Return On Investment: Exhibiting at or Sponsoring Events at Shows

[Brad Mitchell]

How do you measure the value in exhibiting or sponsoring at shows?

Do you believe it to be true, that, once you begin to exhibit, you must never stop or people will think you're in financial trouble?

[Tala]

Never heard the financial trouble thing before. Gotta love how people like rumor mongoring. I just heard a funny one about myself not too long ago. Yeeha.

*starts a new rumor* Brad loves me and he's carrying my baby 'cause his wife got tired of carrying them.

[GTS Mark]

We have always seemed to turn a profit at the shows with our booths. I think it really depends what part of the industry you're in, we're more or less in a less saturated part of the biz where there is high demand.

DH

[d00t]

merchsolutions made a phat profit on their vegas booth

[davethetruth]

There is definitely a view that if you stop exhibiting then people think that you're having trouble, but that's just stupid imho. Exhibiting is usually a waste of $$$, and so are the parties, swag and the rest of it.

We exhibited three years in a row in Vegas and probably didn't get much of a return, but we were launching something new that we had to promote (our 50% first time program). Now we've got something new (affiliate & shopping cart software) to promote again, so we'll probably start exhibiting again. I don't see much point to it if you don't have something new to promote, especially if your area is competitive like DH said.

[TheDoc]

We have done booths in the past. I don't think anyone cares if you have a booth one year and not the next. The only people that do are the money program owners "needing" a reason to keep the booth.

I think depending if you have a new product/idea then getting a booth is worth it. You don't need a big booth. Personally, I feel you don't need a booth if you have a money program. A $50k+ return just on a program is 1000's of sales just from the show, which isn't going to happen.

[ronaldo]

Unfortunately, image means a LOT in our industry. Most of the larger companies do it simply because they're expected to. It's no longer about ROI for them, it's just an added expense. Who, for example, hasn't heard of Topbucks? Smaller webmasters who aren't capable of sending large amounts of traffic? More than likely.

If Topbucks all of a sudden had a side booth in Miami, or NO booth, the rumours would be FLYING and webmasters would be concerned about how secure they are sending their traffic to them. Harsh, but true.

For a smaller company, a side booth can't hurt and can certainly increase exposure. If it's in your budget, use it to brand your name and write off the expense, but don't go expecting much of a return.

[Brad Mitchell]

I think it used to matter a few years ago, when it was all pomp and circumstance.

These days, it's not so true, the rumor mongering about finances.

It's said that happy affiliates are more productive and loyal; so there's something to be said for having the parties and having the booth. It's in your face marketing, where everyone knows your name.

[ShaneRyale]

123Bill is great! Easy integration with our system, and it has brought in new sales that would have otherwise been lost!

Brad, if you stop doing a booth we can spend more time networking a few more Jagerbombs! LOL

[pornguy]

After the last show that I was at in Miami, I do not feel that the shows are woorth it for the sponsors. Not really.

[tony286]

I dont thing going to a sponsored party or dinner will change who I use or do business with.

[Rochard]

There is a huge difference between exhibiting and sponsoring a show.

We used to exhibit at shows, then cut back. The first question was "are you guys having any trouble?". No, not at all. We just decided to put our marketing money elsewhere.

The truth is now you can go to a smaller show and sponsor an event, and thanks in part to FUBAR and people splashing pictures around..... Also, having good relationships with the bigger publications (Klixxx), resource sites (YNOT, etc), and message boards (GFY), helps a lot too.

[Steen2]

Either way I love Brad (and Corey) and MojoHost.

[ronaldo]

There is a huge difference between exhibiting and sponsoring a show.

We used to exhibit at shows, then cut back. The first question was "are you guys having any trouble?". No, not at all. We just decided to put our marketing money elsewhere.

The truth is now you can go to a smaller show and sponsor an event, and thanks in part to FUBAR and people splashing pictures around..... Also, having good relationships with the bigger publications (Klixxx), resource sites (YNOT, etc), and message boards (GFY), helps a lot too.

