London, Munich, Sydney, Jerusalem, Get on Board
Sydney Harbor Bridge in Sydney Australia
There are a lot of outstanding conferences in the USA, but what if you’re looking to turn an international vacation into something different? Have you ever thought about doing a little conferencing to make it even more worthwhile? No problem – we’ve got you covered! Take a look at this list of international search conferences and you’ll find plenty of options for combining work and travel in a most inspiring way.
Why Attend an International Conference?
- Exposure to more of the world’s industry experts
- Outstanding keynote speakers
- Networking in the world’s most memorable cities
- Parties and party food with an international twist!
Open up your favorite calendar or app and mark the dates for your choice of these international conferences in 2015.
January
Wordcamp Paris
January 23-24, 2015
Paris, France
WordCamp is a conference with a specific focus on everything WordPress. WordCamps happen across the globe and are always informal, community-organized events, carefully put together by WordPress users. Participants include everyone from casual users to core developers. This diverse two-day event enables all WordPress devotees to learn, share ideas, and get to know each other.
Whether you are a professional or purely an enthusiast, you are welcome to come and share your love of WordPress and its ecosystem. Day one features two simultaneous conference tracks, with speakers’ presentations covering the gamut of WordPress topics. Day two is completely different – more of a community day built around hands-on workshops designed to encourage participation and interactivity.
February
Wordcamp – Norway
February 7-8, 2015
Oslo, Norway
The second International Wordcamp for the year will take place in Oslo early in February. The Norwegian team are hard at work on finalizing the agenda and will be making announcements during the coming weeks regarding speakers and scheduled sessions. Follow @WordCampNorway on Twitter for the latest updates and announcements.
Wordcamp Birmingham
February 7-8, 2015
Birmingham, UK
Wordcamp Birmingham organizers are busily working away on the final agenda for the event and we expect announcements soon. Speakers already confirmed include Tim Nash, Ben Furfie, Paul Cherry, and Nathan Monk. Drop in on this Wordcamp and you’ll hear about all manner of issues and innovations of interest to WordPress users.
Topics include speed improvements, search enhancements, HHVM and Hack. Perhaps most fascinating session is an in depth look at building a business using WordPress as an application framework. Day two workshops include Managing Your WordPress Site Into The Future and Theme Building.
SES London
February 9-11, 2015
London, UK
Originally known as the Search Engine Strategies conference series, SES has been around since 1999 and in that time, a lot of things have changed in the digital marketing world. The SES team prides itself on rolling with the changes to keep attendees up to date on the latest in search.
SES London covers a little more than your average digital marketing conference. Sessions are built around all facets of paid, owned, earned, and integrated media. Add a real focus on business intelligence and SES London sets itself apart from other digital marketing conferences.
March
Content Marketing Sydney
March 16-18, 2015
Sydney, Australia
Content Marketing Institute returns to Sydney for the third time in 2015 with the largest gathering of content marketing professionals in the Asia Pacific region. This year CMI partners with Campaign Asia Pacific to create a fresh and exciting event. The breathtaking sights of Sydney provide a perfect backdrop for three days of inspirational sessions, hands-on learning, and memorable networking events.
Gain insights and actionable ideas that can work immediately. The focus is on making sure you go back to your team with everything you need to implement a real content strategy. You will leave understanding your content marketing plan and how it will help you grow your business through audience engagement.
International Search Summit Munich
March 16, 2015
Munich, Germany
International Search Summit is the only conference series with a specific focus on international and multi-lingual search strategy and social media marketing. The Summit team partner with SMX across the globe, running in conjunction with Search Marketing Expo events in several cities. International Search Summit is typically scheduled on the day prior to its partner SMX conference.
The summit provides a perfect opportunity for those working in global markets to see carefully chosen presentations from real practitioners. Sessions include actionable tips and techniques, along with deep analysis of the many issues involved in global online marketing campaigns. In short, everything that is important to your organization if you are operating internationally.
SMX Munich
March 17-18, 2015
Munich, Germany
Munich is the first European Search Marketing Expo (SMX) for the year. Expect the same depth and quality as always from SMX, but there are a few extras included in the Munich experience you won’t find elsewhere. For starters, there is the gala presentation of the SEMYs – the German Search Marketing Awards. Combine that with a unique in-house SEO meeting and it’s easy to see they are striving for something different in Munich!
As always, the conference includes world class presentations on all aspects of search marketing: organic, paid, technical SEO, social, and mobile. When we say world class we mean you’ll be hearing from the likes of Marcus Tandler, Christina Baldasarre, Rand Fishkin, Bastian Grimm, John Mueller, and Cindy Krum.
