This article is a guest contribution from Jordan Nottrodt, content manager at Wagepoint, an online payroll software provider for small businesses. Jordan comes from a background of strategic problem solving and agency communications. She is passionate about inbound marketing and understanding audiences.
Conferences present an opportunity for professional growth, networking, and business development. If you work in the B2B world and you’re looking to keep up with the latest strategies, tools, and trends, you’ll want to attend one or all of the conferences below.
All five conferences are held in North America and have a tech-related focus to help you grow your SaaS company. Take a look at the conference highlights, size, past speakers, and business takeaways to decide which ones are right for you.
This list has been narrowed down to conferences available in Q3 and Q4 to give you ample time to plan your trip.
1. MozCon
September 12-14, 2016
Seattle, WA
MozCon is a three-day conference focused on SEO, analytics, community building, content marketing, brand development, and conversion optimization.
Here you will find everything you need for growing a data-driven company and supporting your product or service online. Every year, the speakers at MozCon pass on their advice for building loyal communities and making data-driven decisions.
MozCon takes pride in not being your typical conference. Throughout the event, you’ll be able to network and share ideas in a casual setting with industry leaders, speakers and presenters, as well as Moz staff.
Past Speakers:
- Rand Fishkin, Founder of Moz
- Adam Singer, Analytics Advocate at Google
- Wil Reynolds, Founder of SEER Interactive
Leave MozCon ready for action with guidance from the most forward-thinking speakers. Other highlights include nighttime networking events, Moz parties, cool swag, and robot hugs.
Ideal for SaaS professionals interested in:
- Community building
- Digital marketing
- SEO and analytics
- Mobile
Tickets available here.
2. Dreamforce
October 4-7, 2016
San Francisco, CA
Dreamforce is the largest B2B conference in the world. It’s here that you’ll gain insight into the future of B2B, the latest cloud technology, data analysis and optimized sales cycles.
The conference is run by Salesforce, the San Francisco-based cloud giant that specializes in solutions for marketing and sales.
Hear from peers and the pioneers of the industry in a week of ideas and discussions. With over 1,500 sessions and thousands of live demos, Dreamforce boasts tailored sessions for over a dozen industries. Take a look at their 4-day example IT schedule.
Past Speakers:
- Marc Benioff, Chairman & CEO of Salesforce
- Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft
- Jessica Alba, Founder of The Honest Company
- Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube
Past Dreamforce attendees saw huge increases in ROI across the board including a 30 percent increase in sales productivity, customer retention, and employee productivity. Other highlights include the world’s largest cloud partner ecosystem and training certification program.
Ideal for SaaS professionals interested in:
- The Internet of Things
- Digital marketing
- Small business growth
- Specific industries including Health, Government, Manufacturing, Automotive, and Retail, and more.
Tickets available here.
3. HR Technology Expo
October 4-7, 2016
Chicago, IL
The HR Technology Expo focuses on how to use technology for business process and organizational success. The conference features the latest technology for everything HR as well as trends, products and services for efficient day-to-day work within your company.
Over 8,500 people attended the 18th Annual HR Technology Expo last year. This conference has it all — from discussions on SaaS, social, cloud computing, analytics, gamification, big data, and video to the tried-and-true processes and technologies that you are already using.
Where would your company be without its talented employees? The HR Technology Expo is also a learning resource for the most current issues around HR and operations.
Past Speakers:
- Byron Abramowitz, Director at PwC
- Jessica Lee, Sr. Director of Global Employer Brand & Communications at Marriott
- Steve Leichtman, Head of North America Sales at beqom
- Adeyemi Ajao, VP of Technology Product Strategy at Workday
This conference is the perfect opportunity to rethink and innovate your business processes. Other highlights include the world’s largest HR expo, which featured products and services from 300 companies and over 75 new product announcements last year.
Ideal for SaaS professionals interested in:
- Recruitment technology
- Talent management
- Training
- Outsourcing
Tickets available here.
4. &Then
October 16-18, 2016
Los Angeles, CA
Once known as DMA, this long-standing trade show and annual conference went through a reinvention last year and was rebranded as &THEN to better serve the marketing community.
&THEN offers 106 interactive sessions and five inspiring keynote speakers. The conference gathers members of every industry — from analysts and copywriters to CEOs — to discuss leveraging data to make smarter decisions.
At &THEN, you’ll get access to hundreds of the most advanced solution providers as well as best practice case studies to drive results for your own business.
Past Speakers:
- Blake Mycoskie, the Founder of Toms
- Jon Iwata, the Senior Vice President of IBM
- John Legend, Award Winning Musician & Entrepreneur
&THEN brings together creativity and data science for a one-of-a-kind experience. Other highlights include user experience networking and a trove of the latest technology solutions.
Ideal for SaaS professionals interested in:
- Data analysis
- Data-driven marketing
- Creative marketing
- Emerging technologies
Registration available here.
5. INBOUND
November 8-11, 2016
Boston, MA
Every year, INBOUND enthusiasts gather in Boston to learn about the latest inbound marketing trends, tips, and strategies. This annual event is run by HubSpot, a Massachusetts-based company with one of the top marketing platforms on the market.
In 2012, HubSpot’s conference hosted 2,000 attendees,. Just three years later, INBOUND 2015 attracted 14,000 people from over 70 countries. For the first time this year, the conference plans on capping registration to maintain the same experience for all attendees.
INBOUND continues to push the boundaries around business and personal development.
Known for its sought-after speakers, entertainers and networking opportunities, INBOUND is a top choice for generalists and first time conference goers.
Past Speakers:
- Seth Godin, Blogger and Bestselling Author
- Brené Brown, Researcher & Storyteller
- Aziz Ansari, Comedian & Author
- Daniel Pink, Bestselling Author
- Brian Halligan & Dharmesh Shah, Co-founders of HubSpot
With over 170 educational sessions, INBOUND aims to provide inspiration, education, and connections for personal and business development. Other highlights include training sessions, networking at Club INBOUND, a stacked sponsor showcase, and lunch from Boston’s trendiest food trucks.
Ideal for SaaS professionals interested in:
- Inbound marketing
- Content writing
- Sales development
- A little bit of everything
Registration available here.
* * *
This list is by no means exhaustive. There are dozens of trade shows and networking events held across the country every year — some large and widely-attended, others more niche. Others coming up include Interop, the AA-ISP Leadership Summit, SD Summit, and LeadsCon. You can use these events as an opportunity to learn, connect, and tell more people about your product. That’s why, year after year, marketers list in-person events as the number one most effective tactic. Who knows. Some of your most rewarding customer relationships might start with a handshake at your conference booth.
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