April 2016 - February 2017

Willamette Week is one of the most decorated newspapers in America. It is a Pulitzer-Prize wining alternative newsweekly published in Portland, Oregon best-known for its reports on local news, politics, arts and culture

As Willamette Week’s first-ever Digital Account Executive, I specialized in presenting the brand’s digital solutions (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, sponsored content, e-newsletters, run-of-site ads and event calendar listings) to new clients. I built an entirely new book of clients from scratch and managed all stages of the sales cycle including prospecting, qualifying new leads, formulating advertising strategies, presenting customized proposals, closing sales, collecting ads and artwork, working with the sales and production coordinator to implement and execute campaigns, approving flats and proofs, monitoring and optimizing ongoing campaigns, attending weekly sales meetings and trainings, measuring campaign performance and delivering results. In addition to leveraging digital opportunities to clients, I also sold into Willamette Week’s magazine titles, signature events and special print sections.

Highlights

• Prospected more than 1k local and national brands and managed successful relationships with more than 150 new advertisers that had never been previously contacted by Willamette Week sales reps. 

• Increased the department’s digital sales by more than 50% in my first 6 months

• Consulted clients with yearly marketing budgets of $150 - $85k

• Consistently earned a top 3 spot for highest digital, magazine, special section and event sales

• Attending the Association of Alternative Newsmedia in Portland in January 2017

Advertisers included: Cannador, High End Market Place, Jayne, NEVER Coffee, River City Bicycles, Inner Gate Acupuncture, Infinite Vision, Fashion NXT, WeVillage, Digital Smoke, MUV Training, Portland juice Co., the Unipiper, Stellar Pop, 1927 Smores Co., Green Mountain Energy, Secret Aardvark Sauce, Fulcrum Fitness, Aunt Fannies, Klum House, Margaret O’Leary, AVIDD Boutique, Adorn Body Art, The Warrior Room, Alberta Veterinary Care, Terrapin Events, Otter Wax, Meditation Hardware, Good IV, etc.

Photos by Henry Cromett