{"id":4836,"date":"2019-09-26T15:47:01","date_gmt":"2019-09-26T12:47:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/?p=4836"},"modified":"2024-09-26T19:12:08","modified_gmt":"2024-09-26T16:12:08","slug":"web-summit-conference-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/web-summit-conference-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Web Summit Conference Survival Guide: 20+ Tips And Hacks"},"content":{"rendered":"

Web Summit is one of the most important tech events in the world, drawing over 70,000 people to Lisbon every year. Here you can meet thousands of CEOs and investors, start partnerships, raise brand recognition, drive sales, and network like nowhere else in the world. Our team has participated in Web Summit 5 times already, and we’re looking forward to going this year, too. So how do you prepare for an event like that?<\/p>\n

I’ve asked my teammates all the burning Web Summit questions you might have and collected the best Web Summit survival tips to make your time at the conference productive, fun, and easy. Here are the best Web Summit conference tips and hacks for 2023.<\/p>\n

\n

Outline:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. How to apply for a booth<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. How to choose the team members<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. What conference swag to bring<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. How to dress<\/a><\/li>\n
  5. How to prepare a demo<\/a><\/li>\n
  6. How to attract people to your booth<\/a><\/li>\n
  7. How to pitch<\/a><\/li>\n
  8. How to find investors<\/a><\/li>\n
  9. Where to network<\/a><\/li>\n
  10. What to expect from Night Summit<\/a><\/li>\n
  11. What to expect after Web Summit<\/a><\/li>\n
  12. How to work with collected leads<\/a><\/li>\n
  13. Extra tips you don\u2019t want to forget<\/a><\/li>\n
  14. Web Summit preparations timeline<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n

    1. How to apply for a booth at Web Summit<\/h2>\n

    To apply for a booth at Web Summit, go to the<\/span> Startup programme<\/span> tab on their website, leave your email address, and wait for the Web Summit representative to get in touch with you and schedule a call to deem your eligibility for the ALPHA programme.<\/span><\/p>\n

    If you are accepted into the ALPHA programme, you will be asked to confirm the tickets and fill in your Web Summit Startup Profile.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    Maryna Nalyvaiko, Marketing Specialist & Events Manager<\/strong><\/p>\n

    “Alpha is the best option for you if you are a new startup. Prepare some product information and what you expect from the conference before the call.”<\/span><\/p>\n

    2. How to choose the team members for Web Summit<\/h2>\n

    Your team should consist of at least 2-3 people. This way, your team members can back each other up in tricky situations. Your team should meet certain criteria:<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    • Know the product in painstaking detail<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Be willing and eager to talk (easy-going, charismatic, memorable extroverts are the best option)<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Able to answer complex technical questions (it\u2019s a good idea to send the CTO or PM)<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Have a good command of English and flexible storytelling skills<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Have at least one salesperson who will continue working with collected leads after the conference<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Usually, your Customer Care and Sales teams will best fit this description – they know all the ins and outs of your product and know what concerns they need to address to convince the customer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      \"\"Oleksii Kratko, Founder and CEO at Snov.io<\/b><\/p>\n

      \u201cThere\u2019s a point in selecting those who will be the ones communicating with the prospects afterward: following up after the event, scheduling calls, meeting them, etc. So, as a rule, I try to send those team members who will be responsible for customer success and\/or business development.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

      3. Conference swag to bring\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

      All the company swag you bring to the conference will help you bring people to your booth and stay in their minds for later. However, there\u2019s a question of costs, effectiveness, and transportation ease.<\/span><\/p>\n

      We\u2019ve seen everything from cups to chapsticks to coffee and power banks. From our experience, cute and bright stickers are the most sought-after items. People usually leave them at the common flyers table in each pavilion and most of those eventually find their way onto our office laptops, so they\u2019ll always be in front of people as a constant reminder about your company. Plus, they are cheap to make and easy to transport.<\/span><\/p>\n

      \"The
      The numerous stickers we\u2019ve collected and Web Summit\u2019s own merch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

      Things that will stay with the participants for months to come – notebooks, tote bags, stickers, and cups – will help people keep your company in mind when looking for future solutions. This is how our Head of User Acquisition, Valeria, connected and worked with several companies we met at Web Summit on content collaborations.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Unless you are a major company, we wouldn’t recommend bringing anything too expensive or heavy – it may not pay off and will be a pain to transport. And don\u2019t bring candy – we learned that the hard way.<\/span><\/p>\n

      \"\"<\/p>\n

      Oleksii Kratko, Founder and CEO at Snov.io<\/b><\/p>\n

      \u201cIt seems fewer and fewer businesses bring<\/span> merchandise<\/span> to the events. Though it matters. I still have a drinking bottle I got 4 years ago at a conference. 4 years, and I am still in touch with the company that gave me the branded bottle. Can I say their merch worked? Definitely.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

      4. How to dress for Web Summit<\/span><\/h2>\n

      Shoes. Focus on that. Bring your most comfortable pair because your feet will be on fire by the end of day 1. As for the outfit, you can go two ways: business casual or over-the-top.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      If your goal is to draw the eye – feel free to put on the wildest clothes you can find. You won’t feel out of place – there’s always going to be someone dressed brighter than you (last Web Summit’s Coffee Astronaut, mannequin bride and groom, and men in lime green tailored suits come to mind). A flashy outfit helps get the attention of attendants, journalists, and cameras.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      That said, you don\u2019t have to worry too much about your outfit: most attendees opt for a business casual look with simple pants\/jeans or a skirt, a (corporate) t-shirt, and a blazer. If you\u2019re participating in a pitch competition, a white shirt with rolled-up sleeves will do just fine. As long as you are comfortable, you\u2019ll find it easy to work from morning till Night Summit.<\/span><\/p>\n

      \"\"<\/p>\n

      Daria Shevchenko, CMO at Snov.io<\/b><\/p>\n

      \u201cFirst of all, I think your look should be memorable. I remember a journalist from Forbes who approached us at the Collision conference a few years ago, and he had the most amazing shoes I\u2019ve ever seen – light blue cowboy boots with spikes and rhinestones – and he’s the only person from the event I remember to this day. But I would also add to not only be memorable visually. The whole personality is important, don’t forget it at home.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

      5. How to prepare a demo<\/span><\/h2>\n

      A demo is very important. Make it short, exciting, and informative. Having a laptop with your app\/service\/product presentation is a must. In fact, get 2 laptops: there will be a queue, anyway.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      This will help you present your product most comprehensively, especially if it is complex or you know it can have a strong visual impact. You’ll find it helpful when your booth gets overcrowded or on day 3 when you just don’t have that much energy left.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      It’s important to remember that throughout the conference, you will hear dozens, if not hundreds, of pitches. A nice demo is a great way to stand out. That said, don’t expect one scenario to fit all attendees. Your demo will always go off script because the people who stop by your booth will all have different pain points and needs – note those and change your demo accordingly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      Don’t rely on the conference-provided WiFi. Make sure you have something to show even if WiFi acts up – it’s a big conference, and things happen. As an example, we’ll probably use our latest video explaining the Email Warm-up tool this year for situations like these.<\/span><\/p>\n