corporate social responsibility

May

2017

Social Justice: How to Fuel Your Purpose and Practice with Educational Niche Marketing

Focusing on a niche in your field is beneficial to the long-term growth of your business and career. The problem with today’s job market is the over-saturation of people in numerous job fields reaching for the same generalized group. General practitioners easily spread themselves too thin, resulting in working on cases and jobs that don’t interest them, and even worse, aren’t cases they ACTUALLY have experience working with.

But when your purpose in life and your professional career collide to make a magical combination, this is the stuff that fuels change in the world. It may seem odd that a combination so great might need P.R. or “marketing” but these efforts can fuel the fire needed in this world’s current state. We are battling some forces that need a push back. Marketing your niche is the corporate term and excuse to promote good in the world and push pro-people agendas as well as re-education.

Finding your niche isn’t always easy, but some leaders do an amazing job at using their niche to fuel their passion and stand out as leaders, advocates, and philanthropists!

If there is a lesson to be learned, these leaders are teaching it. Here is what we learned from some of our favorite social justice stars!

Leader 1, Lesson 1:

Talila Lewis advocates for people with disabilities, specializing in deaf, deafblind, deafdisabled and hard of hearing cases. Lewis is one of very few lawyers around the world working to defend deaf wrongful conviction cases. Besides being an avid educator to congress, attorneys, and law enforcement, Lewis is also the creator of the only national deaf prisoner database. Lewis works tirelessly to defend those who have not been able to defend themselves. Lewis is the Founder and Director of Helping to Educate and Advance the Rights of Deaf Communities (HEARD), which is an all-volunteer nonprofit that works to assist and advocate for the deaf, disabled, abused and wrongfully convicted.

Lewis stands out for hard work, dedication, being knowledgeable, and vocal in order to defend those who need specialized advocacy. Education is big for Lewis, as it provides a truly valuable resource to those who need it most. Recognized as a White House “Champion of Change” and was named one of the “Top 30 Thinkers Under 30” by Pacific Standard Magazine, Talila Lewis shows us that serving as a defender and resource allows for unparalleled success. Lewis’ focus is specific, which helps in truly understanding and helping clients, followers, and community members far beyond lawyers in this field of practice.

A big reason we believe niche marketing is the way to go is because of leaders like Lewis who leverage their purpose to serve as field specialists for those who need them the most. Thanks for your brilliance, heart, and dedication, Talila!

Leader 2, Lesson 2:

Andrea Ritchie is black lesbian police misconduct attorney, researcher, writer, and advocate for criminalization surrounding women, girls, and LGBT people of color. Ritchie also helped found and coordinate Streetwise & Safe (SAS), which serves as a leadership development initiative that focuses on sharing “know your rights” information along with strategies and visions for change among people facing the issues she seeks to represent. Ritchie now also serves as the SAS Senior Policy Counsel.

Ritchie is also a co-author of:

Like our previous social justice star, Ritchie is also quite active in education, pushing forth her vision, her views, and her experiences with groups that need the most advocacy in our society.

We love Ritchie because her work spans further than her federal litigation to her commitment to educating and speaking out for the civil rights that many others are too fearful to speak up for. A visit to Ritchie’s site gives access to her blog, videos, publications, and access to her business services.

Because police misconduct is still a huge problem, Ritchie’s specialty is still broad enough to handle a wide array of cases, but small enough to allow her to quickly assess an issue and come up with the best possible solution for that case. Richie has gained enormous trust amongst her clients and with her community, not just because of the number of similar cases she has handled but also because of her respect, education, and advocacy for a very particular group of people who need her, and more advocates like her.

Leader 3, Lesson 3:

Photo Credit: Norm Betts/Bloomberg News

The NoVo Foundation, a Warren Buffett family foundation run by Buffet’s children, is a leader in providing girls all over the world with opportunities for advancement. This organization focuses on supporting the development of capacities in individuals and as a whole to create a balanced and caring world that women can thrive in. The NoVo Foundation is also donating $90 million dollars over 7 years to help girls of color fulfill their mission.

