Unless you go to one you simply wont know what you are missing. Its hard to quantify the value of:
1. Meeting with friends and people you talk with online all year. Finally putting a face with the name makes things “real”. The best friends I have are the people I met in this industry. And I wouldnt have had that experience If I never really met them or shared a meal or a drink together with them. How much is THAT worth?
2. I always develop new business and new business relationships at the events I attend. There IS a financial benefit to attending events.
3. When you finally attend Industry events, then you are truly acknowleding your level of commitment to the industry and people take that into consideration when dealing with you. You become a Player in the field rather then a casual observer.
4. You firm up existing relationships with the affiliate managers you work with and you are real person in their eyes, not just another affiliate number on a screen. This has value, believe me.
Rather then ask the people who have NEVER attended an event and probably never will why THEY dont go. Ask the people who do go and read the feedback they have provided after attending an event. That’s real data and not speculation. I think you will find that almost universally the comments are the same “I never realized what I was missing and I am glad I made the effort to attend”.
You can’t ask someone who has never done something to describe it or explain what’s the big deal about it. They just dont get it.