Booth Babes at Affiliate Summit
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There has been a bit of controversy over the hiring of “booth babes” to staff exhibit hall booths at online marketing conferences, so I thought it would be interesting to conduct a survey about it.
Brad Waller wrote about the topic on ReveNews earlier this week, and his perspective on it…
“There have already been enough debates on the idea of sex and marketing and the idea of booth babes to attract traffic to your trade show booth. Affiliate Summit has had it’s share, but I’d only accuse one exhibitor of using this tactic. I understand the idea and reasons, and I’m no prude. I enjoy the female form, but I also think that this can go wrong – really wrong.”
Some folks have suggested that we should enforce a dress code at Affiliate Summit, but that’s veering too much into a “Nanny state” for my taste.
Personally, I think this approach can be a bit counter-productive. There are the people who are repelled by a booth that has models staffing it, but that’s not my beef.
I generally don’t bother with any booth that appears to be staffed solely by temps. If I want to learn more about the company, I am going to want to ask questions. Not just pick up a flier.
But that’s just me. What do you think?
Please take the two question, anonymous survey and I will share the results.
- Posted in Affiliate Opinions
Hooray for booth babes!
reply to this commentYes, go with the booth babes. Just make sure they’re cute and knowledgeable. It’s been done elsewhere.
reply to this commentShawn
Sadly I never made it across the pond this time, but saw a few ‘Booth Babes’ dotted around in Vegas. Personally, I find it in no way detracts from what I want from a stand, nor does it sway me to visit or avoid. I don’t think ‘Booth Babes’ should be banned, after all it is all down to how a company wishes to advertise their products, or attract new businesses so the choice should be theres. If you ban Booth Babes, then a stance should made across the board and therefore banning all other unusual types of promotion including some ‘famous’ car driver (sorry… he wasn’t big in the UK so don’t recall who it was).
Go to any other type of networking event or trade show, ranging from Holiday Homes, Motorbikes, or Media and you will ALWAYS have pretty ladies handing out leaflets and other types of publicity. Its their job as promotion girls, and would be the same for promotion guys if a company chose such a route.
I would hate to see anyone telling companies how they are and aren’t allowed to advertise or promote their products. As long as it is acceptable in general public, then no action should be taken.
As for dress code, again I am completely against this and agree that it would be heading to nanny state syndrome. In my experience, I feel a lot more relaxed in simple jeans and tshirt and should be allowed to turn up, representing my business, in what I feel comfortable in. It does not detract from what I do or how professional I am, and I would be more tempted to speak to someone dressed in the same manner, than someone in a suit. No dress code removes any perceived higharchy.
Obviously men in Speedo’s should be turned away at the door, but I suggest that people should allow common sense to rule.
reply to this commentJust to be clear here – there is no ban, dress code or anything being considered.
I merely wanted to give everybody a chance to share their opinions on the issue, so exhibitors could make a more informed decision on their marketing efforts.
reply to this commentPretty women at trade show booths is as old as the hills as a marketing practice. As a result, it is expected and accepted by those who attend trade shows.
Obviously, any exhibitor who’s staff has private body parts hanging out or showing through see through clothes should not be aloud.
I do not see how you could come up with an appropriate policy anyway that would elimate people thinking “booth babe”.
For example, if a company maufactures swim suits it would certainly be an obvious choice for the company to have their staff wearing the swim suits they manufacture.
Another example of why I don’t think you could come up with a policy that would stop people from thinking “booth babe” is the booth at the Miami show that had school girls selling educational products. They looked like the exact same uniforms the private school girls wore when I was a kid (Although I think the one in a tube top would have been sent home by the school headmaster!)and it is a cool idea but yet there are horny guys like me and Brad Waller whose minds goes straight to sex when we see school girls! Yeah!
On a side note, I think it is a bold move on your part as one of the owners of the show to post photos and negative comments about one of your exhibitors. I was looking forward to seeing the hot school girls at the next show but boy would that company be a bunch dummies to ever do your show again. Drats!