If the future of search is keeping you up at night, this may also be your best chance to get an inside look at where things are going. Behshad Behzadi, Director of Conversational Search at Google stands up on Day 2 for the coolest keynote of the year so far: Did Captain Kirk Use Google? The Future of Search! The multi-track agenda features more than 60 sessions covering the entire spectrum of search marketing and includes keynotes, workshops, and boot camp sessions.
Content Marketing Singapore
March 16-18, 2015
Singapore, South-East Asia
Content Marketing Singapore brings together 200 CMOs and senior marketing professionals from across the Asia Pacific. For those working in content marketing this event offers access to great speakers with cutting edge insights.
Content Marketing Institute conference sessions and workshops provide real opportunities to learn about the practice of content marketing from people whose companies are benefiting from it every day. You will hear from real-world practitioners on everything from strategy to content creation and content distribution. If your greatest content marketing challenge is in measuring outcomes you will also be interested in sessions on metrics and measurement.
ClickZ Live Jakarta
March 24-25, 2015
Jakarta, Indonesia
During 2014 the SES team began a progressive rebranding of its conference series, moving from Search Engine Strategies to ClickZ Live. Later in the year came the announcement that some of the series would retain the SES brand, but the majority of the larger conferences across USA and the globe have now transitioned to the new brand and format.
2015 sees ClickZ Live in Jakarta for the second year. Speakers include Lukasz Zelezny, Darren Fifield and Greg Baxter. Workshops on the first day include Facebook Marketing, Performance Based Marketing, Mobile Engagement, and Search for Desktop and Mobile.
April
Brighton SEO (Spring edition)
April 9-10, 2015
Brighton, UK
A ticket to Brighton SEO is one of the most sought after search conference tickets you will ever get your hands on, but you need to be quick if you hope to get one in the general release. Tickets to the “SEO conference by the sea” in the beautiful English coastal city of Brighton are free. The catch is, the Brighton SEO general ticket release typically sells out in around 10 minutes!
If you haven’t been quick enough to get hold of your free ticket on the day of release, don’t make the mistake of thinking you completely missed your chance to attend the most popular search conference in Britain. There are still opportunities to get hold of a paid ticket and you will find them here.
May
SMX London
May 19 and 20-21, 2015
London, UK
The final agenda for SMX London is close to release and as always, the two days of the conference proper will feature a variety of session topics across both paid and earned channels. If you are new to digital marketing, or finding the latest changes in search technology hard to get your head around, Search Engine Bootcamp will help put you on the right track.
Bootcamp in London will be at a separate venue on 19th of May, with the full conference commencing on the 20th. SMX Bootcamp sessions feature high quality speakers with an ability to teach, so you will walk away from these four extended length sessions with an excellent grasp of the most up-to-date techniques. Bootcamp Sessions include Keyword Research & Copywriting For Search Success, Link Building Fundamentals, Paid Search Fundamentals, and Search Engine Friendly Web Design.
International Search Summit London
May 2015
London, UK
International Search Summit will again coincide with the SMX series when it arrives in London in 2015. The actual date has not yet been released, but the summit generally occurs on the day prior to or after the SMX conference. If you are particularly interested in global search techniques and want to hear from speakers who truly understand the challenges faced by companies operating internationally, the summit should be on your radar.
SMX Sydney
May 11-14, 2015
Sydney, Australia
SMX returns to perhaps its most picturesque location of the year as some of the brightest minds in search land on the shores of Sydney Harbor for four days of search marketing excellence. Advanced Workshops on PPC and SEO are scheduled for May 11th and 14th with the main conference taking place on May 12 and 13.
Now in its 9th year, SMX Sydney moves to a new venue in the Sydney CBD. SMC conference center is one of Sydney’s most architecturally significant buildings, just minutes from the shimmering waters of the harbor. The team from No Drama Media will again host a two hour evening cruise and dinner on breathtaking Sydney Harbor so you will get a real taste of Sydney.
Bootcamp sessions run in tandem with regular conference tracks. The full agenda is expected to release in March, but Australia is already buzzing with the news that Dr Pete Meyers will Keynote in 2015.
ClickZ Live Shanghai
May 26-28, 2015
Shanghai, China
Another of the rebranded events, formerly known as SES, ClickZ Live Shanghai brings together 300 digital marketing professionals in China’s largest city. There is more to Shanghai though, than meets the eye.
While steeped in colonial history, the city is arguably the country’s most vital economic, commercial and financial center. With such an important place in such a massive and growing economy, Shanghai is the perfect place to host a cutting edge conference for digital marketers.
