Can A FREE Affiliate Convention Really Happen?

Posted on: May 27th, 2009 by Jeremy Schoemaker

I have been burned 3 times in last couple years trying to help promote free affiliate conferences. So far not one actually happened. The last being the Midwest un-Conference.

I was approached last year by Jon Fisher, owner of wickedfire.com, that he was going to have a conference that was free. He also told me Webmasterradio was involved and it was going to be awesome. Sounded good to me and I said I would be happy to help promote it.

Fast forward to now… Wickedfire is no longer involved but the conference is going to happen. Lots of details are still unclear but the site is up and the date is June 17th – 20th in Denver Colorado.

Webmasterradio has assured me that this conference IS going to happen. They have also published their attendee list which is kind of weird because it says only 60% of attendees are from the United States and only 70% speak english.

UPON further review a couple people have noticed its where they MARKET TO not where they are. Thanks for pointing this out as I have had numerous affiliate companies who wanted to sponsor the event think its only 60% english speaking.

NO MATTER!

I am booked and ready to go AND I know how to say “hi, thanks for reading my blog in 9 different languages”.

And no matter what happens we are working with affiliate.com and getads.com to throw one of the biggest, most amazing parties ever.

So if you haven’t yet go and register for the affiliate convention and book your trip to Denver. Its only a couple weeks away so get to it!

Post written by Jeremy Schoemaker

Hi I am Jeremy Schoemaker and ShoeMoney.com is my blog. 99% of the post here are done by me but you will see others occasionally make guest posts. This blog is fun to write but for my day job I run several online companies.

More about Jeremy at http://www.shoemoney.com!

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58 Comments. What Say You?

  1. Mr. School Fundraising Ideas
    June 2, 2009 at 12:51 pm

    Is it too late to sign up or can you just show up that day and walk in?

  2. Create a website
    June 2, 2009 at 9:01 am

    i would but it is a bit far away for me as i live in scotland,however if you come over the water please follow me up and let me know.
    Owen

  3. DJ Equipment Dealer
    May 31, 2009 at 11:55 pm

    i am still trying to work the schedule to make it there. when’s the next one in L.A.?

  4. Jon Fisher
    May 30, 2009 at 6:40 pm

    Jeremy, shoot me an email with questions you have as to why I pulled out of the project. I’ll give you the real in-depth story.

    Originally it was set up to be awesome, now its set up to be a train wreck.

    Best of luck to them and their “free” conference, but I for one am glad I left when I did.

  5. Caden Grant
    May 29, 2009 at 7:06 pm

    Dang no way. A free affiliate convention – and in my city.

    Every time I hear of one it’s in some different city and it costs money but the first free one I hear about is in the same city as me. Sweet!

  6. Mr. School Fundraising Ideas
    May 29, 2009 at 11:03 am

    It sounds like it will be a blast. Good luck with it, when are you going to have one here in Nebraska?

  7. Trisha Lyn Fawver
    May 29, 2009 at 12:22 am

    A large part of the team for Paulson Management Group will be there, as well as speaking. Any chance to network is a good chance to network!

  8. Travis Lusk
    May 28, 2009 at 10:19 pm

    Wish there were more of these on the East Coast.

  9. Dean Saliba
    May 28, 2009 at 4:44 am

    Everytime something like this comes along I always say how I wish one would be set up in the UK.

  10. Sensei
    May 28, 2009 at 4:04 am

    Sounds good but the problem is the flight. They are pretty expensive. Otherwise I would join the conference I guess.

  11. Blogger Rise
    May 28, 2009 at 2:58 am

    Oh no I guess this is too much for me cause I`m from Indonesia…Wonder when you can come to Indonesia and speak in front of many Indonesian blogger that soon will Rise :D

  12. fas
    May 28, 2009 at 2:31 am

    This goes to show people dont really value free stuff. Whether its content or conferences.

  13. Ricky Peterson
    May 28, 2009 at 1:24 am

    Wow …I would love to attend this Grand party with lots of FUN. Affiliate dot com is market leader at this point of time there is no doubt about that. Few other networks are also trying to come up in competition with affiliate dot com. Future will decide who is the best.

    Thanks for sharing Shoe.

  14. Roger
    May 28, 2009 at 12:40 am

    I would like to be there, but the location is too far away. I will still try

  15. Jay @ work from home
    May 28, 2009 at 12:02 am

    %60? That’s not so bad. I wish I could go…that would be so awesome. It would’ve been my first affiliate conference.

