We have a lot in the works!
Now that the new website has been launched (thanks to cass, toast, crypto_prometheus, bytemaster, etc.), we have started to establish a performance baseline. As we continue to collect data, we'll be working to plan various paid marketing initiatives over the next few weeks.
We registered over 500 new accounts through faucet.bitshares.org in January. Valzav has recruited a Ruby-On-Rails developer to begin implementing many of the ideas we've hatched for the affiliate referral program in recent weeks, which means more referral options, greater tracking capabilities, and deeper reporting insights.
The BitShares social media accounts have really gained a lot of supporters in recent weeks as well. We added over 1,000 Facebook fans (thanks to rgcrypto) and hundreds of Twitter followers (thanks to Brice & Slick Willy) in Jan. Also, with respect to social media, we have a viral marketing campaign in the works. More details to come here!
We are working hard to start a grassroots movement here in Blacksburg, VA, in support of BitShares technology and it's various applications; and, we've been gaining a lot of attention in the press as a result. The Roanoke Times recently visited our headquarters at the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center for interviews and will be running stories on both BitShares and Follow My Vote in the near future. The Follow My Vote voting booth powered by BitShares was recently featured on WSLS.com and on the 5 o'clock and 7 o'clock news. Just this past Tuesday, I put on a demonstration of our voting technology for the Blacksburg community at NuSpark, which was featured in the Collegiate Times (the student run newspaper at Virginia Tech). And, this coming Tuesday, we will be hosting a local meetup event at NuSpark entitled: Dinner and Discussion: BitShares, Bit Assets & The Decentralized Exchange., to introduce members of the local community to BitShares.
We've also just recruited 2 interns whose sole focus is to work on BitShares related activities, writing tests and helping to properly QA new releases in DevShares prior to being released in BitShares.
Also, we should be releasing another BitShares newsletter (spearheaded by crypto_prometheus) in the days ahead. So, please be on the lookout!