Events as a growth point: How to get the most out of conferences

In the field of affiliate marketing, one of the key growth points is participation in events. In the two years that I have been working in this field, I have realized that attending events has become the cornerstone of my professional development.

It is thanks to events that I have made important acquaintances, new contacts, formed useful partnerships, and even found friends. And although attending events doesn’t in itself guarantee success, properly organized participation in them can open up many opportunities.

In two years in affiliate marketing, I have realized that events are not just parties, but strategic opportunities for growth. I tried to count the number of events, conferences, brunches, and meetups I attended, and there were more than 50 over these two years, which means that I have accumulated a lot of valuable experience that I am ready to share. 

It is important to understand that attending an event and being effective at it are two different things. Lack of preparation for an event = lack of results afterward. 

In the field of affiliate marketing, it is important not only to attend events, but also to use your time effectively and in a planned manner. This allows you not only to achieve your goals, but also to grow as a professional, develop your own brand, and meet important people.

First conference

My first affiliate conference was AFFHUB Affiliate Fighting. At the time, I was working for a company and didn’t have clear KPIs, and now I understand that without clear goals, attending events does not yield maximum results. 

The first difficulty arose immediately — it is difficult to plan where to go, who to approach, what to talk about, and your eyes dart from one stand to another. But as I remember now, I prepared myself and set my own goal for the conference — to make myself known and meet as many people as possible. I managed to make more than 60 contacts. Of course, most of them were not targeted, and I did not quite understand how they would help me in the future, but each new contact opened up new opportunities for me.

I realized the importance of not only the quantity but also the quality of acquaintances. At the first few events, I made a lot of contacts — from 30 to 80. But now, more than two years later, I mostly maintain and develop relationships with people with whom we did not find common ground at first glance. 

So now I have my own top recommendations for attending events. 

1. Don’t be afraid to get acquainted

The key point is not to be afraid to approach new people. Everyone at events is looking for opportunities for partnership, new acquaintances, and cooperation. And if you don’t find points of growth for yourself, it’s okay. It takes time to understand with whom and on what work issues you can cooperate.

In my experience, there have been situations where, a year after meeting someone, we began to discuss potential cooperation. It may happen that a person has changed their field of activity or company, and this will be the decisive moment for the start of your interaction. So don’t be afraid to get acquainted and communicate, even if at first it seems irrelevant here and now.

2. Prepare a short and interesting introduction about yourself

Very often at events, people don’t know how to present themselves briefly. And although at first glance this may seem unimportant, it is your introduction that can play a decisive role in memorability and communication effectiveness. Here’s an example:

“Hi, you look great (you have nice merch, any compliment, but sincere). My name is [name], I work at [company], I do [your activity]. 

Tell me what you do, and I think we can be useful to each other in work matters. Let’s exchange contacts and get in touch after the event.”

It may seem trivial, but this is the key nuance in a sincere compliment — it allows the person to relax at the beginning of the conversation and increases the chances of them remembering you. This is much more appealing than a dry “I do this and that.” Communicating with emotion and compliments is what will make a person remember you and lead to long-term cooperation.

Even better, if you know the person on social media, tell them about it. 

“I follow you, I see you recently returned from vacation, go to the gym, etc.” — this will show that you are interested not only in cooperation but also in friendly communication. 

3. Write down your KPIs and tasks for the conference

Before each event, I make a list of tasks: who I want to see, who I want to talk to, what contacts I am missing. This allows me not only to avoid missing important moments, but also to use my time effectively. Without a list of tasks, you can get confused and waste time on unimportant and empty things over a glass of sparkling wine.  With a list, you clearly understand how to allocate your energy to get the most out of the event, rather than just going to it “for the sake of it.” 

It also helps you avoid getting tired, because you don’t rush off in all directions at once, but choose the points where you can benefit the most. This will not only help you, but also allow other participants to understand your value.

4. Stay in touch after the event

The event is over — don’t stop there. Keep communicating with the people you met. Add them to your chat groups, send them a text INTRO about yourself and how you can be useful, exchange ideas after the event, or schedule a call with your teams. This will not only expand your network of contacts, but also help you maintain long-term relationships.

It is also important to prepare your style: what you will wear, how you will look, what accessories you will choose. After all, the more comfortable you feel, the easier it will be for you throughout the conference. I always plan what I will take with me to the conference and have a clear idea of my image. This helps me not only feel comfortable but also get extra attention.

Another subtle but important point is to get into the right mindset: remember that you are not just attending an event, but actively working on your future. Your success depends on how much effort you put into communication, networking, and your own development at the event. 

Events are not just a place to meet people, but also an investment in your development. Thanks to them, I was able to create my own agency and educational product in a short period of time, and now I actively work with large companies. All this was only possible because I prepare for each event as if it were a great opportunity.

Don’t be afraid to spend time and energy preparing for conferences and meetups. If you approach events with a clear plan and understanding of your goals, you will definitely benefit from them.