Attending industry conferences can be a great way to up your game. From the thought leadership, workshops and most importantly – the networking, they present great opportunities to set an innovative roadmap and achieve your objectives.
At ReviewStudio, we serve a range of different clients around the globe, across video, advertising, design and marketing worlds. Through our conversations with customers, whether they’ve expressed interest or have attended, we’ve compiled a list of conferences in 2020 that can give you that edge you are looking for.
Best Advertising Conferences
Ad:Tech
When: March 19-20
Where: New Delhi, India
Ad: Tech is a digital marketing conference with a theme of Transparency for its 2020 edition. The conference guests and speaker will question how “Transparency” translates into keeping an open dialogue between brands and consumers without negatively impacting customer experience or violating their digital privacy.
Attend it if:
- You’re into what’s next and what’s trending in the digital marketing and advertising spectrum.
- You’re looking for networking on multiple levels. Beyond your apps, workshops and exhibition floor, Ad:Tech has some great meet and mingle parties.
Advertising Week
When: October 5 – 8, 2020
Where: New York, New York, USA
With brand attendees and exhibitors like Amazon, McDonald’s, Procter & Gamble and more – Advertising Week in New York is one of the most prestigious conferences you can attend in the ad space. Advertising Week showcases industry leaders, entertainers, and entrepreneurs that will teach you the secrets of the trade and how to succeed in a fulfilling way.
Attend it if:
- You’re looking for high profile speakers and a wide range of specialized workshops. Advertising Week features seminars and workshops for all sectors of the industry including Marketing, Advertising, Design, Media, and Technology with previous special guests including Al Gore, Emma Stone, and Richard Branson. There’s something for everyone!
Best Marketing Conferences
South by Southwest
When: Austin, Texas
Where: March 13-22
South by Southwest is hard to compartmentalize. It has evolved so much since it started in 1987. It is a conference, idea incubator, and multimedia festival for creatives on the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. This immersive, 10-day long marketing conference features workshops and speakers with topics ranging all the way from Climate and Social Action, to Film and Television, Gaming to “The Future” and much more.
Attend it if:
- You want to come for “brand experience” but want to stay for the music.
- Your main goal to focus on learning more about creativity based marketing and advertising.
C2 Montreal
When: May 27 – 29
Where: Montreal
Centered on Creativity and Commerce, C2 Montreal’s 2020 theme is “Beyond Boundaries”. The 3 day event focuses on harnessing the power of working together to innovate for the greater good in various marketing workshops, experiences, showcases, and exhibitions. We are a bit biased here of course, having attended multiple times – it is in our hometown after all. Come say hi!
Attend it if:
- You’re interested in business leadership and want to grow more as a leader in the marketing world.
- You don’t only want to learn about marketing – but experience it. C2 is the brainchild of Sid Lee, a highly creative global agency that builds experiences…and ads.
TED 2020
When: April 20 – 24
Where: Vancouver
TED 2020 is a marketing conference that’s more than just talk(s). With the bold theme of “Uncharted”, TED 2020’s goal is to challenge your ways of thinking about both yourself and the future. The must attend conference (if you can) hosts the legendary Ted Talks, immersive discovery sessions, and meaningful networking events focused on voyaging into the unknown.
Attend it if:
- You’re a big fan of Ted Talks, and want more (and maybe get your face in the crowd of the next best Ted Talk!).
- You’re in need of motivational inspiration and looking to add some depth to your marketing and advertising strategies.
Best Video & Content Marketing Conferences
Content Marketing World
When: Oct 13-16,2020
Where: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Content Marketing World is a content marketing conference that is all about the “takeaway” and measurable success. The gold standard in a rapidly growing (and evolving) industry, this 4-day conference is Chicago focuses on creative and innovative marketing strategies, and turning your company into a media empire. Ok, that’s a small exaggeration. You will hear multiple variations of the phrase “content is (insert synonym for everything or a royal position). The thinking behind it though – will be very well communicated.
Attend it if:
- Content marketing education and innovation is a key marketing priority. This conference’s main focus is on content marketing and the different strategy and tactics to deploy – all with their own breakout sessions and key speakers.
- You’re looking to not only invest in yourself but are looking for teachable points and actionable techniques to bring back to help cultivate your team.
NABShow
When: April 18-22
Where: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Self-described as “where content comes to life”, NAB Show is probably the world’s premier event in media, entertainment and technology ecosystem (that’s where we are!). From hands-on learning in tech shows to keynotes and break sessions from industry veterans, this is your one-stop-shop if you’re looking to invest in your media edge and be the first to see the future.
