This year, in what is becoming something of a tradition, the iFX EXPO conference will take place on May 22-24 in Limassol (Cyprus). Members of the forex industry will gather to discuss market trends, share personal experiences, and chat with regulators. For how to get the maximum benefit from these three days among industry representatives, we hear from Valentina Drofa, CEO of Drofa Comms.

How to Make Three Days at iFX EXPO Work for Your Entire Year

These few days on Cyprus in late May are no beach resort: they can make your entire year, if you plan your activities right. iFX EXPO is a major industry event, where everyone is someone worth knowing. The only people here are those who will define forex’s future in the world, which means each of us has a wonderful opportunity to become one of them. Based on my clients’ and my agency’s experiences at this conference, I whittled down five key steps that will make attending iFX EXPO an excellent tool for promoting yourself and your services.

1. Define Your Goal

Clearly, if you’ve gotten yourself into such a serious and — to put it bluntly — expensive event, you must have some goal. It doesn’t matter whether you’re going with a huge booth or as an attendee. Obviously, all of us have a primary goal to sell something: the services of our company or ourselves as employees, our expertise, and so on.

This may surprise you, but most attendees have not formulated their goal for attending the conference in any way, and have not discussed it amongst the team manning the event. “Show myself off,” “find clients,” “sell my services,” don’t sound like goals that can be aimed for and judged at the end of the conference on whether you achieved them or not.

If your company has set up its sales funnel, you should be able to accurately calculate how many meetings you need to schedule, how many you need to conduct, and how many offers you need to send out, all to earn a specific amount. If you don’t have a sales funnel yet, at the very least ,try to set goals for generating income, contact info, and useful connections. If you specify the goal, it will be easier to achieve.

I formulate my goal in terms of the number of contracts I want to bring home from the event. We have a rather long sales cycle and take half a year to build on an established base, so I understand that I will not get immediate income from the expo. But after six months, we take stock and see whether we achieved the goals we set. For now, all our expos and conferences have been a net gain.

2. Prepare in Advance

Success at an event like iFX EXPO rarely happens spontaneously. To know for sure that the conference has brought you some tangible benefits, the real work should begin long before you step there. This is closely linked to the previous point — study the list of participants, sponsors, and speakers as soon as it becomes available. You have to identify the companies and individuals you want to meet and understand why they matter to your business goals.

Although many professionals underestimate how receptive people are to pre-arranged meetings, reach out beforehand. A precise message introducing yourself is worth a lot: explain your mutual interests, and suggesting a short meeting during the expo can significantly increase your chances of meaningful conversations. Waiting to “see how it goes” on-site usually leads to missed opportunities, because everyone’s schedule quickly fills up.

Also, prepare your materials carefully. This includes not only marketing brochures or presentations, but also a clear and concise personal pitch. You should be able to explain who you are, what you do, and what value you bring in under a minute. Remember that the average attention span has dropped to only 40 seconds. So when you meet dozens of people in a single day, you should be fast and very clear — it becomes your strongest asset.

3. Focus on Quality, Not Quantity

It is very tempting to measure success by the number of business cards collected or meetings attended. I often hear, “At EXPO, we collected 50 new acquaintances.” But what does it mean? How did that help your business thrive? My experience shows that ten meaningful conversations can bring more results than fifty quick catch-ups.

During conversations, focus on listening rather than presenting. Understanding the other party’s business challenges, priorities, and goals allows you to position your services or expertise more effectively. People remember those who show genuine interest in their needs, especially at an event like this. When everyone wants to tell you something, be the one who listens. 

After each meeting, take a moment to record key details: what you discussed, what follow-ups were agreed upon, and any personal details that may help you maintain the relationship later. By the second day of the conference, conversations tend to blend together — you might not even remember what and with whom you discussed. Your lifesaver will be accurate notes, which can help you avoid losing valuable context.

4. Be Visible and Approachable

iFX EXPO is not limited to booths and scheduled meetings. Networking happens everywhere — panel discussions, coffee breaks, evening receptions, and even casual hallway conversations. Don’t hesitate to chat with someone in an unusual setting, for example, when buying a bottle of water. Often, the most valuable connections arise in informal settings where people feel more relaxed and open.

At the same time, attend panel sessions and ask thoughtful questions. Participate in discussions and industry debates. Visibility positions you as an active participant in the industry rather than just another attendee. Don’t forget to remain approachable. A friendly attitude and genuine openness can turn spontaneous conversations into long-term partnerships.

If you are representing a company with a booth, remember that your team’s energy and engagement are often more important than the booth design itself. A welcoming atmosphere invites conversations, while a passive team can discourage potential partners from approaching you. So if someone comes up, don’t ignore them and show a genuine interest. 

5. Don’t Forget to Follow Up

The conference does not end when you leave Cyprus or Dubai. In many ways, the most important stage begins afterwards. You can follow up within a few days while the memory of your meeting is still fresh. But don’t be annoying — personalise each message and don’t write too often. 

To be organised, you can develop a structured follow-up plan. Some contacts may be ready to discuss something with you immediately, while others may require months to think. It should not frustrate you — don’t take it personally. Remember that generic follow-ups rarely lead to meaningful conversation and people tend to ignore them. If you promised to send additional information, do it promptly, because reliability builds trust.

Conclusion

Attending iFX EXPO is about being prepared and proactive. Just being present is not enough when information spans so quickly. When approached strategically, these three days can open doors that influence your business development for years ahead. Like any investment, the return depends on the effort and planning you put into it. With the right preparation and mindset, iFX EXPO can become one of the most powerful growth tools in your professional calendar.