Digital marketing conferences are an excellent way for marketing practitioners to learn new tactics, form lasting connections, and get inspired by the best in the biz. However, it’s getting harder and harder to keep up with more events popping up each year. Whether you’ve got a conference budget burning a hole in your pocket or you’re looking to persuade your boss to provide one, time is of the essence. Tickets tend to go on sale months in advance and the earlier you get them, the more money you save with early bird rates.
Luckily, we’ve done the legwork for you. What follows is a list of digital marketing conferences that are worth the time, money, and effort required to attend. Some are intensely focused on one area of digital marketing such as SEO, content strategy, or social media, while others cover a wide variety of topics. However, they all have one thing in common: an extraordinary commitment to providing you with valuable insights you can put into practice tomorrow.
SearchLove
When: March 4-5, 2019
Where: San Diego, CA
Focus: Search Engine Optimization
Cost: Tickets range from $999 (early bird discount) to $1,299
Whether you’re an in-house or agency SEO, marketing manager, or small business owner, SearchLove will impact the way you approach online marketing moving forward. Over the course of 2 days, industry leaders from companies such as Moz, Merriam Webster, and Google will share crucial insights on a variety of topics impacting the future of search. Topics for this year’s presentations include “Machine Learning: Know Enough to be Dangerous,” “A Year of SEO Split Testing Changed How I Thought SEO Worked,” and “Growth by Content: Driving Massive Traffic Without a Big Budget.”
Social Media Marketing World
When: March 20-22, 2019
Where: San Diego, CA
Focus: Social Media Marketing
Cost: Tickets range from $697 (virtual) to $1,597
Set in sunny San Diego, Social Media Marketing World is a 3-day extravaganza designed to connect you with a tribe of fellow social media marketers, consultants, solopreneurs, agency owners, network marketers, and corporate marketers. Not only will you discover strategies to save time and money, but you’ll also form lasting networks to support you moving forward. Session tracks include Facebook Ads, Facebook Organic, Instagram Marketing, Analytics, Video Creation, and more.
Confab
When: April 23-26, 2019
Where: Minneapolis, MN
Focus: Content Strategy
Cost: 2-day conference passes range from $1,396 (standard) to $1,595 (on-site)
Confab is a conference that is near and dear to our hearts ever since we attended the since-discontinued higher ed version in 2016. What’s great about Confab, aside from the insanely helpful speakers and sessions, is the friendly atmosphere and feeling of camaraderie. This year, speakers include content experts from Expedia, HubSpot, Shopify, and more.
The Social Shake-Up
When: May 6-8, 2019
Where: Atlanta, GA
Focus: Social Media Marketing
Cost: Passes range from $1,095 (VIP) to $2,290 (regular rates)
Coming to you from Atlanta, The Social Shake-Up is at the intersection of marketing, public relations, and social. This conference promises to deliver insights from some of the biggest movers and shakers in the industry. Topics for discussion include Social Strategy, Integrated Comms, Customer Experience, Video, Content Marketing, and more!
DigiMarCon East
When: May 9-10, 2019
Where: New York City, NY
Focus: Digital Marketing
Cost: All-access pass is $897 until 3/1/19 (early bird)
If you’re a digital marketer who wears many hats, then DigiMarCon East may be the conference for you. Sessions at this 2-day event focus on building traffic, expanding brand awareness, improving customer service, and gaining insight into today’s digital tools. Speakers have not yet been announced, but DigiMarCon East 2019 promises to provide highly-valuable content, extensive networking opportunities, and a first-class conference experience for all who attend. If you can’t make it to NYC this year, be sure to check out this list of other DigiMarCon conferences happening around the world.
Call to Action Conference
When: June 25-26, 2019
Where: Vancouver, BC
Focus: Digital Marketing
Cost: Get 2 tickets for $600 through 2/1/19
Presented by Unbounce, #CTAConf brings together fellow marketers from around the world to discuss next-level, actionable marketing tactics you can put into practice the next day. Topics of discussion include conversion optimization, email marketing, copywriting, landing pages, PPC, analytics, content marketing, and more. Check out this recap of last year’s event to get a better idea of what’s in store.
Ignite
When: July 8-9, 2019
Where: London, England
Focus: B2B Marketing
Cost: Not yet announced
B2B Marketing Ignite pitches itself as “the biggest growth marketing event in the world.” Featuring over 8 different content streams and a customizable agenda with over 60 sessions, Ignite 2019 is shaping up to be a melting pot of engaging speakers and new ideas. Take a look at the 2018 wrap-up to learn more about what this conference is all about and how you could potentially benefit from it.
