Business and Economy &Business of PR &Ecofriendly &Environment &market positioning &Marketing Communications &Thinking Green 28 Jan 2009 10:58 am
Public Relations & the Choice to Go Green
Are you going green? Do you know how to go green? At the Micro level, you might walk to the corner store instead of driving…or perhaps you turn off the lights when you leave the room. But at the Macro level, many companies have gone green in a big way. Earlier Eiler blogs have highlighted the benefits of “Green-ifying” your company and working with green organizations. I will point out the crucial role public relations plays after your company goes green.
Companies that go green are preserving the environment, but also preserving their revenues. New television commercials (IBM, Wal-Mart, etc.) are highlighting the economics of going green, but what about the beneficial public perception that goes along with these actions? As Larry as been pointing out in recent blogs, the concept of branding is evolving, but the reasons to brand remain the same.
Companies and corporations need to differentiate themselves from competitors now more than ever, and the opportunity to go green appears to be the newest source of market differentiation and corporate social responsibility. For instance, Wal-Mart is trying to wash away its less than stellar public perception by instituting long-term green alternatives. McDonald’s, in the throes of a brand shift towards healthier meal options, promote a healthy, green relationship with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Additional globally-renowned brands going green can be found here.
The public knows the value of going green due to an increase in media attention. In today’s economy, that awareness and concern can be leveraged and turned into sales through savvy public relations practices.
So if I say, Coca-Cola is going green by focusing on energy protection…do you know what they’re actually doing? Inherently, we agree with this practice even if it’s not obvious what “energy protection” means. This is where your friendly Public Relations (PR) firm steps in. PR can bridge the gap between great ideas and the customer, especially now that the economy has stifled consumer spending. Companies are investing millions of dollars in creating new technologies and innovative ideas to protect the environment, but much of these success stories are not relayed to the public effectively With PR, brand messages are recognized instantly.
In an upcoming blog, I’ll look at how General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler are using forward-thinking green innovations to save their companies, as well as how the Big Three will benefit from involving knowledgeable PR methods.
Case Ernsting
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on 29 Jan 2009 at 2:01 am 1.Carl Weathers said …
This post possesses the rare ability to provide significant insight and provoke continued dialogue about one of the burgeoning facets of contemporary business. In fact, I have been discussing this same subject with several of my colleagues; and I firmly believe that over the next few years, we will see a steady growth of companies, both small and large, attempting to utilize public relations firms in such a manner. And quite simply, who can blame them? As Mr. Ernsting explains in his commentary, “going green” is an asset to a company not only fiscally; but also improves public perception and operates as a marketing tool. I sincerely look forward to the upcoming post about the strategies of General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler, and continuing this provocative discussion on utilizing environmentally friendly methods in the business world.