Greenwashing 101

As marketers, all we have is our reputation at the end of the day. Intentionally misleading consumers is a no-no, yet integrity in marketing is sometimes hard to come by. Case in point - the Green category that is currently exploding with new product entrants that are capitalizing on consumer demand.Now, while many of these companies are authentically “Green”, others are not, and it is important to equip yourself with the facts so that you know what to look for when buying Green products.

Terra Choice is a company that governs authenticity in Green claims by certifying Green products with the Eco-logo. Be sure to look for this logo when purchasing products.

The six sins of Greenwashing:
1. Sin of no proof
2. Sin of the hidden tradeoff
3. Sin of vagueness
4. Sin of irrelevance
5. Sin of the lesser of two evils
6. Sin of fibbing

Thanks to TerraChoice for keeping the industry honest!

Social sharing and online learning not just a trend for women

As female consumers and entrepreneurs network and build their profiles, their online tools are only getting better. Here are some resources and statistics that have recently popped up.

The Goldman Sachs Group has launched 10,000 Women, a site dedicated to helping women in emerging economies launch and build their businesses. Partnering with universities in Europe and the United States including Harvard and Columbia Business School, 10,000 Women places women in flexible programs and traditional educational environments, supporting their path towards earning an MBA or BA.

In a social networking capacity, women have a slightly greater presence on popular social networking sites over men. According to a study by RapLeaf, a sample of over 30 million users found that women are more likely to spend their time online establishing and nurturing relationships on sites such as Flickr and Facebook.

With new blogs and sites popping up regularly on topics ranging from pop culture to the environment, women are proving to love debate and dialogue online. A great new site, wowOwow: The Women on the Web, was created by fifteen women in different fields including entertainment, journalism, and publishing. Contributors include Whoopi Goldberg, Candice Bergen, Lesley Stahl, and Lily Tomlin, all providing their unique views on topics ranging from current events, politics and pop culture.

Women are getting smart about what’s in their cosmetics

Aimee Racine, Account Manager
SWING

As women, we are constantly bombarded with different health care and makeup products that can "cover up this" and "anti-age that" but are they really safe? If it's approved by Health Canada or the FDA in the States then we assume that the product is ok. But after the revelation about the harmful hormone, Bisphenol A, surfaced with plastics (especially those that were in baby bottles) as consumers we have to be proactive and keep on top about what could be harmful to our health.

A site that is looking out for the consumer called, Skin Deep: Cosmetic Safety Database, run by a non-profit company, Environmental Working Group, who evaluate over 25,000 cosmetic and personal care products against 50 different toxicity and regulatory databases. They rate each product, which span from make-up to baby and pet products, out of 10; 10 being the highest toxicity.

As I read the information on the site, I was intrigued to find out so many common products that we all assume to be ok were in fact quite harmful to our health and/or the environment. So last night I went to the drug store and bought shampoo, Pantene Pro-V Texturize, and I was able to find that product evaluated on the site. Just so you know gals, this research tool is not just for ladies. In fact, Skin Deep was recommended to me by my boyfriend who was comparing sunscreens. Check it out to see how the products in your drawers shape up.

"Letta Mama feed you"

Aimee Racine, Account Manager
SWING

Commercials. Most of them are boring and don’t really catch my attention. However, this week I saw an exception. Michelina’s. Their current campaign has two commercials airing, with the character of Mama Michelina as the star. She appears in two out of place locations --a climbing wall and an indoor football field. Mama Michelina comes to the rescue with a microwave Michelina’s dinner and saves the day. Here is the one with the girl wall climbing. I know it is a simple concept that has been used to sell products for decades but the “Mama knows best” angle made me laugh out loud and appealed to me as a woman.

I often feel pressure to look a certain way, but when I watched this commercial that seemed to melt away. For a brief moment, Mama Michelina was my grandmother, taking care of me and all of my problems including making sure I eat enough. I was able to take a nostalgic look back to my childhood eating habits, a time when I never once thought of my waistline and the fact that I have to exercise like a maniac in order to stay healthy. For that 30 seconds, I watched someone reaching out and caring about another’s well-being. In the end, I guess sometimes we want our grandmother to swoop in on a carabineer line and spoon feed us, even though it is a microwave pasta dinner, and take us away from our diets and exercise and love us, no matter what we look like.

Creative campaigns find new ways to “go green”

Over the past few months, green initiatives have given birth to some very interesting campaigns and programs. The latest from Al Gore’s “non-profit, non-partisan effort,” Alliance for Climate Protection, brings political rivals Reverend Al Sharpton and Pat Robertson together for an unconventional public service message. The video, available at wecansolveit.org, features the unlikely pair urging viewers to work together in helping our planet.

The Green is Universal website from NBC Universal features programs and tips, as well as an extensive “Green Glossary” of related terms. The site provides a portal to its other company websites, including NBC. The network’s television prime time schedule has also adapted to the growing movement. Shows such as The Bionic Woman and Scrubs have tailored their storylines to promote green living.

