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Community Reflection

In part 2 of this series, we discussed how important it is to review your company’s brand – specifically in relationship to Values, Commitments and Reputation. In this video, we will be discussing how your personal brand and the brand of your business help define the brand/vibe of your community.

Philanthropy solidifies your company’s values.

  • Outside of their corporate mission, all businesses should nurture a core set of values. We discussed this briefly part 2 of this series.
    • The values inform the mission, guide decisions, and help employees and community members connect emotionally with your company.
  • Involving your business in philanthropic activities may seem time consuming but it really solidifies the business values by giving back to organizations that match your personal and professional values.
    • This shows the community you’re not just invested in your business and making money, but that your business also cares about the town/city etc where it’s located.

Economic development is an integral part of the community in which you live and work.

  • Businesses are the backbone of the communities they reside in. Not only does owning your own business allow you to enhance the area around you by generating new jobs, but it also allows you, and employees, the opportunity to be an integral part of the community in which you live and work.
  • Being involved in your local community can have a positive impact on economic development – ranging from getting involved with recycling to help the environment to investing in products and services people need. Showing that you care about the community can help draw others -whether it be employees, individuals or businesses -to the area, allowing you the opportunity to really build up your community. YOU – the people within the community – are key to the economic development and success around you.

Develop new relationships & strengthen existing ones.

  • It’s good to get out of the office ever so often. It can bring a refreshing quality into the daily tasks. Getting out there and volunteering in your community puts you in a great position to meet new people who you may not otherwise meet. These relationships are not only good for networking, but they also help you to create a group of people to consult with outside of your immediate business network.
  • Being active in your community as a volunteer also gives you a chance to continue to collaborate with colleagues you’ve worked with before. Teaming up for a greater good is a powerful way to strengthen bonds and solidify relationships.

Volunteering provides indirect marketing exposure.

  • Giving back and donating your time and expertise to your community and industry can be beneficial for SO many reasons. Not only can volunteering through your business help your community and create a shared sense of achievement, but it can also (indiscreetly) help your business GROW. While you wouldn’t be using a volunteer situation just to gain new customers, it is typical that what you do in business may come up in conversation.
  • Not only do have the opportunity to network and form new relationships during this volunteering opportunity, but you are showing colleagues, friends, family, strangers and the community as a whole that you genuinely care. And you don’t have to do this alone! Invite other local businesses to participate with you – further building those connections AND getting more helping hands involved with the local community. So, whether you are helping a local charity, putting on a fundraiser or helping clean up the sidewalks, volunteering and helping your community is a great way to market yourself and your business.
  • If you’re worried that the people you are volunteering with may not be your ideal customer? Remember that 1) volunteering ISN’T about gaining new customers, it’s about helping others and 2) the people working by your side may not be your ideal customers, but they may remember you and your business when they interact with someone who may need exactly what you offer.

Doing good is good for your reputation & makes you more well-rounded.

  • Volunteering makes you more well-rounded as a person and as a business owner. When you volunteer for the right reasons you have an opportunity to improve many different areas of your life.
  • Personal growth can not only make you a better, more fulfilled person, but it can help you identify more productive goals in your business and ultimately become more successful. You may even find that you have a new learned skill or area of expertise after having volunteered your time.
  • It doesn’t have to take a tremendous amount of time or energy, yet giving back can be one of the best things you can do to strengthen the foundation of your small business. And it may even be something you enjoy and get a great deal of personal satisfaction from doing.

Giving back IS FUN!
When your business is doing well and out there giving back, it just makes the community stronger and a better place to live and work.

It’s fun to get an employee team together for a charity walk or run, or to organize a community food drive capped off with a celebration. It’s also fun to collect and deliver toys and other goods for children and schools in need, or to spend some time outdoors enjoying the weather and participating in a community cleanup program. When we have fun at work, we like work more, and liking work more is definitely good for business.

What better way to instigate employee camaraderie than doing something good for the community?

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