Recently in Green Promotion Category

Where's the beef? Well...meeting value, that is.

Architect Scott Simpson described a concept KlingStubbins called a team structure and the industry now calls Integrated Project Delivery (IPD). The concept is key for a collaborative project approach, but its importance is more universal. The phrase that stuck with me was "decision-ready information".

Decision-ready information consists of the key facts required for a meaningful, final decision about a subject to be decided.

In an IPD project, major decision-makers are expected to attend every meeting, so that decisions made in the meeting have meaningful buy-in and closure. These meetings can be intense, not to mention very expensive.
 

It's the responsibility, therefore, of each team member to bring decision-ready information for the decisions on the agenda.

Wouldn't this information design approach make meetings more valuable...and engaging!

The green marketing opportunity here is to demonstrate the sustainability, incentives, and cost saving attributes of your green solution.  Manufacturers can arm their representatives with decision-ready information.

Think about what information -- what key metrics and performance demonstration --  about your product might drive project decisions, and make sure it's available in an easy format for your representatives to bring to the table.

Read more at BuildingProductMarketing.com

USDA's proposed BioPreferred eco-labeling program that will identify "bio-based" (i.e., made out of agricultural, forestry, or marine-based ingredients) products and packages.

The USDA "BioPreferred" list includes "BioPreferred" list include PLA-based plastics, vegetable oil-based cleaning fluids, and soaps made from natural ingredients--but not food or fuel.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making it easier for consumers to identify biobased products through the release of its proposed BioPreferredSM labeling rule. USDA's BioPreferred labeling program, published today in the Federal Register, intends to create a product label that would appear on qualifying BioPreferred biobased products. When final, this regulation will allow biobased product manufacturers to participate in a voluntary labeling program to identify biobased products on retail store shelves. "Increasing the purchase and use of biobased products is a priority of the Obama Administration because it helps increase our nation's energy security and independence by using American agricultural products, while spurring economic development in rural areas," said Vilsack. "Consumers want to make more informed product choice decisions and BioPreferred will help them. This label will help consumers, businesses and Federal government purchasers easily identify biobased products." Manufacturers will be able to utilize the BioPreferred label, when finalized, to help customers identify their products as biobased. Currently, USDA has identified more than 15,000 commercially available biobased products across approximately 200 categories, from cleaning products to construction materials. Biobased products are available to consumers today and the new label will help make these sustainable products more accessible and serve as a valuable marketing tool for manufacturers and vendors of biobased products. Biobased products are products that are composed wholly or significantly of biological ingredients - renewable plant, animal, marine or forestry materials. A BioPreferred designated item is one that meets or exceeds USDA-established minimum biobased content requirements.

This Federal Register notice announces the program's intent to create and make available a voluntary product label for increased commercial and consumer promotion of biobased products. USDA, through the publication of this draft rule, seeks to notify and gather feedback from interested groups and the public-at-large on this process. More information about BioPreferred's proposed labeling rule can be found at www.biopreferred.gov or contact BioPreferred at biopreferred@usda.gov. BioPreferred encourages interested parties to submit comments on the proposed rule until Sept. 29, 2009. To submit comments go to http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-17610.htm. The BioPreferred program was created by the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (2002 Farm Bill) as a preferred procurement program to increase the purchase and use of biobased products within the Federal government. The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill) expanded the program's scope to promote the sale of biobased products in other sectors.

BioPreferred is comprised of two programs: a preferred procurement program for Federal agencies and a voluntary labeling program for the broad scale marketing of biobased products. A complete list and detailed description of each BioPreferred designated item, and items for future designation, can be found at www.biopreferred.gov or follow BioPreferred at http://twitter.com/BioPreferred

Do you have (or know of someone who has) a company producing green, sustainable, or high performance solutions?

We are launching a "green directory with a difference" -- you get a real opportunity to tell your green solutions story in the listing!  Up to 600 WORDS...and your listing can be included in FIVE categories. 

We also include BOTH Business-to-Business and Business-to-Consumer categories.  IF we don't have the right category for your solution -- let us know and we'll seriously consider adding it.

The SolutionsforGreen.com site is highly "search engine optimized" and the listings will probably appear higher on Google searches than your own company's listings for key word phrases.  We work hard at building a robust platform of sites to help drive traffic to the directory.  We're serious about greening our world...and want to help others who are also serious about the challenge facing us.  And who have solutions!

