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Posted by Lammo in 
I’ve just returned from the A4uexpo Roadshow in Bristol, and despite having a fantastic time with some brilliant people (one of the reasons I love this Industry), I was left with a niggling concern. Of the hundred or so attendees, there was no more than a handful of affiliates present – Networks were well represented, with some networks sending 6 or 7 members of staff, and there was a smattering of merchants, but less than 10 affiliates. Now I travelled 150 miles to attend this event (It’s our nearest Affiliate event!), and it amazes me that there are affiliates who live within 20 or 30 miles of Bristol who couldn’t be bothered to turn up.
It’s not as if you had to pay – It’s a free networking event, just like they used to be. Perhaps affiliates have gotten so used to the “free bar” that the thought of having to buy their own drinks sends shivers down their spine. Or perhaps they were frightened off by the floods that put paid to the 2007 Bristol event. Or maybe they just couldn’t be bothered. With 10 network/merchant/agency staff to every affiliate, there was no danger of having to pay for too many drinks, and the weather was kind to us (well, it stayed dry!). The lack of affiliates meant that I had the pick of the network/agency/merchants in attendance to network with, and managed to speak to pretty much everyone I wanted to (apart from Webgains.. I keep missing you guys!), and some decent deals were struck, so it was well worth going.
I’d be interested to hear from affiliates who live close to Bristol why they chose not to attend the Roadshow – Looking at the attendee list for the upcoming Glasgow and Manchester events, Glasgow seems to be attracting its fair share of affiliates, whilst Manchester still looks very light on affiliates – Is it Apathetic English Affiliates?
Finally, a huge thanks to Swifty from Mobiles.co.uk for the photo above. It was taken in some dodgy 80’s nightclub at stupid o’clock in the morning, and I think it’s captured the night perfectly – It’s like a “Where’s Wally?” picture there’s so much going on! And of course to answer the question – Where’s Wally? He’s not in the picture, as only a Wally would decide not to go to a free networking event on a nice summer evening in a great city with the Industry’s finest…
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Looks like a great night was had by all, is a bit surprising the lack of affiliates, first time since 2004 I haven’t made the Bristol trek myself (even though it took 14 hours last year in the floods I still made it) after all its only 250 miles just a short hop to be in such wonderful company, was really disappointed to have to miss this year
. Can’t understand at all the local area affiliates missing out.
Come on guys and gals these events will do more for your business than anything else you can think of and as a whole you couldn’t meet a nicer bunch of people, doesn’t matter if you make £10 or £10million a month you will be welcomed with open arms.
I will most definitely be at Glasgow on 13th August my first visit to the City
so Clarke if you are reading this treat me gentle no fried mars bars at stupid o’clock 
I’m glad you liked the pictures, the videos had me laughing all night last night!
It was a real shame there weren’t more affiliates there, it’s always great to put faces to a4u names!
I’ll be in manchester on the 10th Sept!
See you all soon!
Swifty aka Hannah
Hey John,
Good post!
Yeah must admit here at dgm we were all ready for a full crewe road trip down to Bristol. We had 5 or 6 coming I think, but we took a look down the list and noticed it was very network heavy. We did a bit of a u-turn and decided to just send 3 of us so that we were represented but not there in overload.
Last year was excellent despite the horrendous journey getting there! The guys reported that a fun time was had by all and that it was still worthwhile as an industry event. But as you say it would have been even better with more affiliates.
I saw a forum post/possibly blog by an affiliate recently about how Swansea would be the perfect place for an affiliate event and I think networks are trying to chip in to get out to affiliates outside of the standard event in London.
For example our bbq in Manchester does look set to be a great event, but I know we have had to really push the promotion of it.
I guess the thing is that affiliates are all pushing for the a4u and the networks to spread the love and get out of London with events so that people can meet, put names to faces, discuss ideas, issues and eveything else industry and more. I guess the fear is that if events in further afield places are requested by affiliates and then they end up being poorely attended by the affiliates that events will be stripped back down again.
Sure we’ll keep posted on how things get on in Manchester next week!
Kev
Not being a particularly active member at a4u i was’nt aware of what was probably my local affiliate event (I’m based near Bournemouth)
I can’t promise i’d have attended if i’d have know about it but i would certainly have considered it.
looks like a bit of a sausage fest … lol
Not sure about you but I would like to see all aff networks set up their own aff affiliate program, own affiliate manager and go out of their way to bring in new blood re education for newbies. Further to add and probably more important for the sake of longevity, push the benefits of the long tail approach, what do you think?
Js
Keith – It is puzzling me why more local affiliates didn’t turn up.. As you say, you travelled over 250 miles in the great floods of 2007 along with many others from Yorkshire, so why can’t affiliates who live twenty miles away get there? Attending a few of these events a year really will pay for itself (I don’t attend more than that, I think I’ve found the optimum level of networking for me!), especially when they’re free!
I was really tempted to do Glasgow too having looked at the attendee list, but that’s the week between me just getting home from a fortnight’s holiday and heading off to V Festival.. speaking to Clarke at Bristol he claims to have never tried a deep-fried Mars Bar, so that sounds like an affiliate challenge to me..
Swifty – Note to self.. avoid people with cameras in future! Was great to meet you though, and I look forward to chatting with you (sans camera) again soon.
KevMSutton – Yeah, I think 3 was about right. Any more would have been network-overload! I think perhaps the events need more promotion? Any that are in London will automatically have a large attendance due to the number of people located there, whereas those outside of the M25 need a little push to ensure the “locals” are aware that it is happening – As Ash has commented, he wasn’t even aware of the event. how else, apart from a4u and Affiliate Blogs can we get the message out about these events?
Perhaps that’s where network-organised events such as your BBQ in Manchester can fill the non-London gap, as long as they are promoted well, which I know the guys at DGM have been promoting the BBQ on the forum, blogs, msn and emails for at least the last month – I’m sure you’ll have a great affiliate turnout (and fab weather!) tonight, it’ll be great to hear how things went.
Bryan – erm, yeah.. You should see the *rest* of the photos..
Jess – That’s far too much common sense – It’s in network’s interests to recruit, train and educate new affiliates, but try convincing the FD that you’re not just paying the costs of training up an affiliate who will end up earning all the other networks over-rides.. Perhaps in 10 years time we’ll see an Affiliate Marketing University in every city…
I was there last year but my wife is due to give birth any day now – so I had a good excuse!