Greenleaf isn’t just our CEO’s last name—Greenleaf Book Group is committed to taking proactive steps to offset our tree consumption in our day-to-day and business lives. We recycle, do the majority of our daily work electronically, and encourage our partners and authors to do the same. (We’ve also been known to give a tree a little hug as we walk by. Shhh. It’s our little secret.)

Tree Neutral© is our commitment to the future of our forests. We work with individuals and companies that want to offset the number of trees they consume by taking proactive steps such as recycling, converting to electronic records, planting trees in direct proportion to the number of trees they use, and other methods of reducing tree consumption.

We partner with the Arbor Day Foundation to offset the number of trees the books we published consume by taking part in reforestation initiatives all across the United States. In 2012, we focused on Pere Marquette State Forest in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula as well as Manchester State Forest in central South Carolina to improve habitat for endangered species and restore the forests to their former glory. 

Our nation’s forests provide wood for homes, habitat for wildlife, clean air, and drinking water for millions. Urban trees provide environmental, economic, and social benefits such as reduced energy consumption, less stormwater runoff, and lower crime rates. You can imagine the havoc deforestation creates and see why we’re so committed to the cause.

So, just how many trees did Tree Neutral© plant in 2012?

(drumroll please)

A whopping 10,742 trees! That makes 45,462 trees since the inception of the Tree Neutral© program.

We hope you’re as impressed and inspired by these numbers as we are—and remember, by choosing to be Tree Neutral, you’re making a responsible decision that will have a positive impact on the future, your life, and your business. To get involved, visit the Take Action page of the Arbor Day Foundation for information on donating, becoming a member, and volunteering in your community.

Follow us on Facebook to watch as this number continues to grow. 

So, you know how to identify and approach influencers for endorsements and you’ve got kudos and support rolling in from mentors, thought leaders, bestselling authors, and standouts in your industry. Now, what the heck do you do with those sparkling endorsements? You know that endorsements influence consumers to act, but how do you make sure consumers see those endorsements? Here are a few ideas:

Add endorsements to your book cover. Give the most prominent spot on the cover of your book to the strongest endorsement by your most recognizable endorser. You can add additional endorsements on the back cover or add an endorsement page to the beginning of the book.

Add endorsements to your retailer book pages. Most retailers have a section on each book page specifically for endorsements and reviews. Your publisher can assist in adding these blurbs to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, and other retailer sites. You can also add endorsements to your Amazon book page through your Amazon Author Central account.

Quote those endorsements. Your publicity efforts can get a lot of mileage out of a great endorsement. Add quotes to ads, press releases, book descriptions, and sales materials.

Name-drop. It’s hard to find the fine line between casually mentioning an endorsement and being an obnoxious name-dropper, but it can be done. Don’t be afraid to mention those endorsements at the podium or in interviews when appropriate. Endorsements are largely volunteer efforts, so by making use of your endorsement, you’re endorsing the endorser (did you get that?), which can benefit everyone.

Add an endorsement page to your website. The great thing about websites is that they can be updated regularly to add fresh endorsements. You can even branch out and add published reviews and testimonials from readers. This can help keep your website fresh for your fans and search engines.