Affiliate Conferences!!

[arkyt]

I think we need to go back to our own "GLASS houses" as we have major industry issues like regulation and other stuff so let's focus on something important and not stir the pot over friggen conferences that YOU are not paying for or being forced to attend.

Some see this as a major industry issue and some believe it is something that can easily be fixed. So why not address it?

[mojo]

From an affiliate manager's point of view, I think there are too many conferences..

IMO there should be about 2 or 3 big ones per year MAXIMUM, and if someone wants to organise smaller localised get togethers (notice how i didnt call it a conference) then fine.. because they give the affs who live near each other an opportunity to meet up and talk ideas.. you may notice that while in discussion you can bounce ideas off other people to think of new ideas.. this is the wonderful thing about social gatherings.

It also makes it extremely hard for us aff managers (or our bosses) to choose which we go to (or get sent to) since conferences in different places attract different affiliates etc. And not to mention the cost. For us it costs at least 2k to get anywhere in the world (where the conferences are held), not to mention accommodation and food and the currency exchange. Eg 1GBP = ~2.5AUD.. Thats hectic! No wonder the company only ever sends one of us! And think about the programs in South Africa who convert Rand to say GBP..

That cost of traveling to 1000 conferences per year could be better spent on other things like have been mentioned previously to benefit ALL affiliates, and not just the ones who go to the conferences..

PLUS, if there are less conferences, there is more chance you are going to get to meet the person you were wanting to meet at the conference you choose to go to since there is more chance of them actually being there because there are less to choose from..

Good to hear input from an affliate manager, thanks Renee. Good points and some I didn't think of. Like who's going to be at which conference and wanting to see everyone but there are to many conferences. I imagine one could pull their hair out. Conferences could be a full time job in itself !

[Renee]

Good to hear input from an affliate manager, thanks Renee. Good points and some I didn't think of. Like who's going to be at which conference and wanting to see everyone but there are to many conferences. I imagine one could pull their hair out. Conferences could be a full time job in itself !

And if they were, I'd be the first to put up my hand.. but the reality is that NO affiliate can afford to go, or will go, to every single conference that is currently around..

Think about it..

There are the CAC conferences (~ 4 per year?).. Then there are CAP conferences.. (~ 5 per year now) Then there are Affilicon conferences (~ 5 per year).. That's around about 15 just there right?

15 * $2,500 = $37,500AUD. Thats for one person from our company for flights to each conference, return.

15 * ~$200 * 4 (15 days * 200 per room * about 4 nights) = $12,000AUD for hotel rooms for the conferences for ONE PERSON.

Food: 15 * 4 * ~$50 = $3,000AUD FOR ONE PERSON.

Now factor in the time spent away from the office, travel time, etc. It adds up to be approximately 8 days from leaving the office to getting back to the office.

So taking out the time, thats a total of $52,500AUD FOR ONE PERSON to attend EVERY conference.. and I was being liberal on the costs of a hotel room too, since it's very rare to find a room that is $200AUD per night. its usually more like $400AUD.

Even though that's not MY money being spent, IMO that is bullsh*t.

So I guess if you're wondering why you never see your favourite affiliate managers at the conferences, there is your explanation. Because the cost of sending us to every single conference is far too much so we have to pick and choose which to attend.

If there were less conferences there would be more chance of making more people happy..

[pdjoe]

Great points Renee!

I am not a conference goer. I think that if there is ever an issue or people want to get together, I'd just pick up a flight and get together with them. Other affiliates, affiliate manager, I'd just fit it into a vacation schedule and love it.

We'll meet one day

[mojo]

Very enlightening indeed. Not to mention the cost of the conferences themselves and other promotional materials.

No question too many conferences lessons the value for both affilates and affiliate programs when folks are spread to thin.

I would much rather see two large conferences with Everyone there. You would be very busy but it would be a good busy. Even tack on a couple of days so you could have more time for everyone.

Smaller get togethers, such as the thread here for Lunch in Toronto, is also a fantastic idea for our specific corners of the world. I would even bet some programs may sponser a lunch or two.

There are so many terrific ways to get together. Some restructuring of these conferences would be beneficial to all rather than just some. Especially these days when we all should be spending wisely.

Good stuff Renee.

[Spearmaster]

While I mostly agree with Renee, there are sometimes good reasons for more conferences.

One doesn't expect an affiliate to travel to every conference - makes no sense. Perhaps the affiliate will attend one or two a year.

As for affiliate programs themselves, yes it is a bit tough. Of course you don't have to choose to be at every conference - but if you wish to generate more business, there isn't much choice, no matter what industry you're in.

I believe there should be a few shows a year - not as low as 2, and not as many as 10. The key to this, however, is location - two shows a year in any location is probably too much - two shows within weeks of each other in a single location is ridiculous.

