Lesson #39 Tradeshow Marketing and Considerations Part #2
Written By Cyndalie

Adult industry tradeshows are an excellent way for webmasters to get a leg up on the competition by becoming more informed and getting to know the 'players' that make the programs and services you use possible. More important than the hundreds of popular companies in the adult industry are the webmasters, the free site and pay site owners who utilize the programs and services offered and help to generate the income which makes this industry so profitable. As a webmaster, being an 'attendee' at industry events can help put you in a position to not only learn more, but earn more.

Tradeshows Vs. Gatherings

There is one major defining difference between an adult industry tradeshow (expo) and a webmaster gathering: a show floor. Industry tradeshows almost always have a trade show floor where exhibitors put up booths and organizers charge a premium for webmasters to browse their wares. Webmaster gatherings, in most cases, do not have a trade show floor, are not open to the public, and tend to be smaller and more personable. Seminars and a primary hotel as a venue is what they both have in common, seminars being the primary focus for webmasters to learn the latest marketing tactics, legal updates, and overall industry knowledge. Of course, both have plenty of parties to keep you entertained at night. An example of a tradeshow is InterNext & CyberNet Expo. An example of a webmaster gathering is the Phoenix Forum and Webmaster Access. Since gatherings tend to be more regional, they are often more affordable to attend for both exhibitors and attendees.

Considerations for Attendees

So you are a webmaster and you use and interact with sponsor programs, hosting companies, content providers, billing agents, etc and you wish to strengthen your relationship (and possibly negotiate better deals) with your providers. Well attending a show can be one of the best steps you can take to becoming more than a number or ID code. No one knows a program or service better than a company representative so here is your chance to optimize your deals for the next 6 months, get tips on helping to increase conversions with a particular program, and ask questions which will help further your own adult online ventures.

Knowing which shows to go to can be daunting. Budget considerations for attendees as opposed to exhibitors are dramatically different. Your first consideration is going to be who's attending; are the sponsors and webmasters you wish to meet and interact with going to be there? Ask around early to catch the buzz about what's hot in 2004. Most notable shows for the first half of 2004 are the Phoenix Forum (April 1-3) and registration is free is you register early, the CyberNet Expo has found a new venue in San Diego June 9-12 and stands to be the premiere west coast tradeshow for 2004, and regional gatherings by Webmaster Access will take place in Cancun, Atlanta, and Montreal. Regardless of where you are located there's sure to be a tradeshow or gathering close to you where you can afford to attend and meet both new and old associates to further your online business.

Once you decide where to go, devise a plan to make the most of your trip. Get your flu shots since travel and close proximity with a number of other people doesn't get you sick and bedridden during your trip. Arm yourself with business cards and spending money, just in case you meet that new (or old) valuable contact and would like to take them out to eat – alone time with other webmasters in a space where you can talk is extremely rare and you can often get the most important goals of your trip accomplished in this way. Regardless of why you are attending, the seminars are often the best way to get 'in the know' since most are hosted by experts who can provide tips and information not found anywhere on the web. And finally, stay focused. It's easy to get caught up in the party atmosphere where you party or hotel room hop until the wee hours only to miss the next mornings events or seminars because you had to catch up on sleep. Although it can be hard to decipher, in this industry you still prove yourself by obtaining success and knowledge, not by how hard you can party.

For more information about adult conventions visit the Conventions Whiz classroom and see the complete Convention Guide & Events Calendar at Cozy Frog!