WESST PRESS RELEASES

WESST was honored to receive the first runner-up award in the Interactive Media/Website category at the New Mexico American Marketing Association’s 22nd Annual Marketer of the Year Awards Thursday, April 14, 2011, at the Hotel Albuquerque.

In contrast to other similar industry awards, the NMAMA Marketer of the Year is judged heavily on the results of a marketing campaign not just the creative elements and graphic design features of an entry.

Facing a number of challenges regarding WESST’s former website (i.e., the need to engage a diverse audience, improved functionality, compelling content, etc.), Nina Anthony, WESST Digital Communications Manager redesigned and oversaw a conversion and upgrade of www.wesst.org using a WordPress platform according to Search Engine Optimization (SEO) best practices. The result was a highly functional, search engine- and user-friendly website that contributed to an increase in the number of online visitors and their subsequent conversion to clients.

The Marketer of the Year Awards are typically given to commercial advertising agencies and other marketing consultants, however, in this case, WESST’s staff implemented all aspects of the site conversion in-house (except for the technical programming). “This recognition is a testament to Nina’s leadership and expertise, and we are proud to be the only award winner who created and implemented their campaign in-house”, said Agnes Noonan, President of WESST.

WESST, www.wesst.org, is a non-profit small business development organization with offices in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Gallup, Rio Rancho, Roswell and Las Cruces. The organization provides training, consulting and loans to entrepreneurs across New Mexico as well as business incubation services to members of the WESST Enterprise Center in Albuquerque.