Social responsibility attracts customers and improves the world. Knowing this, companies increasingly turn to corporate social responsibility as part of their culture and as a marketing tool. As shoppers become increasingly aware of the many ways the business world can give back to the communities from which they profit, corporate social responsibility (CSR) becomes more important.

1. Creating Great CSR for
Your Business
Social responsibility attracts customers and improves the world.
Knowing this, companies increasingly turn to corporate social
responsibility as part of their culture and as a marketing tool. As
shoppers become increasingly aware of the many ways the
business world can give back to the communities from which they
profit, corporate social responsibility (CSR) becomes more
important.

2. Failure to position your firm as an agent of social change can put
you at a competitive disadvantage as shoppers use their money to
support firms that put people first. During a time of crowded and
competitive markets, you must create a great CSR strategy for your
business. Use the following tips to get started.
Donations
Begin your CSR program by making donations that improve the
quality of life for disadvantaged population groups. Regardless of
whether a charity supports the poor of a particular community or
helps fund medical research, it can get better results with your
donations than without them. Carefully choose a charitable
organization to support so you can gain strength from its brand
and avoid ethics and management problems that can tarnish
yours.
Rather than simply advertising that your business donates to
worthy causes, use the practice to engage your customers.
Consider, for example, setting up a program where your company
matches or compounds customer contributions. Doing so reminds
customers of your CSR every time they buy and makes them feel
solidarity with your brand. Such a practice can form a bond with
your customer base that inspires repeat sales and encourages
word-of-mouth advertising.
Sponsorships
Buy sponsorships that get your brand associated with worthy
causes while spreading awareness of your brand. Community
events such as 5K run-walks, youth sports, and soup kitchens need
money to operate, so they often ask for sponsorship opportunities.
In exchange for the money you give them, they put your company
logo on signs, t-shirts, and advertisements. Such a practice builds
community goodwill and recognition for your brand.

3. Volunteer
Giving the gift of time can make a significant impact on a child,
veteran, senior citizen or homeless person. Find a worthy cause
such as a food bank or community clean-up program that needs
people to perform various tasks and then organize your staff to fill
those roles on either a weekly or monthly basis. When you do this,
you and your team learn the blessings of sharing life with the
community while gaining recognition for selflessness.
Creating great CSR makes sense from a business perspective, but
it will also work wonders in your organization if you also make
social responsibility a core value. When customers see a sincere
commitment to helping others, they willingly will choose to buy
your brand. As you and your team serve through donations,
sponsorships, and volunteerism, you will feel good about
yourselves and your firm. Ultimately, through CSR, everyone wins.
Eugene Schneur is a real estate mogul and the co-founder of
Omni New York.