As predicted, Cebit America closed its doors today. The action was inevitable. I find it ironic that I am writing this on the floor of our incredibly successful Search Engine Strategies show at the San Jose Convention Center at the same time the obits for Cebit America are starting to hit the Net around the world. It just goes to show you that times have changed and that focus is in. And those that fail to see this and continue hoping that old tech trade shows will work are doomed to failure.

The next one to bite the dust will be Business4Site -- the show with the worst trade show name in history created by a bunch of consultants who are probably related to the same folks that were behind the Edsel fiasco.

Ironically too -- a few weeks ago a writer walloped me for running our InsideID trade show during the so-called "Comdex" week. This fellow told me to admit defeat and stop going after Comdex and didn't I get it that Comdex was the force and that Jupitermedia was the pretender, etc., etc. I guess it pays to be the last man standing as in fact InsideID is now the number one show in the USA during the erstwhile "Comdex" week. InsideID might not be successful, but it sure is focused and timely. We keep pushing and trying here at Jupitermedia. We do not always get it right, but we also can "hit it out of the park" with an idea like Search Engine Strategies, ITSMF, DRM Strategies and perhaps InsideID.