract new followers. For instance, every day there are funny trending hashtags, such as #LostMySmartphoneSo or #ExcuseForBeingLateIn4Words. Why not join those mini flash mobs, since apart from being fun, they will also boost your profile visits and number of impressions?

4. On content

When it comes to content, there are two points we’d like to make. First of all, what you publish should be unique. Twitter is oversaturated with all kinds of articles, pictures, and videos. As a result, only exclusive content really stands out. For instance, it’s always better to publish your own infographic than find one that has been all over the Internet. Creative content is what will add value (and followers) to your profile.

Second of all, we disagree with the common wisdom that posting the same tweet twice is a mauvais ton. Doing so isn’t calamitous; you just need a good reason. For instance, if there’s a newsbreak concerning a topic you posted on earlier, you can always mention your former tweet as part of your comment on the new development.

5. The art of replying

Most articles about Twitter suggest that you reply to all comments. We’d like to specify: all, but those made by trolls. The issue is that there will always be people who criticize you on no reasonable grounds, especially if we’re talking about a corporate account (be it a company’s or its official representative’s). You can never outargue, persuade, or mollify such people, and you will rarely look good for trying. Therefore, there’s no need to engage with them. Other than that, interact with those who mention you in their tweets or write comments on your posts.

Final Thoughts

Twitter is a useful social media platform for creating both a personal and a corporate brand. The key to it isn’t constant and promiscuous posting, but unique high-quality content, active interaction, and, naturally, funny GIFs.

Please note the article was initially posted in our blog on Medium https://medium.com/assetrush/how-to-choose-ico-advisors-the-comprehensive-guide-bc821ed3de75

If the phrase ‘ICO advisors’ doesn’t really make sense or you have a very vague idea of how to choose them, worry not. We’ll spell out the concept of ICO advisors, explain why you certainly need them on board, and walk you through the process of finding the right ones.

Who are they & why on Earth do you need them?

Although the word “advisors” strongly implies that someone shares their words of wisdom with you, it’s not necessarily true in this case. Of course, blockchain and cryptocurrency specialists can put forward a couple of recommendations, but it isn’t their primary focus. In the world of ICOs, advisors are people with an excellent professional reputation who are willing to vouch for you and your project. In comparison with ambassadors, they don’t promote your ICO so actively, but the fact that such experienced and respectable people support you greatly facilitates the process of winning the trust of investors and community.

What criteria should they fulfill?

Advisors have stringent criteria for picking ICOs because their good name is at stake, and you should keep your own set of standards in mind for choosing advisors in turn. Below are the things to look out for.

1) Experience & weight in the community
The reason why you want to get a particular advisor on board is first and foremost this person’s reputation — and not necessarily just in the crypto community. Inviting someone respectable and experienced from the industry that your ICO project is focused on, or just an enlightened IT specialist, is always a good move.

2) Track record
When looking for an advisor, you should be sure that this person has an immaculate track record. Otherwise, blots on their escutcheon will automatically transfer to you, which can put you in an unfavorable light or even prevent your token from being listed on an exchange. So reach out to the cryptocurrency community as well as your own network to find out what kind of standing this person has in the eyes of other people.

3) Public profile
A great advisor is a person with a strong social media presence and preferably some public exposure. When choosing experts to support your project, check out their profiles on the most common social networks such as Twitter or Facebook to see what they post and what impressions this content creates. Furthermore, pay particularly meticulous attention to their LinkedIn as it’s the most important professional social media.

4) Number of projects
The more blockchain-based projects an advisor buttresses, the less weight their name carries. So don’t chase after people who throw their support left, right, and center; it’s devalued anyway.

Where can you find them?

There are a couple of ways to find great advisors. First of all, by reaching out to them directly via the aforementioned social media. As an alternative, you can meet and network with such people at blockchain conferences and other events, which they regularly attend. Finally, some ICO marketing agencies provide the service of putting startups in touch with advisors. This is probably the easiest way, though you will have to pony up.