MozCon
When: July 15-17, 2019
Where: Seattle, WA
Focus: Search Engine Optimization
Cost: Tickets from $999 (early bird – Moz subscriber)
MozCon is the place to be for SEO practitioners and marketers of all stripes who want to gain a deeper knowledge of where SEO is headed. SEO is the focus, but topics like branding, email marketing, user experience, information architecture, and more are covered as well. Check out the 2018 agenda to get a better feel for the types of sessions you can expect once the 2019 lineup is announced.
Design & Content
When: July 17-19, 2019
Where: Vancouver, BC
Focus: Design and Content Strategy
Cost: Tickets start at $795 (CAD) or $599 (USD)
Designers and content strategists join forces at this 3-day conference in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Design & Content conference is your opportunity to hear from industry leaders about how to build experiences and tell stories that shape the future of the web. Featuring a day of workshops and 2 days of talks, Design & Content is known for its diversity of speakers and topics.
Digital Summit Philadelphia
When: July 24-25, 2019
Where: Philadelphia, PA
Focus: Digital Marketing
Cost: Conference passes start at $255 (best price through 4/30/19)
Happening right in our own backyard, Digital Summit Philadelphia is set to be one of the largest digital strategy and best practices forums in the region. This 2-day spectacular brings together a wide variety of companies and organizations — including national brands, agencies, service providers, technology pioneers, B2B providers, associations & nonprofits, and startups. Experience over 45 sessions on important digital marketing topics such as content, social media, brand storytelling, and more. Last year, speakers included thought leaders and visionaries from The Onion, Facebook, the Philadelphia Eagles, and more!
Inbound 2019
When: September 3-6, 2019
Where: Boston, MA
Focus: Inbound Marketing
Cost: All-access passes start at $599 (early bird)
Inbound, the mother of all marketing conferences, is a 4-day experience host by HubSpot and dedicated to learning about marketing, selling, and delighting customers the inbound way. In the past, speakers have included big names like Michelle Obama, John Cena, Beth Comstock, Brené Brown, and Shonda Rhimes. Come for the actionable marketing tactics and inspiration, stay for the star-studded entertainment lineup.
Content Marketing World
When: September 3-6, 2019
Where: Cleveland, Ohio
Focus: Content Marketing
Cost: Snag an All-Access pass for $1,999 through 2/28/19 (super early bird)
Content Marketing World, hosted by the Content Marketing Institute, is the place to be to learn and network with some of the brightest people in the industry. In 2018, 3,700+ marketers from over 50 countries attended the conference to see Tina Fey, Ann Handley, Joe Pulizzi, and more give keynote presentations. This year, you can expect to see over 120 sessions and workshops on the agenda presented by leading experts covering strategy, storytelling, ROI, demand generation, AI, and more new ideas.
MarTech East
When: September 16-18, 2019
Where: Boston, MA
Focus: Marketing Technology Management
Cost: Ticket prices have not yet been announced
MarTech is a 2-day event designed for hybrid leaders who are responsible for breaking down silos and assembling marketing technology stacks that deliver exceptional results for their organizations. Attend this conference to navigate the complexities, technologies, and organizational challenges of a digital world with other senior marketers like you. If you can’t make it to Boston in September, consider attending MarTech West in the spring.
Web Summit
When: November 4-7, 2019
Where: Lisbon, Portugal
Focus: Technology
Cost: All ticket prices have not yet been announced
Web Summit brings together the founders and CEOs of technology companies, fast-growing start-ups, policymakers, and heads of state to discuss what’s new and next in tech. Speakers from companies like Medium, Apple, IBM, and Slack take the stage each year to cover topics ranging from deep tech and data science to design and environmental sustainability. Over 70,000 people will travel to Lisbon this year for Web Summit, and you could be one of them!
SMX East
When: November 13-14, 2019
Where: New York City, NY
Focus: Search Engine Optimization and Search Engine Marketing
Cost: Ticket prices have not yet been announced
If you consider yourself slightly obsessed with search marketing, SMX East will feel like home to you. As the world’s largest conference dedicated to search engine marketing, this is the event to attend if you want a deep dive into SEO and SEM tactics that will address your biggest challenges and inspire you with new ideas. Don’t worry if you can’t make the NYC event, there are various other SMX conferences happening all over the world.
Content Jam
When: Date has not yet been announced
Where: Chicago, IL
Focus: Content Marketing
Cost: Ticket prices have not yet been announced
Brought to you by Orbit Media Studios, Content Jam is a 2-day marketing conference where speakers and attendees share insights into content strategy, promotion, conversion, and analytics. Because it is smaller than some other similar events, Content Jam gives you the opportunity to make meaningful connections in an environment that can otherwise seem overwhelming. Last year’s lineup included top-rated marketing speakers Shannon Cason, Ann Handley, and Andy Crestodina.
What digital marketing conferences are you dying to attend this year? Let us know on Twitter @eCityInteract. We may see you there!
