Devoted to small businesses and those who run them

About a week ago I received an email from Seventh Generation about an exciting new endeavor president and CEO Jeffrey Hollender is embarking on: The Inspired Protagonist.  The Inspired Protagonist is a brand new blog that Hollender expects to open up lines of communication between the company, its leadership, and the folks out there who share their philosophies and use their products.

Let's talk turkey here, folks.  Isn't this exactly what relationship building in business should be all about?  We've already discussed how important it is for a company, large or small, to have a well-built website.  And yes, we touched on how a blog can put a human face on the business entity that is your brand. 

Obviously e-zines and personalized auto-responders can do this, as can a thank-you note and follow up emails when a customer makes a purchase through your shopping cart.  But ultimately, what will potential clients respond to the most?  Being able to converse with you.  Being able to make suggestions, cheer you on, pass on complaints and have them addressed professionally, and being able to better get to know the goings-on "behind the curtain".

I love this concept, frankly.  Hollender's company is already doing plenty of good, and we all know that "green" business isn't just a little teeny niche any longer.  Yes, some of the Big Boys are probably just banking on the "O word" (organic, y'all...what did you think I meant?), but plenty of fine, upstanding upstarts and start-ups are living the green life, building green businesses, and building a network of consumers all at once.

A few of the things that have always shined through to me about the Seventh Generation brand, thanks to their e-newsletters popping up in my inbox, is their transparency, passion, and willingness to communicate with their market.  This blog is just one more way they are doing it -- and one more example of how you can do it with your market too!