Are you a digital marketer, affiliate media buyer, or agency pro looking to master the art of industry networking and maximize your ROI at conferences like Affiliate Summit, Mailcon, and Mailer Meetup?

In this episode of The Media Buying Podcast, veterans Jim Banks and Rob Adler break down the REAL differences between major affiliate events, revealing how to turn every handshake, hallway chat, and session into long-term business growth.

➡️ You’ll uncover:

* Key differences: Affiliate Summit vs. Mailcon vs. Mailer Meetup—Which is right for your goals, and how can each help you connect with the right partners?

* Conference strategies: How top-performing affiliates and brands approach booth presence, meat markets, networking, and exhibition planning for maximum value.

* Relationship-building wisdom: Why trust, reciprocity, and vetting are more important than ever in digital marketing, and practical tips to expand your circle.

* Actionable media buying hacks: Reduce risk with better payment structures, offer selection, campaign data integrity, and optimize lead quality and returns.

* Real talk: Stories from industry veterans about the true ROI of conferences, cultural shifts in affiliate marketing, and giving back to the community.

* How to avoid common pitfalls: Guard yourself against bad actors, payment issues, and discover why some "secret" events can change the trajectory of your business.

Whether you’re prepping for your next big event, seeking new affiliate partnerships, or want to sharpen your media buying and networking skills, this episode is packed with honest advice, memorable stories, and actionable insights tailored for digital marketers, performance marketers, affiliate managers, and agency owners.

🔔 Subscribe for more industry-leading insights, actionable media buying tactics, and behind-the-scenes stories from the digital marketing trenches! Don’t forget to comment with your biggest conference win—or networking horror story!

🌐 For more resources, visit our website and check out related episodes on data-driven marketing and building sustainable affiliate partnerships.

👇 Timestamps
00:00 – Prepping for Affiliate Summit & Mailcon: What’s New?
01:06 – Event Breakdown - Affiliate Summit vs. Mailcon vs. Mailer Meetup
03:23 – Why Networking is the Real ROI of Conferences
07:55 – The Art of Booth Strategy & Maximizing Show Presence
10:49 – Reciprocity, Relationship-Building & Value Exchange
15:21 – Stories from the Event Floor & Unexpected Opportunities
16:51 – Trust, Vetting, and the Mailer Meetup Approach
20:24 – Email Marketing Pitfalls - Deliverability, Offer Choice & Clean Data
29:44 – Payment Terms, Rolling Reserves & Minimizing Financial Risk
34:24 – Lead Quality, Returns, and Real-World Optimization Tactics
42:07 – Pixel Shaving, Offer Structures & the Truth Behind Campaign Data
49:27 – Quantifying Conference ROI & Why Accountability Matters
55:25 – Philanthropy in Affiliate Marketing - Giving Back & Building Community
58:52 – Evolving Industry Culture - From Strip Clubs to Genuine Connection
01:06:04 – Trust, Collaboration & Industry Growth
01:10:16 – Subscribe, Engage, and Spread the Word