January 5th, 2011

Preparing for ASW Is Like Preparing for The Olympics

When emails with subject lines like “Party Invite Inside” and “Click here to RSVP” start flooding my inbox, it can only mean one thing. Not that email marketers are up to their old tricks again, after a long holiday, but that Affiliate Summit is just around the corner. Or in this case, ASW 2011, most specifically. After exhibiting, walking the floor, and hosting a party last year, I’ve learned a lot of lessons, but most importantly: Affiliate Summit West is a lot like the Olympics. It’s all about pacing and good shoes.

Pace Yourself: In everything. Really. Las Vegas is overwhelming, there is a lot going on both at the show, and after hours. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and lose yourself. Focus on your meetings, don’t overdo it at the parties–it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

Gameplan: Create a gameplan, don’t just fly by the seat of your pants. Take a look at the exhibitors list.) Review it and highlight any particular company you’d like to meet with. Create a meeting schedule and make sure you get your contact’s cell phone numbers. Based on personal experience, attempting to meet “at the show entrance” rarely ever works like it’s supposed to. It also helps to create some type of plan for the parties. Make sure you’re on the list and RSVPed for any ones you’d like to attend.

Prepare: Speak with your contacts prior to meeting with them in person. Send over all discussion points before the meeting. It’s always better to go into a meeting knowing what someone is going to be speaking about, rather than being blindsided.

Pack Accordingly: Wear comfortable shoes. The show is always spread out, Vegas is sprawling, it’s a city–and show–built for walking. It sounds simple really, but the more comfortable shoes, the better.

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