SEO Guides, Tips & More!

Though we all learned new skills in 2020 thanks to the constant changes brought on by COVID-19, for the most part we did it without the usual conferences and tradeshows. Almost every live event after mid-March 2020 was canceled or postponed, and while the webinars and Zoom calls have been nice, we’re looking forward to (safely) seeing people in person again in 2021.

Fortunately, that may be an option for several SEO conferences in 2021. Some are online or on-demand only, some are a mix, and a handful expect to host live sessions, even with a smaller audience. Check out this list of the top 19 2021 U.S. SEO conferences for some inspiration in the new year – and two honorable mentions. We’ll continue to update this list as more information becomes available.

January 2021 

Digital Summit GO! | January 27, 2021 | Online | Cost: Free | Register

2021’s SEO continuing education kicks off with a free, one-day summit featuring 12 sessions designed to give attendees quick, actionable ideas to start the new year. SEO-specific content includes video SEO, SEO tips for social media, and getting better Google search results, plus other digital marketing content.

February 2021 

SMX Report | February 21, 2021 | Online | Cost: $99 | Register

SMX is hosting several virtual conferences throughout 2021. Each one is targeted to a different phase in the SEO process, and this one is geared towards teaching attendees how to implement, track, and analyze SEO campaigns. Looking for SMX in person in 2021? You’ll have to go to Europe.

March 2021

HeroConf/Searchlove Virtual Summit | March 3-4, 2021 | Online | Cost: $79+ | Register

This is a joint conference between two equally great hosts and just announced recently. The agenda is divided into two primary tracks, PPC and SEO, with plenty of interactive elements built in, like live Q&A, group chats, and virtual networking. After the event, attendees will receive links to all sessions on-demand.

Digital Summit At Home | March 29-31, 2021 | Online | Cost: $145-$245+| Register

Solo CPAs and small to mid-size firms will find the most value out of this virtual digital marketing conference. The agenda isn’t out yet as of this writing, but there will be sessions on SEO tactics to improve traffic and conversion, boosting SEO performance, on-page SEO, plus tons of other digital marketing content. There are also separate masterclasses that dive into a particular topic in depth.

April 2021

SXM Create | April 13, 2021 | Online | Cost: $99 | Register

This installation of SMX is all about the content. Webinar attendees will learn how to create engaging, compelling content to drive SEO strategies forward. Sessions will cover A/B split testing, landing page optimization, and more.

Searchlove | April 26-27, 2021 | New York, NY | Cost: $999 – $1,299 | Register

As of this writing, Searchlove’s annual conference is planning to be held in-person. Registration is currently discounted and there is a promotion to get a free ticket with the purchase of four tickets – a great option for larger teams. The agenda for Searchlove will cover SEO and other digital marketing topics including but not limited to analytics, mobile and voice search, PR and SEO, digital strategy, and much more.

May 2021

Conductor C3 | May 11-12, 2021 | New York, NY | Cost: $799+ | Register

C3 promises to let attendees explore new strategies to get the most out of their organic search efforts. This conference is best suited for intermediate and above marketers, as the sessions focus on higher level content and certification options, in some cases. Early bird pricing is in effect as of this writing.

June 2021

HeroConf Austin | June 2-3, 2021 | Austin, TX | Cost: $1,200 – $2,250 | Register

Marketers of all levels will find some value in HeroConf’s dozens of sessions on paid search, PPC, and digital marketing. Topics will likely include optimization, attribution, measurement, data-driven SEO, SEM, and PPC, improving search results, content strategy, automation, and much more.

Advanced Search Summit | June 9-11, 2021 | Napa Valley, CA | Cost: $299 – $1,249 | Register

As its name suggests, this conference is ideal for advanced SEO and SEM practitioners. In addition to high-level and technical topics, attendees will get ample time to network and talk with speakers and peers in safe, socially distant spaces. The agenda isn’t yet finalized but expect sessions on AI, acquisition, data management, content strategies, and more.

SMX Advanced | June 15-16, 2021 | Online | Cost: TBD | More Info

SEO experts can expect to find much of the same high-level continuing education from past SMX Advanced conferences over two days of virtual learning and networking sessions. The agenda is still being finalized as of this writing.

