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Alexa went to school, and now she’s HIPAA-compliant
Tammy Hinojos Oral & Dental Healthcare"Alexa, ask my dentist if my prescription is ready." No, really. You can do that now. Amazon announced on April 4 that its Alexa Skills Kit now enables select covered entities subject to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations to build Alexa skills that allow it to transmit and receive protected health information as part of an invite-only program. Cool. But what does that actually mean? It means soon you could be using your Alexa for more than weather and traffic updates and turning on music.
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Advertising without paying for social media clicks
Catherine Iste MarketingBusinesses in the cannabis industry are not allowed to advertise on most social media platforms. Yet, with over $10 billion invested in legal markets in 2018 alone, the industry will continue to see growth. While traditional retail products may have little in common with that industry, the lessons learned from its ability to reach customers despite restrictions on social media can be valuable to any retailer. Of course, it is not that the industry is not online. It has just had to find clever ways to infiltrate social media without paying for clicks.
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How telecom fraud is becoming so popular
Mark Hearn CommunicationsYou've heard about credit card fraud before. You might have been a victim, too. This type of fraud is accountable for the loss of billions of dollars. While the government and other organizations are working on reducing credit card fraud, they now have another challenge in the form of telecom fraud. It's said to be more destructive and harmful than credit card fraud. Moreover, some experts even believe that telecom companies allow fraudulent activities to take place because it is profitable for the business. In this article, we'll talk about telecom fraud and why it's such a common occurrence these days.
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The just-in-time effect: How Amazon and Uber have changed associations
Linda Popky Association ManagementBig-box stores and local mom-and-pop shops are fighting to survive because they can't compete with the combination of selection and prices offered by Amazon. Taxis can't compete with the convenience and service offered by Uber and Lyft. But there's another area that hasn't received as much attention, and that's the business of associations. No, Amazon is not about to offer Prime Deals on association memberships. Neither does Uber run in-person meetings, events, or workshops. But their influence is felt nonetheless due to something I'm calling the just-in-time (JIT) effect.
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Bigger isn’t better: Investors favor boutique stores and hotels
Linchi Kwok Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementBigger is better, right? That’s why there have been more hotel mergers and acquisitions in recent years. There are also many hotel chains building larger loyalty programs to pull in more travelers. Besides hotels, Airbnb and online travel agents (OTAs) also want to get bigger through acquisitions. When it comes to product development, however, investors seem to favor small, boutique concepts over bigger ones. Here are a few examples.
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12 significant challenges for boards
Robert C. Harris Association ManagementThere are more than 1.5 million nonprofit boards in the United States. Chances are good that every organization has experienced at least one of these 12 significant challenges. One example is self-evaluation. You want your association board to be recognized as the best. Start with a commitment to excellence and continuous improvement. Six months into the term ask, "How do you think we are doing? What can we improve?" Forms are available to facilitate board and individual self-evaluation.
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Tips for minimizing and avoiding bullying in the workplace
D. Albert Brannen Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementA few states are beginning to consider and/or pass anti-bullying laws to address inappropriate conduct in the workplace. Increasingly, plaintiffs' lawyers and courts are trying to advance novel theories to punish employers for failing to stop bullying or to create liability for employers. For example, even absent a specific anti-bullying law, employers could be liable under anti-discrimination laws and OSHA or similar state laws that impose on employers a "general duty" to maintain a safe workplace. With these trends emerging, employers need to develop programs and systems to prevent and avoid claims of bullying. Here are some steps employers should take to reduce bullying and resulting liability.
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The pros and cons of corporate events at sports venues
Wendy Parsley Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementWe recently found ourselves at a football stadium that was playing host to a manufacturing industry conference and trade show. It didn’t take long for us to ask: are sports venues a good fit for corporate events? Let’s face it: finding unique event venues for corporate events with the ever-elusive "aha" factor can be challenging for event professionals everywhere. We are all on the hunt for the extra special place that offers a truly one-of-a-kind experience. But before you make the leap to say yes to a ballpark or basketball arena as your next event venue, be sure to think about all the potential pros and cons. Here are just a few that caught our attention.
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How to avoid file storage chaos
Deborah Ike Religious CommunityWith all of the videos, graphics, documents, and other items we use each week for ministry, file storage can be chaotic at best without a good electronic filing system. Trying to maintain a server for your church staff's files might not be the best fit for your team. Instead, consider using an online storage option that can grow with your team's needs.
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Where brands see the most social media marketing opportunities
Emma Fitzpatrick MarketingJust like that, the first quarter of 2019 has ended. While the time likely flashed by, make sure you stop, analyze and regroup before you plow ahead with your Q2 strategy. Analyze your own data to determine what worked best for your brand this quarter. Then, overlay those insights with the areas that other companies see the most success in. You just may find a new avenue or marketing tactic to try that could be the secret sauce you’re looking for in Q2. Read on to learn how marketers from more than 1,800 companies are approaching their social media marketing strategy in 2019.
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