This post is a marketing tool
August 26, 2008
One of our reporters recently wrote a story on advertisers using social networking Web sites — Facebook, MySpace and the like — to get the word out about their products. It makes sense that companies looking for new ways to expand their client base would also turn to blogging.
“Marketing moves to the blogosphere,” a story in Monday’s issue of The Washington Post, details how both big and small companies are increasingly turning to corporate blogs as public relations and customer service tools. Or, to put it more simply, as a way to give a human face to a faceless corporation.
A number of regional companies are mentioned, including Honest Tea and Marriott. Bill Marriott’s blog has brought more than $5 million in hotel booking click-thrus, making it a decent business investment, to say the least.
Also, I enjoyed the part of the article where Bill Marriott describes himself as “a human just like everybody else,” and two paragraphs later it’s stated he dictates his blog posts into a recorder and has an assistant transcribe it. If that’s the “just like everybody else” way of blogging, then I have some complaints for my boss, because I had to type this myself.
JOE BACCHUS, Web Specialist
Sphere: Related ContentBethesda group: Recycling first on list
April 21, 2008
I wrote in September that Honest Tea’s CEO, Seth Goldman, seemed to be taking on global warming single-handedly.
Well, it turns out it takes a village - or a close-knit, well-funded community.
Today, the private-public group founded by Goldman and MoCo Councilman George Leventhal - appropriately named “Bethesda Green” - launched a new Web site, debuted a new logo and revealed its backers.
No surprise here - Coca-Cola, which recently purchased a helping of Honest Tea, is among them.
The first commitment from the beverage-making duo is a $30,000 donation for the “purchase and installation of approximately 30 recycling bins in the downtown area.” A local community group will handle their collection and processing.
(It is Bethesda - so they have to be really swanky recycling bins - but that breaks down to one grand per bin. Any ideas why such a hefty amount is needed for a seemingly low-budget task?)
Anyhow, the other businesses that care about the environment in Bethesda are: Calvert, Federal Realty Investment Trust, and Reznick Group.
I do like the logo they selected, which was reviewed by a “select panel of judges” including Washington Capitals player Matt Bradley.
JACKIE SAUTER, Web Editor
Sphere: Related ContentHonest TeaEO sells stake to Coca-Cola
February 5, 2008
I was surprised to read in the BBJ today that CEO Seth Goldman has sold a 40 percent stake of his Bethesda-based Honest Tea to the Coca-Cola Co. Especially since there is an option for Coca-Cola to buy the rest of the company after three years.
On his blog, Goldman writes, “While Coke is now our largest shareholder, the agreement was negotiated to ensure that Honest Tea will not be managed or controlled by Coke. We will continue to operate as an independent business with the same leadership and mission.” He cites the need for a larger impact, increased sales and the distribution help that Coca-Cola can provide.
Most of the comments to his blog announcement have been cautiously optimistic - assuming that Honest Tea keeps the high fructose corn syrup at bay.
What do you think - is Honest Tea selling its soul or growing stronger by partnering with Coke?
JACKIE SAUTER, Web Editor
Sphere: Related ContentHonest TeaEO out to save the world
September 5, 2007
Seth Goldman, better known as founder of Bethesda-based Honest Tea, seems to be single-handedly taking on global warming - at least, inside the (Washington) beltway.
Goldman hosted a press conference this afternoon (with special guests MoCo Executive Ike Leggett and Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown) to show off Honest Tea’s new eco-friendly office space in downtown Bethesda and to announce the creation of the “Bethesda Green Zone.”
It should be noted that many of the attendees were most concerned with getting their hot little hands on a pomegranate white tea with acai.
But I digress.
Truly “in the zone,” Goldman and Honest Tea seem to be leading the environmental effort, setting goals of additional bike racks for Bethesda employees’ use and converting area restaurants’ waste grease into biodiesel fuel.
Anthony Brown hit the nail on the head when he remarked:
“[The O’Malley-Brown Administration is] trying to make advances in healthcare - you’re doing it; trying to make advances in business development - you’re doing it; trying to make advancements in environment and energy - and you guys are doing it.”
Brown chuckled as he went on to say, “You’re really holding the governor’s feet to the fire.”
Is it time for area business leaders to become community leaders - and partner with the state on issues like the environment?
As Seth Goldman seems to advocate, do small businesses have an inherent social responsibility?
If so, tell us what your business is doing on this front. If not, tell us why.
Above: Seth Goldman poses outside the old Honest Tea office on Wilson Lane in Bethesda.
-JACKIE SAUTER, Multimedia Editor
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