MN Search Summit | June 18, 2021 | St. Paul, MN | Cost: TBD | More Info

Not much information is available yet for the Minneapolis Search Summit except a tentative date and location. As of now, it appears the event will be held live; check back for more updates.

July 2021

MozCon | July 12-14, 2021 | Online | Cost: $129-$149 | Register

This virtual three-day event brings together marketers, agencies, and business owners. There’s something for everyone at MozCon, whether it’s local search tactics, optimization, how to rank higher, mobile conversion, data-driven SEO, or other next-level strategies. It’s highly cost effective given the virtual format, and tickets must be purchased at least one month ahead of time.

August 2021

Engage | August 5-6, 2021 | Portland, OR | Cost: TBD | More Info

Attendees will get exposure to a wide range of digital marketing and SEO-related topics, with the Engage conference planning to cover “digital marketing, social media, content, UX/design, creative, advertising, SEO, paid media, and more.” This is an annual event that moved online in 2020 and looks to be in-person in Portland with a few modifications for health and safety. The agenda isn’t up yet but content will be focused on tracks according to which knowledge area attendees want to focus on.

SMX Convert | August 17, 2021 | Online | Cost: TBD | More Info

SMX Convert will teach attendees how to generate higher rankings in Google SERP through paid and organic optimization strategies. Beginners and intermediate SEO marketers will appreciate in-depth definitions of on-SERP elements like featured snippets, image packs, and more.

Utah DMC | August 26-27, 2021 | Sandy, UT | Cost: $299-$499 | Register

Topics for this one-day conference (two days if separate workshops are purchased) are set to include “paid search, SEO, social media, analytics, and more.” Utah Digital Marketing Collective members receive a discount off admission, and the first 400 paid attendees will receive a copy of the book Fanocracy.

September 2021

DMWF North America West | September 22-23, 2021 | Santa Clara, CA | Cost: TBD | Register

The Digital Marketing World Forum (DMWF) conference centers on digital marketing, so SEO won’t be center stage, but attendees can still look forward to sessions on SEO strategy, voice search, content, and more. Sessions are varied enough so that beginners and experts alike can get something out of the content.

October 2021

None listed at this time.

November 2021

SMX Next | November 9-10, 2021 | Online | Cost: TBD | More Info

Before closing out the year, SMX Next will examine the future of SEO and how artificial intelligence and machine learning are impacting the profession. Attendees can expect content that dives into the role of emerging technologies and how to incorporate them into organic and paid search strategies.

December 2021 

Search and Performance Insider’s Summit | December 14-15, 2021 | Online | Cost: TBD | More Info

Out-of-the-box CPA firm marketers may find this one-and-a-half-day conference interesting, as sessions mostly revolve around search marketing case studies in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Attendees may not get as much in the way of ready-to-use tactics, but they will find inspiration and different perspectives on adapting and improving search performance. Note that the link still reflects last year’s content as the page has not yet been updated for 2021.

SMX Code | December 14, 2021 | Online/TBD | Cost: TBD | More Info

If terms like JavaScript, ad scripting, advanced analytics commands, and HTML structure are unfamiliar or intimidating, this will be an excellent day of coursework to demystify the technical elements of SEO. Look for live coding demonstrations to better articulate how to incorporate code into SEO strategies.

2021 Honorable Mentions:

SEMRush | Weekly | Online | Cost: Free | More Info

It’s not a conference, but worth a mention because there will always be a new online learning tool posted to SEMRush’s website. Topics aren’t limited to just SEO, though with titles like “Creating a Winning SEO Strategy in 2021” on January 26 or “Local SEO: Which Google My Business Tactics and Tools Drive Customers?” on February 4 there is plenty of actionable content to pick from.

DeepSEO Con | September 6-7, 2021 | Ensanada, MX | Cost: $250 | Register

Our list of 2021 SEO conferences covers the U.S. only, but Ensanada’s central location on Baja California’s West Coast is just a short flight away. DeepSEO bills itself as the SEO conference for experts, and 2021 marks the first year for this event. Registration is limited.

Throughout the year, we will periodically update this list so bookmark this page for the latest updates on 2021 SEO conferences. Do you have a question on improving your CPA firm’s SEO performance in 2021? Reach out to Flashpoint Marketing anytime.