I remember a very interesting conversation I had with Amadeu Arderiu from Sirvelia during WordCamp Lisbon this year about companies sponsoring WordPress events.
Yes, it's an almost impossible thing to measure in terms of ROI. But still:
- All my websites and the recommendations I make to my clients are hosted on servers of hosting companies that I have met at events, such as Raiola Networks, LucusHost, Dinahosting, Hostinger or SiteGround.
- I have moved the maintenance of all my sites to Modular DS after watching them grow and improve their product, event after event.
- In a world full of e-commerce plugins, I keep renewing a YITH super license every year for access to their products and support.
- And the same with plugins and services that I discovered thanks to events: Yoast, Gravity Forms, WP Rocket... or Weglot itself.
I don't know at what exact point in their funnel they will have me classified and tagged, nor what was the last impact that made me pull out the card. But it's clear to me that if they hadn't been there, supporting the community, their place in my heart - and in my pocket - would be taken by a competitor who did.
