The new year is the perfect time to take stock of your current marketing plans, map out goals for the future, and review your budget and spending objectives. But to truly stay ahead of the pack, you need to be plugged in to the latest trends and technologies.
Industry conferences and trade shows are a great way to stay up to date on new innovations while also taking advantage of valuable networking opportunities — and maybe even enjoying a cocktail or two in a new setting. (Who says you can’t mix business and pleasure?)
But, as we all know, attending conferences requires an investment of time, money, and energy, so it’s important to choose wisely. Marketing conferences abound in 2018, all with the ultimate aim of helping companies like yours boost their marketing efforts in today’s increasingly digital landscape.
Here are a few of the top conferences we deem worthy of your time this coming year.
Where: San Diego
When: Wednesday, Feb. 28 through Friday, March 2
Over 5,000 marketers will be attending this popular event. Social Media Marketing World offers more than 120 sessions designed to get you up to speed on the latest social media trends and help you incorporate them into your marketing campaigns. Can’t make it to San Diego? No worries. In keeping with the online theme, all you really need to enjoy these sessions is a decent internet connection, as users will be able to attend the event virtually.
Where: Hartford, Conn.
When: Tuesday, Aug. 7 and Wednesday, Aug. 8
Big crowds not really your thing? Impact Live offers a more intimate setting, limiting attendance to 200 professionals in the sales and marketing arenas. This gives you a chance to connect with speakers on an individual level and more meaningfully network with other attendees. But the attendance cap means you need to decide fast, before this exciting conference is booked up.
Where: Boston
When: Tuesday, Sept. 4 through Friday, Sept. 7
HubSpot’s annual INBOUND conference welcomes thousands of marketing and sales professionals from every corner of the world. This event boasts an impressive list of speakers and special guests. INBOUND 2017 saw visits from Rand Fishkin, Michelle Obama, Stewart Butterfield, Issa Rae, and other big names.
Where: Cleveland
When: Tuesday, Sept. 4 through Friday, Sept. 7
As the name implies, this is the event for those looking to learn more about content marketing in particular. The largest conference of its kind, Content Marketing World grants attendees access to more than 120 sessions held by leading brand marketers. Learn from the best and take the power of content marketing back to your business.
Where: San Jose, Calif.
When: Monday, April 23 through Wednesday, April 25
Where: Boston
When: Monday, Oct. 1 through Wednesday, Oct. 3
Ready to dive deep into cutting-edge marketing technology and learn how it can help you grow your business? Check out Martech, East or West. This conference is all about helping marketers master a wide array of marketing technologies and illustrating how they can work for companies’ varying needs.
Where: San Francisco
When: Tuesday, Nov. 13 through Friday, Nov. 16
MarketingProf’s B2B Marketing Forum is geared toward … you guessed it … B2B marketing. This conference focuses on innovative ways to deal with the unique challenges inherent in B2B marketing and explains how to take advantage of the many unique opportunities available today.
This list represents just a handful of the top conferences going on in 2018. To stay abreast of the latest marketing trends and gain valuable industry insights that can help you generate more leads year-round, subscribe to our weekly “Industrial Marketer” newsletter.