Newbies guide to Internext Vegas - by ZombieGirl
Ok, so you've decided to do it and go to your first BIG SHOW ( regardless of what ppl are saying IT IS the show with the biggest attendance overall ) but it can get a little messy if you are not prepared. It's your money you are spending and you want to know you're getting the most out of it.
Now, when I say NEWBIES I don't mean newbie webmaster; I mean newbie to a big show, particularly this one. I know a TON of long time webmasters that don't go to shows or don't attend many.
1. Make a clear list of what you want to achieve at the show first (this means NOW) Are you selling product? Looking for affiliates? Shopping for ecommerce goods & services? Check out who's exhibiting and who's attending on the adultwhoswho list & start targetting who you need to speak with.
2. Make sure you have enough business cards. Even better, make business cards with your picture on it so people can put a face to the name immediately instead of squinting at the card thinking "who the f#&$* is this?" Better yet, put your domains & exactly what you offer on your card!! There's nothing more annoying than seeing just the corporate name on it & not knowing what that company offered. Try and keep the back blank & non coated so they can write notes on it for reference. Small things that ppl forget.
3. You are there to meet people & contacts. Don't just stand there in the corner and expect people to just come up to you. If it's your first time, these shows can seem cliquey with people that have known eachother for years. TAKE A DEEP BREATH & go up to them & introduce yourself with a handshake. When you talk to new people DON'T WAIT FOR THEM TO ASK WHAT YOU DO! Just tell them straight out & when you walk away make sure they know exactly what your company offers. I've noticed that people who stay in their little circles & cliques are often the shy ones who don't want to stray from their comfort zone & do something new.
4. Don't just assume that all females there (especially the "pretty" ones) are models!! There's many female webmasters, sales reps, managers & company owners that are girls & for you to ignore them you're missing out on new business opps. There's been more times than I can count where I'll be standing there talking to a guy and some other guys come up to us and introduce themselves to the GUY ONLY, handshakes, card exchange, etc & completely ignore me even though I'm standing right there. I have to physically butt in, hand them all a card & say "hi, I own fetish paysites & I'm an affiliate too." But I do remember the initial exchange for future references....
5. Book your hotels/cars NOW!!! IF you didn't then you're almost too late. I find the BEST DEALS are found NOT by calling the hotels but on the online discount travel sites. Shop around. Go on Google Maps to see the distance from the show hotel to yours... What looks like 2 blocks will actually be more like 2 miles in reality, cuz it's Vegas! There is a free tram linking the Excaliber & Luxor to the Mandalay. If you're a cheapo then there's 2 small motels right across from the Mandalay as well (if you need the names then hit me up).Remember the Mandalay is at the SOUTH END of the strip.
RENTAL CAR TIP: do a search on southwest.com & they will give you a quote of ALL the car companies there. 100% of the time I get the cheapest rate that way.
6. Figure out your swag. Do you want giveaways?? Pens, notepads, etc? Well you better have ordered it already! Motivators & Branders are some good places to get cheap swag to give out.Hey, what about wearing a T-shirt or something to represent your company/sites? If you need single/short orders check out cafepress.com Upload your LOGO right away & just order what you need! Fast turn around.
7. PLAN YOUR PARTIES. Troll the boards & see what's up, if they need an RSVP then email them to let them know. There's going to be a LOT of private suite parties, off site parties & sponsor dinners (which you'll get an email about if you're an affiliate) Make sure to sign up for them (Topbucks always have the best dinners) and make a fucking list of where all the free food, hospitality suites, happy hours & eve. parties are. Know where/when the transportation is leaving for the evening parties. It's going to really busy & unorganised if you don't do it yourself.
THANK THE SPONSORS THAT PUT ON THE PARTIES. So many people take it for granted but the sponsors but a lot of $$$ and time into planning it. They also have to do the cleanup and pay the fines for a trashed suite.
8. Don't forget your camera, video camera & batteries!! By taking lots of good pics you can have another excuse to post them on the boards.& the usual stuff. wear comfy shoes, make sure you havea crapload of cards on you, if you've got a product to demo put it on your ipod or PSP so you can show it right away. Make sure you have the seminar schedule & if you plan to getting wasted & pass out in the hallway of the hotel, write on the back of your badge "Hello, my name is _____. If you find me, please return me to Room # __." for the security staff to deposit you.
If you've never been to the Adult Entertainment Expo at the Venetian Jan 10-13 then be sure to read my NEWBIES GUIDE TO THE AVN EXPO.Yes, it's more of a "fan show" but webmasters can have a lot to gain from it still.
See you there at Internext Vegas!
