Tuesday, 4 March 2014

Boost Your Business Via Social Responsibility

By Sebastian Troup


To make a shift to social and environmental responsibility companies are expected to implement changes in their business which causes quite a challenge to them given the "do more with less" reality of today. Even so, several businesses still opt to make that change - to do good and take pride of it in the workplace because return of investment becomes truly visible. With social responsibility comes an increase in the goal met by companies while at the same time making a difference.

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) can be defined as adhering to ethical and legal standards across a company's operations. That includes promoting and supporting local, national and global causes. That's typically achieved through corporate philanthropy, where businesses donate some of their profits or resources to charitable causes.

A well-designed and properly executed corporate giving program can give your business a competitive advantage by:

Improving name recognition Boosting brand reputation among consumers Increasing sales and positive consumer sentiment Assisting in efforts to recruit and retain talented employees for your company Improving the quality of life in communities where you do business

Most consumers buy according to the corporate social responsibilities as indicated by studies. Early this year Cone Communications and Echo Research being public relations and marketing firms conducted a study which resulted to 90% of surveyed consumers likely to change brands given similar price and quality to the one with a good cause. Businesses without social responsibility responses therefore lose customers. About 90% of the customers would boycott those businesses found practicing irresponsibly.

What this study is about is the latest rousing of social responsibility within companies as customers care about it. It won't be enough to just sell products or services. Businesses making social impact attract more customers. It is no longer up to the Public Relations department to act upon but social responsibility has now been integrated fully into the operations. Proof of this is in the way jobs are being offered, how products are being made and the use of the resources.

CSR is not just a marketing move but a long-term investment as perceived by companies. An example is Coca-Cola with its company 5 x 20 program aiming to bring five million women into the business as local bottlers and distributors in the developing world come 2020. By investing on empowering young women entrepreneurs Coca-Cola's revenue will be increased as more bottlers will be added and so more products will be sold. On an additional positive note this investment will result in better-educated people and consequently more well-off communities particularly in areas in need of help.

Other companies look at CSR as a way to save money. Energy efficiency is a good example. Wal-Mart has three goals of its social responsibility policy: to be fully supplied by renewable energy, to create zero waste, and to sell products that sustain people and the environment. These are lofty goals, but if achieved, they will ultimately save the company a great deal of money.




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