The Niche Media Conference has 4 workshops + 4 tracks:
Publisher Strategy, Ad Sales Training, Audience Growth, and
Tech Talks (Digital Revenue).
The below topics are from the 2023 event in New Orleans and will be updated soon. General timeframes and some details are for 2024.
Wednesday, April 17, 2024:
8:00am-4:00pm: Show Office and Registration Open on 1st floor. Follow signs in the lobby. PICK UP YOUR BADGE HERE!
8:00am-1:00pm: Vendor/Sponsor set up in ballroom foyer on the 1st floor. Follow signs in the lobby.
12:30pm – 1:15pm: NICHE OPENING CEREMONY: Main Ballroom, 1st floor. Get the information you need to make the most of your Chicago Niche experience. This is your first chance to meet other attendees and win over $2,000 in cash and prizes. Will your name be drawn to enter the Niche Cash Cube?
1:30pm-4:00pm: NICHE OPENING WORKSHOPS – Choose your focus for an afternoon full of revenue takeaways, brilliant hacks, and new ideas to make 2023 your best year ever! Set the stage for the rest of your Niche Media Conference experience + make connections to hang out with all week!
Workshop #1 – ALL NEW! Social Media & Audience Marketing Tips, Tricks, and Hacks: Bring your social media, audience growth, and marketing questions and challenges! We’ll spend the afternoon talking efficient posting, new social channel stats and tactics, content sourcing and creation, quick hacks to save time (especially if you are NOT a graphic designer), how to drive audience engagement and conversion using marketing funnels, and more. This is the deep dive you’ve been looking for!
Led by Zach O’Brien of Active Norcal and media audience experts from Audativ, Contentware, 360 Media Direct and Nearview Media, ready to share their tips!
Sponsored by Audativ and ContentWare
Workshop #2 – Media Sales Academy Training: Niche Media Sales Certification Masterclass with Ryan Dohrn. Full coverage, for all media sales markets, from prospecting to closing the deal, with fast-start tips for new sales team members, and fresh revenue ideas for seasoned sales pros. Plus insights from experts out in the field, including Ad Sales Genius, Broadstreet, and SRDS. Bring your media sales questions and challenges to this fast-paced training afternoon!
Sponsored by Ad Sales Genius
Workshop #3 – Consumer Publishers Roundtable: For consumer/hobbyist/city & regional publishers only! Bring your niche-specific questions, brainstorming, and venting to this “open mic” afternoon with your peers. Talk sales teams, staff hiring, remote work, print costs, digital tools, overhead, new revenue, inflation concerns, shifting readership, and more. Excellent way to get the ideas flowing and make peer connections to keep chatting with for the rest of the week.
Moderated by Rory Gillis, President of Triangle Digital Partners, a division of Triangle Media Partners city & regional publishing in North Carolina.
Sponsored by Comtex News Network and Creative Circle Media Solutions
Workshop #4 – B2B Publishers Roundtable: For business audience publishers only! Bring your niche-specific questions, brainstorming, and venting to this “open mic” afternoon with your peers. Talk sales teams, staff hiring, remote work, print costs, digital tools, overhead, new revenue, market shifts, financing, events and more. Excellent way to get the ideas flowing and make peer connections to keep chatting with for the rest of the week.
Moderated by Chris Messer, VP/Group Publisher for Endeavor Business Media, Vehicle Repair Group.
Sponsored by 032 Outsourcing, Leaky Paywall, and AdMall.
4:30pm-6:00pm: SPEED PUBLISHING NETWORKING and HAPPY HOUR in the Main Ballroom – HOSTED BY PUBLICATION PRINTERS!
By popular demand, we are bringing back a Niche attendee event favorite. Think speed dating with a unique twist. This is the ultimate game of networking, fun, and happy hour drinks. DO NOT MISS this fun meet & greet game before you head out for dinner!
6:00pm – Midnight: Dinner on your own. Afterwards, join your Niche Media Conference friends at the lobby bar onsite at the hotel for local cocktails and great conversation. Looking for a great place to eat? Click here.
