Top 10 conferences to attend for social media marketing in 2020
2020 has been the year of quarantining, social distancing and isolating as much as possible.
We’ve been working from home, staying connected with our loved ones through phone and video calls, and doing our best to find new ways of staying entertained without stepping outside our front doors.
So, how can we even think about attending an event where hundreds or even thousands of people gather in order to network and learn more about their industry?
Well, the conferences we’re going to list today have adapted to this year’s circumstances, making it possible for professionals like you to learn from the biggest social media pros without having to leave your home (or even your office!).
Keep reading to discover ten social media events happening in 2020!
10 Social Media Management Events for 2020
1. INBOUND 2020
When? September 22-23, 2020
Where? Virtual
How much? Free
INBOUND is sponsored by Hubspot and it focuses on social media, customer success, and, of course, how professionals can use Hubspot to leverage their business.
This event usually takes place in Boston but, in 2020, it will be an online-only experience, in which you’ll be able to access on-demand content, as well as live recordings.
There will be over 250 sessions presented by speakers like Alicia Garza, principal at the Black Futures Lab; Brian Halligan and Dharmesh Shah, co-founders of Hubspot; and Sandy Carter, vice-president at Amazon Web Services.
The Starter Pass is free and it gives you limited access to both days, but you can also get a Powerhouse Pass for $89 and accede the entire experience, plus perks.
2. LaterCon
When? September 23, 2020
Where? Virtual
How much? Free
If you’re on a tight budget, LaterCon is the right conference for you, as it is completely free – all you need to do is register in order to get a link to the event.
The conference has been fully digital since its first edition, so there was no need to adjust to the COVID-19 restrictions.
Organized by Later, a social media marketing platform, this conference encompasses every social platform you can imagine, from the most commonly-used Instagram and Facebook to the newest players in the game, like Tik-Tok, and others you probably never thought about exploring for your business, like Pinterest.
3. The Social Shake-Up
When? September 29, 2020 – October 1, 2020
Where? Virtual
How much? From $599
The Social Shake-Up is one of the most popular events in the social media industry and it is divided into two parts.
One of them is the actual conference, which goes on for three days, and includes sessions like “Facebook IQ: Meet the Future—What Gen Z Wants” by Tomá Beczak, Facebook IQ’s Global Consumer Insights Content Strategist and “Day in the Life of an Influencer” by Brandon Butler, Butter.ATL’s Executive Director.
.
Additionally, there are two days of workshops, happening on September 22 and 23, and where you’ll be able to learn about video storytelling, social media measurement, and more.
The $599 pass gives you access to the conference only, but you can also pay $799 for the conference and workshops.
[Image Source: unsplash]
4. Content Marketing World
When? October 13-16, 2020
Where? Virtual
How much? From $699
Content Marketing Institute is one of the biggest digital marketing blogs of today – so much so that it has created what is now the largest content marketing event in the world.
Content Marketing World is a 4-day event replete with keynote presentations, breakout sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities with 225 speakers, which is typically a physical event but in 2020, will be completely virtual.
With presentations like “10 Simple Tips for Savvy Writing, “Design Thinking Meet Story Thinking” and “Optimizing Your Content for Search Engines”, this event is perfect even if you’re completely new to the world of digital marketing.
5. Social Media Week – London
When? October 21-22, 2020
Where? London, UK
How much? TBA
With over 60 sessions, 200 speakers, and 20 exhibitors, Social Media Week is a two-day conference that encompasses all things social media, from Storytelling & Creativity to Chat & Messaging, Society & Culture, and more.
In this year’s edition, the global theme will be “HUMAN.X: The Future of Marketing Will Be Human-First and Experience-Driven” and you can expect to learn about how brands like yours can use social media and digital marketing to connect with consumers in a deeper, more significant manner.
There isn’t any information about pricing or how the event will adjust to COVID-19 yet, but as we come closer to October, we can expect to learn more.
6. Social Fresh
When? November 5-6, 2020
Where? Virtual
How much? From $847
Whether you work on B2B or B2C, if you’re looking for ways to grow your audience and boost your revenue, Social Fresh is definitely a conference to check out.
