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 can’t promise i’d have attended if i’d have know about it but i would certainly have considered it.

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

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

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