Project Summary

I conceptualized and led the execution of the first-ever Audible ACX Author Summit hosted on-campus in Newark, NJ. The immersive experience was strategically designed to strengthen relationships with nearly 100 of Audible's best-selling independent authors and their business partners. The event aimed to showcase product innovations and reinforce Audible's position as the premier audio partner for independent creators.

Impact and Takeaways

The summit was a resounding success, with 90% of attendees stating they were Extremely or Very Satisfied in post-event surveys. Effusive testimonials from top indie authors demonstrated the event's impact, with over 50+ earned social media posts collectively reaching 1.6M+ people.

The summit also generated significant external interest and engagement. Audible's owned social media posts about the event drove an engagement rate of 7.4% - nearly 3 times the industry benchmark. The summit content also achieved 684.8K+ total reach during the event week and resulted in 17 bespoke social videos from 120 minutes of interview footage.

Creator Testimonials

“The ACX Author Summit was seriously incredible. Someone pinch me. Anyone who knows me knows I’m passionate about my audiobooks, and I’m leaving with so many ideas and excitement for the future of my audiobooks.” —Sara Cate

“If making us feel appreciated as indie authors was one of the goals, I felt it was a tremendous success.” —Nathan Van Coops

“I’ve met so many talented writing colleagues, as well as some of the staff inside Audible/ACX that have been a huge part of my success. I’m feeling so grateful to have been invited, and to have met all these people.” —Chris Phillbrook

“I feel like I walked away with a genuine sense of Audible’s ethos and culture that I didn’t have coming through the door.” —Annabel Chase

Goals

  • ACCESS: Provide exclusive resources and information to harness the power of our creator tools and resources

  • CONNECTION: Foster meaningful peer-to-peer and creator-to-Audible relationships

  • LEARNING: Deliver actionable business insights for top ACX users with immediate practical application 

Programming

  1. ACX Past, Present, Future: Creator Products & Publisher Relations highlighted ACX's evolution and history along with upcoming innovations — enhanced analytics, flexible royalty models (ANRM), and our Voice Replica beta

  2. Top of the Charts: Tips for Discovery: Product Marketing hero’d tools and strategies for content discoverability along with insights into who our listeners are

  3. Audio and Beyond: Dove into expanding audiobooks into other creative formats like TV, film, and theater and Audible Books

  4. Making Waves: Marketing that Resonates: A panel with indie authors Mariana Zapata, LT Ryan, and Amy Daws on successful brand-building strategies

  5. The Power of Audio: Making Immersive Content: A discussion with author/narrators Erin Mallon and Nick Sullivan, plus Tim Kim on engaging listeners through audio-first storytelling techniques

  6. Keynote Speech: Internationally acclaimed writer and performer ALOK (1.6M Instagram followers) delivered powerful remarks on authenticity in creative expression and the poetry of being 

Experiential Hospitality & Activation Elements 

  • White Glove Travel and Accommodation:  Secured/managed flights for all attendees with proactive Newark airport contingency planning, rooms at TRYP Downtown Newark with on-site staff support and welcome gift bags, and shuttle service with staff escorts between hotel and venue

  • Welcome Billboard: Featured attendees' audiobook covers outside Audible HQ, creating social media moments and celebrating creator achievements

  • Pre-Summit Happy Hour: Networked at Audible Innovation Cathedral with campus tours, food and beverages, and AudiBowl access

  • Networking Lunch: Guests enjoyed "sound bite"-inspired dishes and conversation cards in Audible Innovation Cathedral, with ACX staff present to foster meaningful connections

  • Professional Headshots: Professional portraits for attendees with styling guidance, demonstrating investment in creators' professional development

  • Local Partnership Gifting: Featured a curation of gifts from Newark businesses including Red House Roasters, Aya Paper Co., and NORK! Project, reinforcing community ties 

  • Closing Celebration: Guests gathered at Dutch's Restaurant with specialty author-inspired cocktails and roaming photo booth, providing a relaxed environment for final networking and reflection

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