We would  love to have your company, nonprofit organization...or even public agency list your green products, green services...and green programs.  You don't have to be in the commercial market.  You just need SOLUTIONS!  Employee programs.  Festivals. Innovator groups. The broader the variety of solutions, the better! 

"Necessity is the mother of invention"...my mother taught me.  And we have necessity.  Now it's time to implement some great, innovative solutions.

And then get the word out for replicating good results.  So add your listing, already :-)

SolutionsforGreen.com

The fourth annual Industrial Marketing Trends Survey conducted by GlobalSpec shows that 48% of industrial marketers are shifting a greater percentage of their budget online, but less than one-third of industrial marketers are allocating more than 50% of their budget online.

Based on GlobalSpec research, here is a look at today's top trends in online marketing:

The economy is impacting marketing approaches and objectives.
In light of the current economic climate, customer acquisition, lead generation and customer retention have become more important than ever before.

• 44% of respondents to a recent survey stated that customer acquisition is their primary marketing goal,
• 29% indicating that lead generation is most important.
• 13% indicated that customer retention is their primary goal in 2009, up from just five percent in 2008.

Companies are still focused on gaining new customers, while maintaining their current client base.

Measurement is key.
The demand for marketing accountability is stronger than ever, with smart marketers devoting resources to programs that can be measured.

• 69% stated that they will closely evaluate the performance of marketing options and reduce or eliminate non-performing programs,
• 53% are choosing marketing programs that are measurable.

Online programs naturally lend themselves to measurement, as they allow you to track exposure, clicks and conversions -- demonstrating the performance of your marketing.

Lead quality trumps lead quantity.
Respondents to our survey stated that the quality of leads is the most important factor when deciding where to allocate their marketing budget.

Lead quality scored 9 out of 10 in importance, while lead quantity scored 7.3.

Sales would rather have a handful of highly qualified leads than a long list of anonymous Web clicks. Target online programs where prospects are searching for information, products and services, delivering quality leads with contact information -- offering your company sales opportunities instead of anonymous clicks.

Meeting Your Goals with Online Marketing
It's important to continue to market to and stay in front of customers and prospects, despite the realities of the current economy.

Ask media partners how they can specifically help you meet your marketing objectives, whether they are lead generation, brand visibility, penetration of new markets or all of the above.

 

Get your exercise while you get your message around town!

Advertising bikes are a new medium of communication.  Bicycle billboards are designed to be   fun, exciting, eye catching and respected by the public for the human power required to ride all day long.

One company in Australia has developed Bicycle Billboards as a sustainable form of outdoor advertising they can be directed to a wide variety of markets.

www.spaceads.com.au

But... sustainable isn't just about the fuel used in the vehicle that drives around town.  Or the vehicle.  It is also about how the signs are made -- do they use environmentally and socially responsible materials and processes?  It is also about the safety of the bikers and the other people on the street.  And it is about the messages on the signs. 

If all those considerations are also carefully and thoughftfully taken into account, bike advertising could be considered respectful messaging.  

Barach Obama's campaign mastered the use of social media.  This slide presentation points out the seeds of that mastery for growing a movement...not just advertising it.  Excellent points to consider in social marketing and social change marketing.

Gaming is rapidly becoming the phenomenon equal to the explosion of the Internet on the communications scene. If you're not familiar with the role of gaming in today's business, advertising and public discourse, you might want to click your way through this overview of today's gaming world. Gaming is strategy. Gaming is revenue...in the making for a wide swath of the business marketing and communications sectors.

The Environmental Paper Network is a diverse group of environmental organizations joined together to support socially and environmentally sustainable transformations within the pulp and paper industry.  The Network developed the Common Vision as a framework to guide necessary shifts in production and consumption.

The following tools and resources are provided in an effort to increase the knowledge base regarding paper and its impacts and solutions for advancing innovation.
    

1.  Paper Purchaser's Guide

2.  The Paper Calculator

3.  Paper Related Statistics

4.  Educational Materials

5.  Reports

6.  Organizational Links

7.  Maps

8.  Pulp Tracking Forms

9.  Glossary of Terms