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Archive for the ‘environmentally responsible’ Category

The 7 Keys to Responsible Marketing in 2 Minutes

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

Want to know what Responsible Marketing is about but don’t have the time to read our white paper on the topic?

Well, here’s “The 7 Keys to Responsible Marketing in 2 Minutes,” featuring the characters you’ve grown to love (or hate) in our Responsible Marketing web shorts.

View on YouTube

There ya go—with a video that short, now everyone has time to learn about Responsible Marketing. Share away.

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Tags: 7 Keys to Responsible Marketing, environmentally responsible, movies, outsource marketing, responsible films, responsible marketing, social responsibility
Posted in casting responsible, environmentally responsible, execution responsible, fun, message responsible, movies, roi responsible, socially responsible, strategically responsible, videos | No Comments »

Climate hype? Where there’s hype, there’s $

Thursday, October 15th, 2009

For Blog Action Day, I started crafting a post regarding the UN Climate Summit in Copenhagen in December, but then I realized, hey, this blog is supposed to be about Responsible Marketing!

Here’s an interesting Google Earth tour on the topic. Right after I’ll get to my real post.

View on YouTube

Okay, so I’ve decided it’s time for me to get something off my chest.

You see, I’ve been called a tree-hugger. A green-weenie. And most recently, an “eco-lib.”

Whatever. Sticks and stones and all that.

I doubt I’ll convince anyone reading this blog that thinks ~~climate change~~ global warming is just a liberal hoax that they’re wrong on the topic.

So I won’t try to convince you otherwise.

I promise.

But I do have a few questions for you:

Are you sick and tired of hearing about global warming, climate change and melting ice caps?
Do all the magazine covers, television shows and news programs on the topic drive you nuts?
Are you ready to unfriend everyone on Facebook that are constantly asking you to sign yet another petition or the world will end tomorrow?

If you aren’t buying the “eco-hype” I can see why you’d be fed up.

So don’t believe the hype.

But do you believe that wherever there’s hype, there’s a buck to be made on it? There’s a sucker born every minute, right?

Then invest in green technology.

Buy the products that save energy and money—there are plenty of them.

And since consumers overwhelmingly prefer buying from environmentally responsible companies, be an opportunist and take the steps to make yours one too.

If you aren’t going to do it for your mother, do it for yourself.

And make a buck while all the rest of us suckers worry about something that will never happen.

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Tags: Blog Action Day, climate change, COP15, Copenhagen, eco, environmentally responsible, Google Earth Tours, UN Climate Summit
Posted in environmentally responsible, socially responsible, videos | 1 Comment »

Responsible or not? Audi’s “Do Your Part”

Tuesday, October 6th, 2009

It ain’t so easy being green. Unless, of course, you buy a clean diesel from Audi.

That’s the message of this Audi A3 “Do Your Part” advert:

View on YouTube

I get the idea: Show you can be environmentally responsible without having to put yourself out. You can have it all.

Here’s one point of view from @motorad666 on Twitter:

If ads are supposed to make you want to buy stuff, the Audi A3 Clean Diesel ads are working on me, and I should know better. Good work, VBP.

And the counterpoint from @markapennington:

bike riding: green. bus riding: green. buying an audi: not green. http://bit.ly/hD8TN Is this “green-jacking”?

Some might call this greenwashing because it implies driving a diesel is as good or better than riding the bus or a bike to work.

But this ad’s greatest offense is that it mocks its target audience. Was the Members Only jacket and tie for the guy on the Segway really necessary?

So what do you think? Is Audi’s “Do Your Part” ad is Responsible Marketing or not?

Comment below to weigh in.

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Tags: A3, Audi, clean diesel, eco, environmentally responsible, green, responsible marketing, video
Posted in advertising, environmentally responsible, greenwashing, message responsible, responsible or not?, videos | 4 Comments »

Is your “Green Czar” an angel or a devil?

Friday, October 2nd, 2009

In 2006, we decided we needed get serious about greening Outsource Marketing after years of agreement about having an environmentally responsible workplace but no real plan to make it happen.

Since then, we’ve been recognized for our efforts and have even won a few workplace recycling awards.

The two secrets to our success:

Everyone at Outsource is required to sign our Green Pact. The Pact is our personal vow to abide by a list of rules we developed as a team regarding paper use, bottled water, use of cleaning supplies and such.
While several people were passionate about the idea, one person, dubbed our “Green Czar,” was given the responsibility and authority to lead the charge.

Some team members were perfect for the role: They motivated us to do what was necessary and made us feel good about the work we were doing.

Others? Well, let’s just say some people can drive you to drink.

So, what are some of the best practices you’ve seen in workplace recycling programs?

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Tags: environmentally responsible, green, movies, recycling, responsible films, responsible marketing, water cooler, workplace recycling
Posted in casting responsible, environmentally responsible, fun, movies, socially responsible, videos | No Comments »

Recycling: A Love Story

Wednesday, September 16th, 2009

He’s a muscle-bound, rough and tough lover of all things manly. She’s a petite girly girl that loves a nice glass of Chianti and long walks on the beach under the moonlight.

Learn how they meet, and what happens if you don’t recycle.

View on YouTube in HD

We dare you to litter in our parking lot. We double-dog-dare you.

ABOUT THE VIDEOS

This is the first of at least seven Responsible Marketing web shorts from Outsource Marketing. I say “at least” because we had so much fun doing these, we’ve already begun concept development on the next round.

