The global influencer marketing platform market was valued at almost $13.79 billion in 2023. It is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 32% to reach $167.68 billion by 2032. As we approach 2024, the influencer marketing landscape continues to evolve.
In 2023, people around the world spent an average of 2.52 hours per day on social media platforms. This number is up from an average of 147 minutes over the previous year. As social media continues to dominate our lives, influencer marketing has become vital for businesses to reach and engage consumers effectively.
Short-lived campaigns are giving way to enduring partnerships between brands and influencers. Micro-influencers are gaining popularity and younger audiences are choosing new platforms like TikTok and Twitch. In light of these ever-changing preferences, marketers have to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and tactics.
Enter influencer marketing conferences.
The top influencer marketing conferences to look out for in 2024 bring together industry experts, renowned influencers, and marketing professionals from around the globe. They are a melting pot of ideas where attendees can network, learn, and gain valuable insights into the ever-changing influencer marketing landscape.
Whether you’re an established marketer or a budding entrepreneur, these events are opportunities to unlock the potential of influencer marketing for your business. Here’s what you need to know.
What to Look for in an Influencer Marketing Conference
When choosing an influencer marketing conference to attend, be sure it aligns with your organizational goals before you buy a ticket (as many of these events do come with a hefty price tag). As you search for the right fit, consider how impactful the following factors are for you or your marketing partners:
- Relevance of topics: Ensure the influencer marketing conference covers areas of interest that align with your current needs or areas you want to explore.
- Speaker lineup: Research the backgrounds of keynote speakers and session leaders. It’s always helpful to hear from people with first-hand experience and success in the areas they’re discussing.
- Networking potential: Connecting with industry leaders, service providers, and peers may be as valuable as the sessions.
- Hands-on workshops: Interactive workshops offer practical skills you can apply to your business.
- Cost and location: Registration, travel, and accommodation expenses must be considered. Some conferences offer the option to attend virtually, which can be budget-friendly. Alternatively, you can find local or regional events to attend.
- Reviews and word-of-mouth: Check past attendees’ reviews. Testimonials, recommendations from trusted peers, and past attendee feedback can give you an indication of how valuable the event is.
Additionally, consider the conference’s location and amenities to ensure a comfortable and convenient stay.
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Opportunities for Brands at an Influencer Marketing Conference
Influencer marketing events bring together influential content creators, industry experts, and thought leaders. They create the perfect platform for brands to showcase their products or services to a highly engaged audience. Here are some key opportunities and revenue-generating benefits for brands:
- Brand exposure: Sponsoring or exhibiting at influencer marketing exhibitions and conferences can significantly increase brand visibility and exposure to a targeted audience, resulting in heightened brand recognition and awareness.
- Networking and partnerships: Partnering with influential content creators can lead to impactful collaborations, brand advocacy, and mutually beneficial business relationships.
- Thought leadership: Participating in panel discussions or giving presentations at conferences can position your brand as a thought leader in the industry, enhancing its credibility among both content creators and attendees.
- Content creation: By engaging with content creators at conferences, brands can generate user-generated content, such as testimonials, reviews, or content featuring their products or services. It’s certainly a great way to expand your brand’s reach and online presence.
- Market research: Brands can gain valuable insights into the preferences and trends within the content creator community. Attending these conferences can help your company stay ahead of the curve and adapt marketing strategies accordingly.
- Lead generation: Engaging with event participants through product demonstrations, interactive activities, or giveaway contests can help collect valuable contact information for follow-up marketing activities.
Lastly, remember to engage on social media before, during, and after the conference to maximize your impact and connections.
Top 10 Content Creator Exhibitions & Influencer Marketing Conferences for 2024
Here’s an in-depth look at the top influencer marketing conferences in 2024, including the key speakers, some of the most insightful sessions, and actionable takeaways that will shape the future of influencer marketing in 2024 and beyond.
1. Creator Economy Live
The creator economy is stronger than ever, estimated to generate over $22.3 billion in 2024. Creator Economy Live is in its second year and will be a hub for brands across industries coming together to find out what’s hot, what’s working, what’s not, and how to deliver influencer marketing ROI. From identifying the right tools to developing a strategy and measuring your campaign successes, this is one of the leading events on influencer marketing.
2024 speakers include Sophie Vershbow, Head of Social Media and Influencer Marketing at Eventbrite, Lauren Dew, Director of Influencer Marketing at Skillshare, and David George, Manager of Digital Marketing Partnerships at Mattel.
Afluencer, the leading influencer marketing platform that connects creators with brands, will also be exhibiting at the event.
