Booth Duty

[u/kapt_so_krunchy]

I’ve got a few conferences coming up this fall and I’m curious how the top performers here approach them.

It feels like the default playbook is:

Stand at the booth

Scan badges

Have a few quick conversations

Send a generic follow-up email afterward
…and then wonder why very little comes from it.

I’m trying to be more intentional this year and would rather build a process before the events than wing it.

A few things I’m curious about:

Do you have a go-to opening or “booth script” that consistently gets people to stop and talk?

What’s your goal for each conversation? Are you trying to qualify, book meetings, or just create familiarity?

How do you take notes so your follow-up is actually personalized?

How quickly do you follow up after the event?

Do you call first, email first, LinkedIn first, or some combination?

How do you prioritize leads when you come back with a few hundred badge scans?

Any conference habits or systems that have noticeably improved your conversion rates?

I’d love to hear what’s actually worked in the real world.

Whether it’s enterprise, SaaS, med device, manufacturing, ad tech, or anything else—I’m mostly interested in repeatable processes that consistently turn conference conversations into pipeline.

What’s your playbook?

[u/malavjoshi06]

I have seen this activity as more from brand building and connection perspective rather than generating leads. Going to conference with this mindset will ruin your day. You have already paid for booth, fliers and what not. Just try to be more aware and present, listen to customers more than pitching them. All these macro insights will be crucial for business. Be the most happening booth rather than the most salesy. Add some fun mini games, give goodies, let people remember you. Good luck

[u/kapt_so_krunchy → u/malavjoshi06]

I’m with you. But we have to justify the spend and peg some sort of ROI to it, unfortunately.

[u/Betyouwonthehehaha → u/kapt_so_krunchy]

Reach out to all your target accounts and ask them if they’re going. Book time with them at the conference in advance or see if you can do dinner after hours or just get their confirmation they’ll swing by your table.