---- This article was written by Iolani Maja Lee aka ZOMBIEGIRLS is the owner of Fetish Pays Me, Check out her site ----
Now, when I say NEWBIES I don't mean newbie webmaster; I mean newbie to a big show, particularly this one. I know a TON of long time webmasters that don't go to shows or don't attend many.
1. Make a clear list of what you want to achieve at the show first (this means NOW) Are you selling product? Looking for affiliates? Shopping for ecommerce goods & services? Check out who's exhibiting and who's attending on the adultwhoswho list & start targetting who you need to speak with.
2. Make sure you have enough business cards. Even better, make business cards with your picture on it so people can put a face to the name immediately instead of squinting at the card thinking "who the f#&$* is this?" Better yet, put your domains & exactly what you offer on your card!! There's nothing more annoying than seeing just the corporate name on it & not knowing what that company offered. Try and keep the back blank & non coated so they can write notes on it for reference. Small things that ppl forget.
3. You are there to meet people & contacts. Don't just stand there in the corner and expect people to just come up to you. If it's your first time, these shows can seem cliquey with people that have known eachother for years. TAKE A DEEP BREATH & go up to them & introduce yourself with a handshake. When you talk to new people DON'T WAIT FOR THEM TO ASK WHAT YOU DO! Just tell them straight out & when you walk away make sure they know exactly what your company offers. I've noticed that people who stay in their little circles & cliques are often the shy ones who don't want to stray from their comfort zone & do something new.
4. Don't just assume that all females there (especially the "pretty" ones) are models!! There's many female webmasters, sales reps, managers & company owners that are girls & for you to ignore them you're missing out on new business opps. There's been more times than I can count where I'll be standing there talking to a guy and some other guys come up to us and introduce themselves to the GUY ONLY, handshakes, card exchange, etc & completely ignore me even though I'm standing right there. I have to physically butt in, hand them all a card & say "hi, I own fetish paysites & I'm an affiliate too." But I do remember the initial exchange for future references....
5. Book your hotels/cars NOW!!! IF you didn't then you're almost too late. I find the BEST DEALS are found NOT by calling the hotels but on the online discount travel sites. Shop around. Go on Google Maps to see the distance from the show hotel to yours... What looks like 2 blocks will actually be more like 2 miles in reality, cuz it's Vegas! There is a free tram linking the Excaliber & Luxor to the Mandalay. If you're a cheapo then there's 2 small motels right across from the Mandalay as well (if you need the names then hit me up).Remember the Mandalay is at the SOUTH END of the strip.
RENTAL CAR TIP: do a search on southwest.com & they will give you a quote of ALL the car companies there. 100% of the time I get the cheapest rate that way.
6. Figure out your swag. Do you want giveaways?? Pens, notepads, etc? Well you better have ordered it already! Motivators & Branders are some good places to get cheap swag to give out.Hey, what about wearing a T-shirt or something to represent your company/sites? If you need single/short orders check out cafepress.com Upload your LOGO right away & just order what you need! Fast turn around.
7. PLAN YOUR PARTIES. Troll the boards & see what's up, if they need an RSVP then email them to let them know. There's going to be a LOT of private suite parties, off site parties & sponsor dinners (which you'll get an email about if you're an affiliate) Make sure to sign up for them (Topbucks always have the best dinners) and make a fucking list of where all the free food, hospitality suites, happy hours & eve. parties are. Know where/when the transportation is leaving for the evening parties. It's going to really busy & unorganised if you don't do it yourself.
THANK THE SPONSORS THAT PUT ON THE PARTIES. So many people take it for granted but the sponsors but a lot of $$$ and time into planning it. They also have to do the cleanup and pay the fines for a trashed suite.
8. Don't forget your camera, video camera & batteries!! By taking lots of good pics you can have another excuse to post them on the boards.& the usual stuff. wear comfy shoes, make sure you havea crapload of cards on you, if you've got a product to demo put it on your ipod or PSP so you can show it right away. Make sure you have the seminar schedule & if you plan to getting wasted & pass out in the hallway of the hotel, write on the back of your badge "Hello, my name is _____. If you find me, please return me to Room # __." for the security staff to deposit you.
If you've never been to the Adult Entertainment Expo at the Venetian Jan 10-13 then be sure to read my NEWBIES GUIDE TO THE AVN EXPO.Yes, it's more of a "fan show" but webmasters can have a lot to gain from it still.
See you there at Internext Vegas!
---- This article was written by Iolani Maja Lee aka ZOMBIEGIRLS is the owner of Fetish Pays Me, Check out her site ----
Labels: fetish pays me, internext, newbie guide
