Green Marketing 101

How to Promote Your Small Business

It is getting easier and easier to go green these days. Many small business owners are beginning to see the value of promoting an ecologically focused marketing campaign. The thick glossy brochures of the past are, well, a thing of the past. Today, companies are focusing their efforts on more online presentations of their products and services, or perhaps even in a new promotional item.

Remember every year your parents used to receive the desk calendar from their insurance agency or perhaps a wall calendar from the local bank? These were nice gifts that promoted their business and provided the client with a service, but they sure killed a lot of trees. Today's businesses should be finding more ways to reduce the waste to landfills, recycle, manage wastewater and by all means advertise that you are doing so. Your customers will be happy to solicit a business that is environmentally concerned.

You may be asking, that sounds great, but how do we do that? A number of eco-friendly promotional items are available today to replace those tree destroying print brochures. If you are looking for gifts in apparel, try some of the organic or bamboo products such as t-shirts, ball caps, sweatshirts and bags.

Other great promo options include recycled products. Recycled pens, pencils, yo -yo's, license plate holders, key chains, mugs and many other printable items are available to tell your customer that you not only care about them but also the planet we inhabit. Corn plastic is being used for luggage tags and clipboards and you can even find some terrific biodegradable gifts like cups, golf tees and tote bags.

Solar power is on everyone's minds these days. Why not send your best clients a solar calculator, flashlight, picture frame or even a solar flash drive. Flash drives are one of the top sellers and clients love them.