19 Content Marketing Conferences to Put on Your Calendar for 2020
Content marketing conferences are extremely valuable. They’re an opportunity to learn content strategies and tactics, meet others in the trenches, and, ultimately, exchange ideas that propel careers and businesses forward. Worst case scenario for a conference? You step out of your day-to-day routine for a couple of days for a fresh perspective.
If you’re in content marketing, there are tons of conferences to choose from. Because of this, it can be tough to choose the events that will be worth your time, energy, and resources. That’s why we’ve put together our top picks for content marketing conferences in 2020.
Some may be more relevant than others, but all will help you strategize on how to create engaging content, drive more traffic, and reach your audience. Consider your content marketing goals for next year as you choose.
Browse by season:
Browse by conference:
Winter Content Marketing Conferences (January – February)
1. SMX WEST
Date: February 19 – 20, 2020
Location: San Jose, California
You should go if you’re able to create content but want to win when it comes to search. SMX West offers training on SEO and SEM and provides attendees with actionable tactics that boost traffic, leads, and profits. Attendees seem to especially appreciate the chance to interact with speakers, the hands-on clinics, and the mix of technical with non-technical information.
Price $897 – $1,699
Spring Conferences (March – May)
2. Social Media Marketing World
Date: March 1-3, 2020
Location: San Diego, California
You should go if you want to understand how to navigate and succeed in the social media landscape today. Social Media Marketing World features workshops hosted by platform experts, so you can learn how to optimize your marketing investment in top channels like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
Price $697 – $1,697
Date: March 12-13, 2020
Location: San Diego, California
You should go if you want to improve your marketing writing skills or are interested in becoming a freelancer. Presenters at The Copywriter Club IRL give advice on copywriting, persuasion and psychology, growing a successful freelance business, and much more. Attendees especially like the opportunity to meet other professional business writers who are, as they say, in the trenches.
Price $900
4. Content Marketing Conference
Date: April 21-23, 2020
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
You should go if you want an in-depth education in content marketing strategy. Content Marketing Conference covers content planning, creation, optimization, distribution, and performance – all with a sense of humor. Attendees seem to appreciate the eye-opening ideas paired with the comedic tone of these content strategy conferences.
Price $749 – $1,249
Date: April 20-22, 2020
Location: San Diego, California
You should go if you want to utilize technology and tools to improve your company’s present and future content marketing strategy. ContentTECH Summit is aimed at enterprise-level marketers who are looking to gain an edge through the use of technology. Attendees seem to appreciate the high-level sessions and overall focus on innovation.
Price $1,999 – $2,399
6. Confab – The Content Strategy Conference
Date: May 17-20, 2020
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
You should go if you’re interested in the convergence of user experience (UX) and storytelling. Confab focuses on UX writing, as opposed to content writing that’s optimized for search. Attendees like the down-to-earth vibe of this conference, which also includes intensive workshops.
Price $1,095 – $2,495
Date: April 15-17, 2020
Location: San Jose, California
You should go if you’re confounded by all the opportunities in marketing and want ideas on how to move forward. MarTech covers much more than content marketing. Speakers cover email, marketing automation, SEO, advertising, creative writing, as well as the technology that makes it all possible. Attendees especially like the top-rated speakers and the highly engaged audience.
Price $1,100 – $2,895
Date: March 24-26, 2020
Location: Miami, Florida
You should go if you want a tried-and-true marketing conference led by marketing professionals who have been in the space for 30 years. Pubcon is one of the longest-running conferences and trade shows on our list, offering the latest information each year on internet marketing. Attendees especially like Pubcon’s focus on an omnichannel approach in an age where search can’t exist without social.
Price $649 – $1,299
Date: May 16, 2020
Location: Miami, Florida
You should go if you want a low-key event focused on traffic that still packs a huge punch. Unlike many conferences on this list, Traffic Think Tank LIVE is a one-day event capped at 350 attendees. The event promises to break away from traditional conferences and deliver information in more informal, intimate settings. Topics include search, conversion optimization, and content marketing.