Thursday, April 18, 2024:
8:00am-4:00pm: Show Office and Registration Open on 1st floor. Follow signs in the lobby. PICK UP YOUR BADGE HERE!
8:00am-9:00am: Hot Breakfast / Morning Coffee Roundtables. (Eggs, bacon, potatoes, yogurt, muffins, coffee & tea.)
9:00am-10:00am – Opening Power Keynote: From Katrina to Today, The Struggles and Victories of a Local Publisher
Todd Matherne, Owner, Renaissance Publishing, Publisher of New Orleans Magazine, Biz New Orleans, MyNewOrleans.com, and 5 other titles.
Todd will share his story of how he and his team survived numerous natural disasters and economic downturns to emerge as one of the industry’s most profitable and passionate media groups. Apply Todd’s “lessons learned” to your niche brand to ensure continued (and new) audience engagement, reliable sales revenue, and new revenue channels to survive and thrive.
10:00am-10:30am – Sponsor Tour Card Break: Meet your next resource partner & get those Sponsor Tour Cards signed for a chance to win a free pass to the Niche Media Conference in 2025!
10:30am-Noon – 4 Breakout Sessions: Choose Your Topic!
Breakout #1 – PUBLISHER STRATEGY TRACK: Business Hacks that Saved Me (and My Team) Thousands of Hours and Dollars!
Mike Dragosavich, Founder/CEO, Spotlight Media
Get ready to take notes and ask questions! Mike bootstrapped his company with no money for 12 years – and it created an obsession with finding all the tools, tech, hacks, and alternatives to help his team find success, save money, save time, sell more, sell faster, and automate processes. Mike put together his complete list and will share advice on how to apply his hacks to your business. This is a “don’t miss it” session for publishers and CEOs!
BONUS: Mike will also provide a link to session attendees with a “Shared Collection” of all his hacks that put his media company ahead in revenue and down on costs and hassles.
Breakout #2 – SALES TRAINING TRACK: Client Email Strategies to Get Opens & Replies
Ryan Dohrn, Owner, Brain Swell Media, and Paul Hoefer, VP of Business Development, Fargo Monthly / Fargo ,Inc.
Ad sales coach Ryan Dohrn shares 10 ways to increase the productivity of your cold prospecting process by 40% when you beat the full inbox/spam blocking/stranger danger game with these proven warm-up techniques. Plus, Paul Hoefer will share the EXACT email templates he is using to close deals in his market on special projects and more.
Breakout #3 – AUDIENCE GROWTH TRACK: Preparing for the End of 3rd Party Cookies
Patricia McGuinness, President, SBM Audience Development
Are you ready for the end of cookies on your website? These changes are going to make a huge difference in both your advertiser lead gen process and your marketing leads funnel! Patricia will share tactics to deal with this quickly-upcoming change.
Breakout #4 – TECH TALKS DIGITAL TRACK: New & Emerging Technology Tools & Tactics for Revenue (Not a Sales Pitch!)
Looking for new technology and partners that can drive your revenue UP? Save time by attending this “all in one” track for case studies, product overviews, and lots of Q&A with some of the top digital service providers in the media industry. Each session will showcase 3 digital experts for your questions and ideas.
SESSION ONE:
Magazine Manager : Supercharging Your Sales: Automating sales methods to grow sales
January Spring: What marketing channels will your advertisers be buying in 2023 & beyond?
BLOX Digital: From your phone to your site, video is easier than you think!
Noon-1:15 pm: Power Lunch and Keynote featuring industry icon Bo Sacks – Sponsored by KODI Collective
The Future of Publishing in the 21st Century – How Publishing Will Not Only Survive, But Thrive!
Noon-12:30 pm: Lunch is served! Sit with a Sponsor and bring your Tour Card for more sign-offs!
12:30pm-1:15pm: Bo speaks
Spend your Niche lunch hour with a media industry icon! Bo Sacks will present an overview of modern media trends and offer actionable advice for publishing at the digital edge. Bo will discuss disruptive factors of changing tech and social patterns, offer analysis and market predictions of printed and paginated media, bust some publishing myths, and provide practical revenue ideas and examples to move your company forward in 2023 and beyond.
