Attending Conferences
As a reporter for the tech and gadget scene, I find it extremely valuable to attend tech conferences. There are quite a few that happen throughout the year, and some of them are annual events.
If you go online and run a search for “Android Developers Conferences,” you will find more than a few. There are also local Java developer conferences across the country. You don’t want to go to just any tech or gadget conference, of course. You should focus on the ones that are designed specifically for application developers who deal with Android; these are terrific places to showcase your product.
If you’re planning to attend a particular conference, try to make the arrangements several months in advance, which will allow you time to reserve some space on the conference floor and build a booth with your company logo, and thus attract some attention. Keep in mind, however, that these conferences can be expensive. If you are a new company without a lot of cash for the conference, you will probably find yourself placed on the sidelines with other startup companies. As a result, you will be eclipsed by booths from bigger companies.
In the case of CES (Consumer Electronics Show), I usually don’t see many application developers with booths of their own, unless they are tied to some other product. For example, if a company is making an electronic device, sometimes they’ll have an application specifically designed for the device.
CES is a consumer electronics expo, as opposed to a developer-specific expo, so it might not be the best place to put your application on display. I still recommend attending the conference because companies have their new products prominently on display. As a developer, you want to know about what new technology is coming out, and CES is often the place where electronics companies show what they intend to have out for the year.
Big industry conferences like CES and CTIA (Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, which has two shows, in spring and fall) often have other ways that exhibitors can show off their products apart from the show floor. There are often press-only events, such as ShowStoppers and Pepcom, that are designed so companies can introduce their products to the media. As a reporter, I often prefer these other smaller shows as opposed to the huge displays at these conferences. These smaller shows often have good food and not as much of a crowd, so it is easier to talk to the people that I need to talk to.
I have seen some application developers at conferences who see my press pass and ask for a moment of my time so they can talk about their product. I would imagine that they probably couldn’t afford a booth or a press show. This approach can work if you are willing to come to the media contact, instead of letting them come to you. I know that I have written a lot of great articles simply because someone has come up to me and asked, “Hey, can I show you what my company is doing?”
Even though many big companies get a big spotlight at these tech shows, a simple tech blogger like me likes to walk around conferences looking for something new. I love it when I walk past a booth and the person there greets me as if he or she was expecting me. I then tell them who I am and who I write for, and they tell me about their product. This way, the approach is personal.
I also like to take the occasional swag (stuff we all get). Many companies give out some items at their booths with their logo on it. These items can range from T-shirts, to keychains, to candy, to flashlights, and they’re designed so that you have a physical object to remember the company that you visited.
If the product interests me and I can write an article about it, I will get the information that I need. Usually, the company has a press kit in the form of a CD-ROM or a thumb drive that contains all the images, logos, information, and everything else that should be contained in a press kit. I usually take a business card to make certain that I can get more information later, if I need it.
In short, I highly recommend setting up time at a tech convention in order to get the word out about your application once it is readily available on the Android Market. When you find these conferences, make certain that you register properly, and be in communication with the conference/convention center about what you will need to set up.
If you don’t have the money for a booth or table, at least make up some press kits in CD-ROM or thumb-drive form. Talk to as many people as you can, especially if they are in the media, and start a collection of business cards. Make certain to give out some of your own as well. By the time the convention is over, you will have begun to create some good word of mouth about your application. Conferences like AnDevCon are made for Android Developers, and Google has one of its own called Google I/O every year as well.