Affiliate Summit West 2010 (With Discount Coupon!)
[If you're simply here for the discount, please click HERE and use coupon code ASW10CAKES]
Damn skippy. Affiliate Summit West in Vegas is less than 2 months away (jan 17-19)! Most of you have probably read a post or two on Nickycakes.com about previous conferences, so you know exactly what you’re missing if you haven’t been to one, but for those who have not, here is some information: ASW is the show of the year for affiliates. Not everyone shows up to Affiliate Summit East (although many do), but EVERYONE goes to ASW. It’s pretty much 3 days of awesome which people tend to extend for a few extra days since it’s in Vegas. During the day there are sessions and the exhibit hall, and at night there are tons of parties as well as anything else you can imagine that goes on in Vegas.
Past Shows
To get an idea of what happens at Affiliate summit, feel free to check out these past Affiliate Summit Wrapup posts:
Affiliate Summit West 2009 pt 1
Affiliate Summit West 2009 pt 2
Affiliate Summit West 2009 pt 3
That should give you an idea of what to expect at the show.
This Year
Every Affiliate Summit features something different. New companies are always being started. Newer, bigger parties. Different drama, etc. You’ll never really be able to know exactly what’s going to go down, but it will always be a great time and great for business.
Ask anyone who has attended one of these conferences in the past and they will tell you that the value you get out of affiliate summit is hundreds of times more valuable than the money you spent to get to the show. It’s 100% true. If you are an affiliate and not attending, you are really doing yourself a disservice, even if you think you’re too smalltime to go, you’re wrong.
-Sessions – The sessions at these conferences are kinda like classes. They get some people in the field to come share their experience on a certain topic. At previous Affiliate Summits, Nickycakes was kinda disappointed at the subject matter in the sessions. They mostly sucked. But this year there look to be a few really good ones (and a few really laughable awful ones).
The Good:
Sunday (requires gold pass):
De-Duping: the Great Unknown in Affiliate Marketing: 3pm-4pm
For those who don’t know, “de-duping” is what people generally call “scrubbing”
Monday (requires platinum pass):
Law Enforcement Risks for Advertisers, Affiliates, Networks: 11:30am-12:30pm
Talks about recent cases against affiliates/networks/advertisers, what your legal risk is, and what you can do to avoid getting looked at.
Running a Network: Business, Legal & Practical: 2pm-3pm
Probably states the obvious: any retard with a few thousand dollars can start a network. But likely some interesting info anyway.
Oprah, Flogs and FTC: Hot Topics 2010: 3:30pm-4:30pm
Should be renamed “Nickycakes has created a monster.”
CPA Affiliate Marketing Opportunities in Europe: 3:30pm-4:30pm
Sadly this one is during the oprah session, but if the oprah one sucks, come to this one. People have been underestimating the untapped international markets for a while.
The Bad:
Some of these sessions are like….wtf were they thinking?
MommyBloggers: Changing the Face of Affiliate Marketing?
Short answer: No.
Long answer: Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.
Feel free to check out the rest of the agenda here. Keep your eyes peeled for the facebook advertising panel featuring Shoemoney and Dennis Yu. Bonus points if you can count the thick layers of irony.
Passes!
Ok, so if you want to go to the show, you need to buy a pass. There are 3 types of passes: Silver($149), Gold ($549), and Platinum ($1,249). These rates are for ordering before the show. If you buy on-site, the prices get jacked up.
If you are a newbie, BUY THE SILVER PASS. The meet market, exhibit hall, and parties are absolutely the most valuable to you, and you probably don’t have a ton of money to throw around. The sessions will likely provide you with nothing of value this year. If you’re a veteran, think about the platinum pass. There are some decent sessions on monday, but pretty much nothing on tuesday. If you have the money to throw around and think you’ll actually go to them, then do it up.
To order your pass please click HERE and then use the coupon code ASW10CAKES for a 10% discount at checkout.
Travel
Buy your plane ticket early. Seriously. Also, try to get on Virgin America if they have direct flights to vegas from where you’re at. They are the bomb and have a pretty sweet first class which you can do same-day upgrades without spending a lot. Flights to Vegas are generally cheap, and at all hours of the day/night, so it shouldn’t be too tough to find a good one.
Hotels
Alright, well the conference is at the Rio which is a casino that’s off the main strip. This sucks for a lot of reasons, but Nickycakes would recommend staying there anyway if the rooms weren’t absolute ass and overpriced. If you insist on being within walking distance of the show, get a room at the Palms in the nicer tower, not in palms place, although palms isn’t that amazing either. Do yourself a big favor and get a room at the Wynn, Encore, or Venetian, and just cab it to the conference in the morning, and back to the strip when you leave in the afternoon. It only takes a few minutes. You could also try the new City Center, but Cakes has not even been inside yet to check it out. It’s supposed to be nice though, and it was just finished.