  16. voice
    May 27, 2009 at 11:47 pm

    SWEET! Thanks for the heads up on this. I’m certainly no super affiliate, but you gotta start somewhere, eh? Free conference + in my hometown = good combo.

  17. Smart Teenager
    May 27, 2009 at 10:57 pm

    Hmm Denver isn’t all that far from Phoenix… If blog revenue picks up now that I’ve really started to hit it hard then hopefully I can go.

    -Smart Teenager

  18. Luke
    May 27, 2009 at 10:47 pm

    I will be there with the rest of the XY7.com team :)

  19. Juhani Tontti
    May 27, 2009 at 10:34 pm

    Very far from Finland, but if I´ll be close to the place, I can drop in.

  20. Patrick
    May 27, 2009 at 10:08 pm

    I’ll be going. It will be my first affiliate conference. Hope it’s worth the effort!

  21. Bibokz
    May 27, 2009 at 9:54 pm

    Quite far from my place… would the conference available via online?

  22. Greg Ellison
    May 27, 2009 at 9:50 pm

    It sounds like it is going to be fun. Greg Ellison

  23. Nicholas Chase
    May 27, 2009 at 8:25 pm

    Jeremy,

    NickyCakes just slammed this conference in his post today. Sounds like he got some information wrong about the demographics on attendees?

    After much prodding I finally have my own domain and a WordPress Blog, and just placed some Shoemoney thanks therein:

    http://www.nicholasachase.com using the WP Unlimited theme I won over at John Chow’s blog.

    I’m passing on this Denver conference, need to get my landing pages going for my offers!

    Respectfully,

    Nicholas Chase
    http://www.nicholasachase.com
    http://www.twitter.com/nachase

  24. KotenokMyrka
    May 27, 2009 at 8:14 pm

    Ох..я не пойму одно зачем создают уже зрелище подобные другим,а именно популярным!?что это дает..разве когда что комуто надоест оформление визуальное МОНОПОЛИИ вот и перекинутся для Инвестополия..
    Може действительно я не прав,но всеже…

    • Mogul
      May 27, 2009 at 10:02 pm

      I object to this comment on the grounds of WTF.

      • sean
        May 28, 2009 at 12:08 pm

        Here is your translation. courtesy of Google. Is it me or does machine translation need to advance a little more :)

        Oh .. I do not understand why one has created another similar show, but it is popular!? That it gives you .. when is it that komuto tire processing visual MONOPOLIES here and spill over to Investopoliya ..
        I really can not right, but Nevertheless

  25. Matutu
    May 27, 2009 at 7:59 pm

    DENVER DENVER !!!!!!
    Why did they choose that particular location. And those percentages must mean something
    LOL …!

    http://www.frogblogger.com

  26. Make Money From Home
    May 27, 2009 at 7:34 pm

    hmmm, i’m interested joining those conference

  27. Cliff
    May 27, 2009 at 4:50 pm

    I planned on attending as it’s a short drive from Western Nebraska. Can’t wait to take in some free seminars!

  28. the web
    May 27, 2009 at 4:22 pm

    I want to see conference, and learn quite.

  29. Asswass
    May 27, 2009 at 4:20 pm

    Only 70%. I didn’t know that so many people outside the US knew about Affiliate Marketing. I should think about launching an Affiliate Network in South America :)

  30. Find Affiliate Offers
    May 27, 2009 at 3:41 pm

    The should have picked a more exciting place than Denver…

    • CPA Affiliates
      May 27, 2009 at 7:00 pm

      I think they chose denver to be different as every conference is in CA, Las Vegas, Boston or Florida… I think it was a good choice. I would go if i didn’t already have somethign scheduled.

    • Gina
      June 4, 2009 at 9:54 am

      How do you know Denver isn’t exciting? ever been here?

      The conference is going to be right in the heart of downtown. The theater district is one block away. There are countless bars and restauarants and nightclubs in walking distance. The Pavilions is also in walking distance, where you can see one of several movies. You’ll be one block away from the 16th street mall.

      You aren’t going to be trapped somewhere where you need a car to do anything cool or stay trapped in a hotel.

  31. Sil
    May 27, 2009 at 3:26 pm

    Hi Jeremy,
    here is “hi, thanks for reading my blog” in Dutch:
    “hoi, bedankt voor het lezen van mijn blog”
    just in case i happen to stumble upon a plane ticket from Amsterdam to Denver :)

  32. Isaac Miller
    May 27, 2009 at 3:26 pm

    I’m glad to see something like this happening. Perhaps a live webcast of the event as well for the people who can’t make it out to Denver?

