--- title: "Case Study: The Association of Alternative Newsmedia Conference" description: See how the AAN Conference achieved a 60% attendee opt-in rate for text updates with Subtext, streamlining event communications and boosting sponsor value. image: https://info.joinsubtext.com/hubfs/AAN%20Conference%20Imageg.png --- [![Subtext Logo](https://info.joinsubtext.com/hubfs/subtextlogo.svg "Subtext")](https://joinsubtext.com/) Menu - Customers Open Dropdown Close Dropdown [Newsrooms & Media Newsrooms & Media Headlines, current events, local news…](https://joinsubtext.com/v/media) [Music Music Artists, labels, festivals...](https://joinsubtext.com/v/music) [Sports Sports Athletes, game coverage, podcasts…](https://joinsubtext.com/v/sports) [Marketing & Commerce Launches, events, affiliate marketing…](https://joinsubtext.com/v/marketing) [Creators Creators Influencers, podcasters, thought leaders…](https://joinsubtext.com/v/creators) [Politics & Advocacy Politics & Advocacy Politicians, PACs, organizations…](https://joinsubtext.com/v/politics) - Features Open Dropdown Close Dropdown [Features Overview Features Overview View all Subtext features at a glance](https://info.joinsubtext.com/features?hsLang=en)[The Subtext Platform The Subtext Platform Broadcast composer, subscriber inbox...](https://joinsubtext.com/f/subtext-platform)[Subscriber Growth Tools Subscriber Growth Tools Landing pages, embeds, keyword sign-ups...](https://joinsubtext.com/f/subscriber-growth-tools)[Engagement Tools Engagement Tools Auto-replies, SMS surveys, drip sequences...](https://joinsubtext.com/f/engagement-tools)[Audience Segmentation Audience Segmentation Audience tags, segments, personalization...](https://joinsubtext.com/f/audience-segmentation)[Analytics, Subscriber Data & Reporting Analytics, Subscriber Data & Reporting Monthly reports, live analytics, 1st party data...](https://joinsubtext.com/f/analytics-reporting) [API & Webhooks API & Webhooks SMS API, subscriber management...](https://joinsubtext.com/f/api-webhooks) [Security, Compliance & Support Security, Compliance & Support 10DLC registration, audit logs...](https://joinsubtext.com/f/security-compliance) - [Case Studies](https://info.joinsubtext.com/case-studies?hsLang=en) - [Blog](https://info.joinsubtext.com/blog?hsLang=en) - [Log In](https://joinsubtext.com/dashboard) - [Book a Demo](https://joinsubtext.com/#sign_up) ![AAN new logo header](https://info.joinsubtext.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AAN%20new%20logo%20header.png?width=227&height=79&name=AAN%20new%20logo%20header.png "AAN new logo header") ### From Zero Phone Numbers to 60% Opt-In: AAN Conference Success The Association of Alternative Newsmedia partnered with Subtext to provide a direct, streamlined communication channel for their annual conference. [Talk to an SMS Expert](https://info.joinsubtext.com/book-a-demo?hsLang=en) ![AAN Header new](https://info.joinsubtext.com/hubfs/AAN%20Header%20new.png "AAN Header new") ###### Challenge The [Association of Alternative Newsmedia](https://aan.org/) Conference brings together leaders from independent news organizations across the country. With 142 attendees and a multi-day schedule of sessions, panels, and networking events, AAN needed a reliable way to keep participants informed in real time. There was one major hurdle: AAN did not collect attendees' phone numbers during registration. Without this, they had to build awareness and drive sign-ups for a new communication channel both before and during the event. ###### Solution 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!”* This positioned the text channel as not only a service to attendees but also an added benefit for sponsors. ![AAN Conference - Broadcast Example](https://info.joinsubtext.com/hubfs/AAN%20Conference%20-%20Broadcast%20Example.png "AAN Conference - Broadcast Example") ###### Results 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. ![Horizontal Quote AAN](https://info.joinsubtext.com/hubfs/Horizontal%20Quote%20AAN.png "Horizontal Quote AAN") ![AAN Results new](https://info.joinsubtext.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AAN%20Results%20new.png?width=800&height=196&name=AAN%20Results%20new.png "AAN Results new") Start Your Success Story Today [Talk to an SMS Expert](https://info.joinsubtext.com/book-a-demo?hsLang=en) ### [See All Of Our Customer Success Stories](https://info.joinsubtext.com/case-studies?hsLang=en) [![Buckeye Talk2](https://info.joinsubtext.com/hubfs/Buckeye%20Talk2.png "Buckeye Talk2")](https://info.joinsubtext.com/buckeye-talk-case-study-0?hsLang=en) #### [Drive Revenue](https://info.joinsubtext.com/buckeye-talk-case-study-0?hsLang=en) Launched a campaign accompanying their successful podcast earning $50k in revenue [![MMA Shark3](https://info.joinsubtext.com/hs-fs/hubfs/MMA%20Shark3.png?width=404&name=MMA%20Shark3.png "MMA Shark3")](https://info.joinsubtext.com/mma-shark-case-study-0?hsLang=en) #### [Create a Business](https://info.joinsubtext.com/mma-shark-case-study-0?hsLang=en) Sports handicapper Paul the MMA shark turned his hobby into a business that earns $22k a month [![Prime Day Texts2](https://info.joinsubtext.com/hubfs/Prime%20Day%20Texts2.png "Prime Day Texts2")](https://info.joinsubtext.com/prime-day-case-study-0?hsLang=en) #### [Affiliate Marketing](https://info.joinsubtext.com/prime-day-case-study-0?hsLang=en) Drove revenue by delivering Amazon Prime deals directly to subscribers phones ### Ready to start texting? 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