Why attend a social media conference?
It goes without saying that social media is always changing. There is no better way to tap into the collective wisdom of experts than by attending social media conferences where you can:
- learn from subject matter experts, such as well-known bloggers, authors, and speakers, in the field
- network with other corporate practitioners to compare notes on best practices
- discover new social media tools that might help you do more with less
Which are the best social media conferences to attend in 2019?
Rather than create a comprehensive list of all of the social media conferences that exist, I provide you my annual list of social media conferences that I have vetted from either presenting at, attending, or knowing first-hand of the experiences from others who have attended. Social media conferences with a strong track record obviously are featured in this list, but I also went out of my way to add new and promising events to the list, especially some user conferences that aren’t specifically focused on, but will include a great deal of information about, social media.
If you want to keep your finger on the pulse of social media, these are the must-attend social media conferences in 2019! Social media conferences are presented in chronological order for your convenience.
Digital Marketing Innovation Summit – February 27-28, 2019 – New York, New York
With the incredible rise of social media and multi-device engagement, never has it been so crucial for brands to successfully implement a meaningful digital marketing strategy. Through a variety of case study presentations, how-to talks and in-depth panel discussions, this year’s event will be an educational playground to get inspired, network and discover takeaway actionable insights for your digital marketing strategy.
Speakers have yet to be confirmed – we’ll publish an update once they are!
Social Media Strategies Summit – March 19-21, 2019 – Anaheim, California
Social Media Strategies Summit is your reliable source for the latest best practices in social media marketing. Over the course of 3 days, they craft the perfect balance of case studies, deep-dive and how-to sessions — all to equip you with the tools and strategies you need to create a strong-performing, engaging social media presence for your brand.
Guest speakers at this event have not been announced yet – stay tuned!
Social Media Marketing World – March 20-22 – San Diego, California
The world’s largest social media marketing conference is back!
Discover the best social media marketing techniques from the world’s top experts and join 7,000 fellow marketers at the mega-conference designed to inspire and empower you with social media marketing ideas—brought to you by Social Media Examiner.
I’m honored to have spoken at this event annually from its onset and see it grow to become the single largest social media conference of the year. I’ll be speaking again in 2019, with a completely revamped presentation on influencer marketing best practices gleaned from writing my book The Business of Influence. This is the one social media conference that I highly recommend you attend. Whoever you want to see speak from the social media world, chances are you will have the opportunity to see them on stage here in San Diego. Speakers will include Mari Smith, Jay Baer, Michael Stelzner, Ann Handley, Amy Porterfield, Mark Schaefer, Sue B. Zimmerman, Maximize Social Business Alumni Peg Fitzpatrick, Marcus Sheridan, and Christopher Penn (analytics guru)..
Summit: The Digital Marketing Conference – March 24-28, 2019 – Las Vegas, Nevada
Adobe’s user conference has become more than that: It is now an educational event in itself which brings together 5,000 digital marketing leaders to learn and discuss social marketing as well as marketing analytics, campaign management and email marketing, digital experience management, digital advertising, and much more. The event will feature a number of speakers, including many from Adobe itself. Even if you’re not a user of Adobe Social, you’ll learn a great deal and meet great people at this event.
Speakers have yet to be announced but past speakers include Richard Bronson, the actress Leslie Jones, and even NFL player JJ Watt!
Content Marketing Conference – April 16-19, 2017 – Boston, Massachusetts
The Content Marketing Conference is the newest event focused on content marketing for those that can’t wait for the annual Content Marketing World in the fall. In its 5th year, the Content Marketing Conference prides itself on being focused on actionable content marketing tactics, tools, and techniques and “serving up the recipe for content marketing mastery.”
This event is also unique in that it is purposely capped at 300 to energize sessions, maximize learning and power-up networking to make sure you win big. Haven spoken at event for the last three years, I can personally highly recommend this event for its extremely tactical and actionable advice.
Speakers have yet to be confirmed – we’ll publish an update once they are!
Digital Marketing and Strategy Innovation Summit – April 17-18, 2019 – Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China
The Chief Marketing Officer Summit is the biggest and most exclusive gathering of business executives leading innovative marketing strategies.
