Giving Back to the Community is Good for Your Business
As a member of your community, you help build the local economy, provide goods or services, and offer a level of uniqueness that is found in no other place. A business is not just about making the dollar; it's about making a social impact for your community to thrive. Gone are the days when businesses only had to respond to shareholders. Today's consumers expect more out of their companies, and one of those expectations is community involvement.
Giving back to your community not only connects us in positive ways, but it contributes to enhancing the overall wellness of its citizens. When your community is strong, businesses will have a strong base of clients and customers to draw upon. You might think that buying an ad in your town's local magazine, sponsoring a little league team, or offering up your parking lot for a charity car wash may not lead to a huge jump in sales. Participating in these types of acts is not something you can quantify. When you give back, it does something far greater. It boosts your brand's image! In today's world, that goes a long way.
Additionally, when you sponsor an event it serves as good publicity for your business. Local media outlets are always digging for stories of business owners handing over checks to charitable organizations, and nonprofits like to publicly thank their sponsors on marketing pieces, websites, and at supported events. This is excellent exposure and identifies you as a community leader who reaches out to help others, gaining you customers.
The bottom line is social responsibility is a big part of the fabric for the future, and companies need to be prepared to keep up. Community involvement is important to customers, and whether a patron purchases from you or your competitor may come down to who has a greater social involvement. This attitude is especially true with the millennials who will soon be having families of their own to pass this mindset down to.
So, where do you start? We've put together some ideas where your business may fit in that goes beyond writing a check!
- Help beautify a local park
- Get involved with education or community health
- Sponsor a youth sports team
- Donate to your local Foodbank
- Offer your services at a local event
- Create a meeting or workspace on your business premise for free
- Support other businesses that enhance community wellness
Remember, give what you can regularly to the charities you identify in your community that make a difference. Consistent giving will keep you in the media, therefore more likely to keep your business on the tops of people's minds.
Check out this video by Elizabeth Marasco from our #BEAM365 series on how to align with a nonprofit that you believe in!
