With increased the attention on global warming, environmentally conscious consumers are looking for companies that share the same eco-friendly views.

By offering smaller bottles of more concentrated cleaning solutions, plain recycled paper packaging, planting trees and offering more “green” products, these companies are finding that they are not only helping the environment but their bank accounts as well.

According to a Cone Environmental Survey 85% of Americans would switch brands for environmental reasons, and 21% have donated money to save the environment. These “green” consumers are willing to pay more for the eco-friendly products and will more often frequent eco-friendly businesses. By reducing, reusing and recycling businesses can not only help the environment but can attract those environmentally conscious customers that are willing to spend more for a good cause.

Enterprise Rent – A – Car launched a program, Carbon Offset, which offers customers the option to pay a fee of $1.25 per rental that will fund certified offset projects that work to remove CO2 from the atmosphere. This cost is based on the average CO2 emissions generated by a rental car operating in their fleet. Their charitable foundation will match customer contributions dollar-for-dollar up to a total of $1 million.

Malloy, a printing company, strives to be both environmentally literate and responsible. They do this by offering recycled paper, ink, and by printing with vegetable or soy based inks.

Malloy stated, “We don’t profess to be experts on all things ecological, but we are paying attention. We are happy to share some of what we know, and, more importantly, what we do to protect our air, water and land.”

One of Malloy’s primary ink suppliers, Braden Sutphin Ink Company, provides them with a high quality line of inks called Earth Pride. Braden’s Earth Pride Inks are better than soy inks because they contain no petroleum oil but have 50 percent more linseed oil. Malloy does still use petroleum based inks for specific attributes that soy or vegetable inks can not provide and continue to recycle their ink.

Tide’s newest 2x Ultra laundry detergent is being promoted as having the same “stain fighting” power in a smaller bottle with less water added. They are using up to 43% less plastic, due to it being concentrated and in a smaller bottle, and it contains 44% less water than before. On Tide.com it states that:

By choosing 2X Ultra Tide, you’re showing you care. Not only about your family. But about everyone’s. In fact, a little bottle can make a difference — for today and tomorrow.

MySpace isn’t just for teenagers any more. Social networking will continue to be a key online activity this year, with 44% of US consumers using social networking at least once a month in 2008. MySpace and Facebook will continue dominating the market but there are changes ahead that will extend social networking activities allowing user profiles to become portable. With this portability, consumers will be able to use their single profile in many different places on the internet. Social networking will also be an enhanced feature offered when shopping online, searching and even sending e-mail.

According to Debra Aho Williamson, Senior Analyst with eMarketer.com, Ad spending on social networks is projected to climb from $ 920 million in 2007 to $1.6 billion in 2008, which represents a 70% growth rate. Targeted advertising will continue to cover the bulk of the $1.6 billion, but other forms of social network marketing like advertising, widgets and e-commerce, will catch marketers attention.

Social networking is just one tool that can be used to reach your target market. On these social networks you can post your company bios, blogs, videos and more, to extend company presence.

Stay tuned for more “New Ways to Reach Your Prospects”.

www.forbes.com