A lot can change in a year, and the digital marketing space is no exception. Reflecting back on 2018, a number of shifts come to mind: the rise in video marketing to support sales and customer service; the integration of native ads into campaigns to boost success; the increased focus on voice search in the age of Siri and Alexa, among other technologies.
While these types of trends can help guide your 2019 digital marketing efforts, the road shouldn’t end there. Looking for opportunities to further educate yourself on these trends, as well as best practices and emerging tools, is what will make your business thrive in the digital marketing world.
That’s why we’ve put together this list of digital marketing conferences that will take place across the U.S. in 2019. Selected based on the breadth of topics they cover, as well as their applicability to various industries, these conferences promise to enhance your understanding of digital marketing and maximize your ROI.
When: April 16-19
Where: Boston, MA
If we think about content marketing as a puzzle, there are a lot of pieces that go into its success. It’s true of the methodologies behind creating a content plan, developing copy that sells without selling, leveraging SEO techniques, and determining the optimal routes to distribute content.
At the fifth annual Content Marketing Conference, industry leaders will shed light on tactics and best practices for each of these respective areas. In combination with lecture sessions, attendees will have the chance to participate in interactive workshops where they’ll learn how to eliminate jargon and write clear calls to action, rework traditional case studies into dynamic video scripts and more.
What makes the Content Marketing Conference—an event hosted by WriterAccess—particularly unique in comparison to other digital marketing conferences is its emphasis on comedy marketing. Not only are a number of marketing comedians (like Sarah Cooper of TheCooperReview.com) featured as guest speakers, but there is also a workshop designed to help you incorporate humor into your brand and campaigns.
When: May 9-10 & June 12-13
Where: New York & LA
While content marketing may be a priority for different organizations, the focus can still vary. Some companies are more concerned with improving lead generation, while others are seeking to build stronger customer loyalty—or perhaps a combination of the two.
The sessions at DigiMarcon, the world’s largest digital marketing conference series in the world, cover topics like these while highlighting the latest developments in digital tools. Master classes are also available to help in-house marketing professionals, website designers and consultants gain first-hand experience on ways to improve online results, from the effective use of marketing automation to attracting clients through podcasts.
In addition to the same sessions and master classes, the DigiMarcon East and West digital marketing conferences will bring together the same keynote speakers, who represent some of the top talent across the digital marketing industry. This includes Thoryn Stephens, the chief digital officer at American Apparel, and Christi Olson, the head of evangelism at Microsoft.
When: July 15-17
Where: Seattle, WA
In an arena where pivots are common, digital marketers want to be sure they are making the right moves to stay relevant. The forward-thinking nature of MozCon ensures that businesses have the tools they need to produce meaningful experiences for those who interact with their brand.
During this three-day digital marketing conference, content marketers, SEOs, agencies and executives will gather together to hear from industry experts in the field (Moz co-founder Rand Fishkin is just one example) as well as hone their professional skills in a knowledge-rich environment. Topics for the 2019 sessions include how to deliver on the promise of ranking in search engines, the latest strategies for generating reviews to convert local searchers and actionable ways to improve site speed (and the user experience).
An added bonus: As part of your ticket, you’ll receive a video bundle where you can relive the excitement of MozCon and gather more insight to develop your content marketing strategy.
When: September 3-6
Where: Boston, MA
The same shifts in digital marketing that keep marketers and salespeople on their toes and contribute to the excitement of the job also introduce some tough problems. At INBOUND, a digital marketing conference hosted by HubSpot, professionals who face similar challenges come together in one place to share new perspectives and success stories that provide room for growth.
While a handful of courses are dedicated to educating attendees on the use of HubSpot tools, the majority are applicable across the digital marketing industry, from the framework for effective sales and marketing messages to the science behind meaningful engagement with audiences. Led by innovative thought leaders, these sessions prove to create a fun, informative atmosphere for the more than 21,000 event attendees.
What also stands out about INBOUND is the inspiring talks from speakers across various disciplines. With some of the brightest leaders taking the stage—the likes of which include former first lady Michelle Obama and award-winning writer and producer Shonda Rhimes—you’re bound to walk away with actionable strategies that will advance your digital marketing strategy.
When: September 3-6
Where: Cleveland, OH
Last year, over 3,700 marketers (including myself) attended Content Marketing World. With inspirational keynotes from well-known figures like Tina Fey, hands-on forums and networking opportunities, this event is designed to help businesses gain all the knowledge they need to develop and implement an effective content marketing plan.
In the realm of digital marketing conferences, Content Marketing World offers a good balance of industry-specific courses and sessions that offer general tips. While an industrial manufacturing lab provided me with plenty of takeaways on how to create content that engages engineers, a course on the 12 principles of contagious content can benefit any organization looking to extend the reach of their digital marketing efforts.
Like past years, the 2019 event promises to bring together leading brand marketers and experts who are ready to discuss the art and science of strategy, storytelling, demand generation and return on investment.
Keeping up with the ever-evolving field of digital marketing is no easy task. That’s where digital marketing conferences deliver significant value. By attending any one (or more) of the events highlighted above, marketers, salespeople and customer professionals alike can stay up to speed on developing trends, industry best practices and the latest tools available to streamline marketing operations.
Have an interest in pairing this knowledge with the help of an experienced agency? We’d love to show you how we can boost your digital marketing efforts. Check out these four success stories.
