"Network beats experience" — that's how Kyiv Affiliate, a Kyiv-based community for the affiliate crowd, put it. Bold claim, but in an industry where half of all deals and partnerships happen not through a cold pitch but through meeting someone at an event, it's not much of an exaggeration.
We talked to the Kyiv Affiliate team about how networking actually works in this niche — where it's actually worth building useful connections, what mistakes kill it, and how a one-off introduction turns into a working relationship.
The Third Glass and the Deal: How It Really Works
Tell us more about your thesis that "network beats experience" — is there a specific case where networking genuinely outweighed experience or a resume?
Kyiv Affiliate: In our field, people recommend someone they know personally far more often than someone who just has a strong resume. Someone without much experience has often landed an offer because they'd already shown who they are at events — how they communicate, how they think, how they act on the job. When two candidates have a similar skill level, trust is what decides it. And trust is usually built through a personal connection.
"Most deals close after the third glass" — is that a joke or a real observation? What actually happens during the informal part of networking?
Kyiv Affiliate: There's a lot of truth in that joke 🙂 After the official part, people relax and talk more honestly about their plans and problems. That's often when you find common ground that would never have come up at a negotiating table. Of course, it's not really about the alcohol — it's about the atmosphere, where the conversation becomes informal.
Why does networking matter more in affiliate/iGaming than in the average business — what's tied to personal connections here that isn't in other niches?
Kyiv Affiliate: In affiliate, everything is constantly changing: offers, GEOs, traffic sources, regulations. That makes it much easier to work with people you already know and trust. Most partnerships start with an ordinary conversation at a conference or on Telegram after meeting someone.
Are there real examples of deals, offers, or partnerships that came together because of informal networking?
Kyiv Affiliate: Yes, and there are actually a lot of examples. For us, and for people we know and partners of ours, it often starts with an ordinary meeting at an event. You just talk at first, then run into each other a few more times at other events, and when someone has a new project or needs a partner, they think of you. That's how a lot of collaborations actually get started.
Where to Actually Network
Which formats work better — big conferences, closed-door meetups, informal hangouts?
Kyiv Affiliate: Every format serves a different purpose. Conferences are a chance to quickly find new contacts and leads. Closed-door meetups are more about substantive conversations and quality connections. And informal gatherings often end up being where the strongest partnerships start — sometimes even friendships.
How are Kyiv Affiliate events set up — who usually shows up, what's the format?
Kyiv Affiliate: We run intimate events where people actually get to know each other, instead of just listening to speakers. We get buyers, affiliate managers, team owners, and people from affiliate programs, services, and brands. We deliberately create an atmosphere where it's easy to start a conversation, even with someone you don't know.
Is it worth going to every event, or is it better to be selective — and how do you choose?
Kyiv Affiliate: Quality always beats quantity. It's better to go to three events where your actual audience will be than to ten random conferences. Before an event, it's worth checking the list of partners and speakers and figuring out exactly who you want to meet there.
How to Network Effectively
Top 3 mistakes that kill networking at an event?
Kyiv Affiliate:
- Selling yourself or your product from the first few seconds.
- Only hunting for "useful" people. A lot of people try to only meet owners, C-level execs, or big teams. But often the most valuable connections are people who, six months later, can introduce you to the right contact themselves, or become your partner.
- Putting off the follow-up. You should message someone the same day as the event, or the next day at the latest, while the connection is still fresh.
How do you turn a one-time meeting into a working relationship, instead of just a business card in your pocket?
Kyiv Affiliate: Always message the person after the event. Not with a pitch — with something simple: thank them for meeting, remind them what you talked about, add them to your contacts. After a while, you can share something useful or come back with a concrete proposal. Networking works not at the moment you meet someone, but afterward.
Is there a life hack or rule that actually works?
Kyiv Affiliate:
- Right after meeting someone, grab their contact on Telegram and jot down a quick note — what you talked about, who they are, what they do. When you're meeting dozens of people in a day, it's easy to mix everyone up without notes like that.
- Start the conversation with a genuine compliment. It could be about merch, an outfit, or any detail that caught your eye. That kind of opener always makes it easy to start a conversation.
- It also helps to have something that makes you recognizable. That could be an unusual accessory, a piece of clothing, or merch — any detail that makes you easy to remember after the event.
How Kyiv Affiliate Started
How and why did the idea for the community come about?
Kyiv Affiliate: The idea came from a simple need — we didn't have enough regular meetups ourselves. There are fewer conferences now, and most of them happen abroad. We wanted to create a place where people in affiliate could get together not just for work, but to actually socialize, relax, and meet like-minded people. In our field, work-life balance barely exists — there's just life, and work takes up a huge part of it. So we wanted to build a community that brings people together around more than just business — around shared interests too.
Who's the audience — beginners, experienced buyers, brand-side people?
Kyiv Affiliate: Kyiv Affiliate gets beginners, experienced buyers, brand-side people, affiliate managers, marketers, and team owners. The most valuable part is exactly that it's a mixed community. At the same event, you'll have people who are just entering the niche meeting people who've been in affiliate for years. That's exactly what creates new connections, partnerships, and knowledge sharing.
What are the plans for the community going forward — formats, events, growth?
Kyiv Affiliate: Our main goal is to make meetups regular and hold them once a month. After that — scale the community, launch new event formats, and bring in even more people who want to grow the affiliate market not just online, but through real-life connection too.
Conclusion
One idea runs through all of these answers: trust matters more than a resume in this niche, and it's built not on stage, but in the informal moment afterward — hence "the third glass." The logic is pretty simple: quality connections over quantity, and a same-day follow-up while the contact is still fresh. That's exactly what turns a random conversation into a partnership that a cold pitch would never have started.
