Preparing for Spring Internet World

By Gary Coyne

Next week is the Spring Internet World '99 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Two days of (19) comprehensive seminars followed by three days of (55) general seminars and an exhibit hall with almost 500 exhibitors.

I'll be covering "The Show" for AppleLinks, and looking for a "Mac presence." Two years ago, it wasn't strong. Earlier this year at the ICE (Internet Commerce Exposition, a much smaller show designed especially for commerce), there was one Mac, a PowerBook used to demonstrate a Web site, on the whole floor that was off in a side room. Even companies that make products for both Macs and PCs were only showing the PC version. It was disappointing.

If you want to attend, the whole five-day package is $1495. By choosing to go to only 4 or 3 or 2 or just 1 day, you can spend substantially less. For just one day of seminars and an exhibit hall pass, the fee is a mere $525 dollars.

The exhibit hall can be entered for free with a $50 discount coupon--available everywhere.

Why it costs so much to go to the seminars is simple: the web is currently the main place that the computer industry is making money. "If you want to learn how to do it correctly, If you want to make money, you need to go to these seminars." (my quotes) For years, people have been willing to sell their soul to make money; this is no different.

So, why is the exhibit hall so cheap? Statistics show that a large percentage of the exhibit hall visitors are directly involved in the selection of products and services for their company. By restricting the number of bodies in the hall, there are fewer (potential) buyers. Therefore, get as much money for the seminars as possible, while bringing in as many bodies to the exhibitor's floor as possible. Two different goals and two different mechanisms priced to get the desired effect.

Registered as a member of the press means I get a lot of promotional mail. No, make that mail and e-mail. No, make that mail, e-mail, and faxes.

So, what's in all this mail? There are companies wanting me to talk with their CEO between 1:30 and 3:30 on Wednesday. Companies wanting me to meet privately to see advanced products and they want me there between 2:00 and 3:00 on Wednesday. Others who want me to visit their booth between 1:30 and 3:00 on Wednesday.

Wednesday is the day.

Problem is, as a reporter I'm offered the opportunity to attend one day of seminars free, and guess what--all the seminars I want to attend are on Wednesday.

So what do all these press releases say? Not much. In fact, if anyone needs a job, many companies could use some talent for writing their press releases. I was astonished at how little the releases said. "Come here to see our product which will help you on the web." Writing, browsing, what? "Business' everywhere are overjoyed with our product!" Little if anything explains exactly what their product does. Surprisingly, in this electronic, Internet based world, few companies provide the URL of their company's site.

Some of these companies should not have bothered providing a URL. One such company was advertising that they could build an E-commerce site that would make any business owner proud. They listed their URL, but when I visited their site, I found broken links, mouse-overs that were not working, and a bad layout in general.

Hey, I know some seminars they can go to É

More to follow.

Spring Internet World '99

April 12-16, 1999

Los Angeles Convention Center

Los Angeles, CA

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July 05, 2009