NEWS BRIEFS

There is something about the pace of Jamaica that has taught me a few things about our industry, and how to bring warm enticement back to discouraged clientele.NEWS BRIEFS

There is something about the pace of Jamaica that has taught me a few things about our industry, and how to bring warm enticement back to discouraged clientele. There is something about how one bad experience will make you never want to come back to a certain place, or how having the wrong expectations (too high or too low) can be either pleasing or detrimental to your experience. Somewhere there is a common ground, a plane we all come together on. I was there when that plane landed, at the Negril Net Bash in Jamaica.

2003 celebrated the fourth year of the Negril Net Bash, and I personally celebrated my 5th year in the adult Internet business the same week. Starting on Tuesday, February 4th, Webmasters from all around the globe came together to simply get to know one another, network, and have fun all at their own pace.

I have attended six of the past eight Internext/IA2000 shows, and come home sick and worn out every time. When you are shouting over blaring music or five feet away from someone you’d like to talk to yet never get the chance, how well can you really get to know the people you do business with? Negril Net was the complete opposite of every other Webmaster event I have attended. I returned home on Saturday February 8th feeling refreshed, relaxed, and better than ever. And even though I did not return home with a stack of business cards, I know by heart the name, face, and company of almost every person who attended. According to Negril Net organizer, Dokk, 300 Webmasters attended this gathering and it was a great mix of personalities, talent, and representation of our industry. However, due to late registrations and bookings, nearly 250 attendees were scattered around the island mostly doing their own thing, while 50 stayed at the Mariners Beach Club Condos.

No Hurries, No Worries

After getting off the plane that connected in Miami with Matt from PSWBilling.com and Twinkley and Buran from TheAdultWebmaster.com, we met up in Montego Bay with Amanda from Python, Dokk, and several others. We took a shuttle from the airport to Negril, which was a beautiful and scenic one-hour drive on brand new, smooth roads. Jamaica appears to be healthy with clean water, beautiful oceans and green mountains, and everyone we met was very friendly and courteous.

Something about Jamaica that struck me was the tempo of the people. Nothing happens fast in Jamaica, nor do you really want or need anything fast anyway. Does it really matter that you wait an hour for your dinner when you are watching the sunset over the water, enjoying outdoor dining and great company? Not for me! I’ve found that when everything you do is rushed you not only lose quality, you lose much of the enjoyment in what you are actually doing. People can tell what is a rush job and what is quality work. In your web site design, think about creating an atmosphere that makes your visitors feel relaxed, unrushed, and where they can sit back and take things at their own pace. Simply by letting one know what is available and will be available when they want it will make a person feel more encouraged to re-visit and possibly come back for repeat or up-sell business.

Faces & Places

Upon arriving I was a bit nervous (who, me?) as to who was who from where, but quickly got over all that as everyone ended up being very friendly, and it was just a matter of time before having a chance to meet almost everyone. Wednesday offered a sponsored shuttle from Steve and Tanker at LightspeedCash, dinner and drinks at Rick’s Café, and a sunset and cliff diving which were absolutely phenomenal! If you wish to see some of the sights from Rick’s Café, check out http://www.adultchamber.com/members/negrilnet. Dinner together was a great chance to play musical chairs to the sound of live reggae music and to get to know each other a little better… YNOTBob, Poppy and LaurieX, Brian from Insite, VirtuMike, HotlipsHooligan from Hotlipscash, Amisha, Tim, Miss Bunny, Laurel from Hustler Content, and many others.

The following day was Bob Marley’s birthday and Hazel and Barry from Spread4U.com provided a few passes to use any water sport for free! This included jet skis, snorkeling trips, banana boat rides, and parasailing – which I got to do and it was a total rush. Imagine seeing green mountains meeting the ocean while flying about 100 feet over the water! Later that night Spread4U also sponsored a trip to a reggae concert and pool party.

I didn’t go to the concert because I had a unique opportunity to check out Hedonism II, which sponsors vacation prizes for the WebmasterOfTheYear.com Contest. The Hedonism resort is so beautiful it made me want to quit running the Webmaster of the Year Contest so I can become eligible to win a week there! This year’s prize is for a week at Hedonism III, which I hear is even better. If you haven’t entered yet, get on it!

Upon returning from Hedonism II, I finally got to meet a few long time online personalities I have been dying to meet. Bestat and Chuck from Exclusive Media Group allowed me to join them with Dravyk and Electra for a couple rounds of drinks and some great networking. Dravyk and Electra at AllofEm.com/Dirty Gloves sponsored breakfast the next morning at Selina’s and everyone came back bragging about banana pancakes. It kind of made me regret oversleeping, but “every ‘ting’ is no problem” and I’m sure I’ll be back next year.

With everyone in such a relaxed mode, you really got to see true personalities shine through. If your company has individuals that are extremely talented and great at online networking, yet a little shy when it comes to the big show scene, Negril Net is the type of gathering to send these types of employees. I found myself coming out of my shell more and more whereby Friday I truly felt like myself and was able to relax and talk to anyone about anything, and unafraid to introduce myself to anyone I had not yet met.

How do you measure the success of such a small event where the staff you send returns home without completed contract forms or loads of useless convention crap? How can you measure the impression that you make or what long-lasting networking you have achieved with companies you otherwise would have never interacted with? Pace, presence and personality is was Negril Net was all about. The pace – your own. The presence – your most active-in-the-industry employee(s). The personality – truly shines through and others will never forget your name, what you do, or where to go if/when they need something you provide.

There’s more than the face value glitz in this industry. There are truly talented people behind what makes this all possible. Getting to know these people and letting them get to know you creates bridges that will help keep our industry strong. If only our clientele knew more about the people who provide adult entertainment online, many more would come back and support our efforts through business. A pleasurable experience leads to repeat business, and creates an atmosphere that makes your visitors feel welcome.

If you have to decide who to send to a small gathering like the Negril Net Bash, try sending your most talented employees, your programmer, marketing rep, or designer who really knows your company and just has to get past the surface of others to really open up. Save your aggressive sales staff and loud talkers for the show room floor, because in Negril you have to go with the flow and let the tides bring good business to you.

A special thanks to Dokk of Albumside.com for organizing the Negril Net Bash and for making us all feel like family.

Cyndalie is the Marketing Director for AdultChamber and can be reached at Cyn@AdultChamber.com.