Final Thoughts

Attracting advisors whose names will give a major boost to your ICO isn’t easy. Such specialists are picky and very careful when choosing whom to lend their support, because their good name is at risk. But they are exactly the kind of people you need on board.

If you have trouble finding perfect ICO advisors, reach out to us at assetrush.com, and we will be happy to provide our professional assistance with your search.

Thank you guys for sharing your thoughts. I'm glad you found the article somewhat helpful.

Thank you for all your comments! I'm glad you found the article useful.

Please note that this article was initially published in our blog on Medium medium.com/assetrush/5-signs-of-an-ico-scam-red-flags-of-a-ponzi-scheme-67749af3565c

The number of ICO scams is growing rapidly and proportionally to the amount of money that is stolen. However, not every ICO is a scam, and it’s still possible to find a gem in the vast sea of fraud. Since a lot of people are reaching out to us at assetrush.com to seek our professional opinion on different tokens, we’ve decided to share with you five telltale signs that will help you avoid getting taken in by a Ponzi scheme.

1. The landing page

Start with the conspicuous: the landing page. The kind of information that is presented there can already tell you a lot. If you see a good description of the company, their project and vision, then it’s something worth your attention. Good examples would be Wanchain and Bancor, whose websites primarily focus on technology and architecture. If everything you see on the landing page is about a token sale and is supported by the phrase “make money”, then you should probably stop wasting your time and close a tab. Always keep in mind the infamous Pincoin which promised its investors up to 40% in monthly profit before turning out to be one of the biggest scams in the crypto history.

2. The product

Critically evaluating the product is the next step you should take. The first question to answer here is if this project really needs blockchain. Very often we read descriptions of products that are working well enough without the new technology. If a startup wants to use blockchain for no particular reason, not to solve a specific long-standing problem or fill in some gap in the market, its founders probably don’t have a strong idea of what exactly they want to do.

The second question is about the company’s technical documentation. Do they have a white paper? Is it well written and properly structured? Does it contain technology-related information? White papers of most ICO scammers beat around the bush using ambiguous complex sentences and Wikipedia-style definitions.

3. The team

When examining an ICO team, you should pay attention to two things as well. First of all, do they have accounts on some major social media? If so, do they constantly post something or are those accounts abandoned? An unrepresented and inaccessible ICO team, like in the case of the aforementioned Pincoin, is a cogent reason to smell a rat.

Second of all, take the time to learn more about the people who are working on the project and their backgrounds. This is very important because if you find out that at least one team member has a track record of being involved in some sort of scam, you’d better not take the risk.

4. The media

Another item to consider is the official media channels of the ICO. What matters here is not the number of followers (it may be most impressive), but how lively discussions are and what people are talking about. Inactive communities of 60000 members always look suspicious, and so do utopian conversations about how much money people will make by investing in this token. Bots instead of real people and paid promoters promising untold wealth are a major red flag that you’re looking at a scam.

5. What others have to say

We’re lucky to be living in the time of online reviews and tweets which can spread and blow up the Internet in a matter of seconds. Therefore, we suggest you don’t neglect such valuable resources. From Bitcointalk to websites like Is This Token A Scam to hashtag search on Twitter, use the Internet to the fullest to learn from others’ experiences. Even one or two negative reviews are a warning sign that should encourage you to keep doing painstaking research into a token before investing in it.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to plowing money into ICOs, no one can be fully protected. However, there are some signs that will help you detect a scam:

1. Nothing about ethos, but a lot about an attractive return on your investment
2. A product with poor technical documentation
3. No core team represented or a team member who’s been involved in fraud
4. Large, but inactive community
5. Negative reviews on various Internet platforms

Please note that this article was initially published in our blog on Medium medium.com/assetrush/5-signs-of-an-ico-scam-red-flags-of-a-ponzi-scheme-67749af3565c

The number of ICO scams is growing rapidly and proportionally to the amount of money that is stolen. However, not every ICO is a scam, and it’s still possible to find a gem in the vast sea of fraud. Since a lot of people are reaching out to us at assetrush.com to seek our professional opinion on different tokens, we’ve decided to share with you five telltale signs that will help you avoid getting taken in by a Ponzi scheme.

