Cause marketing is a strategy which is often used by companies to attract consumers to their products, and with good reason. According to a recent corporate social responsibility study by Cone Communications about 92 percent of consumers, if given the opportunity, would buy a product with social and/or environmental benefit and 84 percent of global consumers would tell friends and family about a company's CSR efforts
The results are data favoring the establishment of strategic corporate giving program and the use of cause marketing for this program to be brought to your customers. However, it's not just the customers that are affected by these types of efforts.
According to a study from Rutgers University, 53 percent of workers and 72 percent of students say a job where they can make an impact is very important or essential to their happiness, with the students ranking it third in overall importance and only 1% behind marriage. Taleo Research shows that increasing the engagement level in a 10,000-person organization by 5% can boost profits by an estimated $40+ million.
Improving the engagement of your workers at every level of your organization should be one of the goals of the cause marketing campaign from its inception. This is done by discussing the business strategy and the range of potential causes that will come with this strategy, and from there, produce a decision making framework where everybody can participate and also support.
Each and every employee may not be comfortable participating in this and it is impossible to make them do it. However, by giving different options and thinking creatively can definitely boost enthusiasm and participation in a specific cause marketing campaign.
For example, to support a local homeless shelter your company could donate a percentage of net profit to the shelter every year. A business also could set up a payroll deduction program to allow employees to automatically donate a portion of their paychecks to the shelter. Also, you could arrange for two employees to spend half a day working at the shelter each week.
In addition these ideas, you could organize a company-sponsored 5K run to raise money for the shelter. Other options include donating company gift certificates as prizes for the shelter's annual silent auction or offering special prizes to employees who volunteer at the shelter on their own time.
It is said that an employee who is empowered is also a committed employee. When a cause excites somebody, it can also be said that they may want to share this with people. The social networks enhance this desire more times and this is observed more than before. You can make this work for you by having your employees do this and in the process make them share information about you and your cause marketing activities; share these with their friends on Facebook and their followers on Instagram or Twitter, and especially mentioning their part.
Lead by example by giving the cause marketing campaign heavy exposure on the corporate social channels, including offering specific employee recognitions that they'll be thrilled to share through their own networks.
Employee engagement can be quickly improved and results immediately acquired, but it can also be fast in disappearing. You have to make sure that your cause marketing and engagement plans for employees are not just a fad.
The goal is a long-term investment in a charitable cause and the engagement of employees for a long time, as well. Employees that are engaged in long-term charitable programs tend to be more satisfied with their jobs and continue to work on improving productivity and this enthusiasm can be contagious, fostering a more collaborative team atmosphere at all levels of your company and this type of camaraderie also is quite attractive for new hires.
The results are data favoring the establishment of strategic corporate giving program and the use of cause marketing for this program to be brought to your customers. However, it's not just the customers that are affected by these types of efforts.
According to a study from Rutgers University, 53 percent of workers and 72 percent of students say a job where they can make an impact is very important or essential to their happiness, with the students ranking it third in overall importance and only 1% behind marriage. Taleo Research shows that increasing the engagement level in a 10,000-person organization by 5% can boost profits by an estimated $40+ million.
Improving the engagement of your workers at every level of your organization should be one of the goals of the cause marketing campaign from its inception. This is done by discussing the business strategy and the range of potential causes that will come with this strategy, and from there, produce a decision making framework where everybody can participate and also support.
Each and every employee may not be comfortable participating in this and it is impossible to make them do it. However, by giving different options and thinking creatively can definitely boost enthusiasm and participation in a specific cause marketing campaign.
For example, to support a local homeless shelter your company could donate a percentage of net profit to the shelter every year. A business also could set up a payroll deduction program to allow employees to automatically donate a portion of their paychecks to the shelter. Also, you could arrange for two employees to spend half a day working at the shelter each week.
In addition these ideas, you could organize a company-sponsored 5K run to raise money for the shelter. Other options include donating company gift certificates as prizes for the shelter's annual silent auction or offering special prizes to employees who volunteer at the shelter on their own time.
It is said that an employee who is empowered is also a committed employee. When a cause excites somebody, it can also be said that they may want to share this with people. The social networks enhance this desire more times and this is observed more than before. You can make this work for you by having your employees do this and in the process make them share information about you and your cause marketing activities; share these with their friends on Facebook and their followers on Instagram or Twitter, and especially mentioning their part.
Lead by example by giving the cause marketing campaign heavy exposure on the corporate social channels, including offering specific employee recognitions that they'll be thrilled to share through their own networks.
Employee engagement can be quickly improved and results immediately acquired, but it can also be fast in disappearing. You have to make sure that your cause marketing and engagement plans for employees are not just a fad.
The goal is a long-term investment in a charitable cause and the engagement of employees for a long time, as well. Employees that are engaged in long-term charitable programs tend to be more satisfied with their jobs and continue to work on improving productivity and this enthusiasm can be contagious, fostering a more collaborative team atmosphere at all levels of your company and this type of camaraderie also is quite attractive for new hires.
About the Author:
Sebastian Troup likes blogging about philanthropic solutions for businesses and non profit organizations. For more examples of corporate social responsibility, or to find help setting up a corporate charitable giving program, please check out the Truist.com website today.
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