Business Website Advice

Tell your story. It’s not just accommodation providers who can benefit from displaying their efforts to run sustainable businesses. It’s a potential triple win situation.

Already, many small New Zealand businesses take steps to be sustainable. It’s just smart business, often saving us money or helping us make money later as we repeat the benefits from saving resources -environmental, social and physical, and our reputation.

We need to tell our stories.

To make a buying decision, research tells us, customers are looking at website pages that tell them about the efforts the business makes to be sustainable.  We all read the papers, headlines surround eco-everything and sustainable business.

Misleading others to think we’re green. Avoid a greenwash by casting a greensheen on things to mislead consumers into thinking we’re green when we’re not

Dedicate a page of your website - name it Sustainable Pracitce or Eco-Friendly Efforts, or such (you know optimise it for search engines). Describe to customers what you’re doing. 

Help is available.  Resource sheet - An introduction to sustainability, a pdf available for free download under my Free DIY Resources (left sidebar). It was compiled by BusinessLab and gives heaps of links with descriptions of the help on offer.  I got it at some sustainability training for NZTE trainers mid 2008, so it’s current.

You be the judge on what helps you. Let me know.  My languagae and explanation is just one of many you’ll find as you start on the path.

Audit time. In order to make the website page you’ll have to walk/talk through your business from the books, to waste handling, to sourcing products, to waste management, paper handling etc etc.  You’ll spot things you are already doing and might even recognise areas that call for attention.  Change a vendor, save some money, good PR, good solid eco practice. 

The process is ongoing. One area at a time. While one legal business focused on paper saving to start with they are moving on to power saving now.  they’ve saved money, feel good, and have boasting rights. 

Show your awareness. Tell your sustainability story. Tell what you do well, what you’re working to achieve and the challenges. 

Micro steps count. Whether the list is long or short, the lesson for us is to tell eco story.

Let’s hear from some businesses who have web pages telling their sustainable business practices. Or, perhaps share your challenges.

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