Across the United States, there are dozens of conferences for those in the marketing, branding, social media, and graphic design industries. With so many options, it can become overwhelming.
Why Attend a Conference?
There are many reasons why people attend conferences. Attending a conference can help renew your excitement about the work that you perform. You can meet current and past colleagues and online acquaintances in person. In a digital world, there is still something compelling about meeting your contact in person.
If you’re going to grow, you must meet new people, go new places, and change your routines. – Nick Boothman
One of the biggest benefits of attending a conference is being the first to hear about leading innovations in your industry. Every industry is dynamically and rapidly changing, and it is harder to keep up with it all. Most conferences provide courses, keynotes, and workshops to help you learn new and relevant things within your industry.
There are so many conferences to choose from each year, and whatever your specialty is marketing, branding or graphic design, we’ve listed some of the best conferences to attend for 2020.
Best Marketing Conferences
In today’s digital world, one may ask yourself, why would you need to attend a marketing conference in person? There are plenty of benefits including; the ability to learn new skills, grow and expand your personal network, strengthen your confidence as a speaker, expand your knowledge in your industry, share personal and business information, and so much more.
Below are 7 of the most well-known and popular marketing conferences you should look into attending in 2020.
PubCon Florida
Date: February 5, 2020
Location: Austin, TX
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Date: March 24 – 26, 2020
Location: North Miami, FL
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Forbes named PubCon as a must-attend conference and an Inc. top conference for growing your business. A social media and SEO conference, PubCon also covers a vast range of marketing topics such as SEM, email, content, and so much more.
This conference features industry-leading businesses and startups, and sponsors. Topics include digital marketing, social media, search engines, and online advertising. PubCon gives attendees a glimpse into the future of technology. Key speakers include; Amy Bishop, Joe Laratro, Kevin Doory, Katy Katz, and more.
Social Media Marketing World
Date: March 1 – 3, 2020
Location: San Diego, CA
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Social Media Examiner is the world’s largest social media resource, founded by Michael Stelzner. The site was created to help millions of marketers discover how to use social media to connect with customers, build awareness, and enhance sales.
Social Media Marketing World enables you to discover the best strategies and tips from some of the best experts in the industry. Speakers include Mari Smith, Mark Schaefer, Sue Zimmerman, Roberto Blake, Goldie Chan, and many, many more!
Incite Group Marketing Summit
Date: May 14 – 15, 2020
Location: San Diego, CA
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Learn from today’s top marketing leaders from over 60 innovative marketing experts laying out the future map of marketing and how it must change. Companies include popular brands such as StubHub, PBS, Grubhub, Survey Monkey, and more. Know your customers better and how to engage more deeply and how to market with further accuracy. Storytelling and Content: Learn how to create less content that’s more relevant to your audience. Take the next step in content marketing. View the full list of speakers.
MozCon
Date: July 6 – 8, 2020
Location: San Diego, CA
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This three-day conference is known as “not your ordinary marketing conference.” For the three fun-filled days, you’ll be able to connect with a community of experts, uncover advice from the top experts in the search marketing industry; SEO, Local Search, Mobile, and more. Learn from the best, including Britney Muller, Dr. Pete Meyers, Sarah Bird, and many more. Take a look at last year’s agenda, including speakers, topics, and agenda. They even have a blog on how to write a letter to your boss about attending.
Content Marketing World Conference and Expo
Date: October 13 – 16, 2020
Location: Cleveland, OH
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Another can’t miss events with the focus on content marketing. Be part of this three-day event and learn from the best with topics including email, tools and technology, customer experience, social media, and so much more. With over 125 workshops and sessions from experts and marketers from around the world, this event is a must!
Marketing Prof’s B2B Marketing Forum
Date: November 3 – 6, 2020
Location: San Francisco, CA
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The Marketing Prof’s B2B Marketing Forum brings together leaders, innovators, and hardworking people to learn about the latest in successful B2B marketing. Past keynote speakers included Gopi Kallayil, Kevin Carroll, Margaret Molloy, and more. With approximately 1,000 attendees, this is a must event for any marketer wanting to network with professionals, and receive tips by participating in workshops. Interested in attending, but need to convince your boss?