Typically hosted in Orlando, this is the longest-running conference in the social marketing industry and over 300 of the Fortune 500 have attended.
This year’s edition will be fully digital and it will include sessions by Tatiana Holifield, Pacer’s Head of Digital Strategy; Zontee Hou, Media Volery’s President, and Chief Strategist; and Tyler Anderson, Casual Fridays’ Founder, and CEO.
The event will also encompass speed networking sessions, perfect for you to find your next partner or client.
[Image Source: unsplash]
7. Strategic Marketing USA
When? November 5-6, 2020
Where? Virtual
How much? $699
“Adapt, innovate, reimagine” is Strategic Marketing USA’s motto, and there you’ll have the opportunity to learn from over 40 expert speakers, in more than 25 live presentations, 15 on-demand sessions, and over 1000 virtual meetings.
This year’s edition, which will be completely virtual, there will be four essential themes: CMO strategy & trends for a post-COVID world, Customer insights & understanding new consumer behavior, Agile content & creative, and Digital, social & influencers.
One great detail about this event is that you can comment on the presentations in real-time, which will give you the opportunity to network with more than 5000 attendees at a distance.
8. DigiMarCon World 2020
When? November 17-19, 2020
Where? Virtual
How much? $347 (although there is a $150 early bird pass, available until September 11)
Save time managing your social media accounts
Are you still managing your social media accounts directly from Facebook/Twitter/LinkedIn? Make your life easier by managing all your social media in one place, schedule posts, repeat posts, curate content and more. Try DrumUp now, it's free, forever.
Every year, dozens of DigiMarCons happen all around the world and, this year, the last one is DigiMarCon World 2020, a 3-day online conference that will cover everything within the realm of digital marketing, from social media marketing to content marketing, growth hacking, geo-targeting, and much, much more.
This year’s speakers are yet to be announced but in previous editions, experts from big companies like PayPal, Adobe, Cisco, and IBM have conducted presentations.
For networking, DigiMarCon has created a Facebook page, as well as a LinkedIn group where you can connect with other attendees.
9. State of Social’20
When? November 24-25, 2020
Where? Perth, Australia
How much? From $449
If you live down under, State of Social’20 is a conference you should definitely consider attending.
The event is divided into two days: the first one focuses on presentation and covers topics like “Getting Real: The Authenticity Revolution” and “Instagram – The More You Know”; while the second is composed of workshops on relevant topics like big data and, once again, Instagram strategies.
Although the agenda hasn’t been fully announced, some of the speakers you can expect to see in this year’s edition are Tom Goodwin, the EVP, Head of Innovation for Zenith Media; Georgia Rickard, a multi-award-winning travel editor, journalist and content strategist; and Lauren Bath, “Australia’s first professional Instagrammer”.
Regarding COVID-19, the organizers have stated that they’re keeping an eye on how the situation evolves and will make changes accordingly.
10. MadconNYC
When? December 1-3, 2020
Where? Virtual
How much? TBA
Whether your career has social media as the main focus or any other component of digital marketing, attending MadconNYC is something yourself and your business will most likely benefit from.
Covering everything from big data, GDPR, chatbots, influencer marketing, SEO, native advertising, social media, video marketing, and much more, this all-virtual, 3-day conference will host sessions presented by Ahava Group Global’s CEO, Janét Aizenstros; Mirriad’s CEO, Stephan Beringer; Amplify.ai’s CEO, Mahi De Silva; and more.
There isn’t any information about pricing yet, but you can pre-register to secure your spot.
[Image Source: unsplash]
Which Social Media Management Conference Are You Attending This Year?
As you can see, there are still plenty of social media conferences you can attend in 2020, most of them from the comfort and safety of your own home.
Choosing between them is a matter of considering which topics within the social media and content world you want to learn more about, as well as which could benefit your business or career the most.
One thing is certain: listening to the veterans of digital marketing speak about their experiences and know-how is a foolproof way of expanding your knowledge. In other words, no matter which conference you choose, we know it will be worth the investment!
And while we’re on the topic of social media, why not check our Social Media Management & Content Curation product? It will help take your brand’s social presence to a whole new level and you can see that with your own eyes by starting our free trial today.