1:30pm-3:00pm – 4 Breakout Sessions: Choose Your Topic!
Breakout #1 – PUBLISHER STRATEGY TRACK: Why Every Media Company Needs a Podcast
Mike Blinder, Publisher, Editor & Publisher and Carl Landau, Podcast Host of “I Used to Be Somebody”/Pickleball Media
Podcasts are NOT old news! Carl and Mike will share their 10 best secrets and step-by-step advice for launching and monetizing your podcast: where the revenue is, how your niche topic podcast can stand out, drawing in new audience, converting listeners to your other channels (events, magazine, merchandise), getting started, taking an existing podcast to the next level, and more.
Breakout #2 – SALES TRAINING TRACK: 10 Sponsorship Sales Ideas to Grow Revenue
Jayme Johnson-McKelvey, VP of Sales, MD Publishing
Looking for ways to boost revenue for your publication, website, or event? During this 90-minute session, Jayme will present 10 of her favorite revenue-boosting ideas. From cover sponsorships, to digital supplements, to scavenger hunts, and more; Jayme will explain each idea, outline the sales process, and show the resulting revenue. Participants will walk out of this session ready to turn these ideas into action!
Breakout #3 – AUDIENCE GROWTH TRACK: A Simple Strategy to Grow Any Digital Media Business
John Bennett, Partner & Digital Media Strategist, Nearview Media
Learn how to generate more revenue and grow your audience online. In this 90-minute session, John Bennett breaks down the digital revenue pipeline, shows you how to simplify your approach to digital media, and gives you concrete steps you can execute on to significantly grow digital revenue. This approach works for any kind of publisher: B2B, consumer, or city & regional media.
Breakout #4 – TECH TALKS DIGITAL TRACK: New & Emerging Technology Tools & Tactics for Revenue (Not a Sales Pitch!)
Looking for new technology and partners that can drive your revenue UP? Save time by attending this “all in one” track for case studies, product overviews, and lots of Q&A with some of the top digital service providers in the media industry. Each session will showcase 3 digital experts for your questions and ideas.
SESSION TWO:
MagHub: From “Oh No!” to “Oh Yeah!”: Boosting revenue with inventory management done right!
AdCellerant: Pre-and post-sales tools to sell & retain more digital dollars
Ad Sales Genius: Old ways won’t open new doors!
3:00pm-3:30pm – Sponsor Tour Card Break: Meet your next resource partner & get those Sponsor Tour Cards signed for a chance to win a free pass to the Niche Media Conference in 2025!
3:30pm-4:30pm: Closing Power Keynote: Unlocking the Power of LinkedIN
Colleen McKenna, Founder & CEO, Intero Advisory
We all know that LinkedIN is an amazing tool, but do you know how to harness the power of this important social platform and leverage it to grow your business? LinkedIN expert Colleen McKenna will host a fun and interactive session and show you LIVE how to use LinkedIN to grow your professional network, unlock sales revenue, and grow your media company’s marketing efforts.
5:00pm-6:00pm: HAPPY HOUR & CHICAGO BLUES PARTY – HOSTED BY 032 OUTSOURCING AND JANUARY SPRING!
Join us for fun, drinks, and blues music in the Radisson Blu Garden, outside on ground level.
6:00pm–Midnight: Dinner on your own. Afterwards, join your Niche Media Conference friends at the lobby bar onsite at the hotel for local cocktails and great conversation. Looking for a great place to eat? Click here.
Friday, April 19, 2024:
8:00am-3:00pm: Show Office and Registration Open
8:00am-9:00am: Hot Breakfast / Morning Coffee Roundtables. (Eggs, bacon, potatoes, yogurt, muffins, coffee & tea.)
9:00am-9:45am: Morning Power Keynote: Magazine (Re)View LIVE! – Live review of magazine design for revenue and readership. Will your magazine be featured?