FOOD!
Alright, Nicky’s favorite part. Having lived in Vegas for a while, and being someone who loves to go out and try new restaurants, he’s come up with a decent arsenal of good places to eat. Some of these places most tourists don’t know about, and some are expensive ones in casinos. The expensive ones you’re gonna want to talk your affiliate managers into treating you haha. Whatever you do, don’t stick around the Rio for eating.
Dim Sum:
Ping Pang Pong – This is one of the best Chinese Dim Sum restaurants Nicky has ever been to, and he’s been to a LOT of them. It’s located right next to the Rio at Gold Coast, which is a really crappy hotel/casino, but the restaurant is SOOOO good. Enjoy the Shumai…it’s amazing. Yelp
Chang’s Hong Kong – This one rivals Ping Pang Pong in quality, and is more authentic and has more seating. It’s only a couple minute cab ride from Rio, but you’ll want to get the cabbie’s business card to call for a pickup since cabs don’t generally hang out there for rides back to the strip. Yelp
Steak:
Craftsteak – Located in the MGM, this is one of Nicky’s all time favorite steak places. It’s not quite as good as the Craftsteak in NYC, but it’s still damn good. Try the Wagyu Skirt Steak (medium if you’re used to med-rare). Pricy, but goooood. Yelp
Sushi:
Nobu – In the Hard Rock. So good. Nicky saves this one for special occasions. Yelp
Italian:
Capo’s – This place is one of the best date spots you’ll find anywhere. It’s off the strip so not many tourists go there. Basically it’s built mafia style, complete with a fake entrance, live frank sinatra singing and piano, big ass comfortable round booths, and pretty damn good Italian food. They also have a valet who can call you a cab or whatever pretty quick since it’s off the strip. GO if you have time, it’s an experience. Yelp
Japanese:
Ichiza – Amazing hole in the wall Japanese place off the strip. Very inexpensive, very authentic and good, and very requires reservation for dinner. Again, since it’s off the strip, get the card of the cab driver so you can get a ride back. For dessert, try their signature Honey Toast. It’s probably the best dessert Nicky has ever had. Yelp
Korean:
Mother’s Korean BBQ – Off the strip bangin korean bbq place. If you’ve never had korean bbq, they basically have a grill in the middle of the table, and you order these platters of marinated meat and veggies to cook for yourself. You also get like 10 different small appetizer type dishes with your meal for free. OPEN TILL 2 AM, and 5am on weekends.
Staying In Touch With Cakes
Pretty simple. Nickycakes will be on twitter @nickycakes the whole time. He’ll also be in cakes chat periodically, as will many others at the show. This has historically been a good place to get in touch with everyone for going out and seeing where the party is at.
Nice rundown of the food Cakes. I definitely will try the place in the Gold Coast, I’ve freaking stayed there and had no idea it was in there. Gold Coast isn’t classy, but I’m not above slumming it for good Chinese food.
Oprah, Flogs and FTC: Hot Topics 2010: 3:30pm-4:30pm
Should be renamed “Nickycakes has created a monster.”
lol…are you really trying to take credit for the creation of the flog? what a joke…
you think you know, but you have no idea.
O rly?
So, Dan, the guy you shared an office with, didnt create laura first which you then hoped on the bandwagon like everyone else?
Dont twist it…the only money you’ve made in this game is from your referrals. Keep bragging about your cheap trips to asia and car that youre making payments on.
nice trollin. I really hope this isn’t the taky i know. my referrals are nothing. lets just say those checks get stacked up on my desk till they’re about to expire before getting deposited. nice try though champ
ps. anyone with fucked credit like i’ve had will tell you car payments are the best way to fix your score. just some advice for others in my situation, pay 80% of your car in cash and get a loan for the rest. does wonders for your score.
Laura wasn’t the first flog. The first flog pretty much was a landing page from a WuYi tea advertiser themselves. I saw a few variations before Laura and the rest of the current flog styles pages hit.
Damn…someone who actually knows what they’re talking about. That guy with the polaroids. He had a video of him unboxing his wu-yi tea and when he opened the package a bunch of advaliant stickers fell out haha. Classic.
Haha…way to not address the flog comment. anyone whose done anything in this industry knows your full of shit right now.
ps: trolling? coming from the guy who made a name for himself by trolling EVERYONE….gotta love irony
Don’t need to address it. Ask Dan who got him started if you’d like. We’re all laughing at your straw grasping
Not sure how anyone could think I’m full of shit when I never make claims as to my income level. Nothing to really be “full of shit” about, is there?
