As someone who works long hours and
has many extracurricular activities, finding time to volunteer can seem
impossible. This is especially true for business owners. You wake up maybe have
some coffee or go to the gym then it’s off to work you go. At work you run
around all day faxing, emailing, returning calls, and then you go to a meeting
or two. After work you make dinner,
clean the house and help the kids with some homework. By the end of the day you
are exhausted. Does any of this sound familiar? How then, with such a busy
schedule are you supposed to make time for charity?
Assisting your community has its own
return on investment (ROI). In the business world, time=money. Wouldn’t it be
easier to donate a little extra cash? Sure, making donations has its own rewards
and benefits but it doesn’t leave the lasting impression that getting your face
out there does. In today’s online market, noise is deafening, and what better
way to market yourself than by doing something positive in your community. For
example, I occasionally like to volunteer down at the local animal shelter. This
is in no way related to what I sell, but it gives me that chance to meet new
people in a neutral setting. I don’t always promote my business but I do make
the connections that every business needs to survive. I have even come across a person I helped at
the shelter while working and the immediate response from them was, “Hey,
aren’t you that girl who helped me pick out my dog at the pound?” Why yes, yes
I am. I closed that sale that day. I’m not guaranteeing any sort of sales from
volunteering but I am guaranteeing that at the very least you will feel warm
and fuzzy when you’re done.
Volunteering has been a corporate
strategy for quite some time; it’s a tried-and-true incentive to engage
employees in outside the cubicle activities while still promoting the business.
Employees feel more connected to the company and each other when they take part
in company sanctioned social activities that are unrelated to work. Not only do
employees get a chance to get out of the office, but that little bit of time
away has been known to spark a creative idea or two. Some employers offer
incentives and paid time off to participate in charity for the company, and
what employee doesn’t love getting paid to be away from their desk while doing
some good at the same time? At the very least it will stimulate new conversations
around the water cooler.
There are thousands of organizations
that would be willing to promote your business if you donate your time, you can
even create heart-warming ad campaigns showing your connection to your
community. It’s a win-win situation, so get out there, do some good for yourself,
your community, and for your business. The ROI may or may not be measured in
dollars but there’s certainly a connection out there waiting for you.
