Intellichat’s Billy Thomas, who participated in the event, told XBIZ that iDate’s $1,000 admission price was well worth it, as it drew in only those that could afford it.
“The entrance price is higher than all the shows we have attended but I'm not sure that this is a bad thing as it attracts the people who are there to do business,” he said.
Thomas said that compared to some adult industry-only events where the outcome of networking is only known through follow-up emails, iDate put him in the company of CEOs and decision-makers that could offer an immediate response.
“I think the reason for this is that there were more people that could say ‘yes’ and follow through, whereas quite a few adult shows tend to have more people that say ‘no’ based on their position within the company,” he said.
HookupBucks’ John Skorik told XBIZ he also encountered only serious decision-makers, and the mainstream presence also proved beneficial.
“The majority of the other attendees I spoke with, as well as the exhibitors, were mainstream companies with a particular offering specifically for dating,” he said.“In the end, I met, and am already working with, companies I would not have met if I didn’t attend this conference. I will certainly be attending the next one.”
Skorik said iDate’s seminars featured speakers representing online giants that ranged from Match.com to Google, as well as a Maryland senator. The event’s focus on Internet dating was covered from several angles, including technology and the state of the industry.
Exhibiting as DatingGold, the company’s marketing coordinator Nick H told XBIZ that at iDate, DatingGold steered attendees’ attention to its white label service, WhiteLabelPros.
In DatingGoldBlog’s video interview with iDate Conference coordinator Mark Lesnick, he summarizes the general theme of the event with one word — mobile. Nevertheless, Skorik said that a variety of concentrations converged at the event.
“The closing debate started with a focus on mobile but there was a clear division between two groups, one maintaining that mobile needs to be an immediate focus and the other believing that, while mobile is important, there are other more immediate needs, especially for newer dating businesses,” Skorik said.
For DatingGold however, the event served to create brand awareness, Nick said.
“Being able to talk to the big boys (i.e. eHarmony, Match.com) and imprint our brand into their brains plants a seed that we hope will grow into more opportunities for mainstream growth as well,” he said in an XBIZ.net thread.