As we launched our new responsible brand, we decided to crush any notions that Responsible Marketing might be boring—even prudish. Even the casual reader of this blog knows better.

While there are seven videos in this series, don’t expect them to focus solely on the Seven Keys to Responsible Marketing. Our goal wasn’t to preach responsibility.

Rather, it was to have some fun with the conflict every organization faces—that battle between commerce and conscience. Between doing the right thing or doing the other thing.

To accomplish this, we’ve put two characters you’ll know well into our everyday working environment to see how they’ll fare. Eventually we’ll cover all “Seven Keys,” but it will be subtle and not in this round.

THE RESPONSIBLE MARKETING YOUTUBE CHANNEL

The videos will be be posted weekly here on the blog and on most video sharing platforms. We’ve given special treatment to our Responsible Marketing YouTube Channel where I’ve favorited over 300 marketing videos over the last few years. Subscribe if you dig quality and/or controversial marketing vids.

While you’re there, take as moment to rate and comment on Recycling: A Love Story.

Thanks for watching, and whatever you do remember to “respect Mother Nature!”

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Tags: movies, outsource marketing, recycling, Recycling: A Love Story, responsible films, responsible marketing, video
Posted in announcement, environmentally responsible, fun, movies, outsource marketing news, videos, viral marketing | 1 Comment »

Call us small minded

Monday, August 31st, 2009

2009 Best Workplaces for Recycling - Outsource Marketing

We believe small things can have a big difference. That’s why printing on used paper and offering our guests a ‘glass’ of water, not a bottle, are all part of Outsource Marketing’s Green Pact.

This year Outsource Marketing is pleased to once again receive the award for Best Workplaces for Recycling and Waste Reduction 2009 from the King County. This is our third consecutive year receiving the award since the program’s inception in 2007.

This small award is already making a big difference in workplace recycling programs. In 2009 the number of award recipients increased 30% with 65 businesses receiving the honor. Rather than be one of the select few, we hope to be one of the select many.

Visit KCSWD to find out how your workplace can get involved in its own commercial recycling program.

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. . .

Thanks to Steven Goodell for his assistance in drafting this post.

Tags: Best Workplaces, King County, outsource marketing, recycling, waste reduction
Posted in announcement, corporate responsibility, environmentally responsible, socially responsible | No Comments »

Evian’s hip-hop roller babies: Responsible or not?

Thursday, July 9th, 2009

By now, you’ve probably heard about Evian’s new “live young” campaign featuring the roller babies.

You haven’t? Well, now you are in the know:

There’s a lot to like here: It’s fun, unique, the CGI was done well and who doesn’t love Rapper’s Delight? It’s the type of video you can hardly resist hitting the “share” button on and it’s really making the rounds.

Irresistable? Fun? Must be Responsible Marketing, right?

Well, yes and no.

Really, it depends on whether you think it’s possible for a company marketing a product many deem to be irresponsible can ever do Responsible Marketing.

Here are five reasons to not drink bottled water, from Lighter Footsteps and the Sierra Club:

Bottled water isn’t a good value
No healthier than tap water
1.5 million tons of plastic waste per year
Requires up to 47 million gallons of oil per year to produce
Creates a risk to marine life
Results in less attention to public systems

So what do you think?

Can an irresponsible product be marketed responsibly?

Comment below to weigh in.

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Tags: bottled water, environmentally responsible, evian, rapper's delight, responsible marketing, roller babies
Posted in advertising, creativity, environmentally responsible, responsible or not?, videos, viral marketing, word of mouth | 6 Comments »

Walmart’s sustainability efforts impress

Friday, June 12th, 2009

Like a lot of people, I’ve had my doubts about Walmart’s sincerity when they’ve talked about sustainability. No matter their green claims, I can’t get past the fact they sell more cheap stuff from China than anyone.

In contrast, Patagonia is a poster child for sustainable business.

Given the above, the following interview with Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia and 1% for the Planet is a bit of an eye-opener:

My favorite quote:

Every time we make a decision that’s right for the planet, it makes us more money—and they are convinced that they can also do that.

So what do you think?

Can Walmart do it?

And if they do, will it change your opinion of them?

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Tags: 1% for the Planet, Patagonia, sustainability, Walmart, Yvon Chouinard
Posted in corporate responsibility, environmentally responsible, greenwashing, videos | 3 Comments »

Shut off your lights at the office this weekend.

Friday, March 27th, 2009

In support of Earth Hour, all our lights will be shut off at Outsource Marketing this entire weekend. Mostly because I don’t want someone to have to come in and shut them off at 8:30 on a Saturday night.

Here’s what it all about:

On Saturday, March 28th at 8:30pm millions of people around the world will turn off their lights for one hour, Earth Hour to join the largest call to action on climate change in history. Through every flick of the light switch you are voting for our elected officials to take immediate and lasting action on the climate crisis.

We all have a stake. We all have a voice. We all have a vote.

Turn Out for Earth Hour. Vote Earth

So, send out an email now to everyone in your office right now.

Don’t leave it up to the cleaning crew to shut off all the lights. Do it before you leave the office today.

It’s easy, and I guarantee everyone in your company will be happy to participate.

And of course, you can shut your lights off at home tomorrow night, too.

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Tags: Earth Hour, eco, environmentally responsible, green
Posted in environmentally responsible, socially responsible | 8 Comments »