--- title: "Why the SEO Industry Needs In-Person Meetups" url: https://adtech.lol/articles/4ad19af5-8cd9-4efc-9707-8eb6abf60ceb source_url: https://searchengineland.com/why-the-seo-industry-needs-in-person-meetups-499164/ source_site: searchengineland author: "Celeste Gonzalez" published: 2023-10-04T00:00:00+00:00 tags: ["SEO", "Networking", "Digital Marketing", "In-Person Meetups", "Community"] publisher: AdTech Radar --- # Why the SEO Industry Needs In-Person Meetups > Exploring the need for in-person connections in the SEO industry after years of virtual engagement and scattered online communities. ## Introduction Where did everyone in SEO go? There was a time when you could open Twitter and find just about everyone in the SEO industry. People were sharing tests, discussing algorithm updates, asking questions, and arguing about whatever Google had changed that week. Now, everyone’s somewhere different. Some people are on LinkedIn. Others moved to Bluesky or Threads. There are Slack communities, Discord servers, private group chats, and plenty of people who aren’t nearly as active online anymore. The SEO community hasn’t disappeared. It’s just become harder to find everyone in one place. That’s one reason in-person SEO meetups are worth revisiting. After years of canceled events, virtual conferences, and scattered online communities, we’re seeing more opportunities for SEOs to connect in person again. It’s something I think our industry really needs. ## What happened to local SEO meetups? Before the pandemic, local SEO and digital marketing meetups were common. Depending on where you lived, you could attend an event after work, listen to a presentation, or talk with other search professionals. Either way, you could connect with people outside your immediate team. You didn’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on a conference ticket or travel across the country. You could meet other SEOs in your city, learn what they were working on, and build relationships over time. Then COVID-19 happened, and in-person events stopped, but many of us spent more time on Twitter to make up for the loss of in-person connection. ## SEO Twitter became the place to be For a while, SEO Twitter was one of the easiest ways to connect with others in the industry. You could exchange ideas with SEOs halfway across the world, build relationships with people you might eventually meet at a conference, or even find a job through someone’s hiring announcement (I did!). Despite the occasional drama, SEO Twitter gave us a place to gather. Then Twitter became X, and people started leaving. Some moved to LinkedIn, Bluesky, or Threads. Others became more active in Slack communities or stopped participating in public conversations altogether. Now, if you want to keep up with everyone, you practically need an account on five different platforms. And even then, you’re probably missing conversations. ## Why in-person SEO meetups still matter We have more ways to connect with other SEOs than ever before, but all those options can feel overwhelming. Asking a question in a Slack channel with 500 members can be intimidating. An in-person meetup offers a more intimate setting to talk shop and connect with others without the pressure of a large conference or online community. ### Build real connections A lot of SEOs work remotely, independently, or on small teams. Even if you work at an agency, you might spend most of your time talking to the same few people. And while online communities help, it’s easy to get stuck in your own bubble. Networking can lead to referrals, job opportunities, and collaborations. But I don’t think every conversation needs to have a business objective. You might spend most of your day explaining why SEO takes time or why a particular recommendation is worth implementing. It’s nice to occasionally have a conversation where you don’t have to explain AEO/GEO. Local meetups make those conversations possible. Seeing the same people regularly helps you build actual relationships instead of just collecting LinkedIn connections. ### Local meetups make SEO education more accessible SEO conferences can be worthwhile, but registration, travel, accommodations, and time away from work add up. Not everyone has a company willing to cover those costs. Local meetups offer another way to learn from people in the industry without making that kind of financial commitment. Many are free or relatively inexpensive to attend. They also give aspiring speakers a chance to share their work, practice presenting, and receive feedback before speaking at a major conference. We need more opportunities for people to share their knowledge, especially those who haven’t already built a large following online. ### Local SEO communities are reconnecting It’s encouraging to see local SEO and digital marketing groups organizing events again. Some are reviving pre-COVID meetups, while others are building new communities. Some focus on SEO, while others bring together professionals in paid search, content marketing, analytics, social media, and other disciplines. SEO doesn’t exist in a vacuum. We work with developers, designers, content teams, paid media specialists, and business owners. Understanding their work can make us better SEOs. These events don’t need to be huge to be worthwhile. If 15 people show up and have meaningful conversations about their work, that’s a successful meetup. ## SEO and search marketing meetups worth knowing about If you’re looking to connect with other search professionals, these SEO and digital marketing communities are worth exploring. - SEOFOMO - MKE DMC - Seattle DMC - LA SEO Meetup - Bay Area Search - Southern California SEO Meetup - Search y Sazón - Sip & Search This isn’t an exhaustive list of SEO and digital marketing communities. If you don’t see your city listed, check Meetup, LinkedIn Events, and Eventbrite for local gatherings. You can also look at The SEO Community’s meetup directory or ask other SEOs in your area if they know of any active groups. ## What if there isn’t an SEO meetup in your city? Then maybe it’s time to start one! Find a few local SEOs interested in getting together for coffee or food after work. You don’t need to book a venue, find sponsors, or prepare a formal agenda. Give everyone an opportunity to talk about what they’re working on. If there’s interest, organize another gathering. Eventually, you can start inviting speakers, planning workshops, or looking for sponsors to help cover costs. The important thing is creating a consistent opportunity for people to connect. And if you’re someone who’s been working in SEO for a while, think about how you can help make these events welcoming to people who are newer to the industry. We don’t need to wait for another social media platform to bring everyone back together. We just need to create the space to get everyone in the same room. Source: [https://searchengineland.com/why-the-seo-industry-needs-in-person-meetups-499164/](https://searchengineland.com/why-the-seo-industry-needs-in-person-meetups-499164/)