GPWA Times Magazine - Issue 8 - April 2009

24 GPWA Times | INTIMATE, INFORMATIVE AND PRODUCTIVE Attendees to the GPWA Conference in Las Vegas in January were treated to a day full of affiliate-based sessions and a chance to network while taking in stunning vistas of the Las Vegas Strip. By Gary Trask J osh Gray sat high above the Las Vegas Strip in the Stratosphere Hotel and Casino tower with a cocktail in one hand and his Blackberry in the other. The senior media ex- ecutive for the social networking site PerfSpot had just spent the last eight-plus hours at the GPWA Conference when he was asked what he enjoyed most about the day, which was filled with affiliate mar- keting sessions. “Well, let me put it to you this way,” he said as he pointed to his Blackberry and scrolled through an inbox jammed full of unread e-mail. “I received 300 e- mails today. At least 60 or 70 of them are going to need a direct response. So needless to say, the last thing I need tomorrow is a meaningless fol- low-up e-mail from someone I don’t remember. “And when you go to some of these giant net- working conferences, that’s inevitably what ends up happening. The difference between those types of conferences and the GPWA Con- ference is that when I leave here today, I’ll re- member all of the people I met and when we follow-up with each other, it’s going to be ben- eficial for both of us. That’s why making the trip here was worth every second.” Gray’s comments were echoed by most of the more than 25 people who attended the confer- ence, which was held on the 103rd floor of the Stratosphere, just a few miles away from the Rio All Suites Hotel & Casino where the mam- moth Affiliate Summit West 2009 was also tak- ing place. Free admission was granted to the GPWA Conference for all affiliates, program managers, and affiliate marketing profession- als. GPWA Executive Director Michael Corf- man and six other invited speakers en- lightened attendees on everything from legal advice, to tips for using video on the Web, to strat- egies for driving more quality traffic to their sites. In addition to the seven sessions and a com- plimentary lunch, visitors to the conference were also treated to a cocktail party with hors d’oeuvres while they took in the incredible views of the Strip just as the desert sun began to set. “This is what networking is all about,” said GPWA member “Potsie” as he scanned the cocktail party. “I thought all of the sessions were real informative and now we have a chance to get together and discuss them over drinks. It was well worth my while.” Intimate, Informative, and Productive Michael Corfman, GPWA Executive Director