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The Ultimate Guide to Networking at iGaming Events
In this networking guide for iGaming events, we will explore various tools and tactics that can help you stand out and shine during various industry summits, helping you get the most out of them.
In the fast-paced and dynamic world of iGaming, networking is not just a social activity intended for fun – it’s a strategic concept aimed at enhancing your industry presence. Making meaningful connections in the online gambling sector is essential to stay abreast of industry trends and expand in the highly competitive space.
Are iGaming networking events any different from ordinary networking events?
The answer is no! During networking events, a group of people gather under one roof to exchange thoughts, ideas, insights, and many more over a glass of Prosecco or sometimes a fine dinner. These events may also involve panel discussions run by designated keynote speakers, professional presentations, awards ceremonies, and others. iGaming events are not any different from other networking events in this sense. Attendees are welcome to communicate with their peers, including representatives of various industry companies, entrepreneurs, and other experts, to expand their networks.
How to prepare for iGaming events?
- Prepare your goals – prepare goals and objectives that will guide your interactions to help you make the most out of industry events and provide you with a productive experience. This step is also vital in selecting which conferences to attend, as some iGaming events may not be best suited for your business.
- Examine the agenda – after putting down your goals and objectives, examine the event’s agenda to identify relevant sessions and plan your attendance strategically. Doing this is essential especially when you are planning to attend a large-scale event that includes a few sub-events and has more than 500 attendees.
- Know who is attending – find out which companies will be present at the event in question and make a list of their representatives you’d like to connect with during the summit. Following this, plan potential collaboration ideas to present to prospecting partners. Additionally, prioritize firms and experts that could offer a better set of opportunities to further enhance your productivity.
- Implement color psychology – check if there is a dress code. Usually, iGaming networking events feature no dress codes. You are free to choose your attire and communicate using color psychology that is widely used to make a strong impression, increase brand awareness, create strong associations, etc. Follow either of these two tactics – choose a unique color to make people memorize you easily or wear colors representing your brand. Ideally, these two should match to ensure adequate visibility of your business.
- Enhance your visibility – you should always let your current network know that you are attending a certain event. Share a well-written post on your LinkedIn account to reach a wider audience, get impressions, and engage with those who will be attending the same event. Additionally, another great strategy for ensuring more visibility for your brand is through exhibitions and branding booths. Many events feature exhibition halls where companies can showcase their products and services and provide prospecting partners with demos. It is also possible to become a sponsor for various iGaming events and have your logo shown at certain places to catch the attention of the attendees more efficiently.
Essential tips for productive networking
Networking both during and after iGaming events can provide professionals with excellent opportunities, hence you will find worthy tips for both occasions.
During the event:
- Right body language and approachability: Nowadays, a lot of professionals have mastered the technique of body language, which means that it would be a worthwhile investment to learn them yourself. Body language may either help you seem approachable to others or push them away. Don’t cross your hands in front of your body, stand firm with your head up, make direct eye contact, and show availability and eagerness to interact with the iGaming network. Moreover, don’t forget the power of a firm handshake.
- Voice pitch: It’s needless to mention that the right pitch speaks for itself. Most probably, you wouldn’t like to say directly that you are confident and charismatic. Instead, you can create a compelling elevator speech to make a lasting impression. Speak with a clear and confident voice, use a friendly and engaging tone combined with the right body language and you will appear trustworthy and reliable to your prospecting partners.
- Active listening: In a dialogue, you won’t be the only one trying to make an impression, meaning you should make sure to give your conversation partners a chance to express themselves. Be an active listener, ask open-ended questions, show genuine interest, and be present in the conversation.
- Attend after-parties: After-parties are as effective as their preceding main events, sometimes even more effective. Attending after-parties or smaller events happening around the same time as the exhibitions can provide you with more exclusive networking opportunities.
After you have established good connections with the attendees, it is important to add them to your virtual network as well. While you may meet them during a future event in a few months or so, establishing a connection with them virtually can enable you to talk with them anytime. This is called post-event networking, which we will explore a bit more in-depth now.
After the event:
- Sort and organize your contacts – you may get dozens of new contacts and it’s crucial to sort and organize them based on priority. This way, you will be able to create personalized notes with key details about each individual.
- Engage, engage, engage – after adding people to your LinkedIn network, you can utilize the platform to engage with their posts. You are welcome to dive into professional discussions in the comment section to share your knowledge and even gain some yourself.
Top iGaming Events of 2024
Now that we have discussed some tips on how to network, here are some key dates to mark on your calendar for networking opportunities in 2024.
ICE London is one of the online gambling industry’s largest events, with its upcoming edition being scheduled to host more than 45 thousand attendees from all across the globe. The event has positioned itself as a leading gaming technology event for business growth, development, and networking. ICE London 2024 will last for 3 days in February starting on the 6th of the month.
Being a leading event organizer in the online gambling industry, SiGMA will be hosting several iGaming events next year in major cities like Dubai, Sao Paulo, Manila, and Marsa, the latter of which will be hosting one of the organizer’s flagship international summits. The firm’s conferences help expansive audiences of industry leaders connect and discuss the latest trends and technologies in the gambling world, with SiGMA Europe 2024 estimated to host more than 25 thousand participants.
iGaming Next will host a summit focusing on the online gambling and sports betting sector of North America starting on the 6th of March that will host over 1200 executives. The summit will provide attendees with various networking opportunities, which will connect operators with suppliers and startups with investors. The event will offer unending possibilities for collaboration, networking, and knowledge-sharing and will be specially organized to suit the vibe of the North American gambling market.
iGaming Club Conference Malaga 2024
iGaming Club is a series of networking events that aim to bring together affiliates, operators, and B2B providers from all across the worldwide online gambling sector to foster productive working relationships between both startup and established industry firms. iGaming Club Conference will be building on the series’s storied past to provide its audience with a unique experience in a conference format from May 26-27th in Malaga, Spain. Attendees can expect a 2-day conference, speed-dating sessions, panel discussions with the brightest minds of iGaming, and the the third edition of AffPapa iGaming Awards.
Closing thoughts
In conclusion, networking is a skill that can be obtained and honed through practice and thoughtful preparation. You can build a lively network in the iGaming industry by setting clear goals, practicing essential networking tips, actively engaging in conversations both during and after the events, and sending strategic follow-ups. Networking can help professionals expand their businesses in the competitive iGaming industry, further solidifying its important role in achieving success in the sector.
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