I don’t find out about you, however my strategy to business occasions has modified dramatically as COVID has receded. I’ve two distinct voices in my head:
- One that’s craving the in-person networking, pleasure and sheer adrenaline of large-scale occasions.
- One other that’s extremely selective about when and the way I journey, guaranteeing my well being is my high precedence.
You might fall on one aspect of this equation, the opposite or land someplace in between, however there is no such thing as a denying that occasions will proceed to be an necessary avenue for advertising and marketing professionals.
Having explored occasions that embody immersive media and applied sciences for entrepreneurs pre-pandemic, I used to be keen to find how the panorama has shifted after the previous couple of years.
A lot of the occasions that made the record earlier than COVID are again in full swing as in-person occasions in 2023. Some are opting to incorporate digital passes, hoping to supply a pleasant stay-at-home choice.
So, with out additional ado, beneath are my high picks for advertising and marketing professionals seeking to increase their metaverse advertising and marketing muscle.
February 1, 2023 / Digital (Watch the recap right here)
The Gatherverse group is squarely centered on the metaverse and the group implications these new applied sciences current to enterprise leaders and organizations.
The group leads with wellness, ethics, and security which is a refreshing change from many different tech occasions which might be extra centered on ROI and enterprise outcomes. Very very similar to the tenets of my Metaverse Manifesto, there’s a robust deal with digital citizenship, inclusion, and accessibility of the metaverse for all.
The group provides a number of digital occasions every year with numerous matters starting from ladies in tech to athletics within the metaverse. The AI summit offered helpful data for advertising and marketing professionals as all of us are grappling with how advances in AI will affect our function, methods and ways transferring ahead.
February 27–March 2, 2023 / Barcelona, Spain
The function of 5G inside the immersive media panorama can’t be overstated. As extra customers undertake 5G, the chance to create and share mind-blowing immersive experiences through cell units will increase as properly.
A number of of the metaverse-themed classes this yr embody:
- NFT’s: The one-hit marvel?
- From Metaverse to Matterverse, Methods to Do it Proper.
- Who’re the New Customers in Net 3.0.
This have to be the most important occasion on this record with over 100,000 attendees this yr touring from all around the globe. The convention will home the newest and best immersive know-how developments from the large gamers with huge budgets.
MWC takes over your complete metropolis and housing and transportation turn into a significant problem. Plan to attend in lengthy traces for public transit and taxis so contemplate strolling as a substitute. Barcelona is likely one of the most walkable and exquisite cities I’ve ever visited.
March 10–19, 2023 / Austin, Texas, USA (On-line passes out there)
Originating as a music competition, SXSW has matured into a large phenomenon attracting roughly 75,000 attendees. The convention now attracts professionals from the movie, music, and interactive industries.
Know-how and model expertise are paired at SXSW, with a complete monitor devoted to manufacturers and advertising and marketing. The world’s hippest inventive groups descend upon Austin – hoping to maintain it bizarre and stand out in a crowded panorama.
Like Cannes Lions, many professionals head to Austin with out an official SXSW badge as there are lots of of free occasions. You’ll completely must plan, put together and deal with the important thing occasions you wish to hit earlier than you arrive.
Driving in downtown Austin isn’t beneficial and strolling is almost definitely your finest transportation choice. Keep away from the temptation of carrying your hippest gear, as sticking to snug sneakers and sensible clothes choices is certainly the best way to go.
Though the climate in Austin does are usually sunny, it’s not assured and packing all-weather objects similar to a rain poncho is beneficial.
April 12–16, 2023 / Laval, France
Laval Digital is an business convention with about 20,000 annual attendees gathering in a small city exterior of Paris.
Highlighting a robust deal with business and enterprise case makes use of for immersive similar to healthcare, structure and development, prior years have included tracks devoted to cross-vertical matters similar to advertising and marketing, gross sales, infrastructure, 5G, storytelling, notion, and IoT.
This convention is squarely centered on business-to-business immersive tech so for those who’re extra fascinated with client campaigns, this may not be the only option.
Laval is steeped in historical past, being constructed within the eleventh century. There are chateaus, museums, and many native flavors to absorb throughout your keep. It presents a wonderful backdrop to the immersive business networking occurring exterior of occasion classes.
April 15–19, 2023 / Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
NAB is a big present that spans your complete digital ecosystem together with promoting, app growth, synthetic intelligence, audio, augmented actuality, broadcast, cable, cloud options, digital video, movie, blended actuality, digital actuality, 5G and extra.
That is an business occasion that pulls professionals from all disciplines eager to additional their careers, acquire data, expertise cutting-edge coaching, get hands-on with the newest know-how, and join with business trailblazers advancing the artwork, science and enterprise of content material.
