Empowering DC Small Businesses to Succeed in the Green Energy Sector: A Case Study on Marketing Strategies and Growth
Client: DC Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD)
THE CHALLENGE
Small, resident-owned, and disadvantaged Certified Business Enterprises (CBEs) in Washington, DC, struggle to secure contracts with organizations like the DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU) and other green energy procurement opportunities. Barriers include limited marketing resources, lack of awareness, and competition in the environmentally sustainable sector.
OUR SOLUTION
Market Me Consulting was awarded consecutive contracts to provide tailored marketing solutions to help DC small businesses navigate the green energy sector. Through our innovative program, DC Goes Green, we equipped CBEs with the marketing tools, knowledge, and resources needed to stand out in competitive procurement processes
B2B Marketing Strategy Class: We developed and led the ‘B2B Success: Marketing Strategies for DC CBEs in the Green Energy Industry’ course, teaching small businesses how to craft effective, targeted strategies to increase their success in B2B interactions within the green energy sector.
B2B Marketing Guide: Created the ‘B2B Marketing Guide,’ an in-depth workbook that offered step-by-step guidance, promotional tactics, and hands-on exercises to help small businesses develop comprehensive marketing strategies for green energy opportunities.
Website & Email Newsletter: We launched a dedicated website to elevate small business visibility, offering continuous marketing and business development resources. The site featured contracting opportunities, marketing tips, and profiles of participating businesses. Additionally, we distributed monthly email newsletters, keeping businesses informed about upcoming opportunities and practical marketing insights.
Graphic Design: We designed over 144 unique marketing assets for individual businesses, including website designs, logos, brochures, social media graphics, letterheads, and email templates. These tailored materials helped elevate each business's brand and visibility in the green energy sector.
1-2-1 Consulting: Provided personalized, 1-on-1 marketing consultations to every participating business, offering expert advice on how to navigate green energy opportunities and develop customized marketing strategies.
OUR RESULTS
Reach: Exceeded expectations by engaging 77 small businesses in the program, surpassing our initial goal by 71%.
Increase Brand Awareness: Participants reported a significant boost in brand awareness and access to new business opportunities, positioning them for success in green energy contracting.
Positive Feedback: Collected testimonials from small business participants.
“Nathan helped me create marketing collateral for my business and he was excellent!! He is very knowledgeable about marketing, and kindly responded to all my questions. He also provided strong examples of what my collateral should look like. He has an easy process of gathering the necessary information needed for the collateral and he moves the process forward with intention! There's no getting stuck or lagging when you work with Nathan, he will ensure that you reach your marketing goals. I'm very happy with my brochures and business cards and I highly recommend working with him!!” Portia Obeng, CEO of Portia Obeng
“I am delighted to share my experience working with Nathan at Market Me Consulting. Nathan's expertise and dedication in crafting stunning brochures and flyers for my project were truly exceptional. Not only did he excel in the creative process, but he went above and beyond by assisting in the printing phase, resulting in outstanding final products. What made this collaboration even more remarkable was Nathan's commitment to securing funding. His efforts resulted in winning a grant from DCSEU and DSLBD, enabling me to access these invaluable services at no cost. This free support significantly contributed to the success of my endeavor. I am grateful to Nathan for his professionalism, creativity, and tireless efforts in ensuring top-notch materials for my project, and assisting me in understanding who to market to. Thank you, Nathan, DCSEU, and DSLBD, for your assistance and dedication to making a positive impact. I wholeheartedly recommend Nathan and Market Me Consulting to anyone seeking exceptional marketing services.” Joel Schulman, CEO of EcoMax Lighting
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