The Niche Media Conference has 4 workshops + 4 tracks:
Publisher Strategy, Ad Sales Training, Audience Growth, and
Tech Talks (Digital Revenue).
2024 Agenda is in progress. Some topics and speakers below are subject to change.
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.
1:00pm-1:45pm: 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?
2:00pm-4:30pm: NICHE OPENING WORKSHOPS – Choose your focus for an afternoon full of revenue takeaways, brilliant hacks, and new ideas to make 2024 your best year ever! Set the stage for the rest of your Niche Media Conference experience + make connections to hang out with the rest of the week!
Workshop #1 – ALL NEW! Social Media & Audience Marketing Tips, Tricks, and Hacks: Back by popular demand, and updated for 2024! Bring your social media, audience growth, and marketing questions and challenges! We’ll spend the afternoon talking efficient social media 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 ready to share their tips!
Sponsored by Audativ
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 at SRDS. Bring your media sales questions and challenges to this fast-paced training afternoon!
Sponsored by SRDS
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.
*New for 2024 — this workshop is “closed door” for publishers only, without interruptions to the conversations!*
Moderated by Eric Shanfelt, Founding Partner at Nearview Media.
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.
*New for 2024 — this workshop is “closed door” for publishers only, without interruptions to the conversations!*
Moderated by Nancy O’Brien, Senior Director of Industry Affairs and Events, AIN Media Group.
4:00pm-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 Radisson Blu 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 Networking (Eggs, bacon, potatoes, yogurt, muffins, coffee & tea.)
Sit with your team, sit with new friends from yesterday, or sit with a stranger — it’s all about connecting!
9:00am-9:15am: Niche Media Conference Morning Kick-Off with $1,500 in prizes!
9:15am-10:00am – Opening Power Keynote: History Repeats: Lessons from 24 Years in Media
Christine Shaw, CEO & President of Naylor Association Solutions
Media is moving at the speed of light and the general feeling of most publishers and their teams can be summed up as overwhelmed. But all these things that are new often have common roots (and solutions) in things that were happening in media years ago! Christine will share her experiences and dig into some of the commonalties and truly new game-changers that are moving media forward — and how you can manage them. Take a deep breath, and take notes!
Christine Shaw began her career at Pennwell Publishing in 2000, and has held media leader positions since then with Future, InvestmentNews, and Farm Journal. She also hosted a weekly podcast series, Her Success Matters, focused on diversity, equity and inclusion with CEOs, industry leaders, and influencers.
10:00am-10:15am – 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!
10:15am-11:15am – 4 Breakout Sessions: Choose Your Topic!
Breakout #1 – PUBLISHER STRATEGY TRACK: Is Google a Publisher’s Friend, or Enemy #1?
Eric Shanfelt, Founding Partner, Nearview Media
Google has a growing presence in the publishing industry not only through technologies like Google Ad Manager, Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager, but through initiatives like Google News Initiative (GNI) and the funding it provides to publishers. Despite some positives, publishers should be wary. There are inherent conflicts of interest as Google is a major industry competitor while simultaneously playing a significant role in education and support for publishers. The ongoing federal antitrust case against Google highlights this complicated relationship. Eric will walk through evaluating publisher reliance on Google services, and how to differentiate your brands by offering unique products and partnerships that Google’s platforms can’t replicate.
Breakout #2 – SALES TRAINING TRACK: 7 Ways to Avoid Being Ghosted After Advertiser Meetings
Ryan Dohrn, Owner, Brain Swell Media
It has happened to us all. We have a great meeting with an advertiser. We’re very excited. They promised to meet with us in a week to follow up. Then… NOTHING! No response! What gives? Media sales veteran Ryan Dohrn will share his seven tips to keep the conversation going and avoid the game of silence that plagues us all.
Breakout #3 – AUDIENCE GROWTH TRACK: 6 Next Level Audience Development Strategies
Speaker(s) TBA
Ready to level up? This session will share six TRULY new strategies being tested right now by media brands and audience developers just like you! Bring your ideas to this session for an open discussion with peers on what’s working, what’s not, and what’s cutting edge.
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 brief “tech talks” from digital experts for your questions and ideas.
SESSION ONE:
Platforms and topics TBA
11:15am-11:30am – 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!
11:30am-12:30pm – 4 Breakout Sessions: Choose Your Topic!
Breakout #1 – PUBLISHER STRATEGY TRACK: Unlocking the Black Box of Magazine Distribution Revenue
Speaker & Topic details TBA
Breakout #2 – SALES TRAINING TRACK: 20 Habits of Media Sales Superstars!
Nancy O’Brien, Senior Director of Industry Affairs and Events, AIN Media Group.
Join this interactive session to learn the habits that engage clients, create opportunities, and close deals! Understand the repetitive actions that will help you sell more print, digital, and event sponsorships, while also keeping your sales life organized and on track.
Breakout #3 – AUDIENCE GROWTH TRACK: Breathing New Life into e-Newsletters for Reach and Revenue
Speaker & Topic details TBA
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 brief “tech talks” from digital experts for your questions and ideas.
SESSION TWO:
Platforms and topics TBA
12:30pm-1:45 pm: Power Lunch and Keynote featuring marketing icon Andrew Davis
Artificial Influence: Unleashing the Magic of AI for Niche Publishers
12:30pm-1:00pm: Lunch is served! Sit with a Sponsor and bring your Tour Card for more sign-offs!
