Morning Folks!!
The single biggest request at T.R.A.F.F.I.C. last week was to create an award for 'Broker of the Year.' I agree and I am announcing that in 2012, this will be a new category we will include.
Now let me articulate the difference between T.R.A.F.F.I.C. 2004 and T.R.A.F.F.I.C. 2011, 2012 and beyond. The #1 difference is that in 2004 when we had meals, we had 100% of the folks in attendance come and we as an industry were able to move things collectively as well as independently.
Fast forward to the way things work now compared to then. Today when we have 330 some attendees, we NEVER had more than 200-225 in one place at one time. I am not saying good or bad. Just pointing out the different dynamics and why they exist.
In 2004 people came to meet for the very first time in most cases. Today attendees have meetings lined up from morning to night. Folks are scheduled and sometimes that schedule does not allow us to all be together.
It would be good if we could have just one session or one meal that everyone was in attendance. I don't think that is likely to happen, but that does not mean it is not needed. It is. It changes the dynamics.
That said we can't control, nor to be want to control how you use your time at T.R.A.F.F.I.C. That is entirely up to you. But I do want to say what I said and maybe there is a way to achieve both. Maybe a way to add even more value to T.R.A.F.F.I.C. by putting back a very important piece of the puzzle now that I have identified it for folks to think about.
Have a GREAT Day!
Rick Schwartz
Shane Cultra
You should add”Drinks/Dine with a Domainer” . Set up drinks or lunch with an interesting or well known person in our field or any field for that matter. You could either have a first come first serve, lottery, or auction for charity. It was a hit and very enjoyable at other conferences I’ve been too. All the best ideas have been”borrowed” from others so need to worry about copying. Just a thought
howard
T.R.A.F.F.I.C. has always been a leader, not a copier. Never have been, never will.
Matthew
What’s with valuate and estibot? Domain values all cut by 80%~ Someone needs to do a story on this!
Shane Cultra
Howard,
It’s that kind of stubbornness that leads to greatness and failure. Incorporating things that have been successful for others and improving them has been a business model for ages. Nokia is the largest smartphone maker in the world and makes billions doing it. It’s great to set your sites on being Apple but there’s nothing wrong with being Nokia. And I don’t mean this as a dig, but TRAFFIC is not doing anything that hasn’t been done at other industry conferences for years. My advice is to worry more about your attendees enjoying and getting their money’s worth from the conference rather than whether you’re a leader or not. And from that standpoint it sounds like you are doing a fantastic job. The part you felt you were innovating and setting a new bar for the rest of the conferences to reach, the auction, well…..
Adam Strong
Rick and Howard . keep trying new things and who cares if you have to copy. There’s nothing new under the sun. Your shark tank wasn’t a new concept and neither was the musical chairs networking thing. Keep on pushing the envelope though and mixing it up. If the dynamic has changed, that’s great and you’ll find a way to maximize on that dynamic. People want to gather under your”tent” and they want to pay you so give them your best boys!
I’ve been to several shows where every butt was in a seat and people were standing in the aisles to hear a speaker. That’s not where business gets done though so I’m not sure that’s what you want. I think some good networking events like Shane suggests would be great. Every event I’ve been to (in and out of the domain space) does little break-out things like that focused on small groups/topics. Anyway, I’m sure you’ll keep working it and only improve it.