1. The landing page

Start with the conspicuous: the landing page. The kind of information that is presented there can already tell you a lot. If you see a good description of the company, their project and vision, then it’s something worth your attention. Good examples would be Wanchain and Bancor, whose websites primarily focus on technology and architecture. If everything you see on the landing page is about a token sale and is supported by the phrase “make money”, then you should probably stop wasting your time and close a tab. Always keep in mind the infamous Pincoin which promised its investors up to 40% in monthly profit before turning out to be one of the biggest scams in the crypto history.

2. The product

Critically evaluating the product is the next step you should take. The first question to answer here is if this project really needs blockchain. Very often we read descriptions of products that are working well enough without the new technology. If a startup wants to use blockchain for no particular reason, not to solve a specific long-standing problem or fill in some gap in the market, its founders probably don’t have a strong idea of what exactly they want to do.

The second question is about the company’s technical documentation. Do they have a white paper? Is it well written and properly structured? Does it contain technology-related information? White papers of most ICO scammers beat around the bush using ambiguous complex sentences and Wikipedia-style definitions.

3. The team

When examining an ICO team, you should pay attention to two things as well. First of all, do they have accounts on some major social media? If so, do they constantly post something or are those accounts abandoned? An unrepresented and inaccessible ICO team, like in the case of the aforementioned Pincoin, is a cogent reason to smell a rat.

Second of all, take the time to learn more about the people who are working on the project and their backgrounds. This is very important because if you find out that at least one team member has a track record of being involved in some sort of scam, you’d better not take the risk.

4. The media

Another item to consider is the official media channels of the ICO. What matters here is not the number of followers (it may be most impressive), but how lively discussions are and what people are talking about. Inactive communities of 60000 members always look suspicious, and so do utopian conversations about how much money people will make by investing in this token. Bots instead of real people and paid promoters promising untold wealth are a major red flag that you’re looking at a scam.

5. What others have to say

We’re lucky to be living in the time of online reviews and tweets which can spread and blow up the Internet in a matter of seconds. Therefore, we suggest you don’t neglect such valuable resources. From Bitcointalk to websites like Is This Token A Scam to hashtag search on Twitter, use the Internet to the fullest to learn from others’ experiences. Even one or two negative reviews are a warning sign that should encourage you to keep doing painstaking research into a token before investing in it.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to plowing money into ICOs, no one can be fully protected. However, there are some signs that will help you detect a scam:

1. Nothing about ethos, but a lot about an attractive return on your investment
2. A product with poor technical documentation
3. No core team represented or a team member who’s been involved in fraud
4. Large, but inactive community
5. Negative reviews on various Internet platforms

I've been posting here for a while, but this is the first time I've encountered such a situation. Thank you for your word of advice!

Just to clarify the situation. Initially the article "Cryptocurrencies in the Middle East: from Approval to Haram" was published on the Medium blog of the company AssetRush (medium.com/@assetrush). I'm its CEO; I run our articles here just to share them with the Bitcointalk community.

The issue of cryptocurrencies in the Middle East is as multifaceted as the region itself. Commonly known for its oil production and quickly developing global cities, the area displays immense economic, political, and cultural diversity. It is rich and poor, progressive and conservative, stable and turbulent at the same time. We, assetrush.com, have decided to take a closer look at the crypto climate in some major Middle Eastern countries in order to get a better idea of the current state of play in the region.

The United Arab Emirates

First of all, it’s necessary to point out that when we talk about cryptocurrencies in the United Arab Emirates, we mostly talk about Dubai and Abu Dhabi, two main cities which seem to have fully embraced blockchain. Such enthusiasm can be easily explained: His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai and the Chairman of Dubai Future Foundation, has been very supportive of the technology and set a goal of securing all government documents on blockchain by 2020. Blockchain is also being welcomed in other aspects of life in the UAE. For instance, recently, Maqta Gateway, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Ports, unveiled its plans to develop a blockchain platform called Silsal aimed at boosting the efficiency of the shipping and logistics industries. As for digital money and ICOs, since February, 2018 Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) has been considering implementing a regulatory regime; on April 30, 2018 such a framework was finally proposed. It complements the Guidance on Initial Coin Offerings and Virtual Currencies issued in October, 2017; addresses “the full range of risks associated with crypto asset activities”; and seeks to stimulate the development of a “stable and sustainable financial services sector” in the country.

