Web Summit 2025 in Lisbon is around the corner
The internet has changed our lives completely, and still, there is no substitute for in-person events, face-to-face networking, designed booths to position your company as a leader in your vertical, “corridor talks” about where the market is going, and more.
And good conferences and summits are neither free nor cheap to attend. So, if you have decided to attend this event, you probably already know what you wish to get out of it.
But, it seems that with all the technology, mobile, AI, and computers running our lives, human beings are still… Human. Thus, from a social and behavioural perspective, you and your team at the event are likely to be drawn to interesting lectures, nice people who you speak with, booths that are fun to hand out around, and not necessarily on achieving and maximizing your goals and KPIs from the event, to ensure a positive ROI.
So, here are two tips from one of our partners.
If you already know them by heart and from life experience, consider them a good reminder.
Positioning in a Nutshell
How are you unique and valuable
Don’t explain how you are better than your competition. Your “better” is not necessarily the prospects’ “better”. Also, the innovative aspect of your product may not necessarily excite the end consumer, who may not care about it at all.
Instead, have a very clear and short answer to the question of how you are different then the competition, and why that difference matters to your customers. This is something we learned a long time ago. I’m a good teacher, as explained here: exitbook.plus972.com
Don’t be a startup in the startup business
You’re a startup. You’ve got a great idea and a working prototype. You need to raise money. You’re perfecting your pitch. You’re mapping investors, attending startup events, applying to accelerators… But you might just be wasting time and killing your company. Here’s why: Don’t be a startup in the “startup business”
Be yourself
If you’re a small startup, don’t try to pretend to be a mature company. If you are a mature company, don’t pretend to be young and innovative like you were 10 years ago. Instead, double down on who you are today alongside honesty, and make the stage you’re in right now benefit you. Even if you do persuade prospects that you are what you are not really, it will be discovered later, at a greater cost. Read more here: The behavioral journey from startups to companies
Go for the advice, not the “sale”
“So, what do you guys do”?
“We help [target audience] achieve [unique value] by [what your product does to achieve it]. We developed this product using [innovative technology or approach].”
So far, we hope this approach is not new to you. Now, you might be tempted to try and sell the person you are speaking with. Instead, try to ask that person:
“We are looking for people who are [characteristics of your target audience]. Who do you think we should speak with? How do you think we could interest companies such as yours?”
What happens now is that the person you are speaking with is not feeling pitched; therefore, from a psychological perspective, they are not likely to lean back to a defensive position. Instead, you ask an inviting question which may cause the person you are speaking with to lean in and give you really good advice, which is what needs to be heard in order to persuade people like him or her in order to be interested in your product.
Meet us at Web Summit 2025
As a global creative agency, we just recently opened our new office in Lisbon. Our representatives will attend the summit and would be happy to meet you in person. Regardless, we are always happy to invite you for a coffee in our offices, since now we are really just around the corner. Reach out to our Lisbon office here: Contact Plus972