5 Tips to Make the Most of Affiliate Summit East

I’m excited about Affiliate Summit East (July 8-10 in Miami) and am looking forward to being there with more than 1,000 others who understand affiliate marketing. So with that in mind, I have five tips that I’d like to share to help you get the most out of a full event like this.

1. Be Prepared

During Affiliate Summit you are likely to personally meet hundreds of others like you. It’s great to mingle within a group who understands affiliate marketing and the basics of what you do so be ready with a concise description of your company’s value proposition. In short, who you are, what specifically you do and what makes your company/site unique. Business cards are a must and are exchanged like hot potatoes. I suggest bringing several hundred of them.

Also, Affiliate Summit is an all-day event with many social opportunities lasting well into the night. Try to come rested since the nights are short.

2. Budget Your Time

I suggest taking a look at the agenda in advance to plan what panels and presentations you want to attend. Since many are concurrent you will have to prioritize and make hard choices sometimes. (Tip: Print it out now and take it on the plane with you and do your planning then.) Don’t forget to schedule private meetings with publisher and/or advertiser clients you work with who are coming. Face to face meetings are good for business and go a long way in building stronger relationships.

3. Share

You are an expert in what you do. Be willing to share your knowledge with others, ask questions, and learn. It’s amazing the synergy that emerges from Affiliate Summit. Just being immersed in affiliate marketing for three days does wonders in getting the creative juices flowing. Take notes. Jot down ideas. Attend as many sessions and events as you can.

4. Network

Relating to a couple points above, I again emphasize the importance of networking with others. Meet, greet and share during breaks, in the exhibit hall, after sessions, during meals, and of course, during the evening parties. It’s a great chance to get your name out, promote your company, and learn from others. Informal networking often ends up being the best in strengthening both existing and new relationships.

5. Follow-up

Affiliate Summit is jam-packed with things to do and learn. It’s hard to take advantage of it all and carry home what was learned. Here are some suggestions to enhance your retention and follow-up efforts. When you meet someone, jot a note about your meeting on the back of their business card to remember the essential elements of your meeting with them. If you made an agreement, record it by writing it down or making a voice note on your cell phone or PDA. I bring my CardScan to record and annotate business cards at the end of each day and often organize my notes on my flight home.

Within a week of returning home it is a good idea to initiate some kind of follow-up to specific contacts — by email or phone (or your preferred method of communication) — to express a quick “thank you” and to reinforce your agreement.

In my view, the best part of Affiliate Summit is the people you meet. I think you will find the collective insight and interplay of ideas very valuable to your business. I look forward to seeing you in Miami!

About Mike Allen

Founder of Shopping-Bargains.com, LLC, a coupon and deal source featuring nearly 2000 merchant partners in the US, UK and Canada. Recipient of the Affiliate Summit Pinnacle Awards 2009 Affiliate of the Year. Learn more about my 10+ years in affiliate marketing and my other projects at MikeAllen.me.
You can find Mike on Twitter: @mta1.

Website: http://www.shopping-bargains.com/