Cause marketing is one of the easiest public relations campaigns you can implement. It’s easiest when it comes from eh heart. Authentic concern and dedication to move the needle on a cause that needs attention and help will not only drive you to success, it will create excitement for people to join you.
I recently was fortunate enough to be a guest on Kandas Rodarte’s podcast Gratitude Geek. It was such a pleasure and I think we could have talked for hours.
We shared stories covering the gamut all in the name of cause marketing. We spoke of being breast cancer survivors and our thoughts on “pink washing,” to great books on storytelling, to the importance of public relations in marketing, and how you can add some cause marketing to your 2026 marketing plan. You can gather some more tips from this blog post regarding Small Business Saturday. Small Businesses and nonprofits are perfect for each other!
The Key is Alignment!
When you choose a cause to support it has to align with personal experiences for you, your employees, your mission, and your audience. If you can tell your story passionately, your audience will care as much as you do. It needs to all make sense.
If the cause you choose is too obscure or does not align with what you and your company stand for, the juxtaposition will be jarring and people won’t necessarily know how they feel about it.
For instance, if you run a cigar bar and decided to support the Lung Association with a smoke-off. That’s a bit offensive. Maybe a closing the store smoke out would be a better opportunity for the Lung Association to feel good about what you’re doing. You might feel like the cigar sales company is paying it forward, but when quitting is a better option for curbing lung cancer, then do that. If your product is any kind of a vice, you can find a way to support a cause, but be very mindful or you will just look like a hypocrite.
Watch or Listen and Learn More About Cause Marketing
Here is the video recording of the episode on YouTube.
Or listen on Apple
If you haven’t yet, please subscribe to my enewsletter here for tips and insights delivered to your mailbox every week.
Thanks to Kandas Rodarte for a great experience!
Recent Comments