Originally Posted by Robbie (Post 14403554)

Damn, I forgot about Atlanta! I'll be there too. We are doing a sponsorship with the Atlanta Forum. :)

Originally Posted by Robbie (Post 14403757)

At the Amsterdam show I saw more affiliates than I have in years at a show. The Europeans weren't even in the game (except the hun) 10 years ago. But they have really come into their own now.
In the U.S., the affiliates were never much of a presence at shows in comparison to people who actually had a product.
Back in the day, it was a bunch of guys running galleries on freehosts and thought they were "webmasters" lol There were ony a handful of us guys who were doing real traffic and real sales. So when I used to go back then it was pretty cool because the different sponsors would lay out the red carpet for me and AL4A everywhere we went.
But there weren't many of us then. And there aren't many now.
I do see a lot of young wannabes at the seminars trying to figure out a way to make millions with their blogs.
But the real business takes place at dinners, parties, and sometimes just sitting in a quiet corner having a conversation.
As an affiliate myself, I do enjoy talking to the people from the programs I promote (which are in the hundreds). And they do listen to my suggestions as far as things needed for promotion.
But to be honest...the people who are just affiliate webmasters are in a bind. The tube and torrents are making it harder and harder to sell memberships to the big "generic" type sites.
With that being said....when I was in Amsterdam I was literally swamped by European webmaster affiliates of mine who were eager to meet Claudia-Marie and talk with me about promotion etc.
I haven't seen that in the U.S. in a while. Maybe those guys are a little hungrier and more excited because of their relative "newness" to the game?
I don't know. But I'd like to see more affiliates coming out to the shows. Some input from both sides might come up with some way to stave off the killing fields of tubes and torrents for the mega sites
But in the meantime...I would like to suggest that you find a good solo girl program with exclusive content shot by the actual people who run it. That stuff is kicking ass and retains forever.
Now I wonder who might have something like that to offer to affiliates? :)

Originally Posted by MichaelP (Post 14403758)

Hey Trixxia..

Actually my rest of the year schedule is : Vegas Xbiz - Miami Intx - QWEBEC Expo Montreal Of course :) - Amsterdam WA - Island Gathering Curacao and WA Los Angeles

Since I run a show myself, my new business target is very very broad at these shows. I mean anyboduy I meet can be a potential customer for us, From Attendees, to small or big sponsor. Also can be a supplier to some extends... I also run a network of 3o some sites, so there is always a new program or promotion that I never heard about before..

Also reminds me about some programs that I'm not that active with them, then back home, I go back to get their new tools/galleries...


And to finally answer your question, What motivates me to go to which show ? ROI.. ... I actually think ALL shows are good, it only depends what you make out of it... simple as that


xoxoxo to you Hon! :)

Originally Posted by ThatGuyInTheCorner (Post 14403952)

I'll be going to the amsterdam one then the UK one early next year again

Originally Posted by PornMySex (Post 14403985)

Online Adult industry is for sure on recession. But there are still a lot of affiliates living from this business like i do.

I think if the convention organizer would concentrate more on the affiliate side, ie making trading panel, real seo panel etc... instead of concentrating on parties, there would be more affiliates. Same thing for conference, i went to many of them and i found only one to be usefull ( I remember a TGP panel with only one tgp webmaster speaker, there were 5 sales reps speakers who didn't have a club on how to run a TGP. )

Originally Posted by Sex2Have (Post 14404017)

The party`s were boring on shows. I see no use in it, this said as webmaster.
If i would be a sponsor, i would ask the organization to LOWER the volume of the music so i can speak on a decent level with the other players. Play some more classical music would be also one of my requests, it will encourage people to get the best out of a meeting.

Anyway, shows have also for some people a meaning. Hope they keep it up and have a good party ya all!

Originally Posted by Trixxxia (Post 14403943)

It must be a little different for you since you also have traffic networks, but are you finding webmasters & affiliates for Twistys at these shows? I know the ROI for you as a whole would be good because of the different divisions you have - but if you were to look at Twistys alone, and webmasters/affiliates only - forget other sponsors, are you finding new, eager and up & coming webmasters to promote your program?

Originally Posted by Shap (Post 14404851)

We generally go to two shows a year. We aren't big show people. I find it's not so much about ROI as much as it is face time. We have a company image we like to maintain and every show we go to helps that. I find going to shows helps us strengthen and enhance our business relationships more than anything.

I went to a mainstream internet advertising conference that blew away any of our shows. I learned more in 5 hours at that conference than any of our shows could have ever offered. The adult shows are all parties and bs fluff. The only reason anybody goes is because it's a common gathering spot. The shows themselves have absolutely no value. Their value is gathering people.

Originally Posted by Trixxxia (Post 14404452)

besides being a bombshell, Claudia-Marie sure has a warm-hearted allure about her. Lots of things going on with our sites/content/members areas that are being rearranged, but once I can get back in there to add stuff, I will definitely give her some of our love :)

Originally Posted by bluemoney (Post 14405267)

I am but a "humble webmaster" but like Tony404 I live close so I'll be in Atlanta. I'm looking to meet people I've only known on the boards and as an affiliate. Oh yeah, and I'd like to score some "Trim" also . . j/k

Originally Posted by Trixxxia (Post 14403271)

I remember going to shows and finding a 20-50 true webmasters there - advanced webmasters and up & coming webmasters looking for programs to work with or making special deals with. Are there any new webmasters coming into the biz or has that dried up totally? Have you given up on going to shows?

