In this article we share 6 Sustainable Marketing Ideas for Small Businesses.
What has at first been considered as another passing trend is now a strong worldwide movement. With nearly 60% of customers expressing their willingness to start shopping more mindfully in order to help reduce their carbon footprint, and 66% of consumers saying they will pay more for eco-friendly goods, companies of all sizes feel the urgency to start catching up.
But the question is are small businesses able to invest in sustainable marketing? The answer is yes, they can. Here are 6 sustainable marketing ideas for small businesses that will help you align your brand with green practices and attract new customers.
Table of Contents
1. Rely on Digital Marketing
Digital marketing is much more eco-friendly than certain traditional marketing tactics, such as printed brochures and leaflets. And the best part about it is that it is affordable, even for small companies that operate on a tight budget.
Having a sustainable online marketing strategy means growing your customer base and revenue in an ethical way. A sustainable marketing strategy that’s aligned with your brand values will help differentiate your business from your competitors, maintaining a good reputation.
Sustainable marketing can create and boost interest in you and your brand, which in turn leads to more sales.
2. Use Sustainable Swag
A business with eco-friendly promotional products can not only save money but also attract loyal customers. Removing single-use products and integrating only reusable products is a great way to reduce the amount of trash you’re sending to landfills and show your audience how committed you are to creating a better place for them to live in.
High-quality, useful, and durable, sustainable swag ideas make an impact when your customers, clients, and employees receive them from your company. When they carry your sustainable branded swag, they will promote your company and display your brand name for years to come.
3. Collaborate with Other Green Companies
Partnering up with another company can be a great way to expand your customer base and boost your profits. However, because you are running an eco-friendly business, you need to make sure that your partners also care for the environment.
Start by researching potential collaborators to see if their values and operations are aligned with yours.
In addition, regardless of your niche and industry, consider hiring an eco-friendly company to collect and recycle your waste.
4. Create an Eco-Friendly Selling Point
Creating a green selling point where customers can test your products is a great way to show them that your business is eco-friendly and reaches a wider audience.
Your eco-friendly space should reflect your values and promote a healthy lifestyle with sustainable products, recycled materials, non-toxic ingredients, fewer chemicals, create less waste, and use eco-friendly energy (or use less energy than the competitors).
5. Use Eco-Friendly Logos and Insignias
If your brand manufactures green products and uses eco-friendly practices, you should also use a logo design and insignias that let your audience know that you are running a green company.
Eco-friendly brands often use earth symbols and green hues to communicate their sustainable values and practices. Consider using the standard symbol for recycling as a base for creating your own unique logo.
You can also use free online tools like Canva to create a simple graphics for social media that reflects your offering and sets you apart from the competition.
6. Promote Your Green Goals
Use your social media profiles, website, blog, and brick-and-mortar locations to promote your green goals and communicate with your customers. More and more people are interested in protecting the planet and they are willing to pay more to buy from companies with green goals.
So, once they are aware of your values, customers will appreciate your brand for trying to preserve the environment and reward it with repeat purchases.
Being transparent and answering all customer questions regarding your business and operations is a great way to build trust. You can also use videos from your production process to prove that you’re not green-washing but you are truly committed to sustainable practices.
Remember, word of mouth is still a very powerful marketing strategy and if your customers think that your brand is reliable, they will be more than happy to recommend you to others.
Final Thoughts
Starting is always the hardest part but things will get easier as you learn from your mistakes and adjust your sustainable marketing strategy along the way. The six ideas listed above can help you support your environmental values and attract customers interested in shopping from a sustainable brand.
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