There is perhaps no better time of year than the holiday season to think about giving back to the community. While it’s true that the main objective of any business is staying profitable, there is something to be said for being a good corporate citizen, supporting the community and interacting with your customers for a good cause. Last week we held a giving event of our own to benefit two local charities: The Banquet and The Furniture Mission. Our staff was split into two teams who pulled out all the stops to promote their charity and campaign for the votes of our guests. Not only did our charities win, but we had a blast, our customers had fun and we all got to use our creative talents for the greater good. Another great example of giving with a purpose is the The First National Bank in Sioux Falls #HashtagHoliday social media promotion in which they are awarding $10,000 to local charities based on customer interaction. For four weeks, the public can nominate their local charity by posting on Facebook or following @FNBSF on Twitter using the hashtag #FNBGiveFirst. In the first five days of the contest the campaign reached 10,708 people and was shared more than 170 times! Companies all over the world are beginning to understand that marketing is no longer just about branding and selling something. It’s about building long term relationships with customers in both the business-to-consumer and business-to-business marketplace. People no longer buy something just because they want it, but they connect to companies because they want to be associated with what a company stands for. In the age of digital communication, creating “giving” campaigns on social media can be an inexpensive way to increase your visibility and boost interaction with your clients. There are many benefits to giving back, many of them can help your business reach its goals, for growth, service, culture and profitability. Charitable giving:

• Helps companies establish a solid brand and answers the question, “What do you stand for?”
• Shows your sense of corporate responsibility, an important characteristic in today’s market.
• Supports the community that supports you.
• Creates buzz and raises visibility. Generosity gets attention.
• Gives people a reason to talk about you in a good way.
• Increases interaction with your customers and makes them feel connected to you.
• Makes people like you. People want to do business with people they like.
• Gives your employees something to be proud of and builds team.

Perhaps the best reason of all for giving back is that it’s a good thing to do for people – and for companies. There are hundreds of ways to give back. Hold a food drive and give something to everyone that brings in non-perishable food. Allow your employees an hour a week on the clock to do community service. Hold a social media contest for charity and see what you – in conjunction with your customers – can give back. Have ideas of your own? Share them with a comment below. At HenkinSchultz we take pride in the role we play in our community. For the last 22 years we have received so much from the people and businesses in Sioux Falls and the entire region that it makes sense to give a little back, no only through the holiday season, but all year long. It’s always a good time to give.