Iran

At first glance the crypto climate in Iran looks significantly colder than in the UAE: at the end of April the Central Bank banned all domestic financial institutions from working with cryptocurrencies. Despite this, the country has recently developed its own digital money, which was announced by Mohammad-Javad Azari Jahromi, Iran’s Minister of Information and Communications Technology. It’s believed that in light of the renewed US sanctions against Iran and expanded sanctions against Russia, the two affected countries might start to use cryptocurrencies to mitigate the harmful effect of the embargo and to gain more independence from the SWIFT system.

Egypt

Blockchain hasn’t been particularly robust in Egypt, although not so long ago the first blockchain-focused incubator was launched there. While the technology itself is slowly carving out its niche, cryptocurrencies and ICOs have been facing insuperable obstacles. Firstly, the Central Bank of Egypt seems to have no intention of passing a law that would allow trading of digital money. Secondly, Shawki Allam, the religious leader of the country, said cryptocurrencies are forbidden under Islamic law and thus set them equal to haram. So, a rapid thaw in the crypto climate in Egypt is obviously not forthcoming.

Turkey

There hasn’t been a lot going on in terms of blockchain and crypto in Turkey. Back in February the government of the country was said to be considering creating a state-backed digital currency called Turkcoin, but there haven’t been any updates since. The country is not at the cutting edge of the new technology, but at least it is not openly hostile to it.

Final Thoughts

The Middle East is an extremely diverse region, which means that trading cryptocurrencies or launching your own ICO there requires profound knowledge not only of its crypto market, but also its cultural peculiarities. And although acceptance is spreading more slowly there than in the United States and Europe, all in all the Middle East is gradually embracing blockchain and cryptocurrencies. The United Arab Emirates is definitely the leader as the process of adapting and implementing both the new technology and digital money there is supported at the highest level. In addition, the country is well off and has plenty of investors.

The issue of cryptocurrencies in the Middle East is as multifaceted as the region itself. Commonly known for its oil production and quickly developing global cities, the area displays immense economic, political, and cultural diversity. It is rich and poor, progressive and conservative, stable and turbulent at the same time. We, assetrush.com, have decided to take a closer look at the crypto climate in some major Middle Eastern countries in order to get a better idea of the current state of play in the region.

The United Arab Emirates

First of all, it’s necessary to point out that when we talk about cryptocurrencies in the United Arab Emirates, we mostly talk about Dubai and Abu Dhabi, two main cities which seem to have fully embraced blockchain. Such enthusiasm can be easily explained: His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai and the Chairman of Dubai Future Foundation, has been very supportive of the technology and set a goal of securing all government documents on blockchain by 2020. Blockchain is also being welcomed in other aspects of life in the UAE. For instance, recently, Maqta Gateway, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Ports, unveiled its plans to develop a blockchain platform called Silsal aimed at boosting the efficiency of the shipping and logistics industries. As for digital money and ICOs, since February, 2018 Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) has been considering implementing a regulatory regime; on April 30, 2018 such a framework was finally proposed. It complements the Guidance on Initial Coin Offerings and Virtual Currencies issued in October, 2017; addresses “the full range of risks associated with crypto asset activities”; and seeks to stimulate the development of a “stable and sustainable financial services sector” in the country.

Iran

At first glance the crypto climate in Iran looks significantly colder than in the UAE: at the end of April the Central Bank banned all domestic financial institutions from working with cryptocurrencies. Despite this, the country has recently developed its own digital money, which was announced by Mohammad-Javad Azari Jahromi, Iran’s Minister of Information and Communications Technology. It’s believed that in light of the renewed US sanctions against Iran and expanded sanctions against Russia, the two affected countries might start to use cryptocurrencies to mitigate the harmful effect of the embargo and to gain more independence from the SWIFT system.

