B2B events are goldmines for leads, yet most companies show up with the same boring approach:
- Set up a booth with some brochures.
- Hand out business cards nobody will ever use.
- Gently asking people to fill a paper contact form.
And then what happens? They spend a fortune on sponsorships, booths, and travel… only to end up with a handful of cold leads that never convert.
Here’s the truth: Events don’t bring leads—your strategy does.
If you want real ROI, you need to stop being passive and start hacking your way to more leads.
That’s where growth hacking comes in—using smart, high-impact techniques that help you get more leads with less effort (and often less budget).
In this article, I’ll share 15 growth hacks you can use before, during, and after your next B2B event to turn it into a lead-generation machine.
Pre-event growth hacks:
1. SEO: be found before the event
People Google everything, including “[Event Name]” + location, speakers, exhibitors…
So, why not make sure they find you first?
- Write a blog post or landing page optimized for the event name + a problem your product solves.
- Publish a list of must-see booths (where you conveniently include yourself).
- Create a LinkedIn post sharing what you’ll showcase at the event—make it engaging, not salesy.
When attendees do their research, they’ll find you before they even step inside the venue.
2. LinkedIn scraping + outreach: find attendees before they find you
LinkedIn is a goldmine of potential leads for any B2B event. But instead of waiting to meet them randomly, why not reach out first?
- Use tools like PhantomBuster to extract a list of people attending or following the event page.
- Send a friendly connection request (no hard-selling) with a message like:
- Once they accept, engage with their content and warm up the relationship before you even meet.
By the time you see them in person, you’re no longer a stranger—you’re someone they already recognize.
3. Smart event sponsorship plays: get leads without emails
Most companies don’t have attendee emails—but event organizers do. And they often sell sponsorship packages that include email access or other valuable lead-gen perks.
Instead of spending your entire budget on a fancy booth, consider:
- Sponsoring a session or workshop where attendees sign up with their emails.
- Partnering with event organizers for access to pre-registered attendee lists.
- Offering an exclusive giveaway through the event’s official communication channels.
You don’t always need to buy email lists—sometimes, you can growth-hack your way into them.
4. Social media hijacking: own the event hashtags
Every big event has an official hashtag. Most companies use it wrong.
They post once, saying: “Excited to be at [Event Name]!” and then… nothing.
Be the brand that actually owns the conversation.
- Post polls, memes or hot takes leading up to the event.
- Ask engaging questions like:
“What’s the #1 thing you hope to learn at [Event Name]?” (people love answering these). - Share teasers (short videos are great for that) about what you’ll showcase.
The more you engage, the more visibility you get—so by the time the event starts, everyone already knows your name.
5. Pre-event lead magnet: get emails before the event even begins
Most event leads disappear after the event—unless you capture them early.
Offer something valuable in exchange for their email:
✅ A free industry report (relevant to the event theme).
✅ A VIP pre-event webinar featuring expert insights.
✅ A discount or freebie they can collect at your booth.
Then, use a simple landing page to collect emails before the event even starts. Now, when they show up at your booth, you already have their contact info.
On-site growth hacks:
You made it to the event. Your booth is set up, your team is ready, and the coffee is still overpriced.
Now what?
Most companies wait for people to come to them—standing awkwardly behind a table, hoping someone stops by. But growth hackers don’t wait. They pull people in, capture leads in creative ways, and make sure their brand is impossible to ignore.
Here’s how you turn event-day interactions into a lead-gen machine:
6. The ultimate business card swap: stop handing out paper that no one will keep
Let’s be honest—business cards end up in the trash. Instead of handing out a forgettable piece of paper, make it a lead magnet. Create a QR code that links to a personalized landing page:
- Offer something valuable in exchange for their email (e.g., a free industry report, an exclusive demo, or event-only pricing).
- Make the process frictionless—one scan, one lead.
Now, instead of hoping they’ll remember you, you have their contact info before they walk away.
7. Turn your booth into a “content machine”: give people a reason to stop
Nobody wants to stop at “just another booth.” But people love being part of the action.
- Set up a live interview station—ask attendees for their insights on industry trends and record short video clips.
- Go live on LinkedIn or Instagram—share real-time event updates, feature guest interviews, and tag attendees.
- Encourage visitors to take a selfie with your branding and share it with the event hashtag.
Why does this work? Because people love exposure. And when they share your content, they bring more eyes to your brand.
8. Turn your booth into a “lead magnet”: use gamification & viral loops
Want people lining up at your booth? Make it a game.
- Run a spin-the-wheel contest with event-exclusive prizes.
