PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: DIGITAL NOMAD IN DIGITAL MARKETING? PLAN YOUR YEARLY ITINERARY FOR NETWORKING
If you’re a digital nomad working in the field of digital marketing, you probably already know that networking is a crucial part of your work. Connections with other people in your field can push your career to the next level and open you up to opportunities you may not otherwise have had. Attending networking events in-person or virtually can also give you valuable opportunities to learn from experts in the marketing field. You may find yourself meeting a contact or getting a piece of advice that totally changes your strategy and flow in your online advertising projects. But where are the best places to meet the right people? Let’s have a look at where to network throughout the year!
Digital Marketing Events Around The World
A lot of great digital marketing networking opportunities can be found around the world, and no matter where you live, you should be able to find a nearby opportunity to meet and greet fellow online advertisers. Here are a few conferences in the first half of the year that are very worth your while:
1. Social Media Marketing World (February 18-20, 2024, San Diego, CA): If you’re looking to learn the best social media marketing strategies from top experts, look no further. The upcoming conference marks its tenth year of gathering the world’s best current marketers and influencers together to talk shop. You can also live stream the sessions remotely to save a few hundred dollars off the ticket fee, which is a nice option because the conference is not cheap (an all-access ticket will run you $997 USD). Get there in person if you can, though; the connections you might make could be as valuable as the info in the sessions!
2. Digital Marketing World Forum (Upcoming events in Miami, Amsterdam, and Singapore): This forum prides itself on being the leading global event covering digital marketing, content marketing, data & analytics, influencer marketing, e-commerce, AI, and Web3 marketing. Another major draw to this particular forum, however, is their fun approach to networking, partnering with bars in each city for networking parties.
3. Adobe Summit (March 26-28, 2024, Las Vegas NV): It should be noted first that this conference prides itself on its virtual platform, so although it’s possible to attend in person, a lot of the info online applies to streaming the sessions. Speakers ranging from Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayan to comedian/author Tig Notaro discuss challenges and opportunities in the digital marketing world and the features Adobe is introducing to reach their customers more effectively. They also offer Experience League Communities, a sort of social network that conference attendees can use to meet each other.
4. Gartner Marketing Symposium (June 3-5, 2024, Denver CO): This is the place where you want to be if you’re interested in staying on the cutting edge. Topics at this year’s conference included AI, marketing strategy, multi-channel marketing, and brand strategy. Through round-table sessions and peer conversations, you’ll have the chance to talk about these big topics and build relationships with marketing leaders. If you pre-register, you can also attend Ask The Expert sessions. This conference seems very focused on giving you a ton of opportunities to meet new people in the field, so make sure you don’t miss it!
5. Growth Marketing Summit (June 19, 2024, Frankfurt DE): This is Europe’s biggest conference for digital growth and optimization. Its website has some helpful graphs to show who mainly attends the Growth Marketing Summit, and if you’re looking to meet managers and C-level executives, mainly (but not exclusively) in the marketing field, this is the place for you to be. It’s a packed day, starting at 8 am and finishing at 5:30 pm, and a networking afterparty with music and free drinks starts immediately after.
At the time of writing, it is mid-July, so the rest of these conferences are still to come in 2023. It should probably be assumed that they’ll happen around the same time next year. If you’re looking to plan for a full 2024 calendar year of conferences, these are likely the ones you’ll find in the back half. But if you can get a ticket in time, you could catch these this year as well!
6. MozCon (August 7-8, 2023, Seattle WA): Speakers share their top tips to help marketers navigate the challenges of the job. The focus is on future-proofing your business and making data-based decisions to help you stay on top of the game. SEOs, marketers, executives, and business owners alike can all come together to figure out how to rank higher in the search landscape. This one can also be live-streamed for a heavily reduced ticket price.
7. INBOUND 2023 (September 5-8, 2023, Boston MA): This conference offers “Curated Agendas” that you can choose from to make sure you’re getting the most out of your time there. Ranging from the “Marketing Agenda”, through the “AI and Innovation Agenda”, to the “Customer Success Agenda”, this conference attracts a wide variety of people in the digital marketing world, and it doesn’t stop with the sessions and speakers. Festival stages, food trucks, pop-ups, and giveaways are also a big part of Inbound, so if you’re looking to network in a high-energy atmosphere, put this one on your list.
8. Vibe MarTech Fest (September 13-14, 2023, Dubai UAE): A conference that attracts leaders in the technology and marketing business. The focus is on how to connect deeply with customers and create ad campaigns that last. This year’s topics include the shift to digital-first advertising, harnessing AI and generative AI, embracing Web3 and Metaverse, focusing on customer data and personalization, and optimizing omnichannel and mobile marketing.
9. Content Marketing World (September 26-28, Washington D.C.): This conference boasts over 150 expert speakers and a vibrant marketing community. This year is the 13th for the conference, and the Content Marketing Institute will once again bring together agencies, professionals, content creators, and marketing leaders to meet each other and develop new ideas.
10. LavaCon (October 14-17, 2023, San Diego, CA): Originally started in Hawaii, LavaCon now moves yearly, and this year in October, they’ll be gathering industry professionals together in San Diego to talk about the risks and rewards of integrating AI into content strategy. Obviously a hot issue. This is not one you’ll want to miss.
If you’re willing to travel and put in a bit of money, you might be able to attend a few of these conferences in your year. You can only imagine the huge impact it will have on your career. Putting yourself in places where you can connect with peers and leaders in your field is important for anyone, and the world of networking for digital marketers is absolutely bustling. So, get out there and meet some people!