A Look Back at WTWH Media in 2014

If you asked me in 2006 where WTWH Media, LLC would be eight years later, I wouldn’t have been able to describe or predict how our business would unfold. When we launched, we bet the house (literally) that media consumption patterns would change and that marketers were going to require measureable results from their marketing investments. Luckily for us, our assumptions were correct, but we never imagined how the media landscape would evolve.

We again thank our first 36 sponsors as well as the 566 companies that invested in their marketing dollars with us this year. A special shoutout to our charter sponsors:

We remain very grateful for your trust and belief in our vision. We recognize that we are accountable to provide you with a measurable result from your investment. In 2014, we were fortunate to receive the trust and confidence of 566 companies in the manufacturing and renewable energy markets. Our new customers grew by 21% and this led to a 29% increase in revenue for WTWH Media, LLC in 2014. This marked the largest year-on-year revenue growth since we launched our business.

We ask three things from our team members: To love what they do, to believe in their team and give us their best everyday. When our team does this not only will they enjoy their career, but more importantly the business will benefit and they will help pave the way to create opportunities for the next person hired. In 2014, our team created 10 new career opportunities ranging from sales, marketing and graphic design to production and content development. We welcomed Mike Ference, Todd Christenson, and Megan Hollis to our sales team. Editorially, we are joined by Lee Teschler, Lisa Eitel, Aimee Kalnoskas, Danille Collins, David Herres, Kelly Pickerel, and Michelle DiFrangia. Meg Schneider, Jen Kolasky, Carli Evilsizer, and Nicole Loepp joined our team in graphic design and marketing.

Our footprint has grown considerably since launching Design World Online and Design World Magazine in 2006. We now manage more than 40-plus technical web sites, four print publications, an in-person and online events business as well as a host of marketing services. Our network of web sites delivered more than 32 million page views and we manage a growing database of 700,000 email names serving the design engineering and renewable energy markets. Our audience is amplified with social connections across Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, You Tube, LinkedIN and Google + with more than 850,000 connections in these growing social channels.

For the fourth consecutive year, we were named to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing private companies. Crain’s Cleveland named us 27th on their inaugural list of fastest growing companies in NE Ohio. And for the third consecutive year, we were ranked on the Weatherhead 100 list (88th), which celebrates entrepreneurship and celebrates success of innovative companies in Northeast Ohio. While being part of these recognizable lists is an indicator of success, the most notable award in 2014 was being named by Folio Magazine as one of the top places to work in media. This submission was written by our team members and not driven by me filling in a data request form. Creating a rewarding and fulfilling work environment is a very gratifying acknowledgement from our team.

In addition, our team members were recognized by the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) with the following:

ASBPE Design awards:

• Design World – National Bronze award 2014
• Design World – Regional Silver award 2014
• Design World – Regional Bronze award 2014
• Windpower Engineering & Development – National Gold award 2014
• Windpower Engineering & Development – Regional Gold award 2014

ASBPE Editorial awards:

• Windpower Engineering & Development – Bronze National award 2014
• Windpower Engineering & Development – Bronze Regional award 2014
• Solar Power World – Gold Regional award 2014
• Solar Power World – Silver Regional award 2014
• Design World – Editorial Editor’s Letter – Regional Gold award 2014
• Design World – Editorial/Editor’s Letter – National Bronze award 2014

ASBPE Social Media Online awards:

• Solar Power World – Gold National award 2014

In total, our team received 12 awards across our various media outlets. The company launched Fluid Power World as a print magazine with three companion vertical technology web sites. We hosted an inaugural one day marketing event: It’s All Marketing – attended by 100 marketing professionals. Our annual Top 400 Solar contractors Gala reached new heights with attendance and sponsorships. This individual and group success is a strong statement for a group of passionate and empowered professionals that love what they do, believe in their team and give their best everyday.

While 2014 is now in the rearview mirror, it is has proved to be a very gratifying and rewarding year for our company and team members. We are optimistic about 2015 and remain committed to deliver media on users’ terms while driving measurable results for marketers.

Thank you for doing business with us.

Willing to work harder,
Scott McCafferty
Co-Founder, Managing Partner