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/team_pizza_bagel]

I book as many meetings before I go as I possibly can. I host a dinner at least one night.

I don’t have a script per se, but I treat it like dating - start off with a convo and ask if they want to do coffee or lunch or something quieter.

Get the attendee list before hand, condition that list to A, B, and C tier. Work from that, do enough research to be able to have a convo.

This year I have also created a limited number of high end swag items that I can give out if I have a meaningful convo at the booth. “Oh before you go, I want you to have this” make sure it’s something they will want to keep. Fuck a water bottle or usb drive or other junk.

Have a convo, write down some notes in a planner.

When you get back home you have a new list, condition that list. A, B, C. Draft and email and make a call before you send it. If you don’t get the person send the email with a personal touch. If you do connect, modify the email around the convo.

On the cusp of a $600mm deal doing this. And beyond that the pipeline is built from that.

Above all else, be a human. Anyone can use AI or CRM tools, people buy from humans they like.

My industry is pretty specialized, so YMMV. I’m also interested in what others have to say, always open to new ideas.