Buffett is known as one of the most successful investors of all time. His families philanthropic work, although different than our last two, demonstrate a strong commitment to using your voice, your name, your privilege, and your finances to support a meaningful cause. The NoVo Foundation gives hope, inspires change, and advocates globally for the women who need it the most.

At the end of the day, specializing in a specific niche allows you to ENJOY the work you do. If you specialize in a field that interests you, then it won’t even be a job, but more of a commitment to fueling your passion. Like Buffett, Ritchie, and Lewis, if your passion is to help others overcome societal & natural-born obstacles to live a fulfilling life, you can specify where it is that you best fit into this field and tackle it whole-heartedly!

At A.R. Marketing House, we focus on helping you use your voice, your knowledge, and your skill set to become the leader that your field needs. We believe in the power of education and using what you know to provide the information that others are seeking.

Marketing comes down to more than just selling, getting your name out there, and making money. It is an opportunity to do good by those who are seeking your service and an opportunity to gain recognition by providing meaningful content, services, and information.
Need help becoming the leader your clients need? Contact us today!

“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” – John C. Maxwell

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Mar

2017

5 Ways to Leverage your Company’s Philanthropy RIGHT NOW!

Philanthropy: Get involved, get noticed, ASAP

While some companies focus on giving back once or twice a year, many are able to incorporate their philanthropy into their year-round business model. While the work of actually getting started can seem daunting, there are so many simple ways to incorporate your philanthropy into your business model in order to make a big difference in your community and get noticed.

If you are already doing philanthropic work, awesome! Share it with your customers, followers, fans, and friends! If you are not fully incorporating your philanthropy into your business model, here is how you can go about it.

By now, you may or may not have seen our post about how having a philanthropy and sticking to it can improve engagement. If you have not read it, you can do so right HERE.

There are actually so many ways to get involved and do work that suits your company’s philanthropy. Yes, donations help, but have you ever thought of donating your time?

1. Community Service Projects

Stepping out of your office for a few hours is really all it takes! Nonprofits put on events to help support areas of need and seek volunteers just like YOU! Let’s say your philanthropy is to support environmental growth efforts. You can participate in local events that involve planting trees and cleaning up beaches and gardens. Many cities offer local community service projects, and I have found volunteermatch to be a great source for finding local organizations that are seeking volunteers for their events.

2. Pro-Bono Work

Pro-Bono work refers to free services that professionals in a field provide to nonprofit groups, poverty-stricken clients or generally just people in need. For instance, let’s say you are a graphic designer. You could provide your services to a local homeless shelter looking to design a brochure to give to potential donors. You would volunteer your time to creating this for an organization that may not have the funds or the background to be able to successfully do this task on their own. Maybe you are a technology wiz! There are plenty of organizations that are seeking out computer-literate volunteers to help seniors learn basic computer skills. Your skills can go to use in helping others that may not have your unique skillset.

3. Scholarships

There are so many students that lack the funds to pursue higher education. If your company has the funds to support a student in need, why not offer them an opportunity to apply for a scholarship? You can limit it to just students in a certain demographic, students pursuing a specific degree or track of study, or even students that demonstrate a passion for the philanthropy that your organization is also passionate about! The great part about offering a scholarship is that there is no limit to how much funds you offer this student or to how MANY students you provide with scholarships. It is important to tie this opportunity back into the mission of your company and also your marketing plan.

4. Fundraising

Whether you are planning on creating your own fundraiser or participating in one, this can aid the process of fulfilling your philanthropy. Can your company raise funds for a cause? Participate in a charity 5k? One fundraising method that comes to mind is donating a percentage of what you make from selling your products or services to a cause that matters to you. You can even ask your customers if they would like to round their total to the next dollar to support the cause. These small contributions can make a large difference and leave lots of room for you to promote your company and efforts.

5. Product Donations

Product donations are essential to the growth and stability of many organizations. It could be as simple as donating canned goods to a local food pantry or even donating extra supplies you may have around your office to local non-profit/poverty stricken organizations. Your contributions definitely matter to someone.

Now whether you’ve decided to participate in service events, or offer scholarships to deserving students, any of these efforts make for a fantastic philanthropy and marketing opportunity.