1:00pm-1:45pm: Andrew speaks
In this exhilarating 45-minute session, Andrew Davis will explain how to use AI today without destroying valuable audience relationships. Andrew will introduce you to the AI Decision Matrix, a simple framework designed to help you implement AI that works like magic and avoids the pitfalls of AI sorcery. You’ll see the power of AI at work, LIVE, and experience its power to betray. More importantly, you’ll walk away ready to help your team dive deeper into the enchanting world of AI without ruining your audience’s trust.
1:45pm-2:00pm – 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!
2:00pm-3:00pm – 4 Breakout Sessions: Choose Your Topic!
Breakout #1 – PUBLISHER STRATEGY TRACK: Hiring Secrets of a Superstar Media Employment Recruiter
Robert Hawthorne, President, Hawthorne Executive Search
Topic details TBA
Breakout #2 – SALES TRAINING TRACK: 5 Steps to Increasing Your Digital Sales & Closing Ratios
Shannon Kinney, Founder & Client Success Officer, Dream Local Digital and Board Member, Local Media Association
How can you differentiate your digital services from the competition and stand above the crowd? How can reps of varying levels of digital knowledge sell with confidence? Shannon Kinney will explain how to arm your sales team, understand how to bundle print and digital solutions together to serve your clients, how to generate leads and promote successful solutions
Breakout #3 – AUDIENCE GROWTH TRACK: What’s Next? Digital Marketing Trends
Eric Shanfelt, Founding Partner, Nearview Media
Topic details TBA
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 brief “tech talks” from digital experts for your questions and ideas.
SESSION THREE:
Platforms and topics TBA
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: Afternoon Power Keynote: Driving Customer Loyalty Through the Roof: The Loyalty Loop
Andrew Davis
It turns out one of the most effective ways to grow our business isn’t filling a funnel with low-quality leads. Instead, treat your loyal clients as your most valuable asset. The Loyalty Loop leverages your existing clients (or subscribers) to drive a steady stream of highly valuable, high-margin, new business. Andrew will help you learn how to build anticipation, harness the honeymoon period, and drive inspirational moments that result in new business. Re-think the way you win over new clients and transform the way you service the customers you already own. Embrace the Loyalty Loop!
5:00pm-6:00pm: HAPPY HOUR PARTY IN “THE PARK” – 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-12:00pm: Show Office and Registration Open
8:00am-9:00am: Hot Breakfast / Morning Coffee Networking (Eggs, bacon, potatoes, yogurt, muffins, coffee & tea.)
Sit with your team, sit with new Niche friends, or sit with a stranger – it’s all about connecting!
9:15am-10:00am: Morning Power Keynote: Topic and Keynote TBA
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: Increase Digital Profit Margins: Top 3 Trends that will Make or Break Your Digital Growth
Shannon Kinney, Founder & Client Success Officer, Dream Local Digital and Board Member, Local Media Association
Get ready to tackle the three main areas that you need to accelerate your digital business! Shannon will cover how to expand your revenue and market share growth beyond your own website and email list. Whether you have a mature digital business that you’d like to increase, or you’re starting from scratch, this session will give you insights you can take back and implement immediately!
Breakout #2 – SALES TRAINING TRACK: Increasing Your Sales Credibility to Drive Your Sales SKY HIGH!
C. Lee Smith, CEO, SalesFuel
Only 1 in 4 U.S. adults views salespeople as credible in what they say and do [The American State of Credibility, 2020]. This means most salespeople start new business relationships from a position of weakness. Based on his 30+ years of research and proven success, Global Sales Credibility Authority C. Lee Smith will show you how to multiply your sales opportunities by attracting the high-value clients you want most, accelerating trust-building, and earning repeat business. Sales credibility is a pre-requisite to reaching “trusted advisor” status with clients. This session will enlighten both sales managers and executive leaders on what credibility is, the vital role it plays in sales, and how to use it to gain access to the people and information that close deals.
BONUS: First 50 attendees to the session will receive a copy of C. Lee Smith’s Amazon bestseller SalesCred®: How Buyers Qualify Sellers
Breakout #3 – AUDIENCE GROWTH TRACK: The Great Media Kit Makeover
Jim Nissen, President & Creative Director, Command+Shift+Option
Most publishers put a ton of work into their media kits, only to find out they are confusing to buyers AND to the sales team! This fast-paced, interactive session will look at a real publishing media kit for a real-time, constructive makeover to “make it rain”. Take notes for your media kit or bring a copy to show off and ask questions about — it can only get better! Additional tips include how marketing and sales can work together to create a useful, sales-closing media kit together, how to present print, digital and blended options, and more.
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 brief “tech talks” from digital experts for your questions and ideas.
SESSION FOUR:
Platforms and topics TBA
Noon-1:00 pm: Friday Lunch Power Keynote: 24 Revenue Ideas for 2024 in 24 Minutes!
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 24 revenue ideas to implement this year 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-2:30pm: Sponsor Giveaways-Over $5,000 in cash and prizes TO BE GIVEN AWAY!
After the Friday Lunch Power Keynote, each sponsor will be giving away a prize valued at $150 or more. 24 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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