How can non-profit leaders and small business owners benefit each other to increase brand awareness, web presence, community, and ROI? Actions speak louder than words. Whether you measure mutual benefit in dollars or donors, it really does not matter. A leading tool in today’s environment is cause marketing … in other words, incorporating ethics into your business.
Given the potential to increase volunteerism, donations, and support for the many non-profit organizations that deserve them, such a strategy should become a serious consideration for both start-ups and aging businesses which need revitalization. An entrepreneurial gesture towards social involvement can open the doors wide open to a channel of fresh, emotionally connected customers. What better way to increase visibility in your community and do some good!
Businesses, take heed …
In the age of social media, research shows the most successful entrepreneurs are those who champion local and social involvement. The job of bringing people together is becoming easier via technology and the ‘shrinking’ global network. So how does a business get the attention?
Cause marketing capitalization with webinars.
The proper format, combined with a topic that is both important and affects a local community, is the key to unlock the power of a webinar as a viral reputation builder. Consider the initial invite format; your invitation should be utilized as a wind-up technique for an upcoming event.
Webinars give the time, date, and place to be. The invitation announcement should include an estimated number of attendees and/or local businesses or non-profits who ‘may’ be there. Webinars could be marketed as ‘online town hall meetings’ and can be promoted and connected across social networks. The following replays (if any) will continue to work for your cause 24/7.
Non-profits, take heed …
It is these same successful entrepreneurs who wish to work with local non-profits and personally involve themselves that may take your non-profit to immediate credibility. Being open to such a joint venture may, in fact, return a gift greater than money: reputation, authority building, and instant trust. You’ll have to find the right partner of course.
Questions to consider before proceeding with a joint venture:
How to structure the details of a working business plan … planned events, follow-ups, etc.?
Is there a necessary buy-in to work with an organization?
Is it possible the partner will end up positively representing a nonprofit’s value system?
Could you tell in advance whether a client base will even accept/care about this partner/cause?
What about the primary motivations for joint venturing to begin with?
Lastly, consider ways to ensure that both sides will be satisfied with the outcome.
Learn more about socially responsible marketing programs and what they can do for your business or non-profit at Neugardens.com