Social media is an incredibly powerful tool that businesses can utilise in a multitude of ways: growing an audience, bolstering brand recognition, promoting various products, and indeed supporting social causes.
However, how can you go about supporting social causes in the right way? How can you add genuine value? Read on and we’ll share some handy insights.
1. Do it for the right reasons
Selfish-altruism is the buzzword in this article. In other words, if you are thinking of supporting social causes purely because you want the brownie points then you are doing it for the wrong reasons.
However, if you are supporting a social cause because you are genuinely passionate about it and it makes you feel good, then you are doing it for the right reasons.
The fact is, when done well: supporting social causes via social media can not only drastically improve the lives of others while raising money and awareness for those in need, but it can also paint your brand in a positive light as well, which can be transformative.
2. Support causes that you genuinely care about
Next, you should support causes that you genuinely care about. If you are only supporting a specific cause because it’s a “nice aesthetic fit” with your brand, then (you guessed it), you are going about it all wrong.
In order to support a social cause in a meaningful way, you truly need to want to make a difference. If you don’t, it will invariably show.
3. Be authentic
This should go without saying as it applies to all of your content creation: it’s important that you be authentic. If your posts are perceived as being forced or disingenuous, then it will reflect poorly on you.
Again, this is why being passionate about the causes that you choose to support is so important: because crafting a genuine and authentic message will come naturally to you.
4. Partner with, support, and celebrate the biggest advocates in your community
Another great way to show your support for certain social causes is to effectively be a cheerleader for the biggest advocates.
Do you have a podcast? If so, get some people on your show who are making big strides in the social causes that you are most passionate about. Use your platform to help them spread the good word and share in their success.
5. Work towards meaningful change
There’s a big difference between putting out the occasional hashtag-rich post one day a year and actively taking steps towards meaningful change.
Do something that matters.
Do you support the push towards carbon neutrality? If so, what changes have you made this year to make your business as green as possible? Are you still using takeaway packaging that is neither biodegradable or reusable? Could you find a less harmful means of manufacturing your goods?
Lead by example!
Final thoughts: Actions speak louder than words
There are far too many brands out there who love to jump on the bandwagon and claim to be “supporters” when all they really do is lavish in the attention that they get for pretending to care.
No.
If you want to make a genuine impact, then actions speak louder than words. Don’t just create timely posts with the relevant hashtags; get out there amongst your community and put the work in!
Of course, it’s much easier said than done given how time and resource intensive positive activism is. So, learn to delegate. For example, hire a bookkeeper to handle your accounting; partner with a digital marketing agency in Dubai to help promote your business online; and do everything you can to free yourself up to focus on your business and the charitable causes that you care about.
In doing so, you’ll be leading by example and proving to your audience that you aren’t just showing your support to look the part, but that you thoroughly believe in such causes and practise what you preach.