Egypt

Blockchain hasn’t been particularly robust in Egypt, although not so long ago the first blockchain-focused incubator was launched there. While the technology itself is slowly carving out its niche, cryptocurrencies and ICOs have been facing insuperable obstacles. Firstly, the Central Bank of Egypt seems to have no intention of passing a law that would allow trading of digital money. Secondly, Shawki Allam, the religious leader of the country, said cryptocurrencies are forbidden under Islamic law and thus set them equal to haram. So, a rapid thaw in the crypto climate in Egypt is obviously not forthcoming.

Turkey

There hasn’t been a lot going on in terms of blockchain and crypto in Turkey. Back in February the government of the country was said to be considering creating a state-backed digital currency called Turkcoin, but there haven’t been any updates since. The country is not at the cutting edge of the new technology, but at least it is not openly hostile to it.

Final Thoughts

The Middle East is an extremely diverse region, which means that trading cryptocurrencies or launching your own ICO there requires profound knowledge not only of its crypto market, but also its cultural peculiarities. And although acceptance is spreading more slowly there than in the United States and Europe, all in all the Middle East is gradually embracing blockchain and cryptocurrencies. The United Arab Emirates is definitely the leader as the process of adapting and implementing both the new technology and digital money there is supported at the highest level. In addition, the country is well off and has plenty of investors.

Why were crypto collectibles destined to become a smash hit? Well, imagine the world without games. No basketball, no Super Mario Bros., no Monopoly. Looks like an incredibly dull place, doesn’t it? The universal truth is that people like to play, and games are part of who we are. So it comes as no surprise that the new form of gaming instantly took off. But let’s start from the very beginning.

What are they?

Collectibles are various objects such as stamps, coins, and antiques which because of their rareness have an intrinsic market worth. Now, what if collectibles went digital? And not just digital, but created on blockchain technology? They would become totally unique, non-fungible, and in buoyant demand. Well, this is exactly what happened in November, 2017.

So what happened?

You might remember the tamagotchi, a digital pet that was a must-have for every child in the late ’90s. Something similar seems to have happened in November, 2017. Described as “collectible, breedable, and oh-so-adorable”, CryptoKitties is the first game where you wholly own your pet. Once bought, they cannot be replicated, destroyed or taken away, but can be sold, properly secured by blockchain technology, and used to produce offspring. To get a kitty one needs MetaMask, a digital wallet, and ether, the cryptocurrency that allows the game to run. However, there’s no fixed fee: you either buy one from another user who sets their own price or get a new “Gen 0” CryptoKitty whose value is determined by the average price of the last 5 CryptoKitties sold plus 50%. The game instantly became a huge hit, and since then the world has been hit by the crypto collectibles craze and never looked back.

And then?

And then, predictably, the idea caught on and more blockchain-built games started to appear. Now there are a whole bunch of them, from crypto celebrities to countries to masterpieces, you name it. Today on websites such as OpenSea you can easily buy and sell a crypto Queen of England, Andorra, and Mona Lisa. And platforms such as Trust Wallet and MyEtherWallet offer to safely store your collectibles. As time passes, these games are becoming more sophisticated and complex. For example, people who enjoy Magic: The Gathering will probably appreciate its Ethereum-built distant relative Mythereum, a multiplayer game where users collect cards, go into battles, and should not forget to mind the dragons. If you prefer RPGs and space odysseys to card games, you might want to check out Crypto Saga and Crypto Space Commander.

What’s next?

There has been a lot of talk regarding this question. While some tend to think that like Beanie Babies crypto collectibles will eventually go out of vogue, others believe that they will not. It seems that they do have a future as they are beautifully designed, colorful, and funny. Most importantly, however, crypto collectibles appeal to our fundamental need: the need to play. Therefore, the gaming industry has been embracing them with enthusiasm and will likely continue to do so.

Yes, right. Exchanges, especially big ones, have dramatically increased their listing fees.

We didn't forget about MyEtherWallet. The reason we didn't write about it is because it's extremely popular and widely used; we wanted to examine some alternative wallets.