NOTE: This list has been updated on 3/04/22. As a results of the COVID-19 pandemic many events are offering virtual or hybrid events, and dates and locations may change with the evolving situation.
By now, 91 percent of B2B companies use some form of content marketing and a full 56 percent consider themselves “very committed,” according to the Content Marketing Institute. That explains why industry movers and shakers are offering an increasing number of content marketing conferences aimed at helping them make the most of its possibilities.
While the scope of such events has become difficult to track, here’s a list of some upcoming conferences that could help your organization with future strategies. (Note our omission of the formerly ubiquitous SXSW, which has become so diverse in attempting to cover the worlds of film, culture, music and technology that many marketers are seeking more targeted events.)
Digital Marketing
Marketing Analytics Summit
Date: June 20-23, 2022
Host: Rising Media
Location: Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV
Why attend: This conference, which had its first event in 2002, is “where digital analysts and marketing professionals master marketing data.” Workshops include topics such as data quality, leveraging artificial intelligence and cross cultural international marketing. Speakers represent companies including Deloitte, Microsoft, Amazon Music and Intuit.
LeadsCon’s Connect to Convert
Date: March 21-23, 2022
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Host: Access Intelligence
Why attend: “The world’s largest performance marketing conference and exposition” with over 30 sessions and over 1,000 attendees. Sessions include topics like attracting consumers and “supercharging” the marketing experience, using MarTech to improve customer experience and which tech is really making a difference in LeadGen. There will be speakers from Lending Tree, LLC, loanDepot, Rocket Mortgage, J.D. Power and more.
Adobe DITAWORLD 2022
Date: May 10-12, 2022
Host: Adobe
Location: Virtual
Why attend: The program will offer a wide range of topics, from high-level strategic approaches to very practical sessions and industry presentations. The conference will show how Adobe is helping enterprises around the world to connect the dots between Technical Communication and Marketing Communication, and how customers and partners are using them to create intelligent customer experiences with intelligent content. The conference is virtual and registration is free.
DMO Advanced
Date: May 17-19, 2022
Location: Napa Valley, CA
Why attend: This two-track conference is dedicated to sharing insights on the latest and most cutting edge marketing trends to over 150 attendees. The website states: “We are spearheading the accelerating shift towards e-commerce through collaborative education, professional networking, and valuable content.” The conference will feature over 20 speakers, including employees from DigitalOcean, Under Armour, Cox Automotive and Vivid Seats.
Strategic Marketing 2022
Date: June 1-2, 2022
Host: Reuters Events
Location: San Diego Mission Bay Resort, San Diego, CA
Why attend: This event brings together the world’s most influential CMOs and marketing leaders to change the way brands are perceived in the world. This year’s theme is “Redefining the Consumer-Brand Relationship: Personal, Meaningful, Purpose-Driven.” With over 50 speakers, 30 sessions and 300 senior leaders, this event will explore how to build more meaningful relationships with individual consumers. This event features speakers from the NFL, Intel, Sephora, General Mills and EA.
Conversion Conference
Date: June 20-22, 2022
Host: Rising Media
Location: Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV
Why attend: Over the course of two dozen highly-rated shows in the US and Europe since 2010, thousands of people from over 40 countries have taken part in advancing the art and science of conversion rate optimization. This event features speakers from State Farm, Purpose Pioneers and New Horizons Advisors with sessions on optimizing conversion rates, how to nail messaging and integrating search, display and email.
Commerce Next 2022: Seizing the Next Wave of Growth
Date: June 21-22, 2022
Host: Cart.com
Location: New York Hilton Midtown
Why attend: After the pandemic accelerated digital and created online shopping habits, ecommerce continues to grow. CommerceNext brings ecommerce trailblazers and change-makers to talk about the future of digital ecommerce. This event will have 100+ speakers, over 1200 attendees and more than 50 sessions. This event features speakers from American Eagle, Olaplex, Old Navy, Patagonia and Gopuff.
