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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.