Attend it if:
- You’re interested in the latest gear and technology within the digital media world (VR experiences galore!).
- You come from a traditional marketing background and are looking to broaden your skill set to include digital media of the present and future.
- Bonus: You are looking for a good reason to go to Vegas!
VidCon
When: June 17-20
Where: Anaheim, California, USA
For the past 10 years, VidCon has been at the epicentre of all things cool, collaborative, and current in the video everywhere age. Created by OG YouTuber Hank Green, VidCon is a smorgasbord of live shows, panels, and showrooms that are focused on the now and future of online media. There’s also a strong focus on how video can both positively and negatively impact its audiences.
Attend it if:
- You’re looking to work with brands and clients that cater to the young millennial and Gen-Z market (and you’d like to understand Tik Tok).
- Digital and specifically video marketing is high on your list of marketing to-dos this year.
PODFEST 2020
When: March 6-8
Where: Orlando, Florida, US
You probably have had a discussion with your team about whether or not to launch a podcast this year. That is if you haven’t already. PODFEST is a great way to get it right the first time – and save yourself the agony and cost of a poor podcast execution. PODFEST is a specialized content marketing conference focused on podcasts and how they can be used as a marketing and revenue driving tool. It’s also a great opportunity to network with the tribe.
Attend it if:
- You are a fan of podcasts or are interested in learning more about them and their marketing potential.
- You have a podcast and want to understand how to monetize it.
Web Summit
When: November 2 – 5
Where: Lisbon, Portugal
Billed as the best technology conference on the planet, Web Summit offers courses, breakout sessions, and key-notes on all things tech. They claim to have over 11,000 CEOs in attendance, along with 2500 journalists.
Attend it if:
- You’re looking to improve on your web-based marketing and writing including SEO and new advertising streams on social media.
- You want to learn more about the technology used in web-based marketing and journalism, and how it will expand with the industry.
- Where else will you see Edward Snowden and the Chairman of Huawei in the same conference?
Best Design, Illustration and Visualization Conferences
Adobe Summit
When: March 29 – April 2
Where: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
The Adobe Summit is a world-class marketing conference based on creativity and commerce, and how the two can intersect in a multitude of different ways. With high-profile guests like Gwenyth Paltrow and hands-on workshop learning – this is one you won’t want to miss.
Attend it if:
- You’re an avid user of the Adobe Creative Suite, or want to learn more about it. Workshops and learning session labs are available throughout the entire conference.
- You want to know more about creative tools can help you imagine and build for the future.
The Design Conference
When: May 20-23
Where: Brisbane, Australia
The Design Conference is exactly what its name suggests – and so much more. Led by the world’s most innovative creative leaders, this marketing conference dares to be different in its approach and design, and asks you to do the same.
Attend it if:
- You’re looking for something different and exciting when it comes to design. With creative minds leading the whole conference, each detail and keynote is as entertaining as it is informative.
- You want to hear from individuals who are pushing creative boundaries and learn how you can too.
ICON11 | The Illustration Conference
When: June 28 – July 1
Where: Kansas City, Missouri, USA
Illustration is arguably one of the world’s oldest art forms – yet it’s stronger now more than ever. ICON11 highlights both the legacy and trends, while also showcasing its applications in the creative, marketing and advertising worlds.
Attend it if:
- Being in a diverse and inclusive conference environment is at the top of your list.
- You’re interested in breaking the boundaries between traditional and contemporary art and how they’re used in advertising and marketing.
D2 Vienna 2020
When: August 28-29
Where: Vienna, Austria
D2 Vienna is a smaller-scale conference that brings together professionals ranging from architectural visualisation and design to advertising and marketing firms. D2 Vienna is a collaboration and education forum that lives at the intersection of technical art, engineering, and marketing in a way that has never been done before.
Attend it if:
- You’re looking for a niche conference that focuses on industrial and architectural design.
- You’re interested in attending a more personal conference. Want a chance to talk one-on-one with every speaker? This is the conference for you!
SIGGRAPH 2020
When: Washington, DC
Where: July 19-23
SIGGRAPH 2020 is a forum based conference that focuses on “Thinking Beyond” in the interactive design world. From VR and AI to immersive design techniques, SIGGRAPH is on the front lines of the future of interactive marketing technology exhibitions and programs.
Attend it if:
- You’re looking for hands-on learning experiences served by some of the world’s brightest minds in the interactive marketing and product space.
- You’re at the cutting edge of tech and want to experience the future of digital marketing.
Have you been to any of these conferences? Are there others we should include on our list?
Email us or send us a comment on our social channels.