Speakers have yet to be confirmed – we’ll publish an update once they are!
Confirmed speakers for this event include:
- Zhiyu Chen, SVP, Sam’s Club E-Commerce and CBEC, Walmart
- Dennis Owen, GM, Branding & Social Media, Hong Kong Airlines
- Vivien Cheng, Group Digital Manager, Brand and Consumer Engagement, Danone Early Life Nutrition
- Anita Liu, Director of Field Marketing, GE Healthcare
- Shawn Paltiel, Director, Insights & Marketing, Asia, Sony Music
Social Media Camp – April 25-26, 2019 – Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Social Media Camp is Canada’s largest social media conference which will have its 10th event in 2019. Having spoken there in 2015, I can say that it is a great conference that covers all the key issues for getting the most out of social media marketing.
The speakers and sessions have yet to be fully announced, so make sure you check back here for updates! That being said, inaugural Social Media Camp keynote speaker Scott Stratten is back to keynote the 10th anniversary of Social Media Camp! Stay tuned as further speakers are announced!
Social Media Week – April 30-May 2, 2019 – New York, New York
Social Media Week is a worldwide conference that allows marketers and business managers to share ideas, innovations and insights into how social media is changing the face of business. The event will welcome over 10,000 attendees from New York’s top advertising and media industries. The 2019 global theme for Social Media Week is Stories: With Great Influence Comes Great Responsibility. Ultimately, stories have the power to influence the world and the people who consume them, and with this influence comes responsibility.
Speakers have yet to be announced, although past speakers have included the likes of Martha Stewart and Reverend Jesse Jackson!
The Social Shake-Up – May 6-8, 2019 – Atlanta, Georgia
The Social Shake-Up Show on May 6-8, 2019 in Atlanta is the premier social media conference where Shakers will overthrow the status quo and redefine what social media means for their business, brand and future.
Confirmed speakers include:
- James Chong, Senior Manager of Social Customer Engagement, TOMS
- Brandi Boatner, Social and Influencer Communications Lead, Global Markets, IBM
- Carmen Shirkey Collins, Senior Social Media & Talent Brand Lead, Cisco
- Miri Rodriguez, Storyteller, Microsoft
- Allen Plummer, Head of Editorial and Creative Operations, Vanguard
MozCon – July 15-17, 2019 – Seattle, Washington
Sponsored by arguably one of the largest online marketing firms in the world, Moz, this is THE conference you will want to attend if you are a more advanced digital marketer and you manage more than just social media. Learn about the latest trends in the world of search engine optimization, social media marketing, content marketing, branding, conversion rate optimization, search engine marketing, among others. Get to know their exceptional speakers. Learn about their actionable tactics. Grab those tasty snacks. This is a fun-filled event you wouldn’t want to miss. Speakers have yet to be announced but rest assured it will be an all-star cast!
INBOUND – September 3-6, 2019 – Boston, Massachusetts
In the past INBOUND has had names like Michelle Obama, John Cena, Beth Comstock, Brené Brown, and Shonda Rhimes on the keynote stage. In 2019, more keynoters will inspire you with their visions for the future of marketing, sales, and business.
INBOUND 2018 featured almost 300 breakout sessions from some of the biggest names and brightest minds in sales and marketing. INBOUND 2018 was packed with dozens of new tactics to take your business to the next level—and 2019 will be too.
There’s more to INBOUND than just great content—it’s also a lot of fun! How could it not be with amazing entertainment (like Tiffany Haddish in 2017 and 2 Dope Queens in 2018), happy hours and parties, and food truck lunches. INBOUND isn’t just 24,000+ fellow attendees: it’s 24,000+ of your new best friends.
Speakers have yet to be confirmed – we’ll publish an update once they are!
Content Marketing World – September 3-6, 2019 – Cleveland, Ohio
Content Marketing World continues to be the largest content marketing event on the planet. It’s the one event where you can learn and network with the best and the brightest in the content marketing industry.
