In this post, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most talked-about digital marketing and developer conferences in the mid-Atlantic region in 2016. This catalogue isn’t comprehensive – New York City alone hosts well over a dozen big events this year and numerous additional, more niche-focused conferences. Also, please note the caveat that dates and registration links can change over time.
Whether you’re a marketer or designer excited to discover new tools and metrics to generate business or an agency executive interested in networking and recruiting, enjoy this list, and leave a comment if we missed any major Mid-Atlantic digital or development conferences.
Per site organizers, the purpose of this conference is to help “publishers and content providers of all sizes and business models who want to: understand publishing’s latest digital development within the context of opportunity; anticipate consumer behavior across all markets and channels; connect with the publishing’s key players in a networking-rich environment; [and] increase revenue and decrease risk—through access to the most relevant and actionable strategies straight from industry leaders.”
Keynotes will be given by (among others) Charlotte Abbott, Principal for Abbott Communications; Rand Fishkin, the Founder of MOZ; and Fred Argir, the Chief Digital Officer for Barnes & Noble.
This event is ideal for writers, creative and digital publishers eager to learn about the latest technological innovations and strategies and to capitalize on them to make money, reach wider audiences and be a successful publisher in 2016.
Per the organizers, the purpose of this cool gathering is as follows: “The Digital Marketing Innovation Summit will gather the most dynamic digital marketers who are leading innovation through developing their brands marketing, social & content strategy…. Learn from these leaders, exchange ideas and watch all presentations on demand post-summit.”
This is an ideal event if you’re hoping to generate revenue from multi-platform marketing (e.g. mobile, wearables, social, etc.), find new ways to ensure brand loyalty and grow audience engagement, use data and analytics to market smarter, and network with innovators, executives and experienced pros.
Speakers will include the VP of Marketing for Buzzfeed, Google’s Marketing Director, and the VP of Marketing for Virgin Atlantic.
Per the conference organizers: “This summit will look at how to build your App Strategy, Improve Mobile Commerce, Enhance Brand Engagement and more to answer all the questions surrounding how to increase mobile within your business. This is an unmissable opportunity to involve your business in the most important conversation happening within the Mobile movement!”
Speakers will include the Senior Director of UX for Match.com, a Senior Mobile Director for Google, the VP for Products for Vimeo, and the VP for Mobile Solutions for MasterCard. This is a great conference if you’re working as (or trying to meet): top level Mobile App Developers, mobile strategists, CTOs, Mobile media executives, and Chief Product Officers.
“WebVisions explores the future of the Web with a supercool lineup of experts in NYC, Portland, Barcelona, Chicago, Berlin and London. Discover new techniques and strategies to advance your career and organization.”
Clickz Live – New York City, April 11-13, 2016
This conference, the 17th event of its kind in NYC, attracts thousands of leaders in digital marketing and development every year. Speakers will include Seth Godin, legendary marketing thought leader; Lisa Baird, the Chief Marketing Officer for the U.S. Olympic Committee; John Costello, the President of Global Marketing and Innovation for Dunkin’ Brands; Amanda Rubin, the Global Co-head of Brand and Content Strategy for Goldman Sachs; and many others. Clickz aims to “equip you with cutting edge strategies to inspire, acquire, convert and retain your customers.”
Creative Bloq and Net Magazine sponsor this event, now in its third year. Per organizers, “Generate will be a source of inspiration, practical advice and networking opportunities… We’ve gathered together some of the biggest names in web design for Generate New York including Cameron Moll, Una Kravets and Dan Mall as well as some fantastic new speakers, with more still to be announced.”
Open Vis Conf – Boston, MA – April 25-26, 2016
This two-day event focuses on “the practice of visualizing data on the web. Join us to learn about data visualization, information design, data analysis and implementation using the best Open Web technology.”
Speakers will include Martin Wattenberg and Fernanda Viegas, who head up Google’s data visualization research group, talking about “Seeing Machines Think”; Mona Chalabi, the data editor for the Guardian U.S. (and writer for Nate Silver’s 538) who will explore how to “Inform without Alienating”; and many others, who will touch on cool topics, such as how to design virtual reality data visualizations.
Hero Conf – Philadelphia, April 25-27, 2016
Billed as the World’s Largest All PPC Event, per organizers, “Hero Conf is more than just sessions and soundbites. With 50+ speakers, 36 breakout sessions, 4 keynotes and 700 PPC like-minded attendees, it’s the platform for innovative ideas, creative discussions and connections that matter. It’s about making each and every attendee a hero in their everyday and allowing them to share their passion for PPC. Hero Conf is the world’s largest all PPC conference, and each year it brings the biggest names and brightest minds, like Microsoft’s John Gagnon and Chris Haleua from Adobe, together under one roof to discuss the tactics, strategies, present and future of pay-per-click advertising.”
Speakers will include Marty Weintraub, Founder of aimClear; Chris Haleua, the Senior Product Marketing Manager for Adobe; Katy Tonkin, the Director of International Paid Search for Point It Inc; Scott Brinker, President and CTO for Ion Interactive, and many other leading lights in the field of PPC marketing.
Create Upstate – Syracuse, NY, May 12-13, 2016
“Create Upstate 2015 was even bigger than last year, with a line-up of stellar speakers, a new marketplace, and some fantastic food, this year is sure to go down in the record books. This isn’t just a conference. It’s a gathering of the Upstate NY design community, an opportunity to connect with people across the entire state.”
“The M-Enabling Summit is the only program exclusively dedicated to promoting mobile accessible and assistive applications and services for senior citizens and users of all abilities. It is an annual meeting place for all who create and contribute accessible ICT products, services and consumer technologies.”
“QCon empowers software development by facilitating the spread of knowledge and innovation in the developer community. A practitioner-driven conference, QCon is designed for technical team leads, architects, engineering directors, and project managers who influence innovation in their teams.”
This exciting event gathers “design professionals from all over the world gather for two days of community, inspiration and skills building.” Speakers will include Mike Monteiro, the Design Director and Co-Founder of Mule; Aaron Walter, the VP of R&D at MailChimp; Mike Kus, graphic web designer and illustrator; John Burgerman, award winning ‘purveyor of doodles’; and many more design-obsessives.
Now entering its 7th year, this conference strives “to bring the best of Web Design to Pittsburgh in a fun, intimate and affordable event. Organized by G. Jason & Val Head of Refresh Pittsburgh and Viewsource Events, Web Design Day is designed to inspire the wonderful community of folks from Pittsburgh and beyond who work to make the web a better place.”
Speakers will include Karen McGrane, who will talk about the timely issue of content strategy for mobile; Jen Simmons, who will address the new revolutions in web layout thinking; Eric Meyer, CSS maven; and more.
An Event Apart — Washington, D.C. July 25-27, 2016
This conference “is an intensely educational learning session for passionate practitioners of standards-based web design. If you care about code as well as content, usability as well as design, An Event Apart is the conference you’ve been waiting for.”
Speakers and thought leaders who will be there include: Lara Hogan, who will talk about design and performance; Dave Rupert, who will address inspirational prototyping; Jen Simmons, who will touch on advanced layout; Val Head, who specializes in interface animation; Derek Featherstone, who will explore contextual design, and many others.
Attendees run the gamut. About 50% are designers, but developers are welcome as well. Whether you’re a writer/editor, a project manager, a UX pro, or a digital marketing junkie, you’ll learn useful tips and ideas at An Event Apart.