Social Media Portal

PerformanceIN event manager Sophie Corrigan shares more about the highly anticipated performance marketing conference in London

 
Social Media Portal (SMP): What is your name and what do you do there for PerformanceIN and Performance Marketing Insights: London 2016?

Sophie Corrigan (SC): I?m Sophie Corrigan, the event manager for PerformanceIN. I manage and look after our Performance Marketing Insights events.

SMP: Briefly, tell us about Performance Marketing Insights: London 2016, what does the conference strive to do?

SC: PMI: London is a two-day conference and exhibition where over 1,000 experts gather to learn about all things affiliate marketing, lead gen and biddable media (paid search, paid social, programmatic). Attendees can gain insight into successful campaigns, industry best practice and meet their peers at breakfast briefings, networking drinks and at our infamous after party.

SMP: How long has the conference been going and what?s different about this year?

SC: We started off as Affiliates4u 10 years ago. As the affiliate industry developed, so did we - becoming Performance Marketing Insights in 2013. This year we?re creating a more interactive learning experience with a new Dome Stage featuring fireside chats, case studies and tech demos, while our debate and discuss sessions present a way for attendees to converse over industry challenges. There?s also our event app, which allows you to take part in live polls and surveys.

SMP: Who are your target audience and why?

SC: Our attendees come from every demographic across the performance marketing industry, including advertisers, publishers, agencies, networks and tech providers. PMI has become the go-to event for learning about the industry and also meeting potential clients face-to-face, hence why all levels of the supply chain come to our event.

SMP: Who are the main keynotes and guest speakers you?re interested to see the most?

SC: Among the headliners this year, David J. Brown, CEO of Ve Interactive, will provide a treat for budding entrepreneurs and business leaders in demonstrating how to build a billion-pound tech business.

Sri Sharma?s keynote on exponential technologies and their meaning for a digital world (and the marketers within), is based on his learnings from Singularity University at NASA?s base in Silicon Valley, so that should be good.

SMP: What are you hoping delegates take away from the conference?

SC: Attendees will leave with actionable tips, best practice and an insight into the future of performance marketing, ensuring they have the most cost-effective ways of getting results via the channels within. Our networking events are also the best way to meet with new and old connections in the industry, and the hard workers always leave with contacts.

SMP: How can stakeholders get involved (advertisers, exhibitors guest speakers, keynotes, sponsors and so on)?

SC: To register as an attendee for the event, SMP readers can save 10% off the ticket price by booking at the PerformanceIN website.

To showcase your brand to our audience, find out more about our sponsorship and exhibition opportunities, contact our sales team on sales@performancein.com or call +44 (0)117 203 3011.

To become a media/association partner contact marketing@performancein.com

Watch the highlight Performance Marketing London video to learn more about what to expect.




SMP: How do the Amsterdam and London conferences differ?

SC: In terms of branding, you?ll find a similar feel between the European conference (this year in Amsterdam) and London, but there are subtle differences in the agenda for each; debates we?d put on in the UK that are very specific to that market, for example.  

This year there was actually a big differentiator as PMI: Europe was co-hosted with our very first European Performance Marketing Awards. In London these are separate events.

SMP: What are the challenges that you?ve encountered and how are you overcoming them in what you have been doing so far at Performance Marketing Insights: London 2016?

SC: Away from the logistical elements, the key challenge is centred on the agenda and being able to compile a programme of sessions that give people what they want. We pay very close attention to what people in the industry are talking about, where lines between channels are being blurred and other things that might impact the agenda. Performance marketing is based on a ?pay-on-results? mechanism, but the affiliates that help power some of it need sessions on things like SEO, which doesn?t work quite like that. It?s with these sorts of things that we get complications, but we think we?ve cracked it.

SMP: What are the top five tips your stakeholders should know/do to get the best from your event?

SC replies with:

• Plan your time: The best way to squeeze the most out of both days is prepare before you get to the conference. We?ve made this as easy as possible by putting everything you need onto our official event app.
  
  
• Choose your sessions wisely: With two tracks of thought leadership and the Dome Stage as well, you can tailor your learning experience to suit your area of work.
  
  
• Join in the discussion: Debate and discuss allows you to have your say on key issues that you face and solve some of the biggest challenges in the industry with your peers.
  
  
• Make the most of every networking opportunity: as well as inclusive coffee and lunch breaks and networking drinks, we invite you to continue the networking in a more informal setting at our after-party, which is in a secret location. It?s always a fantastic night, so don?t forget to pick up your survival kit to help with the hangover for day two!
  
  
• Follow up with people: It?s easy to get back into the office and catch up on emails but the whole point of the conference is to make connections and to cement existing ones, so make sure you keep in touch!

SMP: What would be your five tips overall for performance marketers?

SC replies with:

• Be agile and prepared to change what you do to keep up with the times. Being overly staunch has led to the demise of so many businesses, whereas flexibility has allowed others to flourish.
  
  
• If you work at an agency, make sure you?re conversing with other departments and learning skills that might prove useful later along the way.
  
  
• Keep an eye on the latest industry trends, which our dedicated performance marketing publication - performancein.com - should help with.
  
  
• Make good use of your ideas, even if it means having them operate on the side of your job. Some of the best businesses are made in the bedroom.
  
  
• Be proud of your work. Performance advertising is all about ROI and vital in a time when advertisers are questioning the return on things like TV. It?s in a great place at the minute.  

SMP: Is there anything else we should know, or is there anything that you?d like to share?

SC: I may have mentioned it, but this year we have a new and improved event app to help improve the conference experience for our attendees. Before the show, attendees can sign up for sessions to create their own agenda, see who else is attending and arrange meetings before they even arrive onsite. You can also ask speakers questions and answer live polls during sessions.

SMP: Best way to contact you and especially Performance Marketing Insight (PMI) London?

SC: Email me on sophie.corrigan@performancein.com or call the events team on +44 (0)117 203 3010.

Keep up-to-date on Twitter @performinsights and hashtag #PMILDN.




SMP: What did you have for breakfast / lunch?

SC: A bowl of fruit granola. I tried sticking with plain Weetabix but it lasted all of a week!

SMP: What?s the last good thing that you did for someone?

SC: I treated both of my grandmas to Sunday lunch and spent some quality time with them.

SMP: If you weren?t working at Performance Marketing Insights: London 2016 what would you be doing?

SC: I have friends who work for an NGO and they love it - so perhaps that? I?d welcome the opportunity to make a difference and support others in need.

SMP: When / where did you go on your last holiday and why?

SC: My last holiday was to Croatia with friends from Australia. We decided to holiday in style on a catamaran and sailed along the coast.

SMP: What?s the first thing you do when you get into the office of a morning?

SC: Catch up on emails and the latest news whilst enjoying my first of many cups of tea.

SMP: If you had a superpower what would it be and why?

SC: Invisibility - the power of knowing everything and anything!

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