Jim Nissen, President & Creative Director, Command+Shift+Option
Late night on Bourbon Street? Get ready to jump out of your seat during this exciting magazine design review featuring Jim Nissen, the brains behind dozens of successful magazine rebrands and redesigns. Jim will take us live, page by page, through a current magazine’s issue, exposing key design decisions that can set your magazine apart, create intense reader engagement, and build valuable affinity for your advertisers. Go from “Duh?” to “Design!” during this lively kick off to Day 2 at the Niche Conference. You will laugh, clap, and start considering your own publication tweaks!
10:00am-10:30am – LAST CHANCE! Sponsor Tour Card Break: Meet your next resource partner & get those Sponsor Tour Cards signed for a chance to win a free pass to the Niche Media Conference in 2025!
10:30am-Noon – 4 Breakout Sessions: Choose Your Topic!
Breakout #1 – PUBLISHER STRATEGY TRACK: Power Publishing Streamlining Secrets
Vatrice Chestnut, Chief Relationship Officer, Affinity Media Consulting
If your entire team groans when you ask them to “go talk to production”, this is your session! Vatrice will share ways to streamline communications in print production, workflows, and other processes for efficiency, cost savings, better advertiser service – and fewer eye rolls from the team!
Breakout #2 – SALES TRAINING TRACK: Handling the 10 Most Common Media Sales Objections
Nancy O’Brien, Associate Publisher, Aviation International News
Financial concerns over inflation, supply chains and world conflicts have brought real doom and gloom to the usual sales objections. Help your advertisers understand that the show must go on – for both of you! Nancy will share her tactics for overcoming common sales objections, plus lead discussion in the room for your peers’ tips and tricks.
Breakout #3 – AUDIENCE GROWTH TRACK: Creating Behavior-Based eNewsletter Lists
Patricia McGuinness, President, SBM Audience Development
Email marketing open rates have been considered a reliable performance indicator — not anymore! Apple’s new privacy feature (MPP) has changed the game. It’s time to take a hard look at how your audiences are currently segmented and what changes you can implement to ensure you reach the most engaged audiences possible. In this session you will learn how Apple’s MPP is skewing open rates, why limiting eNewsletter sends to opt-ins only could be the wrong move, and how to re-imagine your eNewsletter and promotional lists to increase engagement and advertiser satisfaction.
Breakout #4 – TECH TALKS DIGITAL TRACK: New & Emerging Technology Tools & Tactics for Revenue (Not a Sales Pitch!)
Looking for new technology and partners that can drive your revenue UP? Save time by attending this “all in one” track for case studies, product overviews, and lots of Q&A with some of the top digital service providers in the media industry. Each session will showcase 3 digital experts for your questions and ideas.
SESSION THREE:
Baxter Research Center: Using research to drive the Advertiser-Audience connection
4Media: How to increase your online traffic, thanks to Google News and Google Discover
Omeda: Omeda talks with Business Report on scaling audience growth and revenue
Noon-1:15 pm: Niche Conference Wrap Up: 23 Takeaways to Use in 2023
Ryan Dohrn, Owner, Brain Swell Media and Niche Media Events
Noon-12:30 pm: Lunch is served!
12:30pm-1:00pm: Ryan speaks
1:00pm-2:00pm: Sponsor Giveaways
Wrap up your time at the Niche Media Conference with a review of the top 23 Conference ideas to implement in 2023 for your business. Ryan will present this quick takeaways session to ensure you start work on Monday with a solid list of revenue to-dos and keep that Niche energy flowing!
1:00pm-2:00pm: Sponsor Giveaways-Over $5,000 in cash and prizes TO BE GIVEN AWAY!
After the Conference Wrap Up, each sponsor will be giving away a prize valued at $150 or more. 25 chances to win! Don’t miss this exciting conclusion to the event! **You must be present to win.**
The end… SEE YOU IN 2025!
The above schedule, topics, and speakers are subject to change.
*The TECH TALKS breakout track contains presentations by Publishers and Sponsors. These are NOT sales pitches! These are all proven ways to grow revenue with tools offered by our paid Niche sponsors and their clients.
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