The importance of affiliate marketing conferences

For those of you who have been following us on social media, you might have noticed that we frequent digital marketing conferences. The autumn of 2024 started with AW Europe in Budapest (for the first time ever), and then we made our way to TES 2024 in Prague. The next stop is AW Asia in Bangkok on December 4–5, 2024.

But why should you attend these conferences in the first place? If this is a lingering question, then our next article is just for you. So come and learn about our conference experience in Budapest and Prague, figure out what to expect from AW Bangkok 2024, and get to know why conferences are important but post-conference days are paramount.

Benefits of affiliate marketing conferences

Let’s cut to the chase: what are the reasons for attending affiliate marketing conferences?

1. Networking opportunities. Conferences bring together industry leaders, affiliate marketers, advertisers, and traffic sources — all of which are open to business. Interpersonal connections tend to yield the most long-lasting partnerships.
2. Latest industry trends. You can gain insights into the most recent trends, strategies, and innovations in affiliate marketing from your peers, who usually have their money put to where their mouth is. 
3. Educational content. Affiliate events offer expert-led sessions, panels, and workshops that provide valuable advice, advanced tactics, and data-driven strategies, enhancing your skills and knowledge.
4. Expert tools and services. Conferences often feature exhibitions showcasing cutting-edge tools, platforms, and services, which can help you optimize your affiliate campaigns, automate processes, or discover new traffic sources.
5. Inspiration for innovation. Hearing success stories and case studies from high performers can inspire you to refine your approach, try new methods, or scale your operations.
6. Market visibility. For businesses, like A.W. Empire, attending as a sponsor or exhibitor can boost visibility, helping you showcase your products or services to a targeted audience of stakeholders and industry professionals.
7. Social and evening events. Beyond the formal sessions, conferences offer networking mixers and social events, where relationships can be built in a more relaxed setting.

Conferences are also a chance to travel to places where you probably wouldn’t have been otherwise: many marketers discovered Budapest, thanks to Affiliate World 2024. This was a chance not only to network with partners, but also to learn more about the culture, try out local cuisine, and take a break from the typical routine of an affiliate marketer. Mundane tests can become tiresome over time, and conferences offer a change of pace.

Past, present, and future of the conferences

Whenever you see us at a conference, you can expect the booth of A.W. Empire to be conveniently located and packed with everything needed for successful networking. This includes being next-door to TwinRed, our sister company and your ultimate source of non-mainstream traffic. Even if we pass on having a dedicated booth, we still attend the major industry events to have a chance to talk to you.

We have attended a couple of events in September 2024:

• Affiliate World Europe (Budapest, September 5–6, 2024). This event garnered 7,500+ attendees, offering cutting-edge content and networking with 400+ advertisers and networks. Lots of new information and fun activities were included.
• The European Summit (September 16–19, 2024). A collaboration-driven event with 2,000+ participants and 75+ speakers, emphasizing partnerships in affiliate marketing. It was a hive mind of old friends mixing with new acquaintances — busy and effective.

Let’s not forget about the upcoming AW Asia in Bangkok on December 4th and 5th, 2024. We are planning to finish up the year by attending this large event full-scale. It will be a premier gathering for 5,500+ marketers, focusing on performance marketing, AI, and scaling ads. Stay tuned for more info on our booth and list of participants.

How to make the most out of a conference

Attending at least a couple of events every year, we have learned some best practices to get the most from a meeting. During the conference itself, you won’t have enough time to take part in every event. That’s why you need to prioritize the people you are planning to see.

It’s even better to make a list of prospects in advance. Go to a conference website or app and take a look at the participating companies, speakers, hosts, etc. Keep in mind what your business is about to pick only the most relevant prospects for future negotiations.

When you get to the venue, don’t be afraid to reach out to others. People attend conferences in order to talk and expand their networks. Don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation; that’s why everyone attends these conferences anyway. Just mind your P’s and Q’s and try to have a good time; networking will happen naturally.

Any major conference will offer a place for networking, e.g., meet market, expo floors, evening parties, conference tracks, and various workshops. However, this is just phase one of B2B; the real work commences when you get home.

You need to take your time and let the dust settle before contacting anybody from your list of business prospects. We’d rather contact all the leads right after coming back home, as warm leads work just better.

At the same time, don’t be too pushy and give people time to get back home as well. In the meantime, put the most important names on top of the list. When the time comes and you make up your mind, you’ll have a roadmap in your hands, making your work more organized.

Wrapping things up

Affiliate marketing conferences are huge fairs where you can come across some interesting people. Unlike emails or calls, you have a higher chance to strike up a conversation this way, as you have more points of contact. You also get personal insights and recommendations from the industry’s finest.

Conferences are numerous, and the companies you’re looking for might not always have a booth. However, this doesn’t mean their representatives won’t be there, so make sure to look up who will attend the conference of your choice.

To make the most out of any event, plan your meeting schedule, so that you can rendezvous with your main prospects. You won’t always be able to see everyone you want to at a designated time, but you’ll get to them eventually if you’re persistent enough. Finally, be open to the people around you and take a chance to introduce yourself — potential partners will be happy to have a business talk.

Contact your AM to learn more about the upcoming events. Remember, we have AW Asia in Bangkok on December 4th and 5th, 2024. Stay tuned to our media for more info, and hopefully see you all there.

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