6 Free Ways To Increase Competitive Advantage
Why is Competitive Advantage Important?
Want to increase your competitive advantage? Sustainability doesn’t have to be costly. There are multiple free resources available to get the ball rolling. Here are some suggestions to get you started. Crowdsourcing existing knowledge in a variety of ways will get your own brain going. Please share any other free resources you use in the comments!
Government websites
Check out your local city or town’s website to see if they have a sustainability office or email inbox. Say you’re new to sustainability and want to learn more. See what they offer you. A local government should also help connect you to like-minded businesses that are interested in the environment. Use this resource to reach out to pertinent people.
In that same vein, also review the EPA’s government tools. There are extensive resources depending on your business type, or interest area. Lots of energy solutions or water reduction strategies, search and see what you find. Lots of sites will provide free tracking tools. Be sure to take advantage of these.
Employees & Investors
Ask employees about their sustainability interests or knowledge. Often people have daily habits or have thought about something based on daily tasks. It’s worth it to ask. If employees do not have any ideas when you ask, request that they start to brainstorm and think of ways to reduce waste, water or energy in their daily business tasks.
If you have investors or other stakeholders, pick their brains about sustainability. Chances are they’ve seen other business’ engagement. Ask how they would approach a sustainability issue you’ve found or if they have any knowledge to share.
Social media
Everyone’s favorite engagement tool can be used to source environmental information. Ask your followers what changes they’d like to see in your business. What environmental changes are they making daily? Crowd source and then use their advice in your business. When you do use it, be sure to mention the person that suggested it. You can source information from Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or email.
Googling and reading takes some time but it can be a valuable tool to find specific information about an appliance or method you have read about. Make sure your googling leads to a reputable source and use that information for your own benefit.
Find blogs or videos that apply to your situation. The internet is such an amazing resource and should be used to find sustainability information.
The Public Library
Once you find a topic you’re interested in, see what the library has for additional research. It might be magazine articles or books. This free reserve has answers to many sustainability questions or can be useful in making a case for sustainability to your employees.
News & Other Media
News websites are great resources for sustainability information. There are numerous sustainable business news sites with valuable information. Your local paper is another source of information to consider. Many sustainability issues, like drought or flooding, are often regional. If you know that drought is an issue in your community, you can make sure any changes take that into account.
I also count podcasts, news media, radio shows and other sites in this category. Search and see what you can find.
Please share any other free resources you use in the comments! Want more social media and sustainability tips? Check out the blog, Social Media as a Sustainability Tool.
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