The present provides a big selection of immersive technical tracks — specializing in content material significantly helpful to broadcasters and media professionals. This yr, the present features a visible storytelling monitor that can be sure you function progressive immersive content material.
The present additionally supplies a devoted immersive theater house, permitting exhibitors and audio system to indicate off the newest immersive broadcasting capabilities. Happening in Vegas, you would possibly get seduced by discovering a lodge on the strip, however I like to recommend discovering a lodge off the strip nearer to the conference heart as they are usually cheaper and a pleasant respite from the hubbub of the playing capital of the world.
Might 10–11, 2023 / New York Metropolis, USA
This invite-only, non-public community of top-level advertising and marketing model leaders homes a few of the most progressive minds within the enterprise. I used to be lucky sufficient to get a particular invite to current at their fall occasion in Santa Clara and I used to be totally impressed.
This group provides some of the necessary points of business occasions — energy networking. The close-knit group provides a supportive and discrete community of brand name entrepreneurs who’re overtly discussing in the present day’s challenges.
There’s a membership charge and vetting course of to affix the group, however this ensures that there’s a great match on either side. The matters and content material provided at their gatherings are positive to hit on present traits for model entrepreneurs together with every part immersive and the metaverse.
The intimacy of those occasions permits for the event of significant business connections, which can be missing at bigger occasions.
Might 31–June 2, 2023 / Santa Clara, California, USA (On-line passes out there)
I’ve attended AWE during the last a number of years and have seen this convention mature right into a premier XR occasion. I’m thrilled to have been invited again this yr to current a case research on how Intel’s advertising and marketing staff engaged (and delighted!) the developer viewers utilizing augmented actuality.
This yr’s three-day occasion options a number of tracks that will probably be of curiosity to entrepreneurs together with retail, ecommerce, promoting, web3, AI and digital beings, gaming, leisure, and media.
Happening within the coronary heart of Silicon Valley, AWE pairs traders with the newest XR-focused start-ups. That is the convention to attend for those who’re in search of bleeding-edge know-how that would take your campaigns to the following stage.
June 19–23, 2023 / Cannes, France
Cannes Lions explores the worth of creativity in branded communications. The five-day competition and awards present supplies the business with entry to new concepts, client analysis and rising applied sciences which is able to assist make and form standard tradition.
Prior years have included tracks that function manufacturers leveraging immersive know-how to interact audiences. Should you’re seeking to community with best-in-class advertising and marketing groups and businesses — then that is the convention for you!
Passes run upward of $3,000 for the official convention classes. Nonetheless, each writer conceivable hosts “unofficial” workshops and networking occasions. Convention veterans can return every year with out buying a cross and nonetheless have a full agenda.
Cannes Lions is extra about model constructing and promoting than know-how, so don’t attend hoping to seek out Immersive Advertising and marketing 101 or tactical content material. It’s extra about rubbing shoulders with a few of the finest advertising and marketing groups within the enterprise whereas sipping rosé on the seashore.
I used to be lucky sufficient to current at Cannes pre-pandemic in partnership with Model Innovators and they’re positive to be bringing in some superior audio system utilizing cutting-edge know-how this yr as properly.
September 2023 / New York Metropolis, USA
This four-day occasion contains a mix of thought management content material and fascinating particular occasions, with attendees starting from public relations execs and promoting execs to chief advertising and marketing officers and social media advisers. Prior years have had dozens of classes that includes immersive content material and I’m positive this yr could have much more.
Happening in bustling New York Metropolis, this convention brings collectively everybody who’s anybody within the media biz. Grappling with declining TV viewership and a proliferation of content material, attendees are afforded a behind-the-curtain peak into the way forward for promoting. Just like Cannes, there are lots of of classes and events on the roster, so doing all your homework earlier than you arrive is important.
December 2023, Location TBD
The Immerse International Summit is the annual occasion organized by the AR/VR Affiliation( https://www.thevrara.com/) . It was held in Miami in 2022 after a Covid-induced hiatus and guarantees to be among the finest business occasions of 2023.
The AR/VR Affiliation is an energetic group of immersive business professionals centered on verticals efficiently leveraging immersive applied sciences similar to schooling, advertising and marketing, finance, and others. The group has regional chapters that maintain many occasions month-to-month and is an excellent place to seek out different pioneers and innovators specializing in XR.
I additionally host a digital, month-to-month, reside occasion for entrepreneurs seeking to discover immersive areas and I’d love so that you can be a part of. We collect through Zoom on the fourth Friday of every month at midday PT, you’ll be able to be taught extra and discover the hyperlink to affix right here.
The above is certainly not a complete record of all of the conferences protecting advertising and marketing within the metaverse in 2023, so please be happy to attach with me on LinkedIn and share any nice choices that I could have missed.
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Opinions expressed on this article are these of the visitor writer and never essentially MarTech. Employees authors are listed right here.