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Affiliate summit is one of the single best conferences for affiliates. It was my first and has remained my favorite conference.
This year I will be attending the Affiliate Summit West 2010 conference in Las Vegas. I will be there from the 16th until the 19th on January and I am greatly looking forward to meeting many of you. 
Before you go, you should know that your experience may vary from mine for a couple reasons.
Be Willing To Put Yourself Out There
If you look around at the conference, you'll see at (almost) any given time some guy just standing in the corner on his iPhone. It's so easy (specially as an introvert) to want to not have to go up to people you may recognize.
This is the single best part of the conference... Meeting people you might know or have worked with.
Use Your Affiliate Manager And Well Known People
Start by going up to each booth of companies you have worked with. Ask them for advice - ask them to introduce you to other affiliates... You never know what kind of connections you might make that can potentially sky rocket your business.
Hang out with your affiliate managers and people who a lot of people know. Most of the bigger players will tend to gravitate towards these people even if it's just for chit chat. Unless they're in a serious conversation, just walk up and introduce yourself.
Go To Parties
So many affiliate networks put on amazing parties. I'm not a huge fan of parties but I encourage people to go because there is a lot of networking that can happen there. Last affiliate summit, I sat and talked with Matt Marcin, Larby, Rob, Paul (Uber), Wes (T202), Ryan Sessler, and a bunch of other awesome guys for hours.
The party list is yet to be compiled but the one major party to be at that I know about this year is the Mundo Media Party.
Many of the smaller / more private networks use Affiliate Summit to launch their business into the public. Mundo Media is one of those companies - so be sure to check it out.
This event is invited only and if you're not working with Mundo Media, you can contact them (events {AT} mundomedia.com) for more information.
I asked Mundo Media to give me a bit more information about their company and this is what they sent me.
Mundo Media is a global leader in Affiliate Marketing. With leading innovation and a proven track record we provide maximum results for our clients and partners. We are a hybrid media entity comprised of several divisions, including: Online Advertiser, Proprietary Technology and Affiliate Network. Our team is extremely skilled and knowledgeable with several years of industry experience. We target the latest in global consumer trends, and create the link between the consumers and the advertisers. We are driven by performance and deliver new ideas to all of our partners worldwide.
Mundo Media is committed to creating innovative technologies for:
1. Traffic Optimization (behavioral targeting)
2. Landing page optimization
3. Post sale optimization (ensuring affiliate conversions and advertiser ROI)Mundo Media was established over 3 years ago. We began as affiliates and quickly realized the need to evolve. We are focused on developing technology, and strengthening our relationships with both affiliates and advertisers. 2010 will be an exciting year for us, we will continue to focus on building new exclusive hosted offers in the Mobile, neutraceutical, health and beauty and Bizz Opp space.
We are excited to see all of our existing partners and new partners at Affiliate Summit West. Please visit us at BOOTH #108 or at the Meet Market. We are also hosting an exclusive private party for a select group of partners (please contact your affiliate manager for details)
Charity Poker Tourney
The other single most awesome place to be at affiliate summit west 2010 will be the Poker Tournament put on by DK from Purpose Inc.
I went to the poker event at pubcon and it was so amazing. Fun times just sitting around for hours with affiliates, marketers, etc.
The greatest part about the poker tournament is that you'll be forced to hang out with affiliates. There wont be awkward silence because that's part of the game.
Of all the events this year, this is the one that I absolutely would not miss.
Anyways, looking forward to meeting all of you there!
Oh and so you know what I look like, check my about page or my facebook fan page. I have photos in both places.
word it was my first conference too and has remained my favorite out of all the conferences I have been to. see you at the dinner in vegas!
Looking FW to it!
See ya there man
Going to affiliate Summit last year has changed my life. I truly think if any body partially serious about making money online, this is a must go conference.
Leadicious
Very true – good stuff
I am really hoping to go to it. I entered the Shoemoney contest in hopes that I will be able to go. Otherwise, this year it would be out of the question.
Jonathon, would you say this is a fitting conference for someone that is completely (at least from the standpoint of actually making money) green to affiliate marketing?
Or does one need to be a serious player, like yourself or the previously quoted Ian “Bankin’ Big Dough” Fernando? (How’s things Ian?)
derek its all about gathering the information you got from the conference and utilizing it. my first summit was a good experience to meet with so many other people, face to face with the networks, and connecting with other affiliates.
all a conference is taking in the knowledge others pass out – believe me you will be surprise at how much people give out at conferences.
Thanks for the feedback Ian, now if I can just be certain that I won’t find you putting up any pictures of my disappearing eyes on Facebook I might be in.
Yea, Like Ian said – I think it’s perfect for all types. You can learn so much from others as long as you put yourself out there and are willing to talk with people. I think everyone can learn something, no matter how much experience.
Thanks Jonathan. That has been one of my biggest struggles at previous blogging conferences is overcoming my somewhat (ok, completely) introverted tendencies.
Again another year passes as I can’t get to Vegas. Last year I said I will go to ‘10 ASW. Not going to make it. I’m going to say it again. ‘11 ASW – Here I come.
Well I’ll hold you to that next year
dude, I’m trying to work things out so I can go. I want to go so bad!
This sounds like a great conference, as long as you stand up, mingle, socialize and exchange ideas. I will have to check my schedule though.
Honestly, if you network well, you can pretty much take a huge shortcut to success. I really need to go to these so badly, but schedule conflicts won’t let me.
I can’t wait until I can afford to make it out to one of the conferences. Hopefully mid-late 2010 I’ll be in a comfortable position with my business.
I really want to meet all the people that have helped motivate and inspire me to keep going.
I sure wish I was going. My wife is uber-pregnant though, and on ordered bedrest. So I have to take care of her. But I’ll be thinking about you boys out there. Enjoy!
Great post Jonathan. ASW is great for newbies and oldies (that part I know for sure). And it’s just not the sessions which are available for all levels. It’s the people and relationships created and grown that are the most important things.
Looking forward to meeting you there
I've added your feed to my reader, are there any other good blogs you'd suggest I read on the subject?
[...] If this is your first affiliate summit, make sure to read my post about it here. [...]
Nice, I am going for the first time, flying out tomorrow… Taking my wife too…
Is there an affiliate summit in the east like NY