The entry of a third organizer, Affilicon, doesn't make this any easier.

The simple fact of the matter is, not every one of these conferences will be successful or profitable - and eventually some of them will drop off the calendar. The smarter ones will diversify into regions where there are fewer or no conferences.

Once upon a time, all conferences used to be in the US, Canada or Europe (mostly London). They were well spread out and conference organizers generally tried to avoid clashing with another conference, or organized a similar but non-competing event before or after a major conference.

Today - there's one in Macau and one in Australia as well, while the European conferences have spread out to more locations. But organizers are now competing with each other for the same period of time, sometimes even in the same location.

Ultimately this is no good for anyone, except perhaps for affiliates who live in the immediate area.

For me, it's very simple. I pick and choose which ones I go to now - in the past I went to every conference and had no choice. If anything, having more conferences is better for me, especially when they are planned around other events.

There's no point complaining about too many conferences. Affiliate programs should be savvy enough to choose which ones they will attend and which ones they won't, and notify their affiliates accordingly. Affiliates will choose the ones which are most convenient for them, or ones which are being held in some location they haven't visited before so they can combine business with pleasure.

Those of you who don't go to conferences, should really reconsider and go to at least one. It will change your perspective on how to make your business work for you. As one of the very first affiliates to start attending conferences, I can assure you that I would still be struggling had I not bitten the bullet and spent most of my early earnings to attend ICE in 2001 (and by the way, there WERE no affiliate conferences then).

And, for the record, I have never been sponsored by any affiliate program to attend a conference, and do not expect them to, and neither should you. Either you will find a way to get there yourself, or else you'll simply have to make do without.

[HenrikGr]

One doesn't expect an affiliate to travel to every conference - makes no sense. Perhaps the affiliate will attend one or two a year.

...

I believe there should be a few shows a year - not as low as 2, and not as many as 10. The key to this, however, is location - two shows a year in any location is probably too much - two shows within weeks of each other in a single location is ridiculous.

As all competitive markets there will be new conferences added as long as their are a profit being made from it.

If I would attend two conferences and not make any new deals, or be able to promote a new product I want the affiliates to push etc then then their would definite be a change.

If we all would say, Lets just have 2 conferences per year, don't you all think that the cost of those two would increase? Cause then everyone would say, this is just one out of 2 occasions when you have the opportunity to meet all the affiliates and then it is worth this amount of money etc. and then the price would go up, and then someone would see an opportunity for a market entry and start a 3rd and a 4th conference to compete agains the "original first ones" at a reduced cost.

So let organizers arrange conferences at all the corners of the world, I think that most programs do calculate the ROI on maybe not a single conference, but on a year attnding X numbers of conferences. If the revenue is not good enough they would lower their number of conferences for next year and so on.

Like every market their is a supply and demand situation. Lower supply = higher price and maybe not best quality. Higher Supply = lower price at a compettive quality.

Well just my oppinion.

[Webzcas]

Great posts Renee and Spear. Especially this point that Spear made:

I believe there should be a few shows a year - not as low as 2, and not as many as 10. The key to this, however, is location - two shows a year in any location is probably too much - two shows within weeks of each other in a single location is ridiculous.

Also gratuitous.

[GamTrak]

Very good input Spearmaster! I like it when folks give the facts and not put their person negative feelings of the situation in it.

It would be nice to see folks do LESS dictating and mind thier own business and let others do their business the way they see fit.

Keep it real! If YOU can't keep up with the Jones then don't try and don't anguish over it!

[mojo]

It would be nice to see folks do LESS dictating and mind thier own business and let others do their business the way they see fit.

Keep it real! If YOU can't keep up with the Jones then don't try and don't anguish over it!

Robin, your posts are getting more angry and somewhat nasty and I believe they are directed towards me with your references to the Joneses that I posted in the first post here.

This is my business and perhaps you shouldn't dictate what I should or should not 'anguish' over. If you look at this thread, YOU will see the conferences are on overkill by the majority. It is all of our business. We are all trying to keep it Real and giving our opinions! What is the problem here?

[mojo]

If we all would say, Lets just have 2 conferences per year, don't you all think that the cost of those two would increase? Cause then everyone would say, this is just one out of 2 occasions when you have the opportunity to meet all the affiliates and then it is worth this amount of money etc. and then the price would go up, and then someone would see an opportunity for a market entry and start a 3rd and a 4th conference to compete agains the "original first ones" at a reduced cost.

