As Spring2Action approaches in Alexandria, more businesses are beginning to consider social responsibility and cause marketing. This blog post, written by Rieva Lesonsky and originally posted on the SBA website on March 1, 2016, gives some tips for how small businesses can incorporate social responsibility into their marketing.
Are you looking for a way to attract new customers? Social responsibility is a strong selling point when customers are considering purchases. Consider this: A Nielsen global online survey reports that two-thirds of consumers are willing to pay more for products from companies that show a commitment to having a positive impact on society and the environment. That’s an increase from 50 percent in 2013.
Interest in social responsibility is especially strong among Millennial consumers. In The 2015 Cone Communications Millennial CSR Study, more than 90 percent of Millennials say they would switch brands to one associated with a cause. However, that doesn’t mean the power of cause marketing is limited to Millennials: Customers of all ages are more willing than ever to put their money where their hearts are.
How can you incorporate social responsibility into your small business’s operations and marketing? First, decide on a cause that is authentic to your company’s core values, relevant to your business’s products and/or services and important to your customers. For example, if you own a pet products store, a cause that supports pet adoption or spaying and neutering would be a natural. If you own a women’s clothing store, you might want to support breast cancer research. You can brainstorm with your employees to come up with ideas.
Next, consider how best to support your cause. Do you want to donate money to an organization? Would you like to start your own charitable effort, such as donating a portion of your profits from a specific product line or sales event to your cause? Perhaps you would rather contribute time by volunteering, or sponsor an event held by a relevant organization. Be sure to talk to your accountant about the tax implications of any donations, monetary or otherwise, that you make…
To read the complete post, please visit the SBA’s blog.
The post The Power of Cause Marketing: An SBA Blog Repost appeared first on Alexandria Small Business Development Center.