As you are most likely aware by now, Vision Advertising CEO Laura Briere, founded the World Green Business Association in 2007. We are absolutely committed to green living and “doing the right thing,” and this is very visibly demonstrated through the WGBA, our own policies (newly added to our site - check them out here), and as it directly relates to YOU, through our advice and marketing guidance.

The whole point of marketing is to make more money. That’s it. And it’s a beautiful thing. You need to drive traffic to your business to actually GET business. However - this doesn’t mean you need to spend a lot of money (misconception #1), or you need to have a ton of physical tools (misconception #2) to be incredibly effective. To that end, here’s some great tips as a follow up to my last blog post with the video of me talking to the North Central Regional Chamber of Commerce. They’re easy and profitable nuggets - so take notes!

Here are some standard ideas with some fantastic green (and $green$ - saving) alternatives:

1. Instead of printing your newsletter, have an e-newsletter.

no postage, no gasoline expenditure in USPS delivery, no printing, less layout, confirmed subscription list, less work, more chance of being shared, more opportunities to shorten the length and increase frequency (always a great thing in marketing), the recipients can keep it without resenting the desk real-estate it occupies

2. Instead of writing letters to your clients informing them of change, issue genuinely interesting press releases via email to them AND the media

no postage, no gasoline expenditure in USPS delivery, no printing, likelihood that you may get more business as a result of your newsflash, chance of positive press, someone else does the work

3. Instead of setting up physical meetings, set up web meetings

no driving, saves travel time, allows you to illustrate your points online, allows you to demonstrate your skill in real-time with BOTH parties being in their own home-turf, shows that you live in the digital age

4. Instead of providing physical proposals, email them.

no postage, no gasoline expenditure in USPS delivery, no printing, no paper waste, the reader can choose how big they’d like to read it, they can save it, they have less likelihood of losing it,

5. Instead of having paper brochures, have PDF brochures available on the home page of your web site.

no printing, no postage, no worry about envelopes, if someone wants to print it out, the onus is on them and so is the bill!

…and what are you going to do with all that extra money? How about some more PR? How’s your web site - is IT paying YOU? Maybe its time to invest in driving traffic to your web site with a kickin’ internet marketing and advertising campaign? Maybe your brand could use a boost?

By the way, that’s just a small sampling of alternatives to the mainstream and ways to reinvest the savings.

The Throwing of the Gauntlet

Let’s see how creative you are! I challenge you to post your best green marketing alternative ideas (or how you could reinvest the savings!) on this blog in the comments section. Show me how much you’ve been paying attention and we’ll give your business some positive exposure.

On Friday, January 11th, 2008, Vision Advertising sponsored the North Central Chamber of Commerce’s Breakfast, and as a thank you, CEO Laura Briere, was given the opportunity to be interviewed that morning and share her marketing expertise with the audience.

Watch the video - and learn about how we got started, who we work best with, when the best time to market your business is, what our service area is, what we do to get involved in the community, and the best advice your business is going to get all year. 5:39