We’ve all heard the phrase “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know,” and while I, personally, strongly disagree with the assumption that knowledge is futile, I can’t help but concur with the fact that connections are an integral element of achieving success. When it comes to affiliate management professionals, these connections come extremely helpful (a) when we are confronting specific affiliate marketing challenges and/or problems, and (b) when we’re looking to proceed further in our career path. They are integral (c) in prevention of fraud and abuse of our affiliate programs (as by sharing information, we become better equipped to fight these activities), and (d) in finding the right answer to this burning question that’s stopping us from progressing.

Affiliate Management Days is known for a heavy focus on professional networking. In fact, when I first conceived of the idea for this conference, I meant that first and foremost it will be a professional forum — rich in very specific networking opportunities: those with fellow affiliate managers, CMOs, as well as those who stand behind the affiliate marketing technology (affiliate networks, and developers of monitoring and reporting tools).

Starting from our second conference in Fort Lauderdale, we have been offering five very specific opportunities for professional networking for affiliate managers. These are:

Social Media Networking: We are on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and we also have a dedicated LinkedIn group which we encourage you to join — to network with the other attendees and/or alumni.

Networking Breakfasts: Every day of Affiliate Management Days starts with one. This is a great time to have those informal interactions with peers over our famous yummy breakfasts.

Exhibits & Breaks: AM Days is structures in such a way that between sessions you have plenty of time to network with exhibitors and fellow-attendees. This is the time when deals get done, and faces get put to the names (you’ve heard before).

Birds-of-a-Feather Lunch Discussions: Several round tables (no more than 10 peers per table), with signs designating specific topis to be discussed at the table, are spread around the lunch room. You may choose to stay at the same table and dig deeper, or move to different tables to explore new topics and meet new people.

End-of-Day-One Reception: Day 1 always ends with a good full bar reception. Great finger food, tasty cocktails, wine and beers, and, of course, more professional networking not to miss! Where else can you enjoy a drink with a president of a major affiliate network, or world-known affiliate fraud detective?

All of these are (and/or will be present) at our upcoming conference in San Francisco. If you haven’t yet registered, we are still in Early Bird rate period, and you may save $500 or more by registering before February 22, 2013. So hurry! Register today to enjoy the unique opportunities for professional networking that AM Days offers.