Visitor Journey · Complete How-To Guide

A visitor is anyone attending without an exhibitor stand, sponsor activation or ambassador role. That includes:

• Founders + operators researching suppliers.
• Established buyers scoping the next year of investment.
• Journalists, analysts, observers.
• Students + early-career professionals building networks.
• Peer founders meeting their counterparts.

All are welcome · the day works differently depending on which one you are.

Open /the-events for the master calendar. Each event page lists:

• Date, location, capacity.
• Audience profile · who typically attends.
• Agenda · sessions, keynotes, networking blocks.
• Featured suppliers exhibiting.
• Ticket types · day pass, half-day, VIP.

Browse /exhibitions for the supplier-buyer trade events specifically · they're the highest-density visitor experiences.

Two paths to registration:

1. Direct ticket purchase · click "Register" on the event page. 3-minute form, payment if applicable, confirmation email.
2. Visitor-registration wizard · for events that benefit from structured intake. Takes 5-10 minutes, captures intent, goals, problem-space. Drives a better event-day experience.

If both options are visible, pick the wizard · it produces a personalised briefing pack you'll thank yourself for on the day.

The 6-step wizard at /visitor-registration:

1. Intent · multi-select · why are you coming? (looking for suppliers, exploring partnerships, attending sessions, etc).
2. Headline goals · up to 3 outcomes you'd like from the day.
3. Problem statement · one paragraph · what brought you here.
4. Readiness · researching, scoping, ready to buy, already buying.
5. Budget + timeline · ranges, realistic.
6. Matchmaking preference · pre-scheduled meetings, open networking, sessions-only, observing.

The wizard is one-shot per registration. If your circumstances change materially before the event, re-submit · we'd rather have the current truth.

Once registered, your visit plan auto-builds at /my-visit. Three sub-surfaces:

• Plan · time-ordered list of your sessions, meetings, stand visits. Print or save to phone before the day.
• Notifications · subscribe to email / SMS for "your next session starts in 10 min" pings.
• Profile · what other attendees see when they look you up. Keep it current.

Matchmaking opens 7-10 days before the event. For vetted visitors, you can pre-book 30-minute supplier meetings:

1. Open the matchmaking page for the event from your visit plan.
2. Filter by category, deal size, ICP · only suppliers actually attending appear.
3. Read the supplier's profile briefly · case studies, problem tags.
4. Click "Request meeting" · pick from offered slots.
5. The supplier confirms or counter-proposes within 48 hours.

5-8 meetings is a healthy day. Less than 3 · you'll spend the day wandering. More than 10 · you won't remember anyone.

• Arrive 15 minutes early. Pick up your badge, get the lay of the floor, identify your first meeting location.
• Stick to your plan in the morning. Energy is higher · the booked meetings deserve your sharpest attention.
• Be present in conversations. Phones away during meetings. Notes can wait until immediately after.
• Take 5 minutes between meetings. Walk, jot notes, decompress. Back-to-back without buffer drains by lunchtime.
• Afternoon · open exploration. Browse stands you didn't pre-book. Often where the best surprises happen.
• Attend at least one keynote / panel. Even if not directly relevant · they reveal who the smart people are.

By 4pm you'll have met 10-20 people. By 6pm you'll have forgotten half of them. Three techniques to capture:

1. Notes in your phone immediately after each meeting · 3 lines max · who, what, next step.
2. Photo the supplier's stand sign or business card · for context later.
3. Brief star rating · 1-5 for "would I follow up?". Honest. Forces you to commit.

The follow-up is where event value compounds · skip it and you've effectively wasted the day. Inside 48 hours:

1. Email the 3-star+ suppliers individually · 4-line emails · what we discussed, what you'd want to explore next, when you can chat.
2. Connect on LinkedIn with everyone interesting · sends a small public signal you were both there.
3. Make notes in your private system · who you'd want to talk to again in 6 months even if not now.
4. Post a public reflection · 1 LinkedIn post on what you took away. Quietly establishes you as a person who attended thoughtfully.

Many one-time visitors become long-term members of the ecosystem. The progression:

• Second visit · 6-12 months later · usually with a sharper question.
• Brief posted · scouting becomes buying. Use /supplier-dashboard/briefs/new.
• 21-Day Challenge · between events · sharpens what to look for next time.
• Maybe supplier-side later · if your business serves other businesses, the supplier wait-list at /supplier-wait-list is the next door.

• Briefing pack didn't arrive · check spam, then contact ops. Packs land 5 days before · earlier than that is fine to chase.
• Matchmaking shows no suppliers · the window opens 7-10 days before the event. Earlier than that, the page is intentionally empty.
• Meeting got cancelled day-of · normal. Walk the floor · open stands are happy to chat unscheduled.
• I felt overwhelmed · normal at first events. Future events get easier · you'll know the layout, the rhythm, and the people.