You claimed to have started the flog trend with your ‘Nickycakes created a monster’ comment…that was my original point that I’m saying your full of shit about…as expected, you’ve sidestepped it in every reply. Whether or not you taught AM to the guy who started flogs is irrelevant. Its his success. Not yours.
Jealousy is a motherfucker.
nickycakes.com is the original flog. Affiliate marketing isn’t real.
Good Morning Haters!
sup mommyblogger, what are you doing to change the face of affiliate marketing today?
Not sure about the face, but I’m doing my best to change the fat asses of affiliate marketing.
I once had lunch with nickycakes at a place in the Rio. It was lackluster at best. we did not cuddle afterwards either.
Hi
Feel free to stop by the True booth at ASW wen can setup some awesome payouts on excellent Gay dating offers for you and your boyfriend
Good one Nickycakes. Looking forward to my first ASW. Flights with V Australia (no wifi but still a Virgin carrier) and booked into the Palms already based on one of my AM’s recommendations.
Will you be doing a party advice post closer to the event?
Also, being a Vegas local yourself, could you tell me if it would be easy to pick up a prepaid SIM close to the Palms, Rio or strip? Or should I try to do that at LAX?
Take care of a prepaid sim at LAX if you can find one before your connecting flight. Otherwise you can find one in Vegas. I think you can get crappy ones at 7-11, but i’ve never looked for one in the US.
And yes party post closer to the show. No info on that yet.
DROPIN LOADS on ASW
Nice write-up, Nickycakes! What is your opinion on the Luxor?
the BBQ joint RUB at the Rio is really good, and they have fat tire beer. cannot wait for this event and excited to try the dim sum place at the Old Coast next door. I like Nero’s at Caesar’s for steakhouse, and believe it or not, the Excalibur Steakhouse is amazing if you can stand to walk through that shit hole white trash casino.
Cakes, I am brand new to affiliate marketing and have spent most of my time in SEO and PPC. Do you think this conference will be useful to someone that has no experience in affiliate? If so, would you think that the classes would be most helpful? thanks.
Yes I do. I think you will get a ton out of just meeting people and seeing how the industry works and getting some new ideas. Seriously just go, you will thank me later.
Point is, flogs were around a lot longer then WuYi tea, which I ran back in March/April 2008. I had a flog in Oct 2007 as a matter of fact for a colon product. Nothing new, all you need to stop whining and I know you didnt create them. I seen that shit on DP way before you.
Get mad.
As a Vegas local I want to recommend a few other places:
Lotus of Siam – World class Thai food in one of the seedier parts of town (close to the Green Door sex club). Their food is out of this world. It’s where the celebrity chefs go to eat when they’re in town. Amazing food and a killer riesling list to pair with it. Relatively inexpensive.
Nora’s Wine Bar – This place is pretty far from the strip, but has amazing italian food and you can get expensive wine by the ounce.
Firefly – There’s one downtown (fremont st) and one over by flamingo and paradise. Cheap spanish appetizers called tapas. Really good food. You can order a bunch of different dishes. They have mojitos and sangria by the pitcher.
Crown and Anchor – English pub down on Trop and Maryland. Good fish and chips and great atmosphere. Bartenders and waitresses are how chicks in short plaid skirts.
Cheap Eats:
In-n-out burger: If you have never had a burger from here get one. Ask for “animal” style.
Robertos Taco Shop – There is one of these on every corner here in vegas. 24 hours. The best mexican food to eat after you’ve been drinking all night. As a courtesy to the strippers show up here after you go to the strip club.
Good call on Nobu and Ichiza. That honey toast is amazing, but that thing has to be like 10,000 calories.
I have to also agree you did not "start" the whole flog thing. As a matter of fact I was seeing wordpress blogs being used for auto generated content promoting products with personal testimonials and reviews from "fake" people back in 2006.
You also can not lay claim to inventing the current style of flogs that became popular with affiliates ( a la the 1-2 punch, or flogs with 2-3 products being pitched at once ) as I actually met the guy that came up with that style back middle of last year. Just ask any of the big networks who started that trend and the answer is not you. Matter of fact, ask Smaxor.
I challenge you to find anywhere that I claim I invented flogs. And rofl @ telling me to ask smaxor.
these comments = comedic gold!
see you all in vegas
Have you tried the italian restaurant in the New York hotel? It’s pretty good! My favorite sushi restaurant was Social House, but I’ll be trying some of your recommendations since they shut down.
Rofl who the hell cares who invented flogs. You people are hilarious getting all up in arms over nothing.
And yes by you people I mean YOU.
I’m just getting into affiliate marketing.. running a vaporpak offer on a $100 adwords voucher LOL… so maybe next year’s ASW for me.