“Nothing teaches character better than generosity” – Jim Rohn

Feb

2017

Philanthropy: 6 Winning Reasons to Boost Positive Engagement

Your Philanthropy Legacy is your Marketing Plan

The hustle of running a business is sometimes so time-consuming that we put aside the bigger picture that we started out with in order to perform the day-to-day tasks that must get done. But since you are the person that dreamed up your business and created it to fruition in the first place, you know how important it is to take a step back and reassess your place in the world, your growth, your philanthropy, and ultimately your LEGACY.

Philanthropy offers us a WIN-WIN situation when considering a mode of marketing and where we can leave our stamp of grace on our employees, vendors, communities, and the world.

What is a Company Philanthropy exactly? A philanthropy is defined as a company giving to a cause, whether it be through charitable donations or giving their time and resources. Although many corporations get the credit for doing philanthropic work (Yay to their $$$ P.R. Team), many small businesses don’t have the time or resources to express all that they actually give and are involved in with their community. Fortunately for the businesses that have put time into marketing and fulfilling their philanthropy, the rewards have been fruitful.

So, what is your company already giving to its community? Is a philanthropy program something your company already has in place? Yes? then GREAT!!! You need to create a marketing program to share all the amazing things you do in the world! If not, I’m going to make this clear and simple: you need one.

Here are 6 reasons to start creating and living by that philanthropic legacy you’ve always dreamed of that will actually help boost your earnings.

1. Establishing an Identity and Purpose

For many people, a business that lives within their purpose gives people a reason to choose that company’s brand over another brand. Companies like Lyft, Burt’s Bees, Dove, and Whole Foods have all focused a lot of time and money into fulfilling their purpose and standing by their philanthropy in order to make a valuable contribution to society. In order to establish where you fit in, think to yourself: What are you passionate about? Education? Homelessness? Environmental Conservation? Health? How do you want to help your neighbors? What do you want your legacy to be? There are so many different charities all focused on different causes. Find something that feels right for you and your business, or acknowledge what you’re already doing, and focus on using this to market the identity of your business. By establishing a purpose, people feel a need to help your cause knowing that some of their investment into your company invests in a good cause.

2. Networking Opportunities

Many organizations run events with large numbers of volunteers. I attended an event for an organization called L.A. Works that was focused on building up a local community while working at homeless shelters and schools in need. We painted murals, planted flowers, built benches and put together care packages for the shelter residents and local students. Target was one of the companies that decided to donate to the cause with their time. They sent over a group of volunteers in matching red Target shirts all eager to work on these projects. Not only did this show the 1000+ volunteers how even outside of their store, they were still trying to make a difference in the lives of their neighbors, but they were a united team of givers. Not only was this team talking amongst each other but they were cheering, working, and spending time with other volunteers that were there for the cause. It allowed their team an opportunity to speak to locals outside of the transactional world. Customers are the core of your business, so this is a great way to engage with the people who keep your business running in the first place.

3. Public Relations

My previous example demonstrated how Target made a positive PR move by actively participating in this event with over a thousand people in attendance. Although it was a chance for them to network, it also boosted Target’s visibility within the community as a company that lived by its philanthropy.

4. Employee morale

A recent study of more than 2,000 individuals found that “nearly two-thirds of people between the ages of 18 and 34 were at least somewhat more likely to want to work for a company that gave to charity than one did that not”. Not only do employees feel better about working for a company that is active in making a difference, but especially in this generation, employees are likely to stick around if there are common values and a strong foundation that the company is based on.

5. Respected leadership

Leaders that make a point to improve the lives of their employees and the people around them are likely going to be respected to a higher degree than those leaders who are only focused solely on the profit they are reigning in on.

6. Trust and value of mission statement

Having and sticking to your mission statement establishes trust. It gives your brand a purpose and a REASON for people to trust you. You stand for something other than yourself, and that alone is a respectable trait.

So, decide on your legacy, whether it be through corporate funding, volunteer work, product donations, partnerships, or pro-bono work–every company should reassess their role in the world to make philanthropy a part of their mission and thus grow their business in a sustainable fashion that helps not only themselves but also the world around them.