Creators, It’s Go Time! Ready to Impress at SEMA & PRI? 💥

In less than 2 WEEKS we’ll be at SEMA! If you’ll be there, make sure to swing by and see us at the SBN Booth in Central Hall #21543. 👋 Floor plan here.

After that, it’s just 50 days until PRI, and MPMC Media Trade soon after! This edition dives into a few of the biggest trade shows in the automotive and motorsports industry and the best practices for maximizing your experience and building successful, long term partnerships.

- Autofluencer

WHAT IS SEMA, PRI & MPMC MEDIA TRADE? 💡✨

SEMA: According to the SEMA official site: “The SEMA Show is the premier trade show geared to help small businesses thrive and succeed. The trade-only event enables automotive specialty equipment manufacturers to display alongside automotive manufacturers to debut new, innovative products, and connect with industry buyers from all over the world.”

The SEMA Scoop: SEMA is THE industry trade show - it’s MASSIVE and an amazing opportunity to capture SO. MUCH. CONTENT! There are builds galore and so many interesting people and lots of other creators to collab and connect with. However, it is not necessarily the place to blindly approach brands as they are there to sell and network with buyers. So be thoughtful about your process and goals for attending. It’s not the place to go and “get brand deals,” but a great time to meet with existing partners, do some content for them, and put faces with names for brands you’ve been engaging with, but yet to partner. And of course, create content at their booths - someone is much more likely to talk with you, if you say you want to interview someone for socials about the new product launches!

PRI: According to the PRI official site: “The annual Performance Racing Industry Trade Show features over 1,000 companies exhibiting in more than 3,400 booths and showcasing the latest products, services, machinery, simulation and testing technologies, and trailers for the racing industry at the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis. Launched in 1988, the Show encompasses all forms of racing and attracts attendees from all 50 states and across the globe, including professional race teams, retail shops, warehouse distributors, engine builders, fabricators, dealers, installers, jobbers and media.”

The PRI Pro-Tips: PRI is similar to SEMA in that it’s a huge show, though nowhere near as big as SEMA , and a lot less cars/content opportunities, but still some fun events. It’s obviously geared towards racing products, and you’ll see a lot of racers being asked to be in booths to do signings and meet & greets (offer this up to your partners if you’re a racer). Also similar to SEMA - the goal of the show is for the manufacturers to meet with their buyers, not to “build sponsorship programs.” However, many of the brands will have information about their sponsor programs available via QR code (hint: most will have already deployed budget for 2026 and their programs may be closed). PRI is a great time to meet with your existing sponsors and/or sponsors you’ve connected with recently, but have yet to finalize the partnership. And of course, create content at their booths - someone is much more likely to talk with you if you say you want to interview someone for socials about the new product launches!

MPMC Media Trade Conference: From the MPMC Media Trade site: “The SEMA Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC) Media Trade Conference will return to Anaheim, California, January 27-29, 2026. Set to bring together top motorsports and performance parts manufacturers with both stellar legendary and new media for one-on-one 30-minute meetings, the event will be filled with priceless networking and collaboration opportunities that you don’t want to miss. “

The Media Trade Tea: Media Trade is wholly unique, and for the right creator, it can be a game changer. We’ll probably do a Media Trade focused edition of Trendy AF as there are a lot of things to do/not do to. It’s basically like speed dating for media and brands. The brands are trying to get the word out about their new products and looking for ways media can help them in this effort and ideally “for free” (other than product). Historically, it was the magazine editors and obviously with the slow death of traditional mags, that is changing and we’re seeing more and more creators in attendance. Once the SEMA PR team opens the applications for Media, we’ll post about it (so follow us on socials or follow SEMA socials) and in order to attend - you will have to apply. If accepted - you will have the opportunity to indicate which brands you want to meet with, and get to do one on one meetings. Your role is to listen, ideate and then FOLLOW UP after the show. Don’t expect the brands to follow up. You will want to follow up to show that you’re committed, and re-share your ideas for how you can help them get the word out.

🚨HOW DOES AUTOFLUENCER HELP MAKE TRADE SHOWS EASIER FOR CREATORS, RACERS & DRIVERS?

✅ FREE Creator Reporting + Social Stats All In One Place
✅ Profile QR Codes for Current and Potential Partners to Scan
✅ Connect With Brand Partners (*Paid Sign Up Required for Brands Through Tiered Packages- If They Sign Up, You Get Paid: See Our Ambassador Program at the Bottom)
✅ Message Brand Partners, Apply to Campaigns, Build Out Future Partnership Contracts, + Measure Performance (Creators + Brands See the Same Data)

BIG SHOUTOUT TO ALL THE #RoadToSEMA 2025 BUILDS! 🚗🔥

Here are just some of the builds we’ve seen that are on their way to SEMA. We’re pumped to see them in person!

SEMA 2024 THROWBACK 🔔

At SEMA 2024, we stopped by the Tinker DIY and BOOSTane booths to chat with Kellen Pirri, Lindsay Wheelock, Kyle Welch, and Dustin Miles about why having content creators and drivers at your brand’s booth is a must!

TECHNICAL AF 🧰

Follow these tips for approaching brands at SEMA and PRI to maximize your trade show experience!

And Remember: Don’t expect sponsorships. Many brands have already chosen their 2026 partners by trade show season, so this is the time to get your name out there, network, build relationships, and work on securing future partnerships.

PREPARE BEFORE YOU GO 🔥

Make sure to do your own industry research. Check out these videos all about networking, sponsorships, and creating content from recent PRI shows, including one hosted by our Founder, Erica Sietsma: Content Creators and the Future of Content Creation.

HAVE YOU SENT YOUR AUTOFLUENCER REPORTING TO YOUR BRAND PARTNERS? DID THEY LOVE IT?! 💚

IF YOU’RE INTERESTED IN BEING AN AF AMBASSADOR:

Send an email intro with your brand partner and us ([email protected]). If they sign up, you get paid their 3rd month’s payment! Packages start at $249/mo!

CHECK OUT BEEHIIV 🐝

Newsletter platforms like beehiiv give you CONTROL over your audience, unlike the ever-changing social media algorithms. You can build a loyal subscriber base and make money through paid subscriptions, sponsored content, and more, all while growing your community and income on YOUR terms!

They just launched a new direct newsletter sponsorship program that could be great for some of you larger creators (get PAID for your newsletter from brands!) and they even have a calculator on their site where you can see what you could make monthly and I think some of you could do WAY better with the direct sponsorship options.

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