From Zero Phone Numbers to 60% Opt-In: AAN Conference Success

AAN partnered with Subtext to provide a direct, streamlined communication channel for attendees. Organizers promoted opt-ins through:

• Their weekly newsletter leading up to the conference
• Pre-event attendee communications
• A large poster with a QR code prominently displayed on-site

Once attendees signed up, the team used Subtext to deliver real-time updates like reminders, schedule changes, and evening event details. Scheduled messaging made it easy to plan ahead, while last-minute announcements (such as canceling boat tours due to weather) were instantly shared without confusion.

Subtext also became a valuable tool for sponsor engagement. AAN wove sponsor mentions directly into attendee texts, spotlighting contributions and encouraging visits to sponsor booths. Examples included:

• “Coffee Break—Please thank our sponsor, Vistar Media, for the coffee and snacks…”
• “Don’t miss your chance to win big! Visit AAN sponsors Launch It Labs, TicketSauce… they’re hosting drawings for prizes like a mini arcade and HomePods!”

Over the course of the conference, 83 attendees—nearly 60% of the total—opted into the Subtext campaign, despite phone numbers not being collected during registration. Nineteen texts were sent across the event, delivering timely reminders, sponsor highlights, and critical updates. The campaign saw just a 1% churn rate, underscoring the value attendees placed on the messages.

Subtext not only kept participants on schedule but also enhanced the sponsor experience, turning the text channel into a tool that served attendees, organizers, and partners alike.