Good point here too Henrik, thanks. Because it has become such a commericial enterprise this could likely happen as well. It's good to get all perspectives. So how to decide which ones to go to? There are quite a few and many locations. Threads like these can certainly help break it down and get feedback from all sides should someone who has never been decide to go. Like Renee said, there are certain folks that you would like to meet up with. They way it is now it may be difficult to get everyone you would like to see in one place, therefore perhaps devaluing the event for the individual. Doing homework on who is going to which one would be nessacary for networking.

Even though some of us have not been to a conference, everyone knows what they are. Conferences are not novel to the gambling industry. Not sure that's fair to say non conference goers do not know what they are talking about. Nor is it fair to say one must go to increase business. Many don't go and do just fine. At any rate, it is not a bad thing to try to discuss it!

Sorry, a little on the defesive here.

[arkyt]

Keep it real! If YOU can't keep up with the Jones then don't try and don't anguish over it!

What are you trying to say?

I dont think this is appropriate in an industry which as so much positive karma right now.

[bonustreak]

It is hard to decide what conference to attend for sure because there are so many but I also think having that choice is cool. I know some went to the Australia one but for me right at Christmas time and the distance it was not a possibility so I choose to attend the next one which was I think Barcelona. I find the conferences extremely beneficial to my business so they are well worth it to me.

Small regional ones would be really great for those affiliates that cannot travel far and it would serve as small get together meet ups as well.

Nothing wrong with choices is what I think

[arkyt]

Nothing wrong with choices is what I think

The problem with that is that many of the programs feel obligated to attend each and everyone of them.

I'd like to see the programs select 2-3 to attend and that's it. The money can be better spent in other areas which will benefit the whole and not just a few.

[Chips]

The money can be better spent in other areas which will benefit the whole and not just a few.

Like a bump in commissions or some contests that pay out in cash

[Chips]

Without CAP Barca I would not have met you Chips, can you imagine how life would be without me?????


Shaun

How true... but.... is that a good thing??? But, as you recall, we chatted prior to Barca, I did get a great deal out of attending and made many close contacts and put faces to names. But my beef is 4 or more a year is a killer on the bankroll.

Glad we partnered up though Shaun! I think our meet up there is what really solidified our relationship and we work very well together as a result.

I hope to hit ONE this year, the fall event. If not for the medical issue, I would have been in London as you know.

--->OK shut up chips<---

[AndreS]

Back in the day when there was only 2 conferences affiliate programs would sponsor affiliates, which meant, buying them plane tickets, hotel accomodations, as well as of course paying for the conference. After Renee's explanation I now understand why that no longer happens. This was very important when I was first starting out. I had one program that I did okay for, they flew me out to Amsterdam, which led me to many more opportunities. Now, I don't go to any conferences because no one flies me out, and there are just too many, it's overwhelming.

[bonustreak]

Programs have a choice and they know this as well. I don't believe they feel obligated at all. If it is not a good business move and makes no sense I believe the programs will simply just not attend.

[Renee]

While I mostly agree with Renee, there are sometimes good reasons for more conferences.

One doesn't expect an affiliate to travel to every conference - makes no sense. Perhaps the affiliate will attend one or two a year.

As for affiliate programs themselves, yes it is a bit tough. Of course you don't have to choose to be at every conference - but if you wish to generate more business, there isn't much choice, no matter what industry you're in.

There is no guarantee there will be "more business" at any given conference.. You are not guaranteed more business by attending more conferences.

And while Henrik said that most programs will judge on a yearly basis in terms of ROI, I have to say that not all companies are like that and some judge conference to conference, so if no business is generated at one, fat chance of going to the next. One bad choice could mean no more conferences.

Programs have a choice and they know this as well. I don't believe they feel obligated at all. If it is not a good business move and makes no sense I believe the programs will simply just not attend.

We have a choice, but at the same time no choice.
The choices are:
-Go to the conference and find some new contacts and generate some new business
-Go to the conference and see no return on the trip
-Don't go to the conference and miss out on a great deal
-Don't go to the conference and save $XXk.

[Spearmaster]

There is no guarantee there will be "more business" at any given conference.. You are not guaranteed more business by attending more conferences.

And while Henrik said that most programs will judge on a yearly basis in terms of ROI, I have to say that not all companies are like that and some judge conference to conference, so if no business is generated at one, fat chance of going to the next. One bad choice could mean no more conferences

Nothing is ever guaranteed - but it stands to reason that the more affiliates you meet, the more business you are likely to get.

Yes, you could end up at a conference which doesn't go that well. But if your business decides that they will no longer attend a conference because of that one poor result - they are the ones who will suffer in the end. A more reasonable approach would be to consider avoiding that particular conference next year.

Nothing in life is easy - you'll have to take the good with the bad. Surely you wouldn't go to a restaurant, have a bad meal, and say "I'll never go to another restaurant"...

What Henrik said is pretty much standard for the majority of businesses.