Should I Attend Lead Generation World?

Lead Generation World

Lead Generation World (LGW) has earned its reputation as a unique and engaging industry event. It delivers an experience that prioritizes quality over quantity. Attendees highlight the accessibility of the organizers, who remain present and actively involved throughout the event. This personal touch fosters a welcoming atmosphere and ensures participants feel supported.

A distinctive feature of LGW is its shorter hours, which strike a balance between productivity and comfort. LGW’s tight schedule keeps both exhibitors and attendees energized and focused.

Beyond lead generation, the conference fosters cross-exhibitor collaboration, often resulting in unexpected partnerships and integrations. LGW is not just about meeting new clients; it’s about shaping the conversations that drive our industry forward.

LGW's ability to facilitate a free flow of ideas and collaboratively address industry challenges sets it apart. The conversations sparked at LGW extend beyond the event, influencing strategies and shaping the industry's future. Structured programming and informal meetings make it an essential gathering for professionals, not just a conference.

For many attendees, Lead Generation World (LGW) offers a refreshingly human experience. The organizers’ presence throughout the event lends a sense of accessibility that is often missing from larger conferences. 

Why Lead Generation World?

A seasoned lead gen professional, Michael Ferree founded Lead Generation World in 2020.

With years of experience as a lead buyer, Ferree saw firsthand the challenges of finding quality lead sources. “At that time, it was hard to determine if lead sellers were good. You had to spend money to know if the leads were any good,” Ferree explains. “Unfortunately, after spending thousands of dollars, you’d sometimes learn they were bad leads, and it was just a waste of money.”

Consequently, he connected with other lead buyers to share notes and weed out bad actors.

Motivated by these frustrations, Ferree took the initiative to bring industry professionals together, fostering collaboration and accountability. His vision extended beyond solving immediate challenges; it sought to create a more ethical and transparent industry. These early efforts to share experiences and identify unreliable lead sellers marked the first step toward LGW.

Ferree grounded his approach in cooperation, creating a space for professionals to connect and share insights. This ethos eventually led to the launch of LGW in 2020.

Recognizing the importance of inclusion, Ferree and his team launched specific initiatives to increase diversity and representation at LGW. One such initiative created a dedicated space for Black lead gen professionals to connect.

"I sort of took a step back and said, 'Man, we have like five black people at our show—what is that about?' So, we created a group called Blacks in Performance Marketing that has grown to over 300 people. This group allows everyone to get in the same room, connect, and grow together." - Michael Ferree.

The event also features programs to empower women in performance marketing, including networking opportunities and mentorship sessions. The performance marketing industry has historically lacked representation for women, particularly on conference stages, often dominated by men. To address this, Lead Generation World introduced initiatives designed to create networking opportunities for women prior to the event. These efforts foster relationships and ensure a more inclusive and supportive environment throughout the conference.

Unlike sprawling trade expos, LGW is deliberately intimate, with an attendance target of around 1,000 to 1,500 participants. Ferree explains the rationale: “A smaller size ensures meaningful interactions and helps avoid redundant or poor-quality meetings. And it's enough to keep a solid rotation of new faces at the show.” The result is an environment where connections flourish, and conversations carry real weight.

Meeting Diverse Needs

LGW attracts industry professionals, from lead generators and buyers to publishing networks and service providers. Each group benefits from tailored content and networking opportunities to address their unique challenges.

For Lead Generators

• Opportunities to connect with lead buyers, publishers, and service providers.
• Strategies for improving lead quality and maximizing ROI.
• Updates on compliance and industry best practices.

For Lead Buyers

• Access to reliable lead generators and insights on maximizing campaign performance.
• Tools for lead verification, data enrichment, and operational efficiency.

For Publishing Networks

• Platforms to forge partnerships and highlight network capabilities.
• Insights into trends in traffic generation and monetization.

For Service Providers

• Connections with potential clients and opportunities for strategic alliances.
• Showcases for tools that address real-world industry challenges.

Focused Networking and Education

LGW’s design emphasizes quality over quantity. The intimate setting encourages candid discussions and genuine relationship-building. Workshops and presentations tackle pressing topics such as campaign optimization, regulatory compliance, and technological advancements, equipping attendees with actionable strategies.

Should I Go to Lead Generation World?

The decision to allocate time and money to trade shows comes down to value. Lead Generation World is no different. One of its greatest draws is the ability to generate highly relevant contacts at the event. The combination of carefully curated attendees and focused discussions ensures that participants connect with the right people, fostering genuine opportunities for business growth.

LGW offers opportunities to connect with lead buyers if you are a lead generator. Lead buyers, in turn, benefit from meeting reliable lead sellers. For exhibitors, LGW is a hub for building relationships with attendees and other exhibitors, fostering collaborations, and creating pathways for partnerships and integrations. Service providers and publishing networks leverage the event to expand their reach, establish credibility, and explore strategic opportunities with a focused and motivated audience.

Lead Generation World features panels and sessions covering every stage of the lead generation process, from driving traffic to converting leads into sales to essential topics like regulatory compliance. Top industry executives share decades of insights and strategies to help lead generators and buyers succeed.

 Beyond networking and education, the event provides significant brand value for attendees.

Having a presence at Lead Generation World positions companies as active and engaged players within the lead generation community. This visibility helps attendees establish credibility, foster trust, and solidify their reputation as industry leaders. Attending LGW is a strategic investment in building lasting connections, enhancing expertise, and shaping the future of your business.

How to get the most out of Lead Generation World

The key to a successful show is to take advantage of LGW's contact tools. This includes pre-show meetings and scheduling beforehand with the meeting app. The more conversations you have, the more you'll get out of it.

Generally, attendees and vendors genuinely want to talk, so say hello to everyone you can. Business prospects aren't the only valuable contacts. You can also gain a lot from networking with business competitors. Participants want to improve their businesses, but they also want to help shape and improve the industry.

This kind of networking is one of the most significant benefits of the show.

Contact.io

Parallel to LGW, Ferree founded Contact.io to address the absence of a dedicated forum for call-focused sales professionals. While most call-related conferences cater to customer service, Contact.io zeroes in on outbound sales, covering industries such as mortgage, insurance, and solar.

“Most call-focused conferences are customer service-related, which is a completely different world from outbound sales,” Ferree explains. “Contact.io provides a home for those who sell through telecommunications—whether by text, SMS, or phone calls.”

Launched in 2021, Contact.io is a resource for professionals to refine calling strategies and leverage cutting-edge tools. The conference highlights pay-per-call, enhancing outbound efforts, integrating advanced technologies, and regulatory compliance.

Lead Generation World 2025

Lead Generation World 2025 is January 5 to 7 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. 

This year’s keynote speaker, Brendan Hunt, co-creator and star of Ted Lasso, will discuss storytelling and building connections. Other sessions will include presentations from industry leaders, data experts, and creative strategists, offering practical guidance on topics like campaign optimization and customer engagement.