Networking is a key feature of the ClickZ Live format, and the popular ‘Birds of a Feather’ lunch time networking tables are a great way to share and contribute while making new friends. Be sure to register for your chosen topic early as tables fill fast.
ClickZ Live events will also take place in Hong Kong (Aug), Bangkok (Nov), and Singapore (Dec) during 2015, but dates are not yet confirmed. Check back from time to time for updates on these and other conferences.
June
SMX Paris
June 8-9, 2015
Paris, France
SMX Paris is brought to you by the team at Rising Media with the support of the USA home team at Third Door Media. Danny Sullivan will Keynote in 2015. Further agenda announcements are expected in coming months as the team in Paris work to bring the biggest names in Search to the French capital. Super Early Bird pricing ends on February 28th.
SASCON
June 11-12, 2015
Manchester, UK
In its sixth year, SASCON is recognized as one of the UK’s finest Search, Analytics and Social Conferences. Travel to the North of England and explore Manchester city in time to attend this two day not for profit event. SASCON is organised by the digital community for the digital community and featured speakers include some of Europe’s leading search and social practitioners. The event attracts an audience of over 300 digital marketing professionals and the 2015 agenda is expected to release soon.
ClickZ Live Toronto
June 24- 25, 2015
Toronto, Canada
ClickZ Live Toronto comes to Marriott Downtown Eaton Center in June of 2015. Networking events are again a feature of the event, with a Meet and Greet to kick things off, lunch time learning opportunities at the Meet the Experts tables and a Networking cocktail reception as well. The Toronto conference team are focused on making sure you learn about engaging customers and increasing ROI by distributing your online marketing efforts across paid, owned & earned media.
September
Brighton SEO (Autumn)
September, 2015
Brighton, UK
Tickets for the Autumn edition of Brighton SEO are just as sought after as those for the Spring event. Taking the honors for one of the most impressive venues on the conference circuit, the event will again take place at the Brighton Dome.
One of Britain’s most significant fully operational public spaces, the Dome is an icon of Brighton heritage and culture. The Rough Agenda/Site Visibility team is expected to release their autumn conference agenda mid-year. We will update this page as more information is made available.
October
SEOktoberfest
October, 2015
Munich, Germany
This could well be the wildest and most fulfilling conference ride you ever experience in the world of Search. Some things to know about SEOktoberfest. First, you guessed it. The event takes place in Munich every year to coincide with Germany’s biggest event of all, Oktoberfest!
This is arguably the most exclusive conference in the industry and there is no doubt you will need to put in some effort to even get invited. Yes, you need an invitation to join the amazing group of participants, and there are only a handful of “new” tickets approved each year. You will need to apply for an invite, answer some questions and wait patiently on the waiting list for your opportunity to take part.
SEOktoberfest is not inexpensive either, at 5,000 euros per person, but that literally includes everything you could want for your 72 hours of beer and food infused search nirvana. When we say everything, we mean everything. The ticket price includes a full Oktoberfest traditional garment bag with Lederhosen or a Dirndl, as well as Shirt/Shoes, and awesome wool socks!
November
SMX Israel
November, 2015
Jerusalem, Israel
The SMX series returns to Israel in November, bringing with it some of the industry’s best known identities. Among the familiar faces you’ll see in Jerusalem is Barry Schwartz of the well known site SEO Roundtable.
SMX Milan
November, 2015
Milan, Italy
Conference Chair, Sean Carlos works each year with the team from Third Door Media to stage SMX Milan. Sean is well known to audiences at Search Engine Land and Marketing land as a regular contributor. He lives and works in Milan, teaching at the city’s Bocconi University. The schedule includes advanced workshops in Adwords and SEO.
Searchlove London
November, 2015
London, UK
Distilled welcomes you to London for the Autumn edition of its flagship conference series, Searchlove. This single track conference is one of few providing real opportunities for individual discussion and personal advice from world class speakers. SearchLove events include great networking opportunities and the London 2015 event is set to deliver on that promise yet again. Watch for updates in the second half of the year.
December
SMX Beijing
December, 2015
Beijing, China
SMX Beijing brings to the stage outstanding speakers, both internationally known and local Chinese search marketing experts. Topics already on the preliminary agenda include: Baidu SEO & Keyword Research, The Baidu Ads Landscape, Supercharging Paid Search Campaigns in China, Top Social Tactics For The Chinese Search Marketer and Marketing on Sina Weibo.
This is a brief overview of the international conferences for 2015. We will update these events as more information becomes available.
Picture provided courtesy of Sha Menz.