You will leave with all the materials you need to take a content marketing strategy back to your team – and – to implement a content marketing plan that will grow your business and inspire your audience.
The speakers for 2019 have yet to be announced, so make sure to check back here often for updates!
Are there any must see 2019 social media conferences which are missing from the list? Please contact me and let me know!
@nealschaffer
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Neal you might want to consider the Midwest Digital Marketing Conference on April 16-18 in St. Louis Missouri. It was listed as a “not to miss conference” by Forbes on 2018 and is very moderately priced for such a venue. www.bestmarketingconference.com. Best.
Thanks Perry! I’ll make sure to include it in my next revision!
Thanks for always including Content Marketing World, Neal! Our dates for 2019 have been set! We will be back in Cleveland, September 3-6. Would love to see you there!
Always a pleasure Monina! I always miss the application deadline for speakers – hopefully this year I will submit on time ;-)
Hii
Again neal i am impress with your article thank you for sharing this use full article on “The 20+ Best Social Media Conferences to Attend in 2018 and 2019” this topic
Thank you! Hope you find it useful!
Hi Neal,
This is a great list of conferences lined up from 2018 ~ 2019. As it is, I’m looking at the “Digital Innovation Summit in UK from October 3 ~ 4. That ‘s the one that fits my schedule.
Thanks for sharing.
You based in London my friend?
wow…vwery nice post…thanks sir..
Really appreciate you putting this list together! There’s one more integrated online marketing conference that’s worth a mention. It’s called ResponseCon, and it’s taking place in
October in 4 different cities. [link edited by admin]
Thank you – your event has been added to the list.
Great list Neal. Thanks for including the Spredfast Smart Social Summit. The event is taking place October 16-18, 2017 but the list has the date as October 2-4, 2017.
Appreciate any update, thank you!
Thanks – it seems that you changed the date as it was based on information from your website. Either way info has been updated.
Thanks for the info!
I attended Social Media Marketing World’s conference two years in a row while employed at my previous job which paid for all accommodations. The conference is the reason I was able to leave that job and go on my own as a marketing consultant. It’s also one of the main reasons I moved to California from NY a month ago. This conference has magic in it. ;) (And it’s hands-down the best conference I’ve attended around marketing.)
Thanks for sharing your experience Cassaundra! See you at #smmw17 ? ;-)
I just attended and spoke at the Pubcon Summit in Florida. Turning in my speaker’s pitch for Pubcon in Las Vegas. Looking forward to it!
Good luck Heather!
Both SMSS and SMMW are invaluable…. always say I’m going to go back and watch all the videos/sessions I missed and never get to, but even the portion that I do consume is worth every penny.
Totally agree Rita! There is SO MUCH good content between the two of them!
Here’s another good Digital Marketing event that is happening in 15 different cities around the country.
I’ll be attending the Atlanta one in May. http://digitalsummit.com
Thanks for the add Monica!
I havent had the privilege of attending a conference yet but there are always so many on my one-day list! Someone needs to plan one in the center of the country -ya know, around Nashville area… I would help coordinate!
We might take you up on that offer Katie!!!
Would love to win a free pass, my friend went to this last year and said it was really informative!
It’s a great conference Tricia! Good luck with it!
Hey Neal!
Great list of conferences! I wanted to know if you could add one more. Spredfast Summit, happens in Austin, TX every October, here, 500+ social media leaders joined us from 200+ global brands, media, and agencies. Brands include American Airlines, ESPN, Target, Airbnb, etc.
We would love to be featured on your list for 2017. Please let me know how this is possible.
Thank you Ary. What is the date of your event in 2017?
When will this be updated for 2017? It’s almost here!
Coming soon, Lucas, coming soon! Any type of conference that you are particularly interested in?
Hi Neal,
We just wrapped up Spredfast Summit last week, where 500+ social media leaders from global brands joined us. Our dates for next year will be Oct. 2-4, 2017. [promotional link edited by admin] We would love it if you consider us for your list in 2017!
Thank you for your comment. Since your event is a social tools vendor event (as opposed to a true social media conference), it will be considered for that section next year. Thanks for your understanding.