Another notable program closer to home is Green Enterprise Toronto, a site dedicated to helping businesses and consumers “become greener” and “think locally.” Its site offers a directory of Toronto-based, environmentally-friendly businesses - featuring everything from health spas, landscapers, restaurants, and specialty stores geared to women.

Aside from local activism and consumer awareness, the green movement has motivated people to look at almost every aspect of their life and health from a different perspective. An article on CanadianLiving.com offers tips on “how to have a green baby”, including preparing organic diets, how to avoid everyday toxins, and making your own baby food.

Are women loyal to loyalty?

All this talk about loyalty programs and it begs the question; are women loyal to loyalty programs? Where are marketers missing the mark? And, where is loyalty when you need it?

Take a particular Canadian telco that will remain nameless. For now. In the last year, I have switched over both of my business phone accounts, set up a new business Internet account, switched over my home phone account and upgraded my wireless data account. In all, between my businesses and my personal and household telecommunications and data use, we hold 6 accounts with this telco.

Now, what would make good sense is that I would be rewarded and recognized for the total sum of business that I have with this company and will bring to this company over time (lifetime customer value). Yet, when I call, I wait on hold for more than 30 minutes (on my cell phone!), they often cannot find my account at all, and the technician doesn’t show up for scheduled appointments making me waste countless, valuable business hours waiting to give them business. I have complained many times with no acknowledgement.

Now here is my prescription for an ideal rewards and recognition program that would work :

· Discounts on monthly fees based on total business value (across all accounts)
· Consolidation of accounts- single view across call centers
· Front of the line service and recognition flagged for call centers (key codes reducing waiting time)
· Prompt resolution when problems arise

Are women loyal to loyalty programs? Essentially we need to separate the brand from the program. There are programs that we have an emotional connection to where a loyalty program may be icing on the cake but won’t ultimately affect the brand love. Then, there are brands that we tolerate and sometimes like where a great loyalty program can make all the difference. In short, loyalty programs need to:

1. Be highly usable (not creating extra work at uptake or for ongoing use)
2. Show immediate reward ($ off, front of the line recognition, other redemption opps)
3. Bring the consumer closer to the brand (increase switching costs, increase frequency of purchase and increase brand favour)

Gender differences. The quote of the day!

This morning, my four year old daughter shared with me what I found to be quite an accurate statement which transcended and true stereotyping when it came to gender differences. As she was packing her favourite book-- Fancy Nancy-- into her knapsack she said to me "Mommy, boys are stronger but girls are fancier." I reflected on the accuracy of the statement, and as usual, had to smile.

Marketing to Women Online: Attracting Your YouTube Audience

Female vloggers (video bloggers) and personalities have relied on the ease and accessibility of popular video sites to build and sustain significant audiences. Many users can produce engaging, entertaining content at little to no cost. But with so much content out there, how can women just starting out reach their audience?

Most have turned to YouTube as their default video hosting and community site; and while it may be easier than ever to upload and share your clips online, drawing people to your content can be a challenge. Is there a set formula for creating a “viral video”, or does the organic nature of the web make it difficult to reach your potential audience directly?

YouTube and other hosting sites such as Yahoo! Video, Metacafe, and Revver offer similar features (search by category, user comments, embedding), but can one site generate a greater audience than others? Like traditional media, content is key – and while YouTube may offer an extensive catalog of videos, a lot of the good stuff can get lost in the mix.

Taking advantage of the reactive nature of the internet means more than just uploading a video and waiting for people to watch. Engaging viewers is just as important. In an August 2006 interview with Wired Magazine, comedian Dane Cook describes how social networking and video sites helped to garner a mainstream audience by maintaining an open and immediate online dialogue with his fans.

Users often produce outstanding content that never makes it to Time’s Top Ten, but there are ways to enhance your view count. Second party services such as Vodpod and SplashCast allow users to showcase and embed selected videos to a customizable, personal video channel. These and similar sites not only optimize organic search engine ranking, but also incorporate your content into their own exclusive communities.

Some may be hesitant about levering open source tools and community sites to establish an online presence. Those now taking advantage of Web 2.0 may express concerns over privacy, security, and public perception; but as internet culture and technology extends its reach across other media, new users are quickly adapting. Lee Gomes of the Wall Street Journal, for example, studied how users engaged YouTube and determined growing trends amongst specific groups. However, as online content continues to grow at a seemingly exponential rate, reaching your audience early becomes increasingly important.

Holiday shopping online?

Where are you shopping online this year? With the dollar in an on-par place it makes cross border online shopping that much more desirable. What Canadian e-tailers are grabbing your attention and reducing your holiday stress? For the creative gift seeker, try www.orangefish.ca for unique gifts designed and crafted by Canadian artisans. How much of your shopping are you doing online this year?