At this influencer marketing conference, expect cutting-edge tactical sessions delivered by experts and access to tools, tech, and resources to help improve the performance of your influencer marketing campaigns. From unlocking the power of TikTok to crafting an end-to-end influencer marketing plan, you’ll learn it all at this leading content creator conference. With tracks on Getting Started, Measurement & ROI, Social Platforms, and Future Trends, you’ll leave with notebooks full of actionable strategies you can apply immediately. Best of all, the event is free for brands.
Where to attend: Caesars Forum, Las Vegas, January 16-17, 2024
2. Social Media Marketing World
Hosted by Social Media Examiner, an online resource for social marketers, Social Media Marketing World brings together leading experts in social media marketing. You’ll hear from speakers like Ann Handley, the content leader of MarketingProfs, and Jade Beason, a creator coach and founder of The Creator Project.
Social Media Marketing World will focus on marketing strategy as well as organic and paid social marketing. Learn how to achieve more reach, exposure, and sales and get business-building ideas that you can put to work for your clients immediately.
In a nutshell, here’s what you can expect at Social Media Marketing World:
- Marketing strategy: Wondering what’s next in the world of AI? Looking for a master plan to guide your future marketing? Expert trainers will show you various ways to achieve your objectives.
- Organic social marketing: Covering Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, and beyond, find out how to supercharge your exposure, engagement, and sales.
- Paid social marketing: How do you master paid acquisition from Facebook to YouTube? Expert trainers show you how to get the most out of ads across all the major social platforms.
Where to attend: San Diego, February 18-20, 2024
3. Altitude Summit
Altitude Summit is both a conference and a community of women influencers and creatives. It offers an empowering environment where attendees can cultivate innovative ideas, get the motivation to enhance their online presence and create connections with like-minded creators.
In addition to the keynote speakers, at every Altitude Summit, there are exceptional teachers and speakers, each vetted for excellent presentation skills. They come prepared to share their trade secrets in this ever-changing new media landscape.
The best part? The speakers don’t hide away. You can meet, connect, and hang out with them (and that includes the keynote speakers.) When Jessica Alba came to Alt Summit, she spent the day meeting with attendees. When Stefan Sagmeister came, he joined the dance party. You’ll get up close and personal with the folks on stage.
Where to attend: Palm Springs, March 17-20, 2024
4. Ragan Social Media Conference
Ragan Communications offers its very own event to discuss the impact of social media on public relations, communications, or content professionals. The Ragan Social Media Conference touches on various industry and social media-specific trends to help you think through critical decisions for your business.
Is social media flatlining? Is X (formerly Twitter) dead? What about the metaverse? Is Threads overhyped? Consider this conference your social media sherpa, a guide to stay on course in 2024. The trends, tactics, and new strategies unpacked will enable you to adapt to a multichannel environment — and adjust to any coming obstacles and surprises.
Where to attend: Disney World, Orlando, Florida, March 27-29, 2024
5. International Social Summit
The International Social Summit is aimed at global social media managers and digital marketing managers. The event blends knowledge from social media and digital marketing experts, focusing on the opportunities and challenges of running social programs across markets, languages, and platforms.
Attendees will get a deep knowledge of international campaigns, practical tips, and tactics for growing a social presence, irrespective of your budget or target markets.
- Learn insights and tactics from international campaigns and platforms.
- Takeaway ideas on effectively scaling social campaigns across several markets.
- Listen to case studies from global brands running successful social activities.
- Meet fellow global social professionals and make valuable connections.
Where to attend: Barcelona, May 16, 2024
6. Content Marketing World
Now in its 13th year, the Content Marketing World conference is a three-day content marketing marathon that has become a must-attend event for marketers. The event is an opportunity to hear insights from 150+ expert speakers, reinvigorate your strategies, engage with the marketing community, and get the tools to advance your future.
Produced by the Content Marketing Institute, it brings together marketing leaders, content creators, communications experts, agencies, and creative professionals worldwide.
Where to attend: San Diego, Sept 21-23, 2024
7. INBOUND
Hosted by HubSpot, INBOUND is a broader digital marketing conference with a significant focus on social media. The Boston Globe said, “Inbound’s economic impact for the Boston area could reach $17 million, up from $16 million a year ago.”
From influencer partnerships to platform-specific strategies, the event offers something for every social media manager. It takes the best of the work — innovation, creativity, and culture — and propels it forward for the collective good. The official website says, “It’s where careers take off, businesses begin to scale, and community changes us for the better.”
Where to attend: Boston, Massachusetts, September 18-20, 2024
8. VidSummit
VidSummit is a content creator event for video creators, influencers, agencies, marketers, and brands involved in the content creation process, to come together to learn, network, and strategize.
It claims to be ‘the only event where dozens of the top 1% of influencers show you how to get fans fast, build a brand, and make millions from your content.’ Access the world’s leading experts on audience growth all in one place.