Hi Neal,
Please consider putting our conference on for 2017 for New Zealand. We have just finished for 2016. I will get the dates to you for the next one which will be the forth one. We had delegates from South America, UK and Australia.
Here is the link for you to see what we did this year. Ps feedback was excellent.
socialmediaconference .co .nz [link edited by admin]
Thank you for the heads up! Please do come back when you have a firm date for 2017!
It’s hard to add a conference without a track record without knowing more about. Please explain in more detail here. Thanks!
Hi Neal – is there a conference you would recommend for B2B? I’m guessing a lot of the content at the events above will be heavily driven around consumer marketing, but I’m in need of best practices on social marketing to the enterprise.
Thanks for the comment! A lot of the conferences actually cover both B2B and B2C, but for B2B specific I would look at either B2B Marketing Profs, which is coming up in Boston in October, or my own Social Tools Summit, which is focused on the enterprise and will be in San Jose in October as well. Hope this helps!
Hi Neal,
I work for a State Govt in NIGERIA.We have a department that handles web and social media issues.
I would need your advise on which of the conferences will be,of immense benefit to the work we do.
Thank you
Hi Tayo, unfortunately the best social media conference for governments, the Government Social Media Conference, just finished in Reno, Nevada ;-( I would contact them so you can attend it in 2017!
Not just for pet owners, or bloggers (but since pets WILL be in attendance, and lots of them), you should probably at least LIKE them.☺ The BlogPaws Social Media and Pet Bloggers conference is June 22-25, 2016 in Phoenix, AZ (Sheraton Grand Wild Horse Pass). Learning sessions covering every aspect of social media marketing are offered, and this year, there’s a writing track too. Day passes will be available closer to the event. http://blogpaws.com/events/2016-conference/ P.S. The food rocks!
Thanks for letting me know!
it is going to be unfair to not list Social Media Summit 2016 in Dubai. The biggest social media summit in the Middle East http://www.socialmediamiddleeast.com/
Thanks – we’ll look into adding it!
Hi Neal, thanks for the great list. I am looking to attend at least one good conference this year. From the list above which do you think best lends to TV on social media? I work for a TV group and am looking to take TV on digital to the next level. Let me know, thanks.
Hey Justin, thanks for the comment! Unfortunately I do not know of any specifically for social TV, but there is a great one put on by my co-founder of the Social Tools Summit that you should check out called the Over the Top Video Executive Summit. Hope the info helps!
Don’t forget about “The Employee Advocacy Conference” May 11th – 12th in the Greater Boston Area! :) #amplifysocial
Thanks Daniel – it has been added to the new bottom section ;-)
Leveraging Social Media for Corporate Communications and PR
June 1-3, 2016 in New York!
Advanced Learning Institute
https://www.aliconferences.com/events/leveraging-social-media-for-corporate-communications-pr/
Thank you! This one was not on my radar but now it is! Will be adding to the list.
Hi – I was wondering if you could recommend a conference (western portion of the US) that might have focus on non-profits (animals particularly) ?
Thanks for your article – very informative!
That is a great question! Have you heard of Cause Camp 2016, which will be held in Lincoln, Nebraska? Not the West Coast but looks like a great and focused event!
Do you have an opinion about the Social Media Strategy Summit?
It’s a great event – I had the honor of speaking the closing keynote there in Las Vegas earlier this year. Highly recommended! Does this answer your question?
Is there a good conference for learning about the best ways to document social media contacts? For example, something to learn more about Facebook analytics and the best ways to keep track of data when it comes to social media? Thanks!
Hi Christina, unfortunately there isn’t – but I will soon be launching a community that will have live events that will answer questions like that. Please sign up at http://socialmediacoe.com to be informed when we launch!
Christina, Neal, hi! What about engage2016.com social media summit, which is organised by Socialbakers, the biggest social analytics company? They have speakers from the likes of NASA, Universal and L’Oreal, and it’s a very big event. I’ve been there last year and it was over 1000 social media marketers there. I think it’s worth adding to your list.
