When I started CP Communications I wanted the business to contribute to the community. However considering I borrowed a computer to start the business, I certainly didn’t have enough money to give to charity!
What I did have was time. Even though it seems we live in a world where people are constantly saying “I don’t have enough time”, that is seldom actually true.
I researched volunteer opportunities and found the perfect one; volunteer gardening for the elderly, run through a local council Easy Care Gardening program.
So for the first three years of CP Communications the business contributed my time and brought joy to hundreds of older residents through the upkeep of their beloved gardens.
Now that the business is more established we contribute financially to Opportunity International’s Micro Finance Program for women, and I donate my time and money on a personal level to charities and causes.
Corporate social responsibility programs aren’t just for big business. No matter the size of the business, we all have the opportunity to make the world a better place, which in turn provides an opportunity for businesses to promote their involvement.
I hope you enjoy reading this newsletter.
Aligning your brand with a charity
Lets face it, people like to associate themselves with businesses and brands that support causes. For example, this month it seems men are channelling 1970’s porn stars and growing moustache’s for Movember. So how can you align your brand to a charity or cause?
Do it for the right reasons.
When embarking on a charity initiative, consider the sort of giving that you’d like to be involved in and why you’re doing it. If corporate charity is undertaken as an obligation or as a means of self-promotion, this will show through in your efforts, and no matter how great your giving, it will be seen as less than sincere.
Pick a charity or cause that means something to you.
The organisation you choose need not be directly related to the work your business does or be a nationally or internationally recognised group/cause. Get together with your staff and discuss the various organisations and causes that mean something to you and that you are best able to help with your limited resources and time.
Don’t just donate money.
There are many ways a company can contribute to its chosen charity or cause. Many local level organisations have a greater need for donated goods and services, or for people to volunteer for a couple of hours each month than they do for a straight cash donation.
To read the full article go to our Public Relations Sydney blog.
Can Adwords work for your business?
We asked AdWords expert, Michael Quinn, from Mildura Internet to give our readers an overview.
AdWords are the “Sponsored Links” you see around the search results when you search for something on Google. If you’re searching for “Wine Racks”, then you should see Ads relating to “Wine Racks”.
Many websites also run Google AdWords on their pages. There are millions of these sites in the Google Content Network. Google tries to match Ads with the Content on a website - so Ads for Wine Racks should show on sites about wine, storage, DIY etc, but probably not on sites about sport or finance.
Anyone can use AdWords to promote their company or services - it’s a great way of putting yourself in front of customers looking for products like yours. You can even target locations so your Ads only show in your service area.
AdWords are great for getting on the front page of search results. Sometimes with thousands of other sites like yours it’s the quickest, if not the only way, especially if your site is brand new.
Lead time is minimal and Ads can run for any length of time. Great for seasonal or weekend special promotions.
AdWords are simple enough to set up and manage yourself. Like most things, an AdWords expert can help improve your performance and show you how to make the best of your advertising budget.
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