Web site convention/trade show similar to CES or an auto show?

Factual Questions
1

I’ve stumbled across a couple conventions and am very vaguely aware of CES and the like. The term is ‘trade show’, correct? If not, that could explain why my searching has been futile.

Is there anything equivalent for Web sites? While I can see its potential, the virtual nature of the Internet makes the idea somewhat silly. But then again, there are sillier things under heaven and earth…

Is there something? Is this even a cognizable question?

2

You could try searching for expo as an alternate term for trade show. http://www.web2expo.com/ is an example of a past event.

3

Web sites don’t really have the kind of physical product that you can show off at a trade show. But if you’re interested in the technology, there are literally gazillions of technical conferences that contain presentations about all different kinds of technology and all different levels. Some are very cheap to attend (like $100 or so) and others cost thousands of dollars.

4

There are trade shows & conventions for website owners - like pubcon and SES.

5

Pubcon and SES are fairly in line with what I’m thinking of. Kind of funny that I had trouble finding the two conferences that focus on Internet marketing. These seem for web site owners to attend and get information about expanding their reach, and for Internet marketing companies to try and sell to the site owners. I get that the virtual aspect of the Internet means a convention of site owners peddling their wares to journalists and visitors is somewhat nonsensical, and get that most trade shows are B2B, but the there’s-a-convention-for-everything part of me keeps thinking I’m just missing something.

6

There are loads of them. SXSW Interactive covers many things but is popular with web startups. An Event Apart, WWW 2013, Webstock are some general web-related ones. There are many more specific to particular technologies or corners of the web.

7

Well I’ve been to both of those conferences - and pubcon is more geared to the small single webmaster - while SES is more geared to companies sending out their marketing employees. There is a lot of overlap.

Both are good conferences, but it helps if you know others that are going.

There are other smaller conferences that come and go. SES is the biggest in that space IMHO.

I have gotten a lot out of the conferences (years ago) - and still keep in touch with friends I made over 10 years ago. I’ll probably be going next week to SES NY, but only to meet up with friends - and maybe the expo hall.