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The DFN Weekly

Why go to
Internext Expo 2004?

By
Jojasa
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January 3, Internext Expo Vegas. It's coming in about 3 1/2 weeks! Are you going? You should be! This is the convention that you don't want to miss. This is where you can push your business to the next step, where you can learn what is really going on, and where you can meet the people who can help you make money. It's all about networking and learning and making something positive happen to your business.

Why go to Internext in Vegas? The first answer that usually comes to mind is... cause it's a whole lot of fun! Yes, it is. Far be it from me to ever try to tell anyone that it's not a whole lot of fun. But that's not really why I'm there. Yes, having fun is a great perk of the trip, but the Internext conventions are one of the best tools to use to get your business past the point of being a little thing you are doing in your spare time for extra cash, to becoming a real full time money making business. Click here for Internext Expo 2004.

The key to getting the most out of any webmaster convention is networking. You are presented with an opportunity to meet and pick the brains of some of the best at these conventions. After every convention that Old Tom and I have attended, we have seen our business grow. We have come away with new ideas, new business plans, and have made contacts with people who have proved invaluable to our business later on. Sitting and talking with people makes much more of an impression on them than an email or a few words exchanged on a board. Not only do you get a clue on how to build a successful business here, but the people you meet will remember you, they will know which newbies to watch, which newbies might make it and be of help to them in the future.

Meeting the people who you interact with everyday on the boards and forming friendships is going to be the basis of your long term relationships with people who *are* going to become important in the business. New friendships, new partnerships, new business opportunities, these can all be gained by networking at the conventions.

First Time
If you are going to Vegas for the first time next month, here are a few tips on how to get the most out of it and what to do to help you survive the trip.

When you first walk in to the convention hall, it can be a bit overwhelming. Hundreds of people, lots of noise, and of course, lots of content walking around smiling at you. Just inhale the atmosphere and enjoy it! You will have a couple of days so don't try to see everything at once. Take your time and see everything. Talk to the people who run the booths. Yes, they are trying to sell you something, but they are also more than willing to sit down with you and answer questions. You can learn quite a bit from talking with them. If you have a problem or question with any sponsor you already use, talking to that sponsor in person usually brings great results.

Take all the flyers and brochures that interest you and when you get home, Read Them. Feel free to take whatever freebies they are giving out. Sign up for any contests and be sure to ask for the party invitations that will be given out. Take people's business cards, and take along a LOT of your own business cards to hand out. If you don't have any cards, print some up at home now and make sure you have plenty. You can buy business card paper for your printer and they will come out looking very professional if you put a little work into it. The companies you give them to will get in touch after the convention... you guessed it, more networking.

Finding people among the crowds at the convention can be a bit daunting. If there are people from this board you want to get together with, contact them now and make arrangements to meet. If you are a lurker and have never posted, please don't be shy about sending a note to Voltar, Old Tom, or myself before the convention. Voltar's breakfast is a great way to meet and find people to hang out with at the convention and parties. Don't be shy about stopping someone and just saying "Hi". Bring your cell phone. It's the best way to keep track of people who are there.

Sitting down for a one on one talk in person with Voltar or Old Tom can be amazing. If you are going to be in Vegas and you read Voltar's board, please don't pass up the opportunity to meet with us. Voltar and Old Tom both can make those light bulbs go off in your head... take this opportunity to exchange ideas and learn.

There are seminars going on during the day. If this is your first time, I highly recommend that you attend as many of these as you can. Yes, some of it is very basic stuff, but it is information that you really need to know. These seminars are presented by people who have done this for years and know what they are doing. Again... networking opportunity. The seminars this year include a PHP tutorial, search engines, patents, marketing, alternative billing options, copyright info. The legal update seminar should not be missed no matter how many of these you have already attended. You have the best legal minds in this business giving information that you NEED to know. They all take questions and will talk to you. Do you have any idea what this kind of legal info costs if you made an appointment to meet with a lawyer? Don't miss this opportunity.

What to take
#1 important item... comfortable shoes! You will be walking and walking and walking and walking some more. For the convention itself, don't worry about being fashionable, be comfortable! Sometimes just getting from your hotel room, through the casino, and out the door can be a half-mile hike or more. The convention hall is huge.

#2 item... a camera. And not one that you need to send the film in to develop unless you don't mind the smirks from the guy at Walmart when you pick it up. Oh, did I mention that there is a lot of half dressed content walking around at the convention? They enjoy posing with you for a picture...

#3 item... for the ladies, something nice to wear to the parties. Yes, you can certainly go in jeans to all of them, but there *will* be times you will want to dress up a bit. Depends on which party and where. The men seem to always be dressed comfortably, jeans work fine. Do what you are comfortable with.

Try not to get drunk at the parties. Go slow, the nights are long. You want to be able to talk and remember and pick other's brains... you don't want people to remember you for being the drunkest (and most obnoxious) person in the room. You are there to promote yourself and your business and make contacts. You can get drunk later.

The weather in Vegas is usually in the mid 70's in the daytime. But it does get cool in the evenings so be prepared for anything.

If you have time, go see the sights in Vegas. Go downtown at night and see the lightshow above Fremont Street. Check out the fountains at Bellagio, the pirate battle at Treasure Island, the lion habitat at MGM, go see a show, play the slots a bit, and take a ride on a roller coaster.

Sleep
What's that?

Meet people, network, learn, network, and have fun! If you can't go this time, make plans now to be able to go to the next one. It's really something you should not miss. See you there!

Jojasa