- Set up a leaderboard challenge—who can solve a quick industry-related puzzle the fastest?
- Create a referral giveaway—attendees must tag a colleague or bring a friend to enter.
Gamification grabs attention, creates engagement, and gets people talking about you.
9. Leverage WhatsApp/Telegram groups: build a mini-community during the event
Most companies collect leads but forget to engage them in real time. A WhatsApp or Telegram group changes that.
- Create a private event group and promote it as an “exclusive insider space.”
- Share behind-the-scenes updates, session takeaways, and special booth offers.
- Encourage attendees to ask questions, share insights, and network.
Not only does this keep you top of mind, but after the event, you still have direct access to these leads.
10. Walk the floor: don’t just sit at your booth
A booth is great, but the real action happens on the event floor.
- Walk around, attend key sessions, and engage with people outside your booth.
- Introduce yourself to other exhibitors—they might become partners or refer leads your way.
- Be visible during networking breaks—not just standing in a corner, but actively joining conversations.
Events aren’t just about who comes to you—it’s about who you go to. The more you move, talk, and engage, the more leads you’ll generate.
Post-event lead nurturing:
Congrats! You survived the event. Your feet hurt, your voice is half gone, and you’ve collected a pile of leads.
Now what?
Most companies drop the ball right here. They send one generic follow-up email—something like:
“Hey [First Name], it was great meeting you at [Event Name]. Let’s stay in touch!”
And then… silence.
Growth hackers know this is just the beginning. Here’s how you turn those fresh leads into actual customers:
11. Lead scoring: focus on the hottest leads first
Not all leads are equal. Some people just wanted your free swag (let’s be honest). Others? They’re maybe ready to buy.
- Use the CRM tool you’re using (HubSpot, Salesforce, Apollo.io) to score leads based on engagement.
- Prioritize people who:
- Spent a lot of time at your booth or engaged in deep conversations.
- Attended your session or event webinar.
- Scanned your QR code AND downloaded your lead magnet.
Focus first on these high-intent leads—you don’t want them going cold.
12. Repurpose event content for lead gen: keep the conversation going
You created a ton of content during the event—don’t let it die in your phone’s gallery.
- Turn event insights into a LinkedIn post or Twitter thread—tag attendees to boost engagement.
- Package key takeaways into a short recap video (great for nurturing emails!).
- Transform attendee interviews into a gated industry report—use it as a follow-up lead magnet.
This keeps your brand visible and gives leads a reason to stay engaged with you.
13. Retargeting with a twist: stay in front of your leads
People who visited your booth or website are already interested. But after the event, they get busy and forget.
- Set up retargeting ads that specifically target event attendees.
- Run a campaign featuring a direct calendar booking link—no more back-and-forth emails.
- Make the ads hyper-personal: “Did we meet at [Event Name]? Let’s continue the conversation—book a quick chat.”
This keeps your company top of mind while they’re still in “event mode.”
14. Turn your best leads into ambassadors: let others sell for you
Instead of only following up with leads, why not turn some of them into brand advocates?
- Identify the most engaged attendees (basically, those who loved your booth, joined discussions, or shared your content).
- Invite them to co-create content:
- A guest blog post sharing their event takeaways.
- A short LinkedIn video featuring their insights (could be a virtual meeting capture)
- A case study featuring their challenges (explaining how you can solve them).
- Offer VIP access to your next event or an exclusive online session—so they stay connected.
By getting attendees involved, you extend the event’s impact long after it ends.
15. Follow-up with a personalized video: stand out in their inbox
Everyone gets flooded with boring follow-up emails. You know what they don’t expect? A short, personalized video just for them.
- Use your phone to record a 30-second video.
- Say their name, reference your conversation, and add a clear next step.
- Example script: “Hey [First Name], it was awesome meeting you at [Event Name]! I remember we talked about [topic]—so I wanted to send this [resource] we’ve just published. Let’s connect soon! Here’s my calendar link.”
This small effort makes a massive impact—because it feels personal, human, and different.
Events are not a dating app…
You wouldn’t go on a great first date, have amazing chemistry, and then never text back, right? (Well… hopefully not.)
So why do companies do exactly that after B2B events?
You just spent days shaking hands, making small talk, and explaining what your company does at least 200 times—don’t let it go to waste. The real magic happens after the event, when you turn those fleeting conversations into actual deals.
So send that follow-up. Shoot videos. Slide into their LinkedIn DMs (professionally, of course). Keep the energy going, and don’t let your leads ghost you.
Because at the end of the day, a B2B event isn’t about who you meet—it’s about who remembers you afterward!
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