Is it that time of year again already? I was reading a forum thread recently where posters were discussing whether they would attend a certain conference next year and I thought, people are already making their networking schedules up for 2016. Play and learn has become the thing to do in business and no industry likes to hear itself talk quite as much as marketing. Like Aerosmith said, you don’t want to miss a thing, so here are some conferences you can add to your project management calendar for 2016.
MozCon
They say it is “not your typical marketing conference,” and they mean it. This year’s MozCon has just come and gone, so the dates are not up yet for 2016 but pencil it in for July. MozCon is a three-day event that covers everything from mobile SEO to big content ideation with a focus on inbound marketing skills.
The conference is held each year in Seattle, Washington and sells out quick.
Content Marketing World
It may not be too late to get on board this train for 2015, in fact. Content Marketing World brings close to 2,700 marketers from all over the world to Cleveland, Ohio to discuss brand journalism, publishing, advertising and, you guessed it, content marketing. This year, the conference features 80 sessions with speakers like actor John Cleese and author Kristina Halvorson.
Content2Conversion
Content2Conversion is already gearing up for the 2016 extravaganza at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess in Scottsdale, AZ. This is the right conference for B2B marketers looking to network with some big whales. The host organization boasts that 72 percent of their attendees are director level or higher.
In 40 sessions with 450 B2B marketers, you cover topics such as cross-functional content strategies and collaborative marketing.
Inbound
Here is another one that still has yet to play out this year. Inbound is hosted by Hubspot and features a segment called Bold Talks. These are rapid-fire 20-minute sessions with thought leaders in the industry. It is hard to say what September 2016 has to offer, but this year’s speakers include authors Seth Godin and Daniel Pink and Buzzfeed CEO Jonah Peretti. This event is held in Boston, MA.
Content Marketing Conference
Last year was the first for the WriterAccess hosted Content Marketing Conference. It was such a success that they are already piecing together next year’s event in May of 2016.
The 2015 conference had workshops, speakers and panel discussions that focused on ways marketers could improve their strategies. As an insider, I can tell you this one was as much about fun and fraternization as it was about learning. I wasn’t there, but from what I hear, a good time was had by all. It doesn’t hurt that the conference is held in Las Vegas, NV, either.
This isn’t about promoting one show over the over, because, honestly, I think they all look pretty good. It is about learning opportunities and taking advantage of them. Events such as the Content Marketing Conference allow you to open your mind up to new ideas while making connections at the same time. Play and learn.
What topics would you like to see covered at marketing conferences in 2016?
Writer Bio: Darla F is a full-time freelance writer who specializes in helping agencies meet their goals by developing creative and engaging content.
