Web Marketing Association Honors Risdall Advertising Agency With Five WebAwards

NEW BRIGHTON, MINN. — The Web Marketing Association (WMA) recognized Risdall Advertising Agency’s (RAA) remarkable Web abilities by recently naming five of RAA’s client sites 2006 WebAward recipients.

Designing award-winning Web sites for BioScrip, Conwed Plastics, Smith System, Speech and Language Forum, and StormwaterAuthority, RAA met the WMA’s standard of excellence for Web site development.

“The WebAwards provide a benchmark for every aspect of Web development,” says John Risdall, chairman of RAA. “Not only has Risdall helped define and exceed that benchmark, but, more importantly, helped achieve our clients’ business goals.”

BioScrip
Launched in December 2005, the BioScrip Web site (http://www.bioscrip.com) created a distinctive new brand in the marketplace to align with the strategic direction of this merged company. RAA’s work reduced audience confusion, improved cross-sell opportunities and maximized brand awareness for BioScrip. The site received a Pharmaceuticals of Excellence WebAward.

Conwed Plastics
The Web site for Conwed (http://www.conwedplastics.com), which provides visitors with information about company’s technological innovation and global marketing capabilities, received a B2B Standard of Excellence WebAward. By using a grid Web site format for product detail pages, RAA was able to portray a variety of netting products in a simplified fashion, but with enough detail to show the exceptional quality of each product.

Smith System
RAA created a site for Smith System (http://www.smithsystem.com) that showcases how classroom furniture can create more effective learning environments. RAA helped Smith System reach its goal to assist school officials in selecting products by creating a 3-dimensional setting for planning classrooms. The Smith System Web site received the Institutional Services Standard of Excellence WebAward.

Speech and Language Forum
By creating an online community for speech pathologists, RAA received the Online Community Standard of Excellence WebAward for the design of the Speech and Language Forum Web site (http://www.speechandlanguage.com). The site reached the client’s goal of providing a forum for experts to communicate with other industry professionals.

Stormwater Authority
The StormwaterAuthority site (http://www.stormwaterauthority.com) was also honored with a Standard of Excellence WebAward. RAA created a site that became the leading online source for information pertaining to civil engineering and municipal specifications for stormwater treatment and applications.

RAA is a familiar face at the WebAwards. In 2005, RAA was honored with six WebAwards, totaling more awards won than that of all other Web developers in Minnesota.

According to WMA guidelines, the Standard of Excellence awards are given to sites that set the level to which other Web sites should strive to achieve. Each WebAward entry was judged against various criteria including design, innovation, content, technology, interactivity, navigation and ease of use.

About the WebAwards

The 10th annual international WebAwards competition sets the standard of excellence in 96 industry categories by evaluating Web sites and defining benchmarks based on the seven essential criteria of successful Web site development. The goal of the Web Marketing Association, sponsor of the WebAwards, is to provide a forum to recognize the people and organizations responsible for developing some of the most effective Web sites on the Internet today. Entrants benefit from a Web site assessment by a professional judging panel and the marketing opportunities presented to an award-winning Web site.

About Risdall Advertising Agency

Established in 1972, Risdall Advertising Agency has annual capitalized billings of $133 million and over 60 employees. Headquartered in New Brighton, Minn., Risdall Advertising is heralded as one of the oldest and most successful agencies in the Twin Cities market and is recognized nationally for its leading-edge interactive marketing capabilities. The full-service agency embraces an integrated approach offering marketing, advertising, public relations, promotion and collateral development, traditional and interactive media, research and fundraising capabilities.

John Risdall Chairman Risdall Advertising Agency 651.286.6702

Rose McKinney President Risdall McKinney Public Relations 651.286.6767