MozCon
Date: July 11-13, 2022
Location: Seattle, WA
Host: Moz
Why attend: One-track conference full of “forward-thinking, tactical sessions in SEO, growth marketing, the mobile landscape, analytics, content marketing and more” from the company that dominates in helping businesses boost their search rankings with innovative tools and thought leadership. There will be speakers from companies like Wix, Uber and Papier.
DigiMarCon West
Date: July 11-12, 2022
Location: Loews Hollywood Hotel, Los Angeles, CA
Host: DigiMarCon
Why attend: Sessions will focus on thriving as a marketer in an evolving digital world, featuring topics like account-based marketing, inbound and outbound marketing, native and contextual advertising, social media marketing and UI/UX design. Past speakers have represented brands like IBM, Cisco, Adobe, PayPal and NBC Sports.
Digital Summit Series
Date: 2022 conferences will be a mix of virtual, in-person and hybrid events. 2022 dates are TBD.
Location: 15+ cities across the U.S. including Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Chicago & more
Host: Digital Summit
Why attend: More than 20,000 people attend the Digital Summit series spanning several cities. In-person events returned in 2021 and will continue into 2022. Digital Summit produces over 1,200+ sessions, workshops and seminars annually covering digital marketing best practices and tactics. Phoenix, Arizona’s event (March 15-16, 2022), will feature Jenny Hoffman from Spotify and experts from IBM, Weber Shandwick and more. The following event will be in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on May 23-24, 2022. View all Digital Summit event locations here.
Strategic Marketing USA
Date: June 1-2, 2022
Location: Sand Diego Mission Bay Resort, Sand Diego, CA
Host: Reuters Events
Why attend: This event is uniting the world’s most influential CMOs to showcase innovation, set benchmarks, and map the future of marketing – one where brands are purpose-driven, campaigns are intelligently data-backed, and innovation drives growth. 2022’s theme is “Redefining the Consumer-Brand Relationship: Personal, Meaningful, Purpose-Driven.” There will be speakers from companies like Home Depot, Gannett, Kohl’s, Logitech, Delta and NFL.
Programmatic Pioneers Summit
Date: TBD
Host: World Business Research
Location: TBD
Why Attend: There was no summit in 2021, but they are doing virtual events – stay tuned for updates. This two-day conference hosts over 200 heads of programmatic, media, marketing, digital and advertising professionals to network and discuss the future of programmatic advertising. Speakers include leaders from American Express, Google, Dell and Samsung.
Content Marketing
Confab Central
Date: May 9-12, 2022
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Host: Brain Traffic
Why attend: Confab draws more than 600 professionals from around the world who design, create and manage content. “From UX to storytelling, accessibility to structure, Confab brings together those who are committed to making content useful and usable.” Speakers this year include thought leaders from Bumble, Robinhood, HubSpot, Target and more.
Content Marketing World
Date: September 13-16, 2022
Location: Cleveland, OH
Host: Content Marketing Institute
Why attend: Some 4,000 attendees are offered over 100 sessions presented by experts from around the world, covering strategy, storytelling, ROI, demand generation, AI, etc. The 2021 event featured industry experts like Ann Handley and A. Lee Judge and, of course, CMI Founder Joe Pulizzi. Want to learn more about the Content Marketing World experience? Read Brandpoint’s recap of the 2019 CMWorld event.
LavaCon Content Strategy Conference
Date: October 23-26, 2022
Location: New Orleans, LA
Host: LavaCon
Why attend: For content strategists, documentation managers and senior content professionals who want to stay ahead of rapidly changing technology and customer demographics while connecting with vendors who can help with content challenges. The 2021 theme focused on how content can be created and shaped across the enterprise.
Content Marketing Conference
Date: TBD
Location: Virtual
Host: ideaLaunch
Why attend: They know that the world has changed, and online learning is best for some. They made the transition in 2020 with a digital experience that they rolled together in just a few weeks for 15,000 attendees. This event covers the six pillars of content marketing: planning, creation, optimization, distribution, performance and comedy.
