BETT 2024 Registratin requries a Linked-in account now?

[Rob_D]

BETT 2024 registration is now open (yey!) and it's moved back to January this year so no lunch outside (boo).

But as part of the registration, they're asking for your linked-in profile (or a link to your school's public staff list - with you on it). Did they have a problem with non-edu people sneaking a free pass in previous years or something?

[elsiegee40]

More and more data harvesting. They’re starting to push their luck now

[Garacesh]

But as part of the registration, they're asking for your linked-in profile (or a link to your school's public staff list - with you on it)

Lol well that's dumb.. I have neither. I genuinely see no use for LinkedIn beyond figuring out people's organisation's username convention, and I don't have my information on a public staff list because that just invites spam.

[Dos_Box]

I get a colossal amount of spam from companies that I can only assume have got my details from BETT due to them all being in the EdTech realm.

This started after the current show owners took over the running of BETT.

It seems that even if you pay to exhibit, you'll still be sold!

[Jawloms]

I get a colossal amount of spam from companies that I can only assume have got my details from BETT due to them all being in the EdTech realm.

This started after the current show owners took over the running of BETT.

It seems that even if you pay to exhibit, you'll still be sold!

 

I set up another email address on my mailbox and register with that, then after BETT I remove the email address again.

[paulkerton]

The BETT show last year was generally underwhelming. With the move back to January, all of these hoops we now have to jump through to register, the continual spamming of email about Connect@BETT and with COVID rates shotting through the roof, I'm really considering not bothering.

[Dos_Box]

I set up another email address on my mailbox and register with that, then after BETT I remove the email address again.

 

We usually do that for stand staff (we used to use a single email for their registration) but I think I got caught as I have to use my work one for the online manual (the control panel that tells you what steps you have to take to exhibit and order items such as internet, electrics etc.) and they used that the first year they ran the show (2020).

They now insist on a unique email for every member of staff too.

[CHiLL]

I've only been to a handful of BETT shows over the past 10 years, but I've noticed they've been getting worse in terms of visitor experience, with 2023 being particularly poor. We do not publish our full staff list online and I don't want to share my personal LinkedIn with them, so I doubt I'll be going to the 2024 show. I also can't be bothered with the hassle of registering, the spam/requirements from them leading up to the event and then the constant spam after the event from exhibitors. Edited September 27, 2023 by CHiLL

[DrCheese]

This is crazy.

 

I have a Linkedin, but it's super locked down - I have no desire to give it out to them, given their track record in spamming. I see Linkedin as part of my private life & not related to my day to day role.

I am not listed on the schools website either - Nor would I want to be.

 

 

I spend £150k pa in my organisation & have spent with vendors at BETT so this is really disappointing as this may be what pushes me over going again. It was bad enough last year with the mass spam repeatedly & threats to charge you to register.

 

 

I suspect they cottoned on to most of us using fake email alias's to register so now they want alternative methods to sell onto people.

[hardtailstar]

I had to register for something the other week with my Linkedin and ive had nothing by spam from the company that I actually locked my profile down and blocked the company.

 

I guess every company thinks spam is ok now!

[DrCheese]

Actually them claiming that they need our LinkedIn is utter nonsense - Given that it takes all of 5 minutes to check if the email domains we're registering with are school websites, certainly no longer than them having to scrap through LinkedIn...

[vikpaw]

It’s wrong and don’t agree with their methods at all.

 

It’s rooted in their policy of charging non-edu attendees. So if a business doesn’t exhibit and wants to network they HAVE to pay.

 

However, to enforce that and make it work they are (in)conveniently data harvesting from us legitimate spenders.

[ITGuyNW]

I was thinking about going to BETT for the first time in January but with it being hours away, navigating London and remembering how pushy they were last year. Gonna give it a miss.

 

Anyone ever been to the edtech show in Birmingham? Looks kinda similar but smaller.

[PotNoodleTech]

I won't be going now because of all this data harvesting and making it literally difficult just to turn up walk around and have a chat to some vendors.

[ITGuyNW]

I could do with a network switch refresh next year. Is it worth going to BETT to speak to vendors? or is it not that kind of show anymore?

[Rob_D]

I could do with a network switch refresh next year. Is it worth going to BETT to speak to vendors? or is it not that kind of show anymore?

In theory. Last year we got an Aruba person to demo their airwatch stuff for us, and we've previously got to sit down with the likes of Fortigate and Dell to see their offerings. And there is the connect@bett where you can book a meeting time with someone or something (never bothered with it, it's just as easy to wander up to the stand, have a chat and nick all their freebies).

 

Although to be fair, you could just ask for recommendations on here and contact companies direct for "a chat" about your requirements without having fight through the DLR.

[Net-Ctrl]

I think it would be a good opportunity to meet with the different vendors assuming some that you would consider are attending for initial fact finding/demos also integrators like Net-Ctrl are there to discuss solutions with.

 

If you don't attend end up attending and would like vendor calls/demos set-up we can do so for the likes of Ruckus and Aruba.

[nicholab]

This is disappointing as the BETT show used to be the one day out for Edutechs. It does now seem that Association of Network mangers in education is a better day out.

[bigstan48]

I put the school website in the LinkedIn box. Worked and got me registered.

I usually go for the CPD and a walk around the stalls to see anything new that's being displayed.