Wouldn’t it be cool if all the big marketing conferences had a huge analytics dashboard hanging over the expo floor? I have no idea how it would work, but I imagine big lights flickering with every new promising connection, or fresh perspective, or game-changing idea – kind of like the scoreboard at a Golden State Warriors game.
You could even compare data across conferences to help you choose which ones to attend. Though, comparisons aside, I imagine all of the following conferences would boast analytical data that makes attending a no-brainer anyway. Here are 10 marketing conferences B2Bers can’t go wrong with as we head into the 2019 - 2020 swing.
B2B Marketing Conferences in 2019
Content Marketing World
Where: Cleveland, OH
When: September 3-6
FOMO Alert: Mindy Kaling of “The Office” and “The Mindy Project” fame will be on hand to give attendees a glimpse into how she consistently cranks out content that’s so easy for audiences to cherish. (Oh, and as a bonus, several LinkedIn marketers will be on hand, including our own Amber Naslund giving a session on Disrupting Thought Leadership: What It Really Takes To Create a Personal Content Platform That Works. Come say hi!)
Fun Fact: Mindy didn’t just star in “The Office.” She wrote more episodes of the show than any other writer.
INBOUND
Where: Boston, MA
When: September 3-6
FOMO Alert: Where to start? Celebrity attendees include (but aren’t limited to) Eat, Pray, Love author Elizabeth Gilbert, actress and Once Upon a Farm co-founder Jennifer Garner, legendary journalist Katie Couric, actress and “Red Table Talk” host Jada Pinkett Smith, and even “Fixer Upper” extraordinaires Chip and Joanna Gaines (no word as to whether Chip demolished the 2018 INBOUND set and Joanna designed the 2019 one).
Fun Fact: Not sure how to persuade your boss to spring for your trip? Just click “convince your boss” on INBOUND’s “why attend?” page and the clever marketers at INBOUND will generate a custom message for you to send. Just answer a few quick questions first.
Advertising Week
Where: New York, NY
When: September 23-26
FOMO Alert: No scrubs here. The Future Is Female opening concert features a big blast from the past: TLC.
Fun Fact: “The Week” features eight fresh themes this year. So whether you’re a story crafter, an insight driver, or you identify better with one of the other six themes, there’s essentially an event within the event just for you.
MarketingProfs B2B Forum
Where: Gaylord National Resort just outside Washington, D.C.
When: October 16-18
FOMO Alert: Neen James, bestselling author of Folding Time and Attention Pays will take the stage to tell you everything you need to know about harnessing the power of attention.
Fun Fact: Known for its quirkiness, this is the only conference where you’ll find the “B2B Neighborhood Block Party” and “B2B After Dark.”
Forbes CMO Summit
Where: Dana Point, CA
When: November 13-15
FOMO Alert: The fact that it’s invitation only is a FOMO-inducing mechanism in it’s own right. If you’re not sure whether your invite is on its way and don’t want to take chances, you can apply to attend. Since the event caters to brand marketing leaders, it’s “not open agencies or marketing/service providers.”
Fun Fact: Using ForbesLive’s network of executives and thought leaders, you can create a custom event designed to achieve one of your strategic goals.
Dreamforce
Where: San Francisco, CA
When: November 19-22
FOMO Alert: While the headliners haven’t been announced yet, past bands at Dreamfest have included heavy hitters like U2, Bruno Mars, Metallica, and Alicia Keys. If that’s not enough, the event agenda already contains multiple sessions for an emerging aspect of our industry: e-commerce B2B.
Fun Fact: To date, Dreamforce has raised over $73 million to support our communities and make the world more equal.
B2B Marketing Conferences in 2020
B2B Marketing Exchange
Where: Scottsdale, AZ
When: February 24-26
FOMO Alert: CMO Mentors is one of the cooler aspects of any event listed here. It’s a program designed to connect up-and-coming sales and marketing leaders with established leaders in the industry.
Fun Fact: The event’s “Killer Content Awards” are a fan favorite. The LinkedIn marketing team was honored to win a “Finny” in the Best Video Content category last year.
Social Media Marketing World
Where: San Diego, CA
When: March 1-3
FOMO Alert: San Diego. Early March. And if that’s not enough, the event packs a wallop each and every year. SMMW has earned a reputation as the premier social conference, providing opportunities to have one-on-one conversations with more than 100 of the industry’s foremost social media experts.
Fun Fact: With your pass, you can participate in pre-event networking to really ramp up your relationship-building efforts. Choose from private networking groups, live online meetups, or both.
ContentTECH Summit
Where: San Diego, CA
When: April 20-22
FOMO Alert: When the action centers on the latest, greatest, and most proven marketing technology in the enterprise space, the FOMO generates itself.
Fun Fact: Our pal Megan Golden, Head of Global Content Marketing at LinkedIn, is among the featured speakers this year. Get to know Megan and you’ll understand why we filed this under “Fun Fact.”
CONFAB
Where: Minneapolis, MN
When: May 17-20
FOMO Alert: If content strategy is your focus, you’ll be happy to know that it’s the focal point of this event. That doesn’t mean you need to be a content strategist to attend. You just need to be okay with arriving home with a clearer, more informed vision about your approach.
Fun Fact: Minneapolis can be quite lovely in May.
Of course, members of the LinkedIn team will be on hand at most of these and more marketing conferences throughout the year, starting with CMWorld, so definitely stop by our booth to say hi.
If you can’t make any of the events listed above, catch the highlights and top takeaways (and keep your FOMO in check) when you subscribe to the LinkedIn Marketing Solutions blog.