I agree with this entirely and won't argue it. I also know for a FACT that people questioned the future of Lightspeed, because people asked ME, like I'd know.

Rochard said it himself..."The first question was "are you guys having any trouble?"."

Perception vs Reality

[Zprogramz]

Sponsoring is good if you have something new to promote or want to spread the wealth taking clients to dinner or helping throw a party. It is good to help schmooze current clients as well.

At the last Internext Netbilling took about 50 of us to a terrific dinner to show some client appreciation and it made a lasting impression. We have also attended CCbill and Nat-net dinners in the past and really appreciate how these guys show their appreciation to us, their clients.

Z

[Zprogramz]

Unfortunately, image means a LOT in our industry. Most of the larger companies do it simply because they're expected to. It's no longer about ROI for them, it's just an added expense. Who, for example, hasn't heard of Topbucks? Smaller webmasters who aren't capable of sending large amounts of traffic? More than likely.

If Topbucks all of a sudden had a side booth in Miami, or NO booth, the rumours would be FLYING and webmasters would be concerned about how secure they are sending their traffic to them. Harsh, but true.

For a smaller company, a side booth can't hurt and can certainly increase exposure. If it's in your budget, use it to brand your name and write off the expense, but don't go expecting much of a return.

I think the size of a booth has nothing to do with how strong a company is. Either you make a precense, or you don't.

[sonofsam]

good thread and interesting read

[Lensman]

Booths are very distruptive to a company. You have to babysit staff to man the booth, you need to spend a lot of time to get it together, then you have to spend enough for a Ferrari to pay for it all, at least for my company in Vegas.

Do you walk away with 500 productive affiliates? No. Just ask XBang.

Smaller shows, like Phoenix, San Diego, Montreal, encorporate the real players in our biz. Any money spent there is more than worth it, and doesn't involve all the hassle.

Does anyone think TCG or Adult.com is in trouble because they didn't exhibit in Vegas? Of course not.

[MikeHawk]

Unfortunately, image means a LOT in our industry. Most of the larger companies do it simply because they're expected to. It's no longer about ROI for them, it's just an added expense. Who, for example, hasn't heard of Topbucks? Smaller webmasters who aren't capable of sending large amounts of traffic? More than likely.

If Topbucks all of a sudden had a side booth in Miami, or NO booth, the rumours would be FLYING and webmasters would be concerned about how secure they are sending their traffic to them. Harsh, but true.

For a smaller company, a side booth can't hurt and can certainly increase exposure. If it's in your budget, use it to brand your name and write off the expense, but don't go expecting much of a return.

hmmm....Ok since we are talking about the larger programs in the world....I have never seen a NASTY DOLLARS OR OX CASH BOOTHS.....

Good value to doing the "show thang" picking the right shows, and showing up to the right shows, making a good showing, taking people out to dinner, it all adds up.

And lets not forget having kick ass parties like the WHITE TRASH BASH COMING UP AT CYBERNET EXPO FIRST NIGHT KICK OFF!

[will76]

[QUOTE=MikeHawk]hmmm....Ok since we are talking about the larger programs in the world....I have never seen a NASTY DOLLARS OR OX CASH BOOTHS.....

Good value to doing the "show thang" picking the right shows, and showing up to the right shows, making a good showing, taking people out to dinner, it all adds up.

[QUOTE]


Actually the largest program of all, Clickcash never gets a booth. They rely one word of mouth advertising from other webmasters, I guess thats why they can afford to pay us so much, what they save in marketing, they pass off to us in commissions.

On a side not, how much does the both itself cost to rent ? I am interested in getting one but have no idea how much these things cost. Just to rent the booth. I am sure if you bring 10 people with you and have a booth with neon lights, disco balls, and surrond sound,etc... it can cost a lot more then the next guy with 2 people and a couple chairs.

[Fletch XXX]

Nasty Dollars kicks ass, period.

Fuck a booth.