Unlock the Full Potential: Personal insights of effective networking at ICE conference

The ICE365 and IGB London Conferences are pivotal events in the iGaming industry, recently unfolded in a dazzling display of innovations, networking, and knowledge exchange. As a marketer, attending such events can significantly amplify your strategies, insights, and connections within the industry. But how do you ensure you’re extracting the utmost value from these conferences? Here’s a personal guide from Oksana Kramarenko, Marketing Director at Growe, refined through experience in achieving 100% benefit from large conferences like ICE and IGB.

Diving into such massive events without a plan is like trying to find a needle in a haystack — blindfolded. So, here’s how Oksana tried to make sense of the chaos:

1. Breaking the Ice Before ICE: A little homework goes a long way. Reaching out to people before the event helped break the initial awkwardness and set the stage for more meaningful exchanges.
2. Networking with Intent: Effective networking is a cornerstone of conference success. Identify key individuals and companies of interest beforehand, scheduling meetings when possible and utilizing the event’s networking platforms to facilitate connections.
3. Objective Clarity: Before setting foot in the conference, clear objectives in mind. Was you looking for insight into emerging trends, seeking new business opportunities, or aiming to deepen existing relationships? Knowing precisely what you wanted enabled you to focus your efforts effectively.
4. Quality Over Quantity: While it’s tempting to meet as many people as possible, deeper conversations with fewer, more relevant contacts often prove more fruitful.
5. Make notes while meeting new people: Human memory is fallible, and the sheer volume of interactions at a conference can overwhelm even the most retentive minds. By jotting down notes during or immediately after each conversation, you create a reliable record that can refresh your memory later on the potential synergies discussed.
6. Follow-Up Strategy: After intense conference days don’t rush to exhale, as it is only the beginning of new opportunities creation. Make sure you follow up with the contacts you’ve made whether it’s through email, LinkedIn, or other professional networking platforms. A quick message reminding them of your conversation and suggesting next steps can solidify the connection.
7. Last but not least important — Reflect and Implement: Take some time to reflect on your conference experience. What did you learn? What connections did you make? How can you apply this knowledge and network in your work or projects? Use this reflection to inform your future endeavors and implement any actionable insights gained from the conference.
8. Taking these steps during the conference can help iGaming professionals maximize their investment of time and resources, ensuring they get the most out of the experience and contribute positively to their professional growth and their organization’s success.

“And as a reflection, for me, the ICE Gaming Conference was more than just an event; it felt like a journey,” Oksana shared. “The journey was filled with learning, networking, and a lot of coffee :). As I unpack my bags (and notes), I’m excited to weave these insights and connections into new business opportunities, pushing the boundaries of what we can achieve in the iGaming world. Here’s to the magic of ICE — till next year!”