An adult industry convention or exposition (expo) serves as an occasion for gathering individuals and entrepreneurs who are - one way or the other - associated with the burgeoning online adult industry. This is where you can find phenomenal business opportunities within a comfortable networking environment, and professional atmosphere for you to build on your Internet business.

It is a great and definite source of networks and contacts for the online adult culture. This is where webmasters, affiliates, content providers, and industry voyeurs get together and par-tay! There are also elaborate exhibits from the vendors displaying new technologies, web hosting services and other products and services.

The more popular conventions are the Cybernet Expo, Internext, and AdultDex. Admission to these conventions is usually pricey. It generally costs around $150 per person for a 3 day event. For online adult industry enthusiasts and entrepreneurs alike, the fee is definitely worth it.

Thousands of people from the US and around the globe who flock to the event site expect to have a good time and meet the people they share the same pursuits with. Conventions provide a great opportunity for people in the online adult industry to network and mingle, bringing back with them all the vital information that keeps them updated of industry events. As adult content tends to be sensitive, it is a golden opportunity to actually find people who take your business ideas seriously.

In this industry, no one can afford to be an introvert.

Making Contact

Unlike by email, ICQ or telephone, making contacts is also much easier and productive when done in person. Nothing beats meeting a potential business partner in person. It’s a perfect opportunity to get an idea of what he or she is like. You can get the feel whether you really want to do business with this person and whether you can trust them or not. Deals become easier to close and your contacts are more reliable. Good business relationships are built on trust and that trust begins with a handshake at the convention floor!

In any case one thing is sure; getting your face seen and your product talked about at a show is a key factor in the process of making your business more profitable. Networking with other fellow webmasters affords you an opportunity to swap tricks of the trade (how to better market your website, how to better analyze traffic, how to refine your business model, etc.), amass free advice from wise folks and above all, get to know the person behind the domain.

Tips

When going to a convention, here are a few things to bear in mind:

• Prepare some wicked looking business cards. It’s great PR and people are more bound to take you seriously.
• Collect as many business cards as you can. You will undoubtedly accumulate tons of business cards. Take down little notes on the back of each one. At the end of the day, there are odds that you'll get solid leads from such an unassuming card stack.
• Manage time wisely. Give yourself enough time to meet as many people as you can, or at least all those with whom you feel you can make some serious money with. And of course give yourself time to party!
• Talk to the right people. Don’t waste your time talking with just any dude who tells you he can make you a millionaire right away.
• Finally, be friendly, interested but “aware” and don’t make promises you can’t keep.

Remember that the adult industry is a unique business and its conventions are unique opportunities to make your mark. These conferences blend education, business, pleasure and networking in unique and helpful ways.

Talk to other people who have attended these events in the past, and you will find that nearly all of them will give their glowing recommendations.