Going green is becoming increasingly popular, people are becoming more aware of how much resources we are taking and how it is effecting the world we live in. If you’re not thinking of it, time to jump on board and think of how you can go green – digitally.
Okay, but how can I go green digitally?
Did you know that it takes over 10 trees to make 10,000 booklets?
Instead of printing pamphlets, brochures, annual reports, newsletters, flyers, catalogs etc, simply upload these to your website and send an email letting your consumers know about it and where they can find it. Not only are you then reducing the carbon emissions, but are also reducing the environmentally hazardous materials used in the printing industry. Double whammy!
Use the internet to market your business or product. You will save money, be able to track your Return on Investment, and you will be targeting people who are actively looking for what you offer.
Why is Email Marketing better than Printing flyers?
Email marketing is not only eco-friendly but it is also much more cost-efficient and way more effective than a normal flyer or print newsletter as it goes directly to their inbox.
Email marketing can be used in so many ways, from driving traffic, to special offers, to re-enforcing the brand.
What is really beneficial about it is the detailed reporting. With email marketing, you can target consumers that will benefit from what you have to say, it’s not a case of handing out a thousand pamflets and hoping someone calls back, the chances are much higher when an email list is segmented – and you can target anyone in the world, not just people in a specific area. With email marketing, you will know who is not receiving your emails and why, which helps with keeping data up to date. It is possible to see the success rate of a campaign and measure what people are wanting more of – and less of. Polls and surveys are instantenous with e-marketing. Bet you don’t have all these benefits with traditional print marketing hey?
Do you offer print newsletters? Not a problem, consider offering an e-newsletter. What about billing – also, got you covered. Send e-bills whenever possible to your clients. Give them a discount for signing up for e-bills and automatic payments. If you don’t have to send them a bill in the mail and they don’t have to send you a cheque, you’ve cut down on carbon emissions from the transport and you’ve cut down on paper.
But please, do remember to get permission from the people you want to communicate with and don’t spam them with every thought that pops into your mind. Most people assume the sending and reading of email is environmentally friendly because it’s paperless. But it seems everything has an impact on the environment these days, and sending a lot of unwanted emails can really add up.
Another small idea is to put a ‘think before you print’ on your email signature, just for an extra precaution.
Website Hosting
These days, everyone has a website. Even though, a website is much more green than printing, it can go even further! There are so many web-hosting companies out there that offer eco-friendly web hosting that it is easy to go that extra step – and the great thing about web hosting, is the hosting company can be anywhere in the world!
How are they eco-friendly providers?
Some run entirely on solar and wind energy to reduce carbon emmissions, while others buy carbon credits and ‘pay back’ the carbon emissions that they create.
In a quick google search, here are some great greener hosting alternatives :
- ThinkHost – They plant a tree for every new customer!
- Sustainable Websites
- Elfon.com
Re-nourish recommendations for greener digital design:
Greener website, mobile application, and motion graphics projects should strive to incorporate the following guidelines into the design process.
Greener digital projects should:
- Be hosted by a company that powers their facilities with renewable energy (wind, solar, hydroelectricity), or offsets its non-renewable energy use by donating directly to renewable energy projects, or by purchasing certified carbon offsets through a legitimate program (such as Green-e; see glossary).
- Include a specially formatted print-friendly option designed to minimize paper waste for every web page created (css styles make this easy).
- Be produced on Energy-Star-rated equipment (visit US EPA’s Energy Star program).
- Be created by a studio that has a formal environmental policy in place, including an equipment recycling program and energy conservation plan. See Green Your Studio for more helpful tips.
Consider including an environmental-awareness component, or message about the environmental impact of the project.
