Printable View
I do agree that it is hard to show the value of shows if you're established.
However, if you're trying to get your name out, it pays to be at the events and meet people in person so they know that you're not just a figment of the internet.
For business to business contact it seems like adultwhoswho.com could grow to the point where you no longer need shows. Especially if they act as diligent gatekeepers to the community.
Yeah I think there's this misconception out there that if you're not hitting every show people are going to think something happened to you or that your site is in trouble.
As far as using the shows if you're new ... I don't know. I think they can be a dangerous place if you're new. Sure, you meet lots of people, but you also meet a lot of other new people. And we all know how long the average "new" person hangs around this business. And you can also meet a lot of people who are talking a great talk, and then, you get home and two months later, you're thinking, "Why the hell did I put this guy's link on my site, he's not sending me any traffic."
I mean, let's face it, if you were new two years ago and talking to the new ibill at the Florida convention, you might have thought they were a great thing.
If you're new, my best advice is not to listen too hard to the "are you going" crowd. It seems like there are some people out there who are always asking you if you're going to the next show. And that's all they seem to have to say. If you listen to those people, you'll spend a fortune on shows because every show is going to be great.
Do research and ask people you trust about their experiences with these shows.
Michael
I echo a lot of the thoughts that Michael and Brian have shared. There's no question that the shows we've attended have helped us immeasurably in developing relationships with webmasters, sponsor programs, billers, etc., in getting the Gaybucks name out there, and establishing our affiliate program. And we've been able to give back some to the community by helping to sponsor parties and events and assist in planning events.
I think the value of sitting down with someone face to face can't be overstated. Even if you talk online all the time, there's something that happens once you've had a chance to meet in person... just the process of putting a face with a name or a screenname or whatever seems, for both parties, to make that relationship more memorable.
Of course, there are exceptions - we've never met a significant number of our largest affiliates - but by and large, the personal connections developed at shows are, I think, a little more difficult to develop online.
That said... in my opinion, what the industry does NOT need is an event with a big convention floor, or prepaid admission to a bunch of parties thrown by big sponsors to pat themselves on the back, or seminars that are largely infomercials for the people on the panels, or events where a company brings 15 people, most of which are models or otherwise know nothing about the products.
Events focused on networking, one-to-one interaction between business owners or reps, and genuine opportunities to do more business / new business are the ones that, in my book, are the most valuable, both for existing webmasters and program owners as well as new programs looking to grow.
Like Brian and Michael, I think it's getting harder and harder to justify spending the money to go to events like this when that same money could be better used to reach new webmasters online or through other means. And for newer webmasters, I can particularly see why the cost/benefit ratio may not make it a worthwhile investment.
Our room for Phoenix at the host hotel for 4 days is 1K. So this show should expense out at about 2-2.5 K. But we passed on 3 shows, we usually attend.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lee
I do agree about meeting a lot of new people who talk really big. Doing a sex toy affiliate program I get a lot of people who don't have a site yet, but they're excited about building one. I do what I can to help some of them, but some are in way over their heads.
One guy with no sites wanted us to set him up with his own website to promote our affiliate program. He also wanted us to send him traffic, and give him a list of email addresses to spam.
I do consider myself to be new as a rep, but I'm with an established company that's getting into new fields. For me, the magic of conventions is that some people will actually respond to you after meeting you in person. In a way conventions work like a really expensive spam filter. You also meet people who you didn't know exist, and they turn out to be a great fit with your business.
I think that some of people ask if you're going to the next convention because they're afraid of being upfront about asking for your business. They're hoping to meet, form a long friendship, and maybe someday get you to sign up for their program. I like to get the business thing out of the way up front, so as not to have a hidden agenda. That way you don't have to pull the real estate agent fake friend thing.
On that note, for the record, "I would like you to join our sex toy program!" I would also like to thank those people who signed up or are interested in signing up, and those people who gave it a fair looking over and decided it's not for them. For those people who haven't looked it over, perhaps I'll meet you at Phoenix Forum.