Pinterest Told to “Get Green” by its Users and Greenpeace

solar panelsIt seems that no one has an excuse for not going “green.”

At a demonstration outside Pinterest’s headquarters in San Francisco, influential Pinterest users and Greenpeace activists asked the social network to use renewable energy to power its platform.

Mimicking Pinterest’s interface, the demonstrators set up two 15-foot by 13-foot “boards” with “pins” that stated, “Make Our Pins Green.” The featured “pins” were designed by Pinterest users who have almost five million combined followers.

The activists also set up a solar-powered café in a trailer with functioning solar panels, keeping the coffee hot with solar-powered burners.

Pinterest has 70 million users with 750 million boards and 30 billion pins but has yet to commit to a sustainable energy program.  Other tech companies have committed to using renewable energy including Apple, Google and Facebook.

Pinterest is powered by Amazon Web Services, whose data centers are only powered by 15 percent renewable energy. Greenpeace is pushing all major Internet companies to shift to renewable energy sources. It is inviting Pinterest users to join the campaign and share content from pinterest.com/greenpeaceusa/clickclean.

Writing a Powerful Sustainability Story as a Key to Effective Marketing

marketing sustainability as a story

Those of us who have more than one child know that to reach one may be quite different from how we reach the others. One size does not fit all. It’s the same way when communicating with your customers.

“Green” consumers can also be called “desirable” customers. They’re early adopters, 24 percent of the U.S. population, shop more frequently than most, are loyal to brands, and pay more for those brands. They also care about a company’s social and environmental story. How that story is told can turn them into customers.

Even if a company is sustainable, how they tell their story is what can make the difference for customers. The story needs to connect with their target audience. Distilling all sustainable practices into one main story will be one that aligns with the brand and taps into what their market cares about.

Speak about how your sustainability efforts contribute to the quality of your product. There will be a disconnect with the audience unless you craft the story to align with your brand’s market and corporate culture. When it does align, you’ll attract loyal, desirable customers.

At Visibility Marketing Inc., we help our customers close the gap. It’s not easy communicating to various audiences. We all have our filters. It’s our job to help you align your message, speak to your customers – not at them, and eventually turn them into loyal consumers.

Those consumers will spread their loyalty to those they touch. With social media, they can touch thousands.

10 Steps for Energy Efficiency

10 Steps for Your Business to Become Energy Efficient

“It’s not easy being green…”

That song from Sesame Street’s Kermit the Frog frequently pops in my mind when I think of becoming “green.” Kermit was lamenting about the hardships of being a frog. Some people may think that “going green” or becoming energy efficient is hard.

To help with possible reservations, The Small Business Administration (SBA) has made it a little easier for you. They have provided an area on their website called “Green Guide for New Businesses” which provides information on how businesses can adopt environmentally friendly and energy efficient businesses practices. These practices provide numerous benefits for new business owners looking to control costs, attract customers and become socially responsible.

Listed in this guide are 10 steps to help you develop an environmental strategy for your business. The list is below. Click the link that follows to get more in-depth information.

  1. Comply with Environmental Regulations
  2. Develop an Environmental Management Plan
  3. Build Green
  4. Buy Green Products
  5. Adopt Energy Efficient Practices
  6. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Wastes
  7. Conserve Water
  8. Prevent Pollution
  9. Create a Green Marketing Strategy
  10. Join Industry Partnership and Stewardship Programs

For some, like Kermit, it may not be easy being green. Some changes may result in increased costs. What is important, is that eventually, we will all benefit from “being green.”

Read more in-depth details about each of the 10 steps here – http://www.sba.gov/content/green-guide-new-businesses.