For many brands, it's hard to find the soul and spirit of giving when marketing and profit expectations have us all wrapped up and headed down a black hole. This, combined with the margin targets that many global companies have (which often have to be met in order to receive bonuses), makes it even more divisive to think about giving when you're focused on winning. However, the practice of giving while keeping the steam engine of your business going don't have to be mutually exclusive. You don't have to sacrifice one to do the other - you can do both.
Donate a percentage of your sales
Over the next month, there are many opportunities to “give” in ways that reflect your business in a very personal way. The easiest way to do this is to dedicate a portion of sales during the month and/or a particular sale day to a specific charity. For example, let’s say you own a dog grooming business. The most heartwarming way to give would be to offer a percentage of sales pain consumer email list to an animal shelter, rescue service, or foundation. This is a very convenient way to carry out the act of giving because it requires minimal logistics, time investment, and resources to set up. All you would need to do is advertise the sale in your email campaigns, social media, and website. You should also consider doing a media campaign about the donation, especially if you have raised a large sum. If this is the case, contact the charity and express your wish. See if they will allow you to record a live feed so you can create a video (which can be shared) and take some photos (which will be reposted to various media outlets and social networks.
Highlight some members of your audience
If you're looking for a more intimate and profound way to give, you can do so by honoring select members of your audience. The holiday season isn't just about the physical and/or monetary gains you can make. For example, when we sit down at the dinner table to celebrate, it's about taking a moment to thank each other and no one says you can't do the same in business and with your audience. To do this, select a sample to create a profile with. In fact, you can choose a daily profile during the holiday season. You'll want to keep in mind that creating a customer profile should be warm but concise highlighting what makes them special and why you're thankful for them. Be sure to include at least one high-resolution photo and a few links to their work, website or cause. By doing this, you're not only showing gratitude, you're also networking.
