2020-2021 Digital Marketing Conferences – 400+ Events Yearly (+Discounts)

Q & A

about this page…

What makes this conference list different/better?

We show up every week, usually multiple times per week, year after year. This has many implications:

1. We are the first to list many conferences, so you can plan more efficiently and catch more early-bird deals.
2. We don’t publish in January and walk away, so you won’t be stuck with an outdated resource mid-year.
3. We also don’t hold back next year’s listings until next year, so you’re free to make longer-term plans.

What are the criteria to be included on this list?

At a high level, we’re looking for events that are relevant and noteworthy.

• Relevant means being primarily about digital marketing or some aspect of digital marketing. There are a few exceptions, events that are more general but that many people plan around (i.e. SXSW), but we try to keep them to a minimum.
• Noteworthy means a conference of a decent size that is primarily for learning and networking. This typically does not include smaller workshops, meetups, and company-specific events that are unlikely to be of interest to a wider audience.

Why the ads?

This is one of those rare times when ads add to the content. Astute readers will note that most ads come with MT-specific discount codes.

Who is the author?

Sean ORourke, publisher of MarketingTerms.com and owner of Cleanup Interactive. I don’t publish as many posts as when blogging was new, but on key resources like this, I go obsessively deep.

popular topics…

What are the best digital marketing conferences to attend?

There is no one best conference for everyone, it depends on who you are and what you want. Here are some ways to think about your preferences:

• General vs. Focused – do you want a variety of digital marketing topics, or would you rather go deep into one topic?
• Strategy vs. Tactical – do you respond more to inspirational and big-picture talks, or do you prefer more practical?
• Bigger vs. Smaller and Multi Track vs. Single Track – for you, does more = more opportunities, or more overwhelming?
• Speaker Lineups – how many speakers do you know are good, also how many are high-level/celebrity vs. practitioners?

How can I find the best digital marketing conferences for me?

Here’s how to narrow down 400+ events to a more manageable short list of candidates:

• First, focus on the variable that will eliminate the most conferences. Often this will be the location (city, region or country) or specialty topic (PPC, email, analytics etc.)
• Next, focus on non-negotiable disqualifiers. For many people, this include a price limit.
• Once you have a short list of events, get all the info you can from the official websites. Also look at social media accounts, hashtags or other conversation about the brand.

These events can get expensive. How can I save money?

We hear you! Here are 5 ways to get more for your conference cash.

1. Pay attention to the price column above, where each currency symbol represents a $500 range, i.e. $ = $500 to $999.
2. Take advantage of early-bird discounts! These can often save 50% of the door price.
3. Look for discount codes, many conferences have them. We have listed several MT-specific codes here. Other discounts may be found on MarketingDiscounts.io or carefully-constructed Twitter searches.
4. If you are not self-employed, try to get work to pay for it. There are many articles available on how to  justify the cost.
5. If needed, get scrappy. For example, see if the conference needs any volunteers.

for organizers…

How can I submit my conference for consideration?

Go to this form and enter the relevant information about your event.

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