Where to attend: Dallas, Texas, September 3-5, 2024
9. Influencer Marketing World
Influencer Marketing World, part of the Digital Marketing World Forum, holds a global series in markets like London, Miami, Amsterdam, and Singapore. The two-day conference blends a range of speakers and experts from social, digital, channel, and communication roles and the agenda covers growth opportunities, trends, and engagement techniques, all within the world of influencer strategies.
While the 2024 agenda is yet to be announced, previous speakers have included Vik Khagram, Influencer Marketing Lead at Ketchum, Yenan Wang, Head of TikTok Live, David Shadpour, CEO & Founder of Social Native, and more. Check the event’s website for updates on which events are in-person only or have a virtual component.
Where to attend: Olympia London, late 2024
10. Creator Conf
Creator Conf is a leading content creator expo for Instagrammers, YouTubers, and TikTokers. The event plays host to over 5,000 creators, 30+ speeches, panels, and live Q&A sessions. It’s an opportunity to engage with unique creators providing actionable strategies on scaling your audiences and turning them into profitable full-time businesses.
This creator marketing conference is ideal for brands and creators who are:
- Looking for ideas to make engaging content: Authenticity is key when building a channel. Creators will discuss what they’ve done to make their content thrive and stand out from the rest.
- Seeking to monetize their audiences: Monetization is tricky. Speakers will discuss how to maximize revenue from YouTube Ads and form long-term brand relationships. They will also touch upon the value of having 100% owned products like merch, mobile apps, games, and more.
- Looking to scale their channels: How do you attract subscribers to your channel? Speakers will discuss how they grew to 100K, 1M, and 10M subscribers.
How to Get the Most Out of an Influencer Marketing Conference in 2024
If you’re like most social media managers, you’re likely juggling managing a brand account between sessions at the influencer marketing expo you’re attending.
“Chat to anyone you happen to be next to, as you never know where it will lead”, said Julia Bramble, Ph.D. “Do the event how it best suits you: you don’t have to go to every associated pre-event, dinner, party, etc. Save your energy for the parts you want to be at”.
Here are a few more ways to maximize your investment of time and money into an influencer marketing conference.
Plan Ahead
Examine the event’s agenda and prioritize the sessions that are most relevant to you to avoid rush or overlaps at the last minute. You may come across a speaker or session while at the event, so stay flexible and willing to adjust your schedule to get the most out of the event.
Actively Network
Use networking sessions and breaks to meet new people. Introduce yourself confidently and don’t be shy to ask questions. You’ll soon learn that your peers – and even people you may assume are ahead of you in their careers – are dealing with many of the same issues. So, connect, relate, and generously share knowledge with others.
Take Notes
Whether you prefer old-school pen and paper or digital tools, note down insights, ideas, and contacts. Brand examples and case studies can prove useful later when tackling your own brand’s social challenges. Even if you don’t have time, you can always take photos of anything you want to record for future reference.
Engage on Social Media
Continue the conversation beyond the event by sharing your insights, experiences, and key takeaways on your social platforms in real-time. Don’t forget to use the conference’s official hashtag, respond, and react to fellow attendees’ posts.
Attend Workshops
Participate actively in practical sessions which can offer hands-on skills. You may need to push yourself out of your comfort zone to learn and try things on your personal accounts that you aren’t typically used to doing.
Share Your Learnings
Consider organizing a team meeting to share your findings and observations, that is if you attended the conference on behalf of your company. Then use your learnings and inspiration to help your entire organization.
Veteran conference attendees like Amanda Natividad have additional advice on this, too. “It’s best to go into the event knowing what you want from it,” she said. “Plan at least two meetings in advance and have a goal for what you want to get out of each meeting.”
For people who don’t feel comfortable in conference environments, Paul Singh has a tip as well: “Avoid the actual talks/panels. In my experience, much of the real work happens in the hallways and coffee shops nearby, so plan accordingly.”
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Find the Right Influencer Marketing Conference for 2024
Choosing the right influencer marketing events and content creator shows depends on your specific needs, niche, and areas of interest. While the above list offers a good starting point, always keep an eye out for other events.
Determine your goals and budget for attending a conference. Then choose a conference that fits your specific requirements and aligns with your industry or niche. Research upcoming conferences and choose ones that offer relevant sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities.
By taking the time to carefully select the right influencer marketing shows, you can certainly gain valuable insights, learn from the industry’s best voices, and potentially discover new opportunities for your business.
Looking for a way to connect with the best influencers online? Then check out Afluencer, the influencer marketing platform where top influencers and brands meet. Install the Afluencer app for Shopify here.