Give Back to Your Community - Feel Better and Help Your Practice Grow

Sun, 08/19/2012

Several years ago, Page 1 began supporting environmental and local community organizations.  It was an easy decision to make.  Members of our Management Team were environmentally conscious and we wanted to improve our environment and help our staff find ways to feel good about working at Page 1.  Over the years we have expanded our environmental and community efforts and it has become a bigger and bigger part of who we are.  

Yesterday, a Saturday, a number of us went to Bear Creek Park in Denver to help Volunteers Outdoor Colorado rebuild trails, plant trees and protect existing trees from the very aggressive beavers in the area.  It was hard, sweaty work but it was fun.  Many of us are outdoor enthusiasts.  We enjoy the Colorado mountains and many metro area parks.  This was our opportunity to make one local park just a little bit better.

In late July and early August, 13 members of the Page 1 staff went to The Action Center over a two week period to help with their school supply drive.  In addition, many other Page 1 staffers contributed financially by donating school supplies.  It was an eye-opening experience to meet the parents and kids who came to pick up the free school supplies and to see how many children in our community really depend on the generosity of others.  We have been supporting The Action Center for years, but this was the first time that many of us donated our time.

Next month, Page 1 staffers will participate in the Second Wind Fund's Annual Walk-Run-Ride to raise money to help prevent teen suicide. We have participated in this event for several years and our contingent continues to grow.

There are many other ways that we "give back" throughout the year, and we are continuing to look for more ways to contribute.  We have "adopted a highway" in our area and we recently helped a local animal shelter raise money at their annual garage sale.

As local, state and federal governments tighten their belts, government aid for the environment and for people in need is shrinking.  The political parties are continuing to look for ways to reduce spending even more to try to bring budgets into balance.  While Republicans want to severely cut essential services, the reality is that the government will be cutting back even if Obama and the Democrats manage to hold on to the Presidency and/or one of the houses of Congress.  All of this makes it even more important for local businesses to find ways to give back.  After all, we rely on our community to support our business.

At Page 1, we have found that these efforts make us feel good.  It gives us the opportunity to spend time with each other outside of the workplace while we are doing something good for our community.  Try it.  You will be amazed at how good it makes you feel.

At Page 1, we have also found that our focus on the environment and our community has helped us attract quality employees.  People want to work for businesses that do more than build widgets.

You - our clients - whether you are an attorney, a dentist, a plastic surgeon or an ophthalmologist, have another incentive to do this.  In today's world of social media, when you give back to your community, you are marketing your practice to your potential clients and patients. The people you help are your potential clients.  Beyond that, when others - businesses and individuals in your community - see that you are going above and beyond to give back to your community (and theirs), they are more likely to choose your practice when they want or need your services.

Page 1 doesn't provide website marketing services to people in our community, but you do offer your services to people in your community. Consequently, your efforts to give back should have a dual benefit that will help you grow your practice in addition to making you feel good because you know you are doing the right thing.  

Following are a few articles that explain why small businesses should engage in cause marketing and give back to their communities:

Have fun - and be careful out there!