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I had
another topic
selected
for this weeks CRM
Tip, but this one seemed
more appropriate.
Why did I change to this
topic, the "Power of
Giving"?
It
started with a few questions
going through my mind about,
How can giving
really increase and benefit
my business? How can
giving something away lead
to increase?
Does this concept really
work, or is it all a bunch
of bunk?
Let me explain
a bit more.
I am on the Board of
Directors for our local YMCA
and have been on the
“Oversight Committee” for
the area YMCA for many years.
I also work with the kids
and coach basketball all as
a Volunteer.
We are about to kick
off our Annual Giving
Campaign called, “Building
Strong Kids”.
As I
thought about this year’s
campaign and the current
“State of the Economy”, I
was taken back by
the already huge
increase in requests for the
YMCA’s services and
by
“How are we going to meet
this huge
increase in demand?”.
The YMCA is a
Charitable Organization
(501(c) (3) organization),
doing great work with kid’s
and the community.
Learn more about the
YMCA from Al Colby
our Chairperson for this
years campaign.
Last year
at our local YMCA we gave
out $198,000 by way of
Scholarships,
Pprogram
assistance and
Subsidies to Kid’s and
families in need that
would
not normally
be able
to afford the YMCA
or have access to these
programs because of cost.
No one is turned away
from the YMCA. This
year more
and more people will
have
need
of
our assistance.
I
say "Our" because the YMCA
is part of me now.
Then it dawned on me…
the light bulb went
on.
The “Power of
Giving”, is one of the most
powerful CRM Strategies
available for us as Creatrepreneur’s,
(Entrepreneur’s)
and business people.
I know you
are asking WHY?
And What does this
have to do with success in
my business?
As the
light bulb went on…
this quote came
into
my
mind…
“Man did not weave the web
of life he is merely a
strand in it. Whatever he
does to the web, he does to
himself.”
- Chief Sealth – 1854
-
Seattle is named after this
great man.
We have
been
told for a long time
that it is “Better to Give
than Receive”…
“We will feel better
for giving etc, etc”…
but...
How and
why does it work that way?
Interestingly, Dr.
David McClelland,
of the
Harvard
Medical School and
contemporary of
Abaham
Maslow,
provides a powerful and
interesting answer
for us.
Many years ago, he
conducted an experiment,
which I
like to call the
“Power of Giving”
experiment,
The
results of this experiment
clearly
explains why
and how
this
can be such a
“Powerful Business Tool” and
some
insight as to how this mechanism works.
Dr.
McClelland, set out to test
the effect of
our
thoughts on our human
immune systems.
I have
extrapolated these results
to businesses. These
results are for individuals,
when we take a higher view
Businesses react much the
same way as individuals.
So, I think the results can
apply... and apply Big
Time...if we can dis-spell
our critical side..
The
experiment was detailed but
for brevity, he basically
showed two videos to groups
of people.
Video one,
was about Mother Teresa
doing her work in India.
Video two, was a
video depicting the
Holocaust.
He then tested the
effect “Viewing” these
videos had on the
“Human Immune
System”
for the groups taking part
in the experiment.
When the
groups viewed the Mother
Teresa video their immune
systems increased
and
became stronger. When
they viewed the Holocaust
video their immune systems
were depleted
and became weaker.
Can
you imagine the impact on
our human bodies, IF we
actually performed the same
acts that were portrayed in
the two videos?!!!
And this
is where the POWER part
comes in…
Both the “Giver and
Receiver” experienced the
same Positive Effects and
the same Negative Effects…
and to the next
POWER, the Power of 3..
when people observed
these Positive and Negative
Actions they
were
likewise
affected… on and on..
gaining in strength…
This
is why I
believe that the “Power of
Giving”,
can be a very
effective, positive tool
to use to help our
businesses grow…
Also the
"Power of Giving" works in a
positive manner or a
negative manner... If
we give kindness to another,
that kindness grows...
If we give pain to another
that pain grows..
"The choice is ours
to decide which one we want
to experience."
What do you want to choose?
Here
are some tips we can use
with our businesses to kick
in this “Power”.
1-
Find a worthwhile
Charitable Organization
and “Give to that
Organization”, either in
time,
resources or dollars.
Better yet do all
three…
My Charitable
Organization is the YMCA,
If you really want
to totally experience the
"Power of Giving" use this
Donate to YMCA
link, we can really use your
help in spreading this good
message... I could not
resist this ASK... I
have already given....
and it feels great...
2-
Team up with other
businesses to help
these organizations meet
their needs.
Form a
joint venture arrangement...
and both organizations can
benefit and extend their
reach.
3-
Set up a
Matching Contributions
Program.
If
your employees
make a contribution to a
charity your business can
increase the effectiveness
of that donation adding to
the "Power of Giving" for
their gift.
4-
Find unique ways to
help that may not cost very
much…
(for example… a close friend
of mine, who I play
basketball with, great ball
player, he played at the D1
level…
He and his wife are
doing triathlons now and he
has recently come on to our
local YMCA Board.
This
friend of mine works for Geico
and Geico has a campaign
going, where if their
employees refer a potential
customer for a “Rate Quote”…
the employee gets
compensated…
My friend
and his wife
have decided that the money
that comes into them
by way of
compensation for
this
"Quote Referral Program",
will going
directly to our YMCA.)
I
know this friend of mine is
a bit like me and would
not appreciate
me sharing
his name.
So "No Names".
We don't want others to know
what we are doing..... we
just like to do it... but
having
others know it is big “PART” of the
“Power of Giving"
Everyone
benefits just from hearing
this story….
and I have to pass
these good feelings on to
others.
This is a concept that I am
just
learning to accept...
and if I can change anyone
can.... This is
How my friend is using the Geico
Program, plus other idea's
for you.
Now for
the importance of CRM….
Asking people for
“Charitable Donations”, once
a year
can work…
just like asking your
clients to BUY one or two
times a year
can work….
But is it the most effective
means?
I don't think
so. Keeping them
informed on a regular basis
and creating a
"Relationship" with them...
Works so much more
effectively.
Open
regular communication using
various types of media,
creates friendships, and
leads to loyal customers…
A Survey by USA Today, found
that when it came to
donations:
1.
8 out of 10
Americans donated time or
money in the last 12 months.
2.
67% gave because
they were asked to give by a
family member or friend.
3.
Only 24% gave
because someone they did not
know asked them to
give.
4. Only 9% gave because
they were contacted by
email.
The last point had me saying
to myself…
“What a great
opportunity to start and use
CRM Strategies to improve
the success of emails”….
The
same for us as business
owners….
A once a year
solicitation is NOT going to
work….
But when used as part
of an over all
“Communications Strategy”
for our business it can’t
miss….
I
predict that this last point
when coupled with a
strong
CRM strategy will
double
and triple the
revenues for donations in
the future…
just as it will for your
Sales in your businesses. As
you can see Al Colby from
the YMCA is
already beginning to use
this method.
So….
Begin to use the
“Power of Giving”…
and watch as your
business grow…
Also, see
"Infusionsoft's
Double Your Sales Guarantee"
in one year by using
their Software.
Take the "Infusionsoft
Double your Sales
Challenge".
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