ECO-Preneuring

State of California commits to go green with 21st century
video biz cards.

TIPS FOR GOING GREEN

Green has changed from being a civic duty to a way of life. Going Green has become a worldwide movement and is taking center stage with governments, businesses and consumers.

"Going Green takes work and a state of mind, a commitment, a set of habits and values that become our everyday behavior," says author Alicia Marie Smith. Smith has written 50 plus one Tips For Going Green, Encouragement Press, $14.95.

The book offers useful info and tips to help you get green and shows how even small efforts will produce big results such as:

• how alternative sources such as geothermal, biopower and solar can generate electricity

• why building and remodeling Green are so important and can save money in the long run

• how you can participate in eco-tourism when planning your next vacation

Kathleen Shafer had high hopes for her new business venture when she became an Authorized Distributor for Video Business Cards in March 2007. Four months later, she received a call from the State of California. They wanted to use the Video Business Cards to inform businesses throughout the state about training programs available to them. The State’s Employment Training Panel told Kathleen that they no longer wanted to print and ship mounds of materials to their trade show booths, only to see these materials tossed in the garbage bins at the shows. State personnel also said they wanted to be front runners in the “Go Green” movement.

The Video Business Card (VBC) is a 21st century marketing tool developed by Atlanta-based Infinite Marketing. The VBC is a CD about the size of a paper business card, and it has all the standard contact information printed on the outside. But, that is where the similarities end. When placed in a computer, the VBC becomes an entire marketing package. It has a 90-second video message from the business owner or executive, explaining the benefits of doing business with his/her organization. It has a direct link to the company website, as well as a direct email link. The VBC can contain the company brochure, even if it is over 100 pages. There is a slide-show available to showcase products or facilities. Also, viewers can easily transfer all the company contact information directly into their computers with one click.

Kathleen asked her contact at the ETP how they had heard about her, since the VBC was so new, and she had only been in business four months. She was told they attended a Business Expo sponsored by the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce, where Kathleen had a booth. That is where they received one of her VBCs. The ETP spokesperson said, “When I returned from the expo, I had a stack of brochures, and your Video Business Card. I promptly threw away the overwhelming stack of brochures, and watched your card. What influenced me to call you was personally experiencing the impact of a VBC, and seeing how you can have all your marketing materials on one business card-size disk.”

An important factor to the ETP was the “Go Green” feature. The VBCs contain ETP literature as a PDF file, eliminating the need to print thousands of pieces of paper. Moreover, unlike a flat brochure, there is a brief video message on the VBC providing an overview of the program, as well as direct web and email links. Not only does the VBC provide a high tech solution for educating employers, but it also makes less of an impact on the environment. The 17 outreach personnel who participate in trade shows throughout the State distribute the VBCs instead of paper cards and brochures.

Port Canaveral in Florida also uses VBCs at trade shows to market their cargo and foreign trade divisions. Port Canaveral Director of Marketing, Lauren Brand, said, “I was tired of going to trade shows, handing out our beautiful 48-page brochure to people, and then watching them throw it in the trash before they got to the end of the aisle.” Brand continued, “The VBCs have been so well received at trade shows; we now have five different sets to promote various divisions of Port Canaveral,” said Brand.

While networking at the Asian Pacific Chamber of Sacramento, Kathleen gave one of her VBCs to Lex Matteini, an executive from Runyon, Saltzman & Einhorn, a leading advertising and public relations firm located in Sacramento. After watching Kathleen’s VBC, Matteini said, “RS&E should be recommending the design, production and distribution of these cards for “C-level” management.” He continued, “Certainly a company would want to use them more broadly, but first and foremost at the ‘C-level’. It just seems a lost opportunity when ‘C-level’ executives make contacts at business functions and they have to default to handing out a piece of collateral, or a plain paper card, or make a mention of their website.”

Prior to launching her new business, Video Vision Marketing, Kathleen was a Registered Nurse for over 20 years. She became a Residential Loan Officer in 2002 and enjoyed success during the real estate boom. As the market started declining, she looked for other business opportunities. She said as soon as she and her husband, Greg, saw Infinite Marketing’s website, they knew it was for them. Kathleen said she has always been very conscious of recycling and she has taught her children the importance of environmental awareness.

For more information about owning a VBC Distributorship, contact Infinite Marketing at 888-596-7353, or www.infinitemarketing.com •