Top event success tips for 2026
After attending hundreds of ecommerce, affiliate and performance marketing events over the past few years, one thing is clear: events don’t generate ROI by accident. They reward preparation, intention, and follow-up. As we head into 2026, here are my top tips to make every event count next year.
1. Define your “why” before you book.
Are you hunting new partners, closing deals, or learning industry trends and insights? Perhaps you’re looking to elevate your brand, or even your personal brand for career development. Clear goals shape every decision – from sessions to meetings, and how you will measure success.
2. Book meetings before you arrive.
Your calendar should be at least 70% full before you land, to account for any last minute drop-outs while still leaving space for those adhoc meetings too.
Use the official event app, LinkedIn, and warm intros to lock in time with priority contacts. If the event presents an opportunity to strengthen existing partnerships, then consider planning a group dinner or side event while these key contacts are in town.
3. Use social media as a pre-event warm-up.
Post that you’re attending, comment on speakers’ content, and DM attendees. Familiarity breeds conversations on-site. This is also a great channel to promote any speaking sessions or side-events you might be involved in over the course of the main event.
4. Quality beats quantity in networking.
Ten meaningful conversations outperform fifty rushed ones. But don’t go in with half a tank – you still need some volume to hedge your success. Have an agenda, ask smart questions, be curious and listen more than you pitch. Remember, you have a short space of time that you need to maximise.
5. Anchor yourself with a hub.
Whether it’s your booth, a partner stand, or just a nearby café, having a “home base” makes follow-ups and drop-ins easier to manage.
6. Attend with intent, not FOMO.
You don’t need to attend every party. Choose the events where your audience actually shows up – and where conversations can happen. Being smart about planning your time will keep you fresh for those meetings that really matter.
Take notes immediately.
7. Capture context after each meeting.
“Great chat” won’t help you three weeks later. Note down their title, likely influence and the pain points you know you can help with.
8. Follow up within 48 hours.
Reference the conversation, add value, and propose a clear next step. Speed signals seriousness.
9. Finally, measure what matters – and be patient.
Event success isn’t about how busy you felt or what a good time you had – it’s about outcomes. Track ROI against the goals you set upfront: meetings booked, qualified leads generated, deals influenced, partnerships launched, and pipeline value created.
Just as importantly, remember that event-driven growth often lives in a long deal cycle. Some of the most valuable partnerships and revenue wins surface months after the event. Monitor progress over time, attribute influence across the pipeline, and review what genuinely moved the needle.
When you consistently measure, refine, and stay patient, events evolve from a short-term expense into a long-term growth engine.
See where intent.ly will be in 2026 (with plenty more still to be confirmed) – see you at an event soon!
Director of Sales & Partnerships
