Even though the whole word lives online these days, it is still conferences that are the beating heart of the affiliate marketing industry.

Enough of your Zoom calls and Google Meets, to get anywhere in this industry you need to do some good old-fashioned networking.This means shaking hands, rubbing shoulders and getting into the thick of it at one of the many affiliate marketing conferences held all around the globe.

But it isn’t good enough to just show up. To take full advantage of these opportunities you need to have a game plan in place.

Don’t worry! We got you. We’ve put together a fool proof guide to conferences that is guaranteed to have you on the plane home exhausted, but happy.

Prep Yourself

Define what your goals are. This can vary from meeting to learning to exploring and expanding.  Identify exactly what you want and need out of the conferences, when it comes to verticals, GEOs, traffic sources, company insights, etc.

Identify companies and names that fit into your niche. Many conferences, like TES for example, provide a full participants list on their website before the conference. Dive deep in that list. Find what is interesting for you, assess who you would have the most meaningful conversations & connections with.

After researching and identifying your key contacts, note their booth numbers, check if they’re hosting events, panels, or parties (these are great chances to connect in a more casual setting and usually where the most memorable conversations happen).

Arrive Rested – You’ll Need It

You’re about to put in a few days of hard graft, we all need you in good shape! Make sure you’re well-rested before the conference, you’ll need the energy! Get your 8 hours of sleep, and eat well in the run up.

Another suggestion would be to try to arrive at least a day early so you have time to settle in, check out your surroundings, get familiar with the city and avoid any last-minute travel stress. The last thing you want is a hectic start because of flight delays or hotel issues.

Last but not least, it’s also good to prepare a personal elevator pitch. A 20-30 second intro where you outline what you’re looking for and what you bring to the table—it’ll make networking so much easier!

 

Walk The Walk

Stepping out into the conference can seem daunting for the first few times, but it simply must be done. Like Armstrong taking those first steps onto the moon, you’ve gotta take those first big steps onto the conference floor.

Last year we spoke to Lee-An Johnstone, founder of Affiverse, about her advice for anyone at conferences.

“Network opportunities are gold. They are gold. Never ever shy away from coming out from behind your screen…You have to learn to be sociable in this job. Sometimes that’s a skill that needs to be honed. It’s not natural to some people. The more you speak to people you don’t know, the easier it becomes”

It’s all about getting out there and getting involved.

“It’s really about getting out there. Just go, get out there and start having those conversations. It’s all fine and well to set up meetings through the networking apps, but go and walk the  showroom floor. Walk it and talk to people.”

Remind yourself, this is a conference after all. Everyone is here for a reason – whether to buy, sell, learn, it all comes from the most common goal : to connect.

Start ticking off some of the booths that you want to hit. If you’re feeling a little shy at the start, call to the Advidi booth. Our gang is super friendly and they can help settle your nerves and get you in the mood. It’s a promise that you’ll leave us energised, excited and ready to crush it!

When you meet someone, grab their business cards and connect with them right away on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook or whatever channel they use the most. After the initial meeting, follow up and stay connected.

A short, thoughtful message can go a long way in turning a brief meeting into a lasting business relationship.

Work Hard, Play Hard

After a long day pounding the beat at the conference, it can be tempting to call it a day and retire to your room, but it’s only getting started.

Networking events and industry parties are held after the conference floor is closed and this can be where the real magic happens.

After hours, people tend to be a little looser and more relaxed (it may or may not have something to do with the booze). These more low-pressure, fun experiences are valuable moments where you can make personal connections with people and build long lasting relationships

These parties can get pretty lit, and they say the best memories are made during the sunrise, SO get your dancing shoes on and give it everything you’ve got!

The Aftermath

If you’re not on the plane home with a pounding head, a sore throat and sunglasses – then you haven’t done it right.

Our team puts such a heavy shift every time they head to a conference, and we might not see their faces for a day or 2 after. Social batteries need some time to be recharged. Their advice is simple – sleep.

Once you’re feeling back to normal, with the conference memories still fresh in your head, go back to all the notes you made during the conference and start reaching out to the companies and to the people.

When should you follow up with connections? There’s no time like the present. Give them a few days to recover, but keep the contact fresh! Hopefully you made an impactful impression when meeting them, so just remind them of you in a personalised way.

Crush Your Conferences

So, here’s the run down of how your conferences should be played out: do your prep, arrive rested, get stuck in, work hard-play hard and conduct a debrief after returning home in one piece – simple!

Next up for us it’s TES Seville, and we can’t wait to see you there!