Thanks for the input Kate! In all honesty, this is one that I hadn’t heard of but looks great! I added it to the list … do let me know if you’re still looking for speakers ;-)
Awesome, Neal! I think the speakers list is still open (engage2016.com/get-involved). If your May schedule allows, definitely drop a line to [email protected]
Thanks Kate! Unfortunately I don’t have a travel budget to fly to Prague … ;-(
Sorry to hear that, Neal! Maybe see you in New York, then? ;) P.S. I noticed that you wrote that Engage started in 2015. It’s actually been around every year starting with New York in 2012. http://www.socialbakers.com/events/engage/2012. In 2015 it was Prague followed by London-Dubai-SaoPaulo-MexicoCity-New York tour. So it’s not Europe-targeted, but global event. :)
Thanks for letting me know Kate! I will revise accordingly ;-)
Hi Neal,
I would like to know if these conference focus on the US market only?
If so is there any conference in Australia you could recommend?
Hey Melissa, nope, I try to find information on the larger conferences … unfortunately none from Australia have popped up on my radar yet, although I do believe Content Marketing World does an event in Australia. Hope that helps!
Also PR News’ Big 4 Social Media Conference in San Francisco! http://www.big4conference.com/
Thanks for the heads up Jessica!
Hey Neal! I am a college student trying to look into media conferences that I could attend that would help broaden my horizons. Are there any conferences that a college student could attend?
Skyler, I have seen college students at conferences like Social Media Marketing World. Don’t be shy – come on out to ones on this list that make sense! To further answer your question, unfortunately I have not seen an event specifically for college students vis a vis social media…
You might consider adding Marketing Festival to this list. It takes place on 26th – 28th November 2015 in Brno, Czech Republic.
We provide no-bullshit content, world-class speakers, focused workshops, innovational case studies and to top it all of, a proper festival atmosphere with countless parties, solid networking and live gigs.
Check out our website @ http://www.marketingfestival.cz/en
Hope to see you there!
Jan
Thanks for letting us know Jan! Love the no-bullshit content approach ;-)
Thanks for the input Carolyn!
Social Shakeup recently announced London dates for this year! http://www.socialmediatoday.com/social-business/2015-03-24/social-shake-coming-london
Thanks for keeping us in the loop Heather!
I see lots of conferences for marketers and entrepreneurs; are there any you can recommend that are specific to “how to” — like using WordPress, HootSuite, etc — for posting blogs……
Hi Wanda, some of these conferences actually do have workshops that go through how to use tools. But rather than a social media conference, you might want to Google for local workshops or even use online classes from Lynda, Udemy, etc.
Thanks for the list. We’ll be attending Victoria’s Social Media Camp as well as #CIMC2015 in Squamish, BC.
Thanks for letting us know – we’ll see you in Victoria!
Neal – Thanks so much for recommending Social Media Marketing World!
Of course Michael – the premier event of the year! I am honored to be a part of it!
Hi Neal, Thanks for the great list. I would love to attend one of these conferences. I will have to look into them and choose the best for me.
Thanks Tony! Hope to see you at at least one of them!
Great list here, Neal. I don’t know if this would go along with social media, but the second annual Podcast Movement that is scheduled to be held in Ft. Worth, Texas from July 31st-August 2.
I am thinking about attending one of the conferences you mentioned here as well.
Thanks for letting me know Cheval!
You are welcome, Neal.
Thanks Neal ! Was wondering if there is any in Asia, specifically India.
Thanks Rahul! I’m sure there are .. hopefully others will chime in in these comments!
Thanks Neal. I have registered for Social Media Marketing World in March. I hope to meet you there.
Thanks Denny! Hope to meet you there!!!
Be sure to also check out the Canadian Internet Marketing Conference, Canada’s largest Internet Marketing conference. http://www.digitalbuzz.ca has all the details. The who’s who of digital strategy will be there.
Thanks for letting me know Darian! As you know this is a list of social media conferences – how much social media will be covered at this Internet Marketing conference?
Thanks for the shout out. However the correct dates for Social Media Camp in Victoria BC are May 21-23, 2015.
We hope to see you there.
Sorry about that! I’ll revise it right away! Thanks!