Internet Summit: Digital Marketing Conference
Date: November 17 – 19, 2020
Location: Raleigh, NC
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The Internet Summit (part of the Digital Summit Series) attendees are the movers and shakers influencing the growth and success of their company’s digital marketing — and the future landscape of the digital economy. Previous speakers included Reshma Saujani, Rand Fishkin, Andrew Ramm, Matthew Capala, Carlos Gil, Folayo Lasaki, and more. This Digital Marketing Conference focuses on Content Marketing, Digital Strategies, Design/UX, Startups, Analytics, Search, Social Media, Emerging Technologies, and Email Marketing. You can choose from a variety of speakers, keynotes, and workshops throughout the day.
The Best Branding Conferences
Industry Insight Summit
Date: March 25 – 28, 2020
Location: Napa Valley, CA
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This is an exclusive branding event with sessions focusing on industry insights, trends, and tactics that are driving the partnership marketing community. Attendees will learn from a mixed group of industry-leading marketing executives representing eight promotion-friendly companies and industries. Have significant discussions with some of the top experts including Lena Lewis, Brad Haley, Michael Modon, which can lead to new possibilities.
Brand Manage Camp
Date: September 15 – 16, 2020
Location: Las Vegas, NV
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Brand Manage Camp provides insights, tools, and inspiration to take your brand to the next level. Learn from the best speakers in the following industries: Advertising, Media, Strategy, Innovation, Content, Insights, Customer Behavior, Leadership, Metrics, and more. Previous speakers included Andres Davis, Blake Morgan, Jeffrey Rohrs, and more.
Brand New Conference
Date: October 22 – 23, 2020
Location: Austin, TX
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The Brand New Conference focuses on brand identity and the development of corporate projects by some of today’s most dynamic and prominent professionals from throughout the world. Each day, there will be eight sessions covering a variety of topics by participating speakers. Once you’ve absorbed all the information, it’s time to attend the after-party for attendees, non-conference attendees, and friends of those attending.
The Top Graphic Design Conferences
SXSW
Date: March 13 – 22, 2020
Location: Austin, TX
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Enjoy ten fun-filled days of learning, networking, discovery among the most creative individuals across film, music industries, and interactive. Listen to various speakers, including Whitney Wolfe-Herd, Anil Dash, Gayle King, and more discussing ideas that shape our future. Attend meetups, parties, and online networking events. Join thousands for unparalleled discovery, inspiration, and networking at SXSW 2020.
AIGA Design Conference
Date: March 30 – April 1, 2020
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
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The American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) is the largest and the oldest professional membership organization for design. Their annual conference is the essential conference for all design professionals as it hosts thousands of attendees and features more than 100 speakers. The AIGA Design Conference gives attendees unlimited chances for inspiration and networking and networking. Speakers include Tim Allen, Rumman Chowdhury, Jason Fried, Giselle Guerrero, Greg Lutze, and more.
HOW Design Live
Date: May 4 – 7, 2020
Location: Boston, MA
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HOW Design Live 2020 enables you to refuel your passion, along with providing creative inspiration to advance and achieve knowledge in your career. It continues to be one of the largest conferences for graphic designers and creative professionals in the world. By attending, you’ll have the opportunity to network with industry-leading businesses, industry peers, and the brightest and best speakers. Find out how to convince your boss on allowing you to attend.
Adobe 99U Conference
Date: June 3 – 5, 2020
Location: NYC
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This three-day conference provides insightful presentations, workshops, and networking events. Learn from today’s industry leaders and explore new ideas around teamwork, productivity, leadership, and more while sharpening your skills. This event is geared towards anyone in a creative field that wants to put ideas into action. Previous speakers include Tim Brown, Natasha Jen, Ashley C. Ford, and more.
Before you decide on attending, make sure you have done your research. Conferences are an investment and can provide valuable benefits for you and your business.
Do you have a conference recommendation? Please let us know, and we’ll be happy to include the event and details.
