Having worked in the online or digital space for a number of years now, I thought it might be useful to highlight some of the must attend events for any passionate people working in online marketing, seo, web design and development, ecommerce, content management and production as well as those new to the digital space.
Please feel free to leave any comments or suggest events that I may have missed off. There is so much going on in the online world now-a-days that you do have to be quite selective. Just remember to take some spare change for a coffee or two as these events will need your full attention – not that it’ll be hard to absorb anything digital related as it’s always so fascinating.
Top digital events for 2011
1. TFM&A (Technology for Marketing and Advertising): 1 -2 March 2011 | Earls Court 2 & 26 May 2011 | Featured at the eCommerce Expo Manchester
TFM&A delivers the latest industry insight, trends and developments as well as leading suppliers of digital, direct, data and CRM solutions enabling for truly integrated marketing campaigns. It’s also a great opportunity to network with peers and find some new suppliers.
Register in advance for free entry.
2. Digital Shoreditch: 3 - 7 May, 2011 | Various locations in and around Shoreditch including Brick Lane (http://digitalshoreditch.com/)
The Digital Shoreditch festival celebrates outstanding creativity in the heart of the UK's digital hub. Shoreditch will become a digital playground on 3rd-7th May 2011, with late-night parties, eye-catching displays such as illuminated buildings, real-world interactive installations, and augmented reality games. The festival showcases the latest technologies; provides a platform for sharing knowledge and ideas; and connects anyone with an interest in digital.
It focuses on a wide range of industries and has a more fun edge to it – so you could even take the children on the Saturday as they have a ‘Family Day’. So get your hands on some tickets now (http://digitalshoreditch.com/about-2/).
3. Internet World (http://www.internetworld.co.uk) - 10 - 12 May 2011 | Earls Court 2 | London
This free event* has been around for a number of years and is the biggest online or digital focused event for a range of topics and disciplines. It has also grown and now features over 300 solution providers and attracts a staggering 12,000 visitors.
The show is now arranged into five different shows and categories all within the same place which are; Digital & Mobile Marketing, Connectivity & Hosting, eCommerce & mCommerce, Social Media and Content Management.
Their education programme (http://www.internetworld.co.uk/Content/Internet-World-2011-Keynote-Programme) is also fantastic featuring free seminars and presentations from some of the leading digital companies such as eBay, Google, Facebook and Amazon. Take a look at the full Keynote timetable (http://www.internetworld.co.uk/Content/Keynote-Timetable-2011) – from my experience you need to get there fairly early as the free places fill up very fast.
It’s also a great way to approach new suppliers and get a feel for what services are being offered. You could also pick up a freebie or two.
*you must register in advance to gain free entry.
4. Marketing Week Live: 29 - 30 June 2011, Grand Hall, Olympia (http://www.onlinemarketingshow.co.uk/)
Marketing Week Live attracts thousands of forward thinking marketers all looking for that next inspirational idea to take their campaigns to the next level. A truly inspirational experience for the UK’s modern marketer.
There are four different shows focusing on retail (In-Store), data driven marketing (The Data Marketing Show), market research and insight (Insight) and digital and online (Online Marketing). Their free seminars are always interesting and useful. Again, ensure you arrive early. Register in advance to ensure free entry to the show. (http://www.onlinemarketingshow.co.uk/registration.aspx)
5. eCommerce Expo: 26 May 2011 | Manchester & 11 – 12 October | Olympia, London (http://www.ecommerceexpo.co.uk/)
eCommerce Expo is the industry event for the UK and, increasingly, Europe. It ranks as one of the largest gatherings of Ecommerce professionals in Europe and boasts over 140 exhibiting companies plus a comprehensive conference programme. There’s an invaluable ‘Google University’ where you can hear about the latest trends in search (SEO and PPC) and see what they have planned. Plus listen to case studies and independent keynote presentations from speakers from some fantastic companies such as More Th>n, Argos, Amazon, Shop Direct Group, Google and Barclaycard.
Entrance to the exhibition and conference is free.
6. Apps World: 29 - 30 Nov, 2011 | Olympia (http://www.apps-world.net/europe/)
The Apps World event aims to address the entire app ecosystem, and the challenge of delivery, development and design of apps across multiple platforms. A truly international event, that brings together leading operators and app stores worldwide, and is the first show to draw on parallels between the emergence of the TV app store, the challenge to pay TV operators, the challenges mobile operators face, device manufactures and the emergence of the tablet apps marketplace.
The event costs from £225 and is split into three main focuses; a developers zone (free entry), marketing zone and TV Apps, handset and operators zone.
If you’ve missed any of these events why not sign-up for updates on their website – it’s a great way to secure free entry for next year. Enjoy the shows!
About the Author
Gail Kenny is the managing director of puregenie.com, one of the UK’s leading online recruitment agencies specialising in digital media and ecommerce jobs. Launched back in 2006, they have rapidly earned a reputation as one of the best recruiters of talented online managers within the travel sector. In more recent years they have broadened the sectors which they operate in to include online gaming, financial services and media. They work with some of the biggest names in online travel. They are not an online job board, but offer a comprehensive recruitment service. Puregenie (puregenie.com) is part of The Gail Kenny Group, see www.gailkenny.com.
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