Connecting Your Business Giving Message to Market in an Authentic Way

Just about this time last year, I hosted a teleseminar titled, "Connecting Your Giving Message to Market in an Authentic Way" with special guest Lisa Manyon of Write On Creative. This was the most popular teleseminar for givingadvice in 2009. And while I have shared bits and pieces with clients since then, this message is so important for businesses that I can no longer keep it a secret.

**Below is the link to listen to this teleseminar (and it's free.)**

Did you know that one of the best ways to interact with your customers and clients without selling is to share how you make a difference by supporting causes and social change? Whether you give back in a small way or big way, on this call we shared the secrets how to create a giving message that connects with your market. You can have a great cause marketing campaign or community involvement program, but without composing your giving message in a way that captures customers you may lose that connection with them.

Your business can be influenced by supporting causes and when you create a giving story that is credible and authentic it can be a driving factor in that grows your business and builds awareness about charities.

On this audio link you will hear Lisa and I share:

* How to connect with customers on their terms
* POWER points to ask yourself before you start writing
* Why what you say is as important as how you say it
* Shortcuts to copy success
* Crafting copy that compels your customers to act
* Why credibility and authenticity count

Here is the link to our teleseminar: http://tinyurl.com/yhljllj

Help Starts @ Home ~ No One Should Be Cold or Hungry

It all started late one evening. Lisa Manyon (Twitter handle @WriteOnCreative) and I (Twitter handle @MaggieKeenan) were being our social selves on social networks. Lisa and I have known each other for several years. We professionally have worked on projects together and we are real friends, Twitter pals and Facebook friends, too.

Lisa posted a question on Facebook that asked: “I think it would be fun to be a professional gift giver w/ an unlimited budget to delight others. What would you give & why?”

This sparked some interesting discussion and I know that Lisa and I both have a passion for giving and helping nonprofits.

Then the magic began. Lisa mentioned she was thinking about the recent Facebook craze of women posting their bra color in their social media status to support breast cancer. But what about taking action to REALLY make a difference. Lisa sent the link about the bra gig to me and I thought wow, what a cool, a very cool idea.

Lisa immediately thought about a blanket drive and then I thought about all the cold and hungry people within our own communities. We were both on the same wavelength.

I suggested we involve a young teenager, Zach Bonner ( @Zach_Bonner on Twitter). He’s a 12-year old and Founder of the

Little Red Wagon Foundation a charity organized to raise awareness and funds to help homeless children. I've been following Zach for over a year. Part of the proceeds of my book support his cause and I followed him last summer on his ATL-DC Walk.

Lisa and I are asking you to join us in supporting this new campaign and we are making it super easy for you. You can either donate your time, a blanket or some food to a charity in your community or nationally, or if you cannot donate your time or items, please consider sending Zach a donation.

Here’s how you can make it happen:

1. Post the information you’ll find below on your Facebook page, blog etc. to spread the word.

2. Take an action yourself. Select the best way to support this campaign.

3. Join our campaign on Twibbon as a supporter.

4. Then, post one of the status suggestions below in all of your social media status sections.

That’s it! So let's get started. Below is all the information you need to help out.

Here’s a suggested post you can use on your blog and to send to friends on your social networks to spread the Help Starts @ Home ~ No One Should Be Cold or Hungry.

Help Starts @ Home ~ No One Should Be Cold Or Hungry

People in your community are cold and hungry. You might not see them on the streets in your community but they are there. Or you may live in a community where it’s more than obvious (Hello, Seattle, Los Angeles, Detroit…). Maggie Keenan (@MaggieKeenan –twitter) and Lisa Manyon (@WriteOnCreative –twitter) are no strangers to giving. They’re challenging you to do the same. So, donate a blanket or food to someone who needs it. Perhaps someone you see on the street or contact your local organizations. There are Community Partnership Act programs across the country, homeless shelters and food banks, too. Or, if you cannot donate an item, donate your time to a local soup kitchen or other shelter. Let’s make a difference.

The Help Starts @ Home movement was inspired by the social media craze of women posting their bra color to support breast cancer. Maggie & Lisa support breast cancer too BUT they’re taking this a step further and challenging you and your family to take action and make a difference.

Help really does start at home and no one should be cold or hungry. Post this to your Facebook wall, pass it on to friends, add it to your blog, send it to your newsletter subscribers & when you’ve taken action, post this in your status on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook or whatever social media platform you choose.

Think of the impact we can ALL make. Oh, and if you really cannot find the time to take action and donate a blanket or food, please consider sending a donation to the The Little Red Wagon Foundation. Zach Bonner (@Zach_Bonner – Twitter) is the founder. He’s 12-Years old and dedicated to helping homeless children. Check him out on Twitter or at http://littleredwagonfoundation.com/ .

Go forth and GIVE. And, when you do, add our Twibbon to your your Twitter profile to show united support for Help Starts @ Home.

Help Starts @ Home ~ No One Should Be Cold Or Hungry ~ I donated to (insert item & name or organization here)

Help Starts @ Home ~ No One Should BE Cold Or Hungry ~ I donated a blanket & food today

Help Starts @ Home ~ No One Should BE Cold Or Hungry ~ I donated to http://littleredwagonfoundation.com/

Help Starts @ Home ~ No One Should Be Cold Or Hungry ~ I volunteered in soup kitchen today

Help Starts @ Home ~ No One Should Be Cold Or Hungry ~I volunteered in a homeless shelter today

Help Starts @ Home ~ No One Should Be Cold Or Hungry ~ I volunteered at a Food Bank today

Thanks for your support! Someone somewhere will appreciate you!

Connecting Your Giving Message to Market

Question: What is the one way you can interact and gain trust from clients and customers without selling to them?

Answer: Sharing your business's giving back story.

And it is a business strategy that is working better than ever. In fact, it works so well that big corporations are doing it more and more and I KNOW that when you connect with clients on a level that goes beyond 'the transaction' to one that you both share in, like making a difference, you create an immediate emotional connection which builds trust and loyalty.

So, whether you give back in a small way or big way, your business can be influenced by supporting causes and when you create a giving story that is credible and authentic it can be a driving factor in increasing sales. And I want to share with you great tips on this topic. That is why I am interviewing Lisa Manyon, President of Write On Creative and copywriting expert because what you say is just as important as how you say it.

Join us for this free teleseminar, "Connecting Your Giving Message to Market in an Authentic Way" on 4:00pm EST on Tuesday, June 23, 2009.

On this call you will learn:

• How to connect with customers on their terms
  
• POWER points to ask yourself before you start writing
  
• Why what you say is as important as how you say it
  
• Shortcuts to copy success
  
• Crafting copy that compels your customers to act
  
• Why credibility and authenticity count

Sign up to reserve your spot on this call.