Anyway, I am totally cool with pretty women presenting at trade shows.
reply to this commentAs I mentioned previously, there is no policy on dress, nor is there any plan for one. Exhibitors can bring in booth babes, chickens that play tic tac toe (if the hotel is OK with it), and mimes – if they think it will help build their business.
I’m just trying to shed light and provide constructive information that will help exhibitors optimize their investments.
Please elaborate – I don’t see where I posted any photos or negative comments about an exhibitor.
Personally, I think anybody who staffs a booth with outsiders who cannot answer questions about the business is silly. I say this as an affiliate who promotes lots of companies.
Now if they use an attention getter to lure people over to meet with company reps, that’s a whole different story.
Then the visitor is getting style and substance, not just style.
reply to this commentSorry about that … I happenned to be on the affliate summit site, saw a similiar booth babes topic and checked it out.
reply to this commentThe post on the Affiliate Summit social network is syndicated from here – it’s exactly the same as the post above.
Please point to the URL on the Affiliate Summit site where I’ve posted “photos and negative comments” about an exhibitor.
reply to this commentDude, what are talkin about .. it’s right at the top of this page! Isn’t putting Brad’s comments on your site the same as you trashin the exhibitor too?
Anyway, like I said .. BIG ONES … to trash your own customer. That is when you know your at the top of your game when you can diss your own customer and it does not matter to you! Your my idol! Besides they deserve it for givin Brad such a bad woodie! LOL
My prediction … the next show will have a lots less booth babes and definetly no more school girls … Bad Shawn .. went and messed up a good thing for all of us!
reply to this commentNo, quoting somebody else as a frame of reference is not like having it come out of my mouth. And no exhibitor is mentioned in my blog.
If you actually want to discuss this, I’m easy to reach.
reply to this commentWow, you are hard to give a compliment to!
To read between the lines for you … hurry up and get done with your “Babes Witch Hunt” and get this topic off your site … your going to scare off exhibitors and we will have a babeless next show!
I’m Done … Thanks Shawn
reply to this comment“Darren” -
Your comment doesn’t make sense – blog posts are listed chronologically, and I post daily (if not more frequently).
Comments to a post have no bearing on it’s visibility.
I just figured you might like to uncloak yourself and talk since you have an ax to grind with me, that’s all.
Good luck with everything.
reply to this commentMaybe Darren is Jeff Molander?
reply to this commentFirstly, I agree completely with Shawn. This is simply a survey to find out what people think of “Booth Babes”. It is not an attack on his exhibitors. If this “offends” a great many people, then he would be forced to consider changes. But a good conference leader is always thinking about how to improve ones experience.
In regards to the question, I have no issue with it. Its marketing in its purest form. Although I may not find it to be the best strategy, some may. But I would be careful with dress code of the staff attending the conference. Your co-founder Missy is wearing tight jeans and shirt. She looks as much as a “Booth Babe” as those in the exhibit hall.
reply to this commentI don’t think there is anything wrong with using ‘Booth Babes’. I think it makes in most cases what would normally be a boring nerd convention a lot more exciting. Plus, I paid a good portion of my college by working as a booth babe.
Keep up the good work Shawn!
reply to this commentBooth babes are the real world equivalent of ‘link bait’.
They can bring ‘traffic’ to your booth, but you need to have some real substance in order to convert.
It helps to give them a briefing on what your company does, and let them give a layman’s explanation of your particular brand of affiliate management/SEO. [I'm sure they can tell prospects they have the best offers and the highest payouts].
On the other hand, I’ve met booth babes who aren’t able to answer the simplest of questions, and they do a ‘hold on a second’ and get a staffer to answer the simplest queries. I think doing this makes the exhibitor look bad.
If nothing else, give them a couple of 3″x5″s and have them wedge it somewhere “comfortable” and pull it out for reference if they get stumped.
reply to this comment