Ecofriendly Marketing Tools
People around the world are making conscious efforts to conserve energy, reduce landfill waste and eliminate the release of harmful toxic chemicals into the atmosphere. There is a strong desire to become more eco-friendly in all aspects of life to create a healthier planet and reverse the effects of global warming. Businesses can also play a role with the use of "green" marketing techniques that appeal to customers committed to saving the environment.
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Digital Marketing
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The popularity of computers has opened up a whole new type of digital marketing that lessens the amount of thrown-out paper and eliminates chemical waste released during manufacturing and printing processes. The downloading of computer software and movies avoids the energy consumption to produce these products and their packaging. Businesses can send potential and regular customers and clients emails featuring advertisements or electronic newsletters about special events or sales. More businesses are offering online coupons to be printed out at home, if desired. A website is essential marketing that can also draw new customers through search engine results. Social media sites -- like Facebook and Twitter -- allow businesses to reveal sales and other news to loyal followers.
Promotional Items
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Setting up a booth at business expos, festivals or other community events and handing out promotional materials is another way that businesses advertise and market their products and services. A logo and website can be printed on a host of items that are biodegradable, recyclable, organic or reusable. Most promotional product companies offer eco-friendly options -- from pens, to pencils, rulers, tote bags, notebooks, water bottles, clothing, mouse pads, seed packets and more. A company will gain the respect (and hopefully business) of passersby who receive these free giveaways that show a company's interest in conserving the environment.
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Green Print Materials
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Business cards, brochures, door hangers, posters and letterheads are all essential marketing materials that a business needs to advertise and create a brand identity. Plantable business cards are both interesting and practical. These cards are biodegradable and contain flower seeds. When buried in soil and watered, flowers grow. Commercial printing paper and product packaging can be made from recycled materials, and printing ink can be soy-based. Petroleum-based ink may lead to the release of toxic metal waste into the soil and air. According to Green Graphics and Printing of California, soy-based ink releases significantly less toxins and has a brighter print quality and quicker degradability when the paper it is printed on is recycled.
Verbal Promotion
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Although cordless phones use energy, telemarketing eliminates the harmful effects of paper littering and manufacturing waste. The existence of caller I.D. on most home phones sometimes makes this method more difficult. Homeowners simply won't pick up the phone if they don't recognize the number or caller name. Still, business promotion through phone calls is a viable option that produces results, although federal and state laws must be followed, reminds the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Consumer Protection website. Of course, businesses can always revert back to the old-fashioned eco-friendly technique of verbal shouting on the streets in front of the business to draw in customers and encourage word-of-mouth advertising.
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