Request for Suggestions to Promote "Green Your Theme Seattle"

Hi Bizniks!

We are hosting an event on June 1st and the purpose is to provide awareness and resources on how to "green" events, from practices to vendors.

I'd like to pack the house, of course!

Right now, I'm experiencing typical indie side effects and this is when I wish I worked at a shared office space like Office Nomads ;)

So, this my second idea. Post my inquiry to all of you here :)

We have such great contributors for this entertaining/networking/education event, from vendors to speakers...now we just need to get the word out!

I just started to promote Green Your Theme Seattle! last week and my main q's are:

Does our homepage effectively communicate this event and do you have any suggestions to get the word out?

www.GreenYourTheme.com

Thank you for your suggestions and connections.

~ Jessie

7 Bizniks have posted replies

Posted by Cassie Roundy-Sackett, Seattle, Washington | Apr 30, 2009

I might be biased, but I am all about green promotional products. Since that is what I do, that is what I suggest.

There is obviously more to it than that. I believe in this type of promotion because I have seen the excitement they can create. We have several climate neutral products. The greener they are, the more people talk about them, the more people find out about your event and want to come!

If you are interested, you can email to discuss. That way I don't feel like I am posting a shameless plug here. :)

cassie@sotonscreative.com
Posted by Jessie Upp, M.S., Edmonds, Washington | Apr 30, 2009

FYI, attendees are mentioned on our homepage, but if you don't visit it, here is who we would love to see there:

Restaurant Owners/Chefs offering catering and want to learn more about organic foods, wines, beers and sustainable practices

Venue/Hotel Reps who want to connect with local food sources, compost resources, waste management and green event planners

Event Planners who want to learn more about venues, product reps and eco-suppliers practicing sustainability

Green Teams and Green Ambassadors from organizations who want to learn how to green their events (The Woodland Park Zoo and The Mariners will be presenting how they greened their past events!)
Posted by Marie Daniels, Portland, Oregon | Apr 30, 2009

Jessie,

You may already be doing some of these but here some things that jumped to mind:

Do you have a local indy TV or radio station? If so, try to get interviews on relevant shows

Press releases to as many related news outlets as you can think of. You may also want to hand-deliver these to your most desired attendees.

Write an op-ed piece for the local paper (or papers)

You may also want to check out Nancy Juetton's website (http://www.mainstreetmediasavvy.com). She's a Seattlite and specializes in publicity in your backyard. Her website has lots of tips for promoting your events. Lastly, you might want to connect with Lindsey Newkirk of Elysium Events. She's a green event planner here in Portland and may have some ideas for promoting this type of event.

Marie
Posted by Jessie Upp, M.S., Edmonds, Washington | Apr 30, 2009

Thank you, Marie!

I'll act on these great ideas.

If anyone knows of a specific local station or news outlet (and even a contact!), that would very helpful. We have KSTW coming to video tape and feature us in their Project Green Series. That was a perfect connection!

Cassie - yes, we represent a promotional company and appreciate providing these eco alternatives.

Thanks!
Posted by Nancy Skipton, Kent, Washington | Apr 30, 2009

Hi Jessie, A few possibilities for getting the word out:

www.pr.com you can sign up (free) and be able to post press releases and also post job listings. I am already signed up if you want to post your press release.

I am putting the word out on Merchant Circle, Facebook, Twitter, Biznik, and on my own company's website.

Yahoo.com has a place to list events for free.

I belong to a few green groups that I will be inviting to attend and to pass on the word.

Just a few ideas.

Nancy
Posted by Raeleen Shepard, Bellevue, Washington | May 01, 2009

You might get a response if you send out a press release to some of the Seattle area wedding magazines like Seattle Bride or Seattle Met Bride & Groom. Ali, the editor for Seattle Bride, is especially into green weddings and ideas.

Another thing that I think might pan out is some old fashion flyers in places like Fremont and Phinney Ridge. I would especially make a trip out to the Phinney Ridge Starbucks, next to the Red Mill Burgers (on the corner of 67th and Greenwood Ave N) and put up a flyer there. Make sure you pick a slow time and talk to the baristas, they are great.

Maybe raffling off a few tickets on the radio?

The event will be on my blog either tonight or tomorrow and I am sending out some emails. Let me know if I can do anything else to help out.
Posted by Jessie Upp, M.S., Edmonds, Washington | May 01, 2009

Thank you, Nancy. I have used PR.com in the past and it's very easy to use. I've posted there and we'll see! I'll go ahead and post on Yahoo. Thanks for that.

Raeleen! I'll attempt to call Ali right now. We are exploring the idea to have a fashion runway show and this may be of great interest to her magazine! Perhaps other "Walking Exhibitors" can walk thru the crowd with something symbolizing their business and after all have walked down the runway, the models displaying green fashion clothes walk on...

We'll refer to this segment as "Green and Glamorous!" and will be produced by Rita Gruzman.

Radio tickets being raffled off...wonderful idea. Anyone know of which station to call or who to call? The idea of flyers is possible, but if I could, I'd like this to be a waste-free event.

Thanks for posting this on your blog. I've made a page sharing some ideas on how to help spread the word via social media.