Affiliate conferences can feel overwhelming, exciting, and full of opportunities, all at once. Whether it’s networking with industry pros, learning the latest trends, or discovering cool tools, these events are packed with chances to level up your game.
Cool right? Luckily, we made this guide for newbies like you, showing how to plan, navigate, and follow up like a pro, so you get the most out of every session, party, and conversation.
What’s the deal with affiliate conferences?
Affiliate Conferences are industry events where professionals involved in affiliate marketing gather to network, learn, and share insights.
| Role | Goal |
|---|---|
| Affiliate Marketers | Individuals promoting products or services to earn commissions. |
| Advertisers/Brands | Companies looking to increase sales and awareness through affiliates. |
| Affiliate Networks | Platforms connecting affiliates with advertisers. |
| Traffic Source | Experts managing ad platforms, traffic, and campaign performance. |
| Industry Experts & Speakers | Thought leaders sharing strategies, trends, and case studies. |
| Technology Providers | Companies offering tools, software, and services for campaign optimization. |
| Publishers & Content Creators | Website owners, bloggers, and influencers monetizing their audience. |
| Agencies & Consultants | Professionals offering affiliate marketing services or consultancy. |
They bring together the entire ecosystem with workshops, panels, expos, and informal meetups, making them the go-to hubs for discovering the latest trends, tools, and opportunities.
Where to go?
To all of them! There are soooooo many options!
Here is a quick list of the most popular affiliate conferences of today, but do mind, it’s your choice, so do your homework beforehand.
| Event | Location | Description |
| Affiliate Summit West | Las Vegas | Biggest US affiliate event; huge networking & workshops. |
| Affiliate World (Asia, Europe, Americas) | Dubai, Budapest, Bangkok | High-level attendees, many top advertisers, networks & traffic sources; mix of education, networking, and expo. |
| SiGMA (Europe / Asia / Eurasia / Africa) | Malta, Dubai, Asia, Africa | Strong in iGaming; massive expos with affiliates, operators, and tech providers; vertical-specific tracks. |
| TES Affiliate Conference | Seville, Prague | Smaller, high-quality conference; focus around adult content, dating, webcam; strong European networking |
| iGB Affiliates | misc | Popular for iGaming & affiliate marketing; many affiliate programs and advertisers; strong for partnerships. |
If you’re particularly ADventurous, here is a more extensive analysis, based on our experiences.
What’s in it for you?
A lot. Think of it as a huge trial-and-error shortcut, providing knowledge, connections, and opportunities in just a few days.
1. Visibility: put yourself in the limelight.
Affiliate conferences generally take place in great locations with industry experts from across the globe, thus, you’ll be shaking hands with the best potential partners, clients, or collaborators.
2. Learn from the Best.
Expert speakers share the newest strategies, trends, tools, and practical tips in affiliate marketing, helping you improve your ad game and stay ahead of the competition.
3. Stay Ahead of Trends.
Discover the latest tools, verticals, and traffic sources before they go mainstream.
4. Access to Exclusive Deals.
Many exhibitors reveal new offers or special deals at events.
5. Get a motivation boost.
The energy at affiliate conferences is contagious. Success stories and new opportunities reignite your passion for affiliate marketing and give you fresh motivation to achieve your goals.
Is it worth attending?
Affiliate conferences cost anywhere from $200 to $2,000 for a ticket, depending on the conference, access level, and perks (workshops, VIP sessions, etc.).
💡 Many conferences offer free tickets for active affiliates, but you need to apply early and provide proof of activity, like screenshots.
Additional costs include transportation(flights and local transport), accommodation(hotel, airbnb), as well as meals and other daily expenses.
In short, attending a conference can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on travel, lodging, and event choices.
Planning your trip
Arrive a day early and leave a day later (or 2–3 extra days) to avoid missing networking opportunities, pre-event gatherings, and post-event parties or workshops.
If your budget allows it, stay close to the venue(ideally the same hotel or within 5–15 minutes) for convenience and easy access to your room when needed.
And optionally, learn about the local culture and use it as an icebreaker when meeting people. Check out popular city hotspots and attractions to recommend or explore during your free time.
Conference warm-up
Know your worth & set attending goals.
Understand your value as an affiliate marketer: your skills, experience, and results. Set clear, realistic goals for what you want to achieve at the conference, whether it’s networking, learning new strategies, or forming partnerships.
Announce your attendance on the web.
Announce your attendance online to start building connections before the event. Share it on social media, your professional networks, email partners, other relevant channels
Tag the conference page, use event hashtags, and mention key people or companies you’re excited to meet. This can help spark conversations, schedule meetings in advance, and increase your visibility at the event.
Schedule meetings ahead of the conference.
Attending a conference without any meetings can feel awkward, especially if it’s your first time, as you watch others networking on rooftops, heading into meetings, or closing deals.
Try to schedule at least a couple of meetings each day while leaving time for booth visits and casual networking.
💡 Usually there is an official app(if not, the website will do) for the conference where you have access to all the participants, booths, event schedule, party locations and everything related to the event. Use this resource to plan ahead your attendance.
The big day!
Make your presence known.
Always jot down key insights from sessions and conversations, and exchange business cards with the ones you meet up with. These notes and contacts will help you follow up, build relationships, and act on opportunities after the conference.
TRUST US: YOU WON’T REMEMBER MUCH IF YOU DON’T TAKE NOTES!
Take the pulse of the industry.
Pay attention on what trends dominate conversations (hot verticals, top-performing traffic sources, or emerging topics like crypto or AI).
Pay close attention both on and off stage, as these insights can reveal new opportunities, especially if your current strategies aren’t performing as well.
You can check here a few exclusive interviews we took from exhibitors at past editions, as we planned on taking the pulse of the industry.
Grab some swag.
Visit booths to collect freebies, merch, and promotional materials like socks, keychains, stickers, hats, T-shirts, mugs, tote bags, notebooks, pens, tech gadgets, etc.
It’s a fun way to remember the event, discover new brands, and start conversations with exhibitors.
Work hard, play hard: attend parties.
Affiliate conferences often have multiple official and spontaneous parties, but it’s fine to enjoy them at your own pace: focus on conversations and networking rather than overindulging. Use the opportunity to connect with affiliates, managers, and partners, putting a real face to your online interactions.
At the end of the day, affiliate marketing is a relationship-driven business, so balance fun with professionalism to make the most of the event.
It’s not over till it’s over.
Reach out to contacts you met via email, LinkedIn, or messaging apps, ideally within 2-3 days after the conference while conversations are fresh. Mention specific details from your conversation to make your message personal and memorable.
And lastly, assess which meetings, sessions, or connections brought the most value to plan better for future conferences.
Fancy some company?
If you need a friend to accompany you on your ADventure, we are one click away.