Price $299 – $399
Summer Content Marketing Conferences (June – August)
Date: June 8 & 9, 2020
Location: New York, New York
You should go if you want an approachable conference that covers the latest in search. SearchLove Boston offers only one track on one stage. As a result, attendees benefit from the same information, and there’s much to discuss. Attendees report that SearchLove is one of the most valuable conferences they’ve attended in their careers.
Price $799 – $1099
11. Conex: The Content Experience
Date: TBD, usually held in summer
Location: TBD, usually held in Toronto
You should go if you want to get ahead of the revolution happening in marketing today. Conex, hosted by Uberflip, pushes attendees outside of their comfort zones to encourage them to create remarkable content experiences. Conex is traditionally held in the summertime in Toronto, but details for the 2020 conference have yet to be released.
Price TBD
12. MozCon
Date: July 6-8, 2020
Location: Seattle, Washington
You should go if you want a fun journey into the deepest realms of search marketing with SEOs, agencies, and content marketers. MozCon delivers next-level tactics on ranking higher in today’s search landscape. Attendees say that MozCon has a fantastic, inclusive atmosphere. It’s a great conference for beginners as well as seasoned veterans.
Price $1,499 – $1,699
13. INBOUND
Date: August 18-21, 2020
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
You should go if you want comprehensive insights into the latest trends in content marketing. INBOUND, hosted by HubSpot, is one of the most vibrant conferences in the country, offering famous keynote speakers (this year: Jennifer Garner and Katie Couric!) and nightly parties after their interactive sessions. INBOUND provides actionable education, and attendees appreciate the mix of learning and fun at the same conference.
Price $799 – $1,699
Fall Conferences (September – December)
14. Content Jam
Date: TBD, usually held in October
Location: Chicago, Illinois
You should go if you want to go deep on all things content in an intimate setting. Compared to other conferences, Content Jam is relatively small with roughly 500 attendees. But everyone attending this conference is deeply invested in content, intent on learning about the latest in content strategy, promotion, conversion, and analytics.
Price TBD
Date: October 13-16, 2020
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
You should go if you want be surrounded by a huge content marketing community, as the event organizers expect 4,000 marketers from around the world to attend. Content Marketing World is one of the biggest conferences on this list. As a result, it covers a wide array of topics that will be illuminating for many types of marketers. Attendees love the diversity and breadth of information, as well as the celebrity speakers – Mindy Kaling spoke in 2019.
Price $899 – $2,599
Date: November 3-6, 2020
Location: San Francisco, California
You should go if you’re in B2B or SaaS content marketing and are looking for a conference that is both educational and personally enriching. Billed as a “quirky (not-so-little) conference,” B2B Forum is intimate enough to make connections but not so small that attendees all share the same point of view. Attendees especially like the casual approach to learning in the B2B space.
Price $1,095 – $1,995
17. Growth Marketing Conference
Date: TBD, usually held in December
Location: TBD, usually held in the San Francisco Bay Area
You should go if you want to grow your company’s reach by leaps and bounds. At Growth Marketing Conference, content marketing isn’t about creating cool stuff. Instead, it’s an engine for growth. The conference focuses on big-picture marketing in B2B, offering sessions on acquisition, retention, enterprise growth, and performance marketing. Attendees especially like the attention on B2B companies, and many say the conference brings out the best minds in marketing, product, and user experience.
Price TBD
18. MarTech® East
Date: October 6-8, 2020
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
You should go if you’re confounded by all the opportunities in marketing and want ideas on how to move forward. A sister conference to MarTech West, speakers cover email, marketing automation, SEO, advertising, creative writing, as well as the technology that makes it all possible. Attendees especially like the speakers and the highly engaged audience.
Price TBD
Date: TBD
Location: London, United Kingdom
You should go if you want to amp up your search marketing efforts and are game to go to London or are already based in Europe. SearchLove attendees especially like the intimate, one-track format of SearchLove events, and rave about the top-notch speakers.
Price TBD
Attend Content Marketing Conferences in 2020
As you decide which content marketing conferences to attend in 2020, consider your company’s position, as well as your own personal career goals. Going to conferences is just one way to improve your content marketing strategy, however. Alexa’s suite of SEO and research tools are also poised to help you launch powerful, new digital campaigns this year. Try our Advanced Plan free for 14 days — now with new content research tools included.