The most valuable, long-term relationships at conferences are not made during official sessions but in informal settings like dinners or excursions. Actively inviting people to these outside activities is key to building deeper connections that last for years.
To determine if an event sponsorship is worthwhile, analyze its past sponsor lists. If the same companies consistently sponsor for three or more years, it's a strong signal that they are achieving a positive return on their investment, making it a safer bet for your own budget.
Contrary to fears that AI would devalue events, it has amplified their importance. As digital spaces become saturated with AI-generated content, conferences and meetups are becoming the primary venue for authentic human interaction, original ideas, and building genuine trust.
Most sponsors waste their investment by not engaging attendees before the event. A targeted pre-show email campaign is highly effective because attendees are actively planning their schedules and are more receptive to relevant outreach, making them more likely to visit your booth.
EventMobi successfully entered accounts using competing tech stacks by solving a universal pain point: badge printing. By offering a simple, low-cost, and user-friendly badge solution, they establish a relationship and then leverage it to upsell their entire event management platform.
Don't delay post-event follow-ups. Connect on LinkedIn the same day you meet someone at a conference. An attendee's memory and context are tied to the event itself. Waiting even a week or two means they've moved on mentally, and your connection request will likely be forgotten.