Content Jam
Date: TBD
Location: TBD
Host: Orbit Media Studios
Why Attend: With over 500 attendees, this convention shares insights on content strategy, promotion, conversion and analytics. Speakers include Mark Schaefer, Wil Reynolds and Britney Muller. While Content Jam is canceled for 2020 and 2021, their website states that they are in the process of planning an event for 2022. See available webinars here, in the meantime.
Marketing
PRNews Media Relations Conference
Dates: December 8-9, 2021
Location: Pentagon City, VA
Host: PRNews
Why attend: This conference is “for communications professionals who need to hear forward-thinking insights on media pitching, measurement, the impact of AI/machine learning on media relations and journalism, influencer relations, social media marketing, and the best media relations tools from leading brands like USA Today, NPR, Accenture, Aflac and D.C. Public Charter School Board.”
B2B Marketing Exchange
Date: February 28 – March 2, 2022
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
Host: Emerald X
Why attend: More than 1,000 participants in 2018, with more than 85 workshops and case study sessions. Speakers include the industry’s top marketing professionals including analysts, authors and B2B practitioners from companies like Facebook, BuzzFeed and LinkedIn.
MarketingProfs B2B Marketing Forum
Dates: April 6-7, 2022
Location: Virtual
Host: MarketingProfs
Why attend: The “place where leaders, innovators and people who make things happen gather to learn about the latest in B2B marketing and share the secrets to success as well as “belly laughs, creative networking, shenanigans and marketers’ off-the-clock antics.” 2022 speakers include thought leaders from companies like Automation Ninjas, MarketingProfs, Perkins School for the Blind and Find the Red Thread. Sessions for 2022 include topics like the keys to marketing and sales alignment, becoming a trusted voice in the sustainability conversation and account based marketing.
Retail Innovation Conference
Date: May 10-12, 2022
Location: McCormick Place, Chicago, IL
Host: Emerald X
Why attend: For the seventh year, the Retail Innovation Conference is creating the ultimate learning and networking experience for executives focused on what’s new, and what’s next, for retail. Hear how top tech players are driving retail’s future, see the next wave of innovative solutions, enjoy 1:1 networking via chat or video, browse a tailored digital marketplace and more. Sessions include topics like next-gen influencer strategy, top 5 trends driving the future of store design and new perspectives on global growth.
Affiliate Summit East
Date: May 24-25, 2022
Location: New York, NY
Host: Clarion Events
Why attend: The performance marketing industry’s premier global event featuring high-level decision makers including online publishers, bloggers, media owners, traffic sources, advertisers, global brands, networks, technology firms, agencies, and other solution providers. Typically more than 6,000 attendees, 70 sessions, 100 expert presenters and 300 exhibitors. Check out Affiliate Summit events in other locations around the globe.
CX North America
Date: June 7-9, 2022
Location: Virtual and Nashville, TN
Host: Forrester
Why attend: Forrester analysts and CX industry leaders will dive into the key strategic opportunities to help your organization grow. They have a world-class lineup of Forrester analysts, subject matter experts and leading practitioners. Session topics include how effective leaders built their teams, the key ingredients of culture and the myth and reality of socially motivated consumers.
Inbound 2022
Date: September 6-9, 2022
Location: Boston, MA
Host: HubSpot
Why attend: 24,000 participants from 100-some countries. “A community of people passionate about marketing, selling, and delighting customers in an inbound way. We bring together speakers who are passionate not just about improving the bottom line, but also about building a brighter, kinder and more inclusive future.” Past speakers include Bob Iger, Jesse Williams, Van Jones and John Legend.
Brand ManageCamp
Date: TBD
Location: Virtual
Host: ManageCamp
Why attend: Attendees learn about strategy, trends, storytelling, optimization, advertising, content, insights and more to help “take your brand to the next level.” The speakers are best-selling business authors, world-renowned experts, or up-and-coming mavericks, pushing the boundaries in their respective concentrations.