  33. Chris Hooley
    May 27, 2009 at 3:15 pm

    I tried to sign up but since my aff volume = teh suck, it aint free for me. So you all have fun out there, enjoying your freedom and awesome sauce. I’ll be here in a puddle of my own tears.

  34. Andy Crofford
    May 27, 2009 at 3:05 pm

    Jeremy,

    The link for the ad for the ShoeMoney affiliate network course doesn’t work.

    Also, why does the banner say 11 week course and the site say 12 week?

    Sorry to go off topic but I know you will never get an email about this.

    Thanks,
    Andy

    • Jeremy Schoemaker
      May 27, 2009 at 3:20 pm

      its ok … the first is fixed thx

      also it was originally going to be a 10 week course… then 11 … now 12 … and I have about 8 other things I want to add now so it might end up being a never ending course ;)

      • Condom Bargains
        May 29, 2009 at 7:48 pm

        What are the 9 languages that you know how to meet and greet in, and can we see a demo on a videoblog??

  35. Rachel
    May 27, 2009 at 3:04 pm

    This is the first conference I’m attending since leaving my full-time SEO job and going full-time performance marketing. Didn’t realize you would be there until now — looking forward to meeting you!

  36. CPA Affiliates
    May 27, 2009 at 2:43 pm

    I think it might end up being a great conference. But unfortunately i won’t be able to attend… maybe next time.. but i think i will be going to ASE in NY

  37. Enke
    May 27, 2009 at 2:43 pm

    I realize the gambling affiliate industry is a different animal, however free attendance at conferences for affiliates is the norm.

    Given the right organizers, I don’t see why it isn’t possible.

  38. Swansonager
    May 27, 2009 at 2:33 pm

    It’s great to see this event is going to happen! Awesome stuff guys. Can’t wait to hear the recap, I won’t be able to make it this go around.

  39. Gillian, Pres SEOmoz
    May 27, 2009 at 2:13 pm

    Well said!

    [Grammarians: you are correct. I'm a stickler too, but let's not diminish the message of the post]. ;-)

    I’ll be there, as will Cindy Krum, Dennis Yu, SEOmoz’ newest SEO rock-star Jen Lopez, and a host of other SEO/SEM powerhouses.

    I’ll be bringing SEOmoz’ Search Spam card decks with me. If you haven’t indulged in this industry-engulfing raucous game, check it out here [http://www.seomoz.org/blog/only-seomoz-could-make-search-spam-fun] and don’t miss your chance to play at Affiliate Conference.

    Affiliates of any size or experience level: join us! We have much to learn from each other.

    • Jen Lopez
      May 27, 2009 at 4:39 pm

      Thanks Gillian! :) I’ll be ready to play some Search Spam on my home turf! It’s great to have a conference come to Denver, and I’m looking forward to speaking about alternative search engines and marketing venues with Dennis.

      I may even throw in a few technical tips/tricks I’ve learned over the years. Looking forward to meeting Shoemoney as well. :)

  40. Jeremy
    May 27, 2009 at 2:01 pm

    I was wondering if you were going to say anything about this one. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go, but now that you’re gonna be there…I’m thinking about it.

    …I guess free can’t be beat…but we all know what ‘free’ means in this industry. I’m wondering where the ponzy scheme begins.

  41. John Coronella
    May 27, 2009 at 1:45 pm

    That’s not the language they SPEAK but the language they MARKET to.

  42. 5starAffiliatePrograms
    May 27, 2009 at 1:43 pm

    Hey Jeremy the way I read those graphs it’s not which countries affiliates are from – it’s what countries they market to. Same with language – it’s not what language they speak but languages they market to.

    • Jeremy Schoemaker
      May 27, 2009 at 1:51 pm

      Either way I am covered!

      Btw how do they market there if they cant speak it ?

  43. Matt
    May 27, 2009 at 1:39 pm

    I like how North America is interpreted as “United States” ;)

    Lots of us affiliates up in Canada too!

  44. Scorpiono
    May 27, 2009 at 1:28 pm

    In title, affiliate not “affilait”.

    Cheers Shoe!

  45. My Life as I See It
    May 27, 2009 at 1:27 pm

    Wish it were on the East Coast! Hmmmm, my Fiance’ and I are looking for a place to get married? Wonder if she’d go for an affiliate convention? haha

  46. sean
    May 27, 2009 at 1:25 pm

    what do you have to do to attend “free” the site trys to get 675$ out of you

    • sean
      May 27, 2009 at 1:33 pm

      never mind figured it out

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