Program Schedule
The conference program is still under development, so check back frequently.
Meanwhile, here are the important dates if you’re making travel plans:
Board Dinner 9/27
Board Meeting 9/28
Arrivals and Welcome Dinner 9/28
Awards and Farewell Dinner 10/1
Departure Day 10/2
TENTATIVE Program Schedule. Check back frequently as details get firmed up.
Thursday September 27
Afternoon
Board of Directors/President’s Council Arrivals and Check-in
6 - 9 pm
Board of Directors/President’s Council (and spouses) Dinner
Friday September 28
All Day
General Arrivals and Conference Check-in Desk Open
7:30 – 8:30 a.m.
Board of Directors Breakfast
8:30 – 5 p.m.
Board of Directors Meeting
6 – 7 p.m.
Welcome to Arizona Reception
7 – 9 p.m.
Welcome to Arizona Dinner
Saturday September 29
7:30 – 8:30 a.m.
Breakfast
9 – 10:30 a.m.
General Session Keynote Address: Samir Husni:
Opening the 2012 IRMA Conference will be “Mr. Magazine”, Samir Husni. Samir teaches and does research into our business at the Magazine Innovation Center, Meek School of Journalism and New Media at the University of Mississippi. Dr. Husni invites all member magazines planning to attend the conference to submit up to three of your best (or worst?) magazine covers which he will then critique in front of the entire group. How brave are you? If you wish to participate in this engaging and informative session, please send jpegs of the covers to Dr. Husni at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) no later than September 1, 2012.
10:45 – 12:15 p.m.
Cover Critique—Samir Husni
Lunch
1:45 – 3 p.m.
Breakout Sessions
- Editorial/Design – 10 easy ways to take your website from good to great!
- Advertising – Not-so-hidden nuggets – Accessible advertising research to enhance your sales efforts. Where to find it, how to use it.
- Circulation – Renewals – go get every last one.
Dinner
Enjoy dinner on your own with old IRMA friends or make some new ones! Check the dining guide included in your welcome packet and explore Scottsdale’s world-famous cuisine.
Sunday September 30
7:30 – 8:30 a.m.
Breakfast
9 – 10:30 a.m.
General Session Keynote Address: David Schreiner – What do mini-vans, happy hours and Sunday comics have in common? Marketing to the affluent, active, mature customer.
10:45 – 12:15 p.m.
Breakout Sessions
- Editorial/Design – Photography 101 – how staffers can shoot like pros.
- Advertising – Sure digital is seductive, but how does it sell pages? Do not give away digital to make the sale in print.
- Circulation – SEO/SEM – How to increase your website traffic and increase subscription orders.
Lunch
1:45 – 3 p.m.
Breakout Sessions
- Editorial/Design – Photoshop at its best.
- Advertising – Managing and motivating your staff beyond commissions and call reports.
- Circulation – Single copy sales – improving your newsstand performance.
3:45 p.m.
Coach transportation departs for a sunset dinner cruise aboard the Desert Belle on Saguaro Lake.
Monday October 1
7:30 – 9:00 a.m.
Breakfast and Annual IRMA Membership Meeting
9 – 10:30 a.m.
General Session Keynote Address: Sue Herskowitz-Coor – Doing Things Differently: Looking for a Second Right Answer.
10:45 – 12:15 p.m.
General Session: Annual Hits & Misses from Member Publications
12:30 – 1:45 p.m.
Luncheon & General Session Keynote Speaker Jason Baer – Demystifying Digital – making social media your best business asset.
2:00 – 3:15 p.m.
Breakout Sessions
- Editorial/Design – 10 In-Design tips and tricks that will make your layouts look spectacular!
- Advertising – Ways to support your magazine’s sales efforts. Bring your advertising sales promotion samples to share and discuss.
- Circulation – Beyond direct mail: alternative subscription acquisition via social media and other unconventional tactics.
3:30 – 4:45 p.m.
Breakout Sessions
- Editorial/Design – More creative non-fiction: even smaller magazines can do it!
- Bonus Session #1– Get your Mojo on! Can Mojo Pages work to bring a new source of revenue to your magazine?
- Bonus Session #2 – Gather with IRMA colleagues in a facilitated but open session delving into any topics that came up during the conference that need additional dialogue.
5:45 p.m.
Annual Group Picture
6:15 p.m.
Annual IRMA Awards Dinner Gala
Tuesday October 2
Departure Day
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Samir Husni – Head of the magazine program at the University of Mississippi and because of his wealth of publishing knowledge has been tagged with the moniker “Mr. Magazine.” Samir returns to open the IRMA conference and share his unique and insightful perspectives on the regional publishing industry. In a second general session, Samir invites you to submit up to four covers from 2012 and he will critically review them – in front of the entire group!
David Schreiner – “What do Mini-Vans, Happy Hours and Sunday Comics Have in Common?” David’s firm, Mature Market Strategies is designed as a consulting firm that enables him to share his unique knowledge of the affluent, active, mature customer. Clients will find Dave’s input invaluable in the areas of business, product, sales, marketing and customer service strategic development.
Jason Baer – Named by Fast Company magazine as one of America’s top 3 social media consultants, Jay is a digital marketing pioneer, having worked with more than 700 brands since 1994, including 29 of the FORTUNE 500. His blog at www.ConvinceAndConvert.com has been named the #1 content marketing blog, and is ranked by AdAge Magazine as one of the world’s top 20 marketing resources overall.
Sue Hershkowitz-Coore – Sue Hershkowitz-Coore is a corporate consultant, communications specialist and internationally recognized professional speaker. Sue is an uncommon fusion of teacher, published author, comedienne and Red Bull! Her IRMA topic is “Doing Things Differently: Looking for a 2nd Right Answer.” Too often we stop at the first right answer without exploring other more compelling possibilities. Why? No time, too much on our plates and, let’s face it, we’re pretty good at doing it the way we’re already doing it. Yet the second right answer, or third, may be the ticket to better results, increased rewards and greater respect.
We will also feature the ever-popular Hits and Misses (things that worked well for your magazine and others that turned out not to be such a good idea) so begin thinking about your candidates from 2011 for this lively session.