I (Todd) sent in my request for a press pass to the Web2.0 folks again this year. I got shot down at their velvet ropes (metaphore mash-up!) last year but figured maybe this year I’d have a better chance, what with the bad economy thinning the herds of people & companies with the budgets to attend trade shows and conferences…

Once again, no luck…

My goal with this post is not to get all whiny, it’s to point out that the same insular thinking that pervaded the dot-com years seems to be alive and well.

I used to work a lot of tradeshows as a sales engineer/technology evangelist during those years and one thing that was evident, especially at the B2B shows, was that the people running them had zero interest in working on getting fresh blood through the doors. It was the same people show after show after show.

Grandpapa O’Reilly seems to be working hard to keep that trend alive.

My guess is that Ms. M (the virtual bouncer that apparently decides who gets into the club and who has to stand outside in the rain) sees who I write for, says to herself, “OMG! motorcycles? motorcycle dealers? how old-tech! LAME. fail! Now where’s that request by that hot blogger I met last night?”

It’s so bad that Web2.0 just sent out an email offering a BOGO deal on registrations! If they are so far down that they need to do something like that to pump up attendance, doesn’t it seem that more press coverage, in an untapped industry, would lead to more future attendees?

I’m willing to bet that if I wrote for dentistry publication, or even a lawyer trade pub that I would have been bounced as well. Because people like Ms. M don’t seem to understand that the techniques, the tools, and the technologies that are being born in the web2.0 space might actually have real-world, practical, business uses outside of the web2.0 world. You would think that would sort of be the goal… you know.. Make money by getting this stuff into the hands of businesses that are already making money (which is more than most of those web2.0 companies can say)?

After getting the rejection e-mail response, I just had to give it another shot so I sent the below e-mail to see if I could soften them up with 1) some hard numbers, and 2) a little light-hearted humor.

Ms. M,

Why don’t you like me? Am I really that bad?

I seriously don’t understand why you turned me down… This is the second year you’ve turned down this request and it makes no sense. At least to me, but I clearly don’t know what I’m talking about…

I obviously meet this criteria:

Trade/Business Publications; Online/News Services

Reporters from industry trade publications, newspapers, and wire services must provide a sample of an article published within the past six months that clearly displays authorship.

I don’t see anything that would exclude me.

I even have shelves of O’Reilly books. That I paid for with own money. I have a first edition Camel book  [2]even. Some where…

I’ve been involved in the web since before there was a web. Marc Andreesen was working on Netscape when I was in the building next to him at SGI writing webpages by hand that I served off my Indy. I’ve got more worthless stock options from all the dot-bombs I worked at than you I’m willing to bet. (that’s the dot-bomb equivalent of comparing war wounds in case you were wondering) :).

If you look at my most recent columns most of them are all about Web2.0 topics like social networking, UGC, etc. etc.

I regularly attend shows like Search Marketing Expo, eTail, Internet Retailer, ad:tech, etc.

You guys are really more exclusive than all of those guys? Really…? Your press passes are really in that short of supply?

Not to get all puffed up, but I am the primary writer on all things internet for the powersports industry. OK, OK… Big fish, small bowl, but seriously… It’s a $40BB industry. As far as expertise, experience, and most importantly influence goes, I’m basically it. I’m not being arrogant. It’s just a fact. Here’s a link to my LinkedIn profile, you can check it out for yourself.

I give presentations and training on the subject into the industry, I consult into the industry and more importantly my monthly column is read by close to 20,000 people that work in the industry. An industry that is currently valued at more than $40BB in the US!

Are you afraid that perhaps some people outside of the web2.0 “cool kids club” may actually discover that some of what’s going on out there may actually be useful in their business? Your sponsors are worried that perhaps an entire $40BB industry that has been pretty much untapped may actually find something interesting? How much more coverage by Internet.com, or techCrunch, etc. etc. do the people and topics at these shows need? Don’t you think that it might be kind of a good idea to get some of this stuff out there amongst the commoners?

Seriously, if I don’t qualify, who in the heck does? Are you worried that I’m going to eat all the cookies in the back of the room or drink all the coffee? I promise that I won’t.

Here’s some of my most recent columns…

Bring In Customers With Eye-Catching Images

Feb 1, 2009
By: Todd Shafer

How to make visual merchandising a snap(shot)

Words That Sell

Jan 1, 2009
By: Todd Shafer

An online merchandiser writes so that customers buy

Don’t Hide On the Web

Nov 1, 2008
By: Todd Shafer

Showing up in local search engines will net you more business

Roll Your Own Social Network

Sep 1, 2008
By: Todd Shafer

White-label platforms contain the features and functions you’ll need

Online Social Networking Can Build Brick-and-Mortar Sales

Use social networking tools to get customers physically into your store
Aug 1, 2008
By: Todd Shafer

All the fuss about social networking is focused online, but the techniques can also drive business to physical stores.

The Beauty of User Reviews

Jul 1, 2008
By: Todd Shafer

It’s the way to make customers work for you

Blogging 101

May 1, 2008
By: Todd Shafer

Set up a blog that reaches out to customers (and potential customers)

Will You Be My Friend?

Apr 1, 2008
By: Todd Shafer

Use social networking sites to increase traffic to your website

So let’s show a brother some love and let me check out your show. Hmmm?

It’s been over a week and no response.

OK, so I’m no Capote, but heck, it seems that all of those sponsors for Web2.0 would want to get proper exposure to a $40BB industry that is pretty much totally untapped when it comes to modern internet and business practices.

I guess Ms. M and the other gatekeepers would prefer to continue to preach to the choir instead of breaking into new industries?