Mirren Live New York
Date: May 17-18, 2022
Location: Virtual and Kansas City, MO
Host: Mirren
Why attend: Mirren Live bills itself as one of the most prominent conferences in the agency business. It sells out every year with 400 senior decision-makers taking in 60+ speakers in 35+ sessions over 2 jam-packed days. Focused on building a faster, smarter, healthier agency and “scaling with soul”, management team leads and CEOs join the conference from around the country. This year’s speakers include leaders from VMLY&R, The Martin Agency, R3 Worldwide and AAR Partners.
FinCon 2022
Date: TBD
Location: TBD
Host: FinCon
Why attend: This conference states that “#FinCon21 is for anyone creating personal finance content on the internet — bloggers, podcasters, YouTubers, coaches and advisors, social media influencers, authors, freelancers and more!” In 2019, this expo had 2300+ attendees, 200+ speakers and 100+ exhibitors.
Digital Sales & Marketing World
Date: TBD
Location: TBD
Host: IMPACT Branding & Design
Why Attend: Formally known as IMPACT Live, this conference is “an immersive event for marketers, salespeople, and business leaders looking to drive significant revenue growth for their companies.” This event is directed towards marketers from all types of companies, including B2B, B2C and agencies.
Social media
Social Media Strategies Summit
Date: June 7-10, 2022
Location: Virtual
Host: GSMI
Why attend: The event features best practices in social media marketing from successful brands. 2020 featured speakers from companies such as Vitamix and CERN. This virtual event in July will include leaders from AT&T, Nasdaq and Instacart. Past speakers have been from Intel, Ben & Jerry’s and GE Healthcare.
Social Media Marketing World
Date: March 14-16, 2022
Location: San Diego, CA
Host: Social Media Examiner
Why attend: With some 7,000 participants, bills itself as the industry’s largest social media marketing conference. The sponsor is considered the world’s leading online social media magazine for businesses, with more than 1.5 million monthly visitors. While the 2021 event was postponed, you can still view webinars on their site.
VidCon
Date: June 22-25, 2022
Location: Anaheim Convention Center,
Host: TikTok
Why attend: VidCon is where the world’s leading digital creators, platform innovators and their fans converge. For those who love video content, this event is a great place to connect and collaborate with others in the industry.
Social Media Week
Date: TBD
Location: TBD
Host: Adweek
Why attend: #SMWNYC will be virtual this year, hosting an event that “serves as the central meeting point for the entire social media marketing industry.” Hear from speakers from Snapchat, Google, Vice, LEGO, Facebook and TikTok. Gain access to 300+ speakers across 150 sessions and extensive digital networking.
Technology
ContentTECH Summit
Date: March 22-23, 2022
Location: San Diego, CA
Host: Content Marketing Institute
Why attend: Formerly the Intelligent Content Conference, the refresh of this event will help senior marketing executives learn how to enable technology to improve processes to better execute their content strategy. The 2018 event drew 400 participants who learned from leaders representing Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Mayo Clinic, Cisco, Salesforce and others. This year, there will be speakers from companies like Fanatics, Content Marketing Institute and BigStride.
MAICON
Date: August 3-5, 2022
Location: Cleveland, OH
Host: Marketing Artificial Intelligence Institution
Why attend: AI in marketing is a trend that only is getting larger, but it’s a tactic that many professionals are still struggling to implement. This event is for manager-level and above marketers, and is catered to non-technical audiences. Meaning: if you need to learn about AI, this conference is for you. There will be speakers from EY, Marketing AI Institute, DataRobot and OneScreen.ai.
MarTech
Date: March 29-30, 2022 and September 28-29, 2022
Location: Virtual
Host: Third Door Media Inc.
Why attend: The MarTech experience is all choreographed. You’ll unlock presentations that deliver actionable tactics to solve confounding marketing challenges. You’ll meet senior-level marketers like you who are redefining how their organizations deploy martech to achieve business results. And you’ll discover time-saving solutions that deliver ROI.
Editor’s note: Would you like your marketing event added to this list? Please only send annual, U.S. events. Send us an email for consideration. This post is regularly updated.
