We live in a world where there are so many good causes that there is always a need for volunteers.
“There is nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer” – Lt. Col. James H. Doolittle
With that in mind, it’s very difficult to manage and balance volunteering and a full-time career in Marketing. Here are some tips and advice on how to successfully do BOTH:
• Choose something you are PASSIONATE about – Don’t have a cause just to have one. If you are passionate about Alzheimer’s because your mother had it, you add personal interest and it hits home. People will want to hear your story and naturally sympathize w/ you and your cause.
• Wear 2 hats – When attending events or marketing for business, represent both your business/company AND your cause. People love to hear about volunteers and their efforts to save the world. It adds credibility and gives you something other than business to talk about.
• Ask for Sponsors – When you go marketing to your accounts (new or old) ask for sponsors from the very people who refer you. They know it’s a good cause and if they sponsor you, that gives you reason to follow-up with them and report back the latest and greatest
• Promote the Events – If you’re in marketing, you’re already on the road. So everywhere you go, promote the events of the cause. Ask if your referral source can attend. It’s a great way to get them in an environment that’s not their office and you can spend some great quality time developing a professional relationship.
• Step up and take a leadership position – Don’t just be a member, seek out leadership roles. Every organization has a governing body, and the higher you are on the totem pole, the more influence you will have.
I love sharing this w/ people because it gets the cause recognition and support, while allowing you to open doors that would otherwise be closed to you. Steve from The Society on Aging of New Jersey could go into places, where Steve from Care Choice couldn’t. Every time I went somewhere representing SANJ, after I finished speaking about the group and our mission, the obvious question that came next was “Well Steve, what do you do?”. That is the best part about doing this, the rewarding feeling you get knowing you helped a great cause with your time WHILE opening doors to bring in more business than you know what do to with.
So find something you love, go marketing promoting it, wear your heart on your sleeve, and save the world! 😉