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Your chosen career makes you an important part of the community you live and work in. It's important to give back to the community that gives you so much. There are many ways to contribute, from directly donating money to donating your time, your expertise, or your creativity. Your charitable contributions will also raise your visibility in the community and your position in the esteem of your clients, past, present, and future. There's nothing wrong with sending out press releases to the local paper or neighborhood listserv enumerating your participation in charitable causes, or investing your time in a high-profile cause that will get your name out there.
Once you're associated with a known and respected charitable organization, you'll have the opportunity to market your services to the people who run the charity and to the other volunteers and contributors. The fact that you're already helping a good cause works in your favor, and you can further that by offering promotional prices or discounted services to other participants in the charity of your choice.
Each time you contribute, each time your name is associated with an organization that is benefiting your community, you're raising your profile and tying your name and your agency's to that charity in the minds of your clients. Put their logo on your marketing material, along with a blurb noting you're a supporter and contributor. Get your logo on their materials as well - letters to donors, magazines and newsletters, signs hung at events. Here are three ideas for charities you can get involved with:
- Help the homeless. Your business is homeownership; helping those with no home seems like an obvious choice. You could start with local shelters, religious organizations, and programs like WIC and food banks that help the less fortunate. Habitat for Humanity is another great way to lend a hand.
- Raise money for a cause. You're a people person, with lots of contacts around town. Gather together other professionals in your community to improve a local playground, sponsor a marathon, clean up graffiti or commission a mural ... there are endless possibilities when you work with others.
- Participate in neighborhood celebrations. Have you ever thought about who actually organizes a community Harvest Festival or spring celebration? It takes a lot of work to pull off a Fourth of July parade. Donating your time to setting up for a local event or even manning an informational booth is a great way to give back. You can also buy ad space in the event program.
The important thing is to go into this experience for the right reason: to give back. True, you'll engender positive feelings toward yourself, and you'll make lots of new contacts, but if you're only looking to build your business, it will show. When you really care about your community enough to give freely of your time or money, it's obvious - and it has its own rewards.
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