Green businesses are especially challenged when it comes to marketing their products and services. You want to reach out to your target audience with a little green marketing but so much of the advertising avenues today are not environmentally-friendly. It feels almost contradictory to promote an eco product through a channel known for producing a lot of waste.
But it is possible to launch a marketing campaign that is easy on the environment. Below are a few green marketing tips for eco-friendly businesses.
Approach Green Websites
The perfect place to start your green marketing campaign is to get your product and service advertised on websites dedicated to talking about eco issues. From green parenting to running an eco conscious business there are websites dedicated to every area of life that can be improved by going green.
There are a variety of ad options available including banner ads and pay per click. However, because green products are still struggling with the stigma of not being as effective as their mainstream counterparts, a particularly effective green marketing move would be to send website owners a free sample of your product. You can then ask for an honest review of the product. A personal recommendation trumps all other forms of marketing.
Give Green Promo Items
If you are going to trade shows and conferences as part of your green marketing campaign, then you will probably want to give away free gifts with your business logo on them to keep your name at the top of minds of customers. While a good idea, you have to be careful because this is an area that produces a lot of waste.
Many businesses purchase cheap trinkets that customers glance at for a second before throwing away in the trash. Instead of adding to the rubble, stand out from the crowd by offering green promo items such as reusable shopping bags. At the very least give away items that will actually be used by recipient such as pens. You'll help reduce waste and reinforce your green marketing message of eco responsibility.
Green the Conventional
If you must advertise in mainstream media, look for ways to do so in a green way. Advertise in newspapers that use recyclable materials. Instead of leaving flyers at organic food stores, see if they are willing to let you print your green marketing message on the back of their receipt paper. If you want to do television, try to hire a production company that has green processes in place that keeps waste to a minimum.
The world is in the midst of a major change so it is understandable if you cannot always be eco-friendly in your green marketing campaign. Do the best you can with what you have and take comfort in the knowledge that eventually every facet of life will be eco-friendly.
By Stacy Kinney
But it is possible to launch a marketing campaign that is easy on the environment. Below are a few green marketing tips for eco-friendly businesses.
Approach Green Websites
The perfect place to start your green marketing campaign is to get your product and service advertised on websites dedicated to talking about eco issues. From green parenting to running an eco conscious business there are websites dedicated to every area of life that can be improved by going green.
There are a variety of ad options available including banner ads and pay per click. However, because green products are still struggling with the stigma of not being as effective as their mainstream counterparts, a particularly effective green marketing move would be to send website owners a free sample of your product. You can then ask for an honest review of the product. A personal recommendation trumps all other forms of marketing.
Give Green Promo Items
If you are going to trade shows and conferences as part of your green marketing campaign, then you will probably want to give away free gifts with your business logo on them to keep your name at the top of minds of customers. While a good idea, you have to be careful because this is an area that produces a lot of waste.
Many businesses purchase cheap trinkets that customers glance at for a second before throwing away in the trash. Instead of adding to the rubble, stand out from the crowd by offering green promo items such as reusable shopping bags. At the very least give away items that will actually be used by recipient such as pens. You'll help reduce waste and reinforce your green marketing message of eco responsibility.
Green the Conventional
If you must advertise in mainstream media, look for ways to do so in a green way. Advertise in newspapers that use recyclable materials. Instead of leaving flyers at organic food stores, see if they are willing to let you print your green marketing message on the back of their receipt paper. If you want to do television, try to hire a production company that has green processes in place that keeps waste to a minimum.
The world is in the midst of a major change so it is understandable if you cannot always be eco-friendly in your green marketing campaign. Do the best you can with what you have and take comfort in the knowledge that eventually every facet of life will be eco-friendly.
By Stacy Kinney
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