Marketing Tips for Green Businesses
No matter what type of business you’re in, adopting “green practices” can increase your bottom line. Switching over to energy efficient power sources and reusable materials are not just smart for the environment we all live in but can save you money and increase your customer base.
When you started your business and created your business plan one of your initial goals was to develop your unique selling proposition or that special something that would help your prospective customer to take interest in your business over a competitor’s.
Well, being known as a conscientious “green business” is one attribute that will set you apart from competitors who are not taking steps to be sustainable and caring members of their local and global environment. You definitely don’t want to be lumped in the group of businesses that are not conscientious about their behaviors and the world around them.
In a recent feature of the journal “The Environmental Leader” National Restaurant Association Sr. Vice President of Communications, Sue Hensley, reported the following:
“There is growing interest by consumers in wanting to frequent restaurants or feeling more positive about frequenting restaurants that are instituting green practices and I don’t see consumers’ interest waning in that area.”
In terms of profitability, The Environmental Leader suggests that developing marketing strategies to promote your “green business” can really help to increase your business’ bottom line. For instance if you’re saving money by switching over to energy efficient lighting and sustainable supplies – like reusable printer cartridges – don’t consider that ho hum news.
That’s the kind of information that’s turning you into a green business and a green business carries a lot good will with customers today.
Here are some marketing tips for green businesses that you can use:
- Identify your goals – do you ideally want to cut costs or build an image as a leader in your sector for environmentally responsible behavior?
- Be conscious of your bottom line and start small, if necessary. You definitely don’t want to lose money by investing to much, too quickly. Consider reducing energy since there are immediate savings with that strategy and changes can cost you very little to nothing. For instance, unplugging chargers when they are not in use, is just smart and creates savings. Switching to LED lighting will cost more initially, but will save you in the long run since these energy efficient lights last a very long time.
- Identify suppliers who are known for their green practices. There might even be opportunities for you to participate in an affordable joint promotional venture with these suppliers.
- Keep yourself informed and educated on best practices in managing a green business. Local chambers of commerce and online learning organizations for small businesses are great sources for efficient, affordable or free courses on this topic.
Look at adopting green practices as a smart way to market your company to engaged prospective customers and even the media, who are always interested in focusing on companies that stand out from the crowd.
What are you doing or planning to do to adopt some green practices in your company?
To your success,
Sharon
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