Originally Posted by Sly (Post 14404730)

I think the biggest problem is this... everybody wants to run a show. So instead of having 4-6 really great shows, you have 20 mediocre shows and 4 pretty good shows. The investment money gets split between 24 shows instead of 6 shows, meaning less money to make the show great. If it isn't a great show, it attracts less people and then everyone else is thinking "why go to the show? Nobody will be there."

Put an axe to 24 shows, consolidate money and effort, and I can see them not only being a better show but also more cost efficient for both sponsors and affiliates.

Originally Posted by Trixxxia (Post 14404653)

Sex2Have - Haven't seen you around in awhile!! I hope you are well!

Originally Posted by Jdoughs (Post 14403420)

Is there a reason for "affiliates" to go to these shows, they seem much more like a social environment where sponsors can promote themselves, to themselves, and quite frankly, I'm not interested in that.

Maybe since Im not 25 yrs old and interested in the big party scene, or maybe its because how I run my own stuff is sort of hush hush (seo network), but even when Ive been invited down and been offered free rooms/flights, I always say no.

Just for the record and for your question Trixxxia, Im an affiliate, family man, have a show within 4 hrs, 2 within 8 hrs, yet I've never been to one. Just dont see a real reason.

Originally Posted by fuzebox (Post 14406697)

Webmasters with traffic and people who go to shows are totally different groups. Of course there is overlap, but like people have said already, shows for the last 2-3 years have been about companies patting themselves on the back and giving free shit to affiliate reps.

Personally I love shows, but that's because I love to travel and party, and it's the only time I get to see a lot of my friends. Business reasons? Lol, I get more business done at home in my underwear.

Originally Posted by fuzebox (Post 14406697)

Webmasters with traffic and people who go to shows are totally different groups. Of course there is overlap, but like people have said already, shows for the last 2-3 years have been about companies patting themselves on the back and giving free shit to affiliate reps.

Personally I love shows, but that's because I love to travel and party, and it's the only time I get to see a lot of my friends. Business reasons? Lol, I get more business done at home in my underwear.

Originally Posted by ~zombiegirl~ (Post 14406805)

for 2008 it's only Internext Vegas, Costa Rica Bash & Internext Summer. I'm really cutting back on shows now & in the future for these reasons.

- as a program owner, there's not many affiliates that go to shows anymore. not like it was years ago when the energy & crowds were different. More optimistic & willing to share & learn. Plus all my sites are microniches and not THAT many fetish-y webmasters are representing. The ppl i do the most biz with & my biggest affiliates have never been to a show.

- as an affiliate, there's no real need to go to a ton of shows anymore to find new programs, work out deals, etc. I saw anymore because i've been going to shows for years now & have met tons of great people to network with over the years but recently it seems like I'm meeting less & less new people & seeing the same ppl over & over (which is great to see them again always) BUT I just find there's other travelling to be done with the same time & money invested.

Now I pick shows based on:

- the number of people that will be going there & whether it's a closed enviroment or not so it's easy to see everyone & meet new ppl. All the big shows are (like PHX, FL)
- whether I want to visit as a tourist as well or not. I've been to Vegas a TON of times, if its a city I've never been to & visit, that's much higher on the list. Not counting Florida since we like Florida a lot.
- if my hubby's never been there & wants to see the city.

Maybe I'm just getting old or something, but after I hit 30, partying for days straight seems a little less appealing. Fuzebox will say differently of course!

Originally Posted by ChrisAnubis (Post 14407316)

As an affiliate, I was wondering the same thing. I have thought about going to them in the past, but time restraints have been a big thing. And working this business only part time makes me question whether there would be enough that I would get out of the experience to justify the cost of attending.

Me & my wife were looking at hitting Internext Florida up (we are in NW Florida) and actually have the time off from our full time jobs that week to head down. Atlanta would be close as well, but without any idea of what kind of conferences there will be, that is still out to decide. But at this point, it is completely undecided.

We love Vegas, and have thought about heading out there when conferences have been held, but still never made it during a show.

But at this time, we have no set plans to attend any of the shows. Just watching the few that are close and trying to decide whether to give it a shot or not.

Originally Posted by Trixxxia (Post 14410372)

You should at least make it to one show - it DOES make a difference in terms of broadening up ideas for you.

Originally Posted by ChrisAnubis (Post 14410463)

Ideas I have plenty of. Time to implement them is another thing.

But I do understand what you are saying. Getting out and meeting others that are willing to share their knowledge and point you in the right direction would be the number one reason to attend a show. Conferences that actually gave you new ideas and new techniques to try, the networking with people that are successful in the business, these kinds of things would be the major draw for me. However, it sounds more and more like just a party to more I read about the shows.

Maybe it is the perception of what the shows consist of (or better what they do NOT consist of) that keeps me from them.

Originally Posted by Trixxxia (Post 14407811)

I'd like to know where the new and up & coming webmasters are going or even the ones that are huge, but aren't going to shows - why aren't they going to shows? What will make them come out?

Originally Posted by Trixxxia (Post 14404521)

Is this your first for the year? Which have you gone to most often?