When digital marketers sit down to build a 12-month marketing strategy, it’s natural to want to smooth out friction points. But your friction points hold the key to big strategic changes and success.
You go to a certain marketing conference (naming no names). You listen, take notes, perhaps nod off towards the end of the day. Then, you go back to the office. What do you take with you?
Yes, THAT Saira Manns. The Saira Manns who became a State of Social superstar with her Maps, Memes & Meteorological Mayhem breakout, which was voted one of SOS25’s best sessions.
Successful digital media entrepreneurs know all about managing conflict. The best, like Tim Duggan, actively harness it. And he’s coming to State of Social ’26 to show you how.
Some marketing friction is doing exactly what it’s supposed to – slowing the right people down at the right moment to maximise your marketing ROI. But how do you tell the good from the bad?
Can you use your socials to deliver big SEO wins? Can you weave creators into your existing social strategy to build trust? Can social media to turn customer friction into an even stronger community?
Quiip’s Larah Kennedy and Kelly McParlane are demystifying Reddit at SOS26.
Will State of Social ’26 be different to previous years? Of course! Will it be packed with the most unexpected lessons and prescient takeaways? Too right. Only one thing’s certain: we’re going to learn A LOT.
“Maybe I’ll give State of Social a miss this year. I mean, I’ve been before. And sure, it was a valuable learning experience, but how different can it really be this year?” Oh, you sweet, innocent child.
The force of friction is all around us. It’s in customer journeys. In sales funnels. In the comments. Oh, the comments! But it isn’t all bad. And as you’ll discover at SOS26, there’s science to prove it.
What’s the most important factor in marketing in 2026? No, not AI. Humans. And State of Social ’26 is where you can share a room with over 1,000 of smartest carbon-based lifeforms on Planet Digital.
Friction is in our feeds, budgets, politics and the algorithms shaping our worldview. It’s exhausting! But State of Social legend Tess Palmyre says you can turn that exhaustion into creative liberation.
When we tell you SOS26 is the only digital marketing conference you need, can you take us at our word? Yes. But then we would say that, wouldn’t we. So, we’ll leave it to the people who know to tell you the truth: your peers.
AI. Process. Efficiency. Is there even room for creative thinking to disrupt and innovate anymore? State of Social Hall of Famer Rob Campbell says there is. And he’s back for State of Social ’26 to rattle your creative cage, then liberate you from it.
It’s not your boss, is it? 😶 It’s OK. It happens. And we’ve got a Convince Your Boss Guide to help. 😎
Friction has the power to destroy. But it also provides the impetus to question what you’re doing and develop the skills and resilience you need to succeed.
What makes State of Social so special? Why is it the marketing conference to beat? Ask last year’s attendees.
A lot of big ideas. A lot of laughs. A lot of practical lessons. A lot of goodies, delish eats, barista-brewed coffee, sundowner high jinx, familiar faces, new contacts…
