Cause-Related Marketing has been recognised as a term since the early 1980s when American Express launched their campaign to restore Statue of Liberty. It's simply business giving back whilst at the same time making more profits and forging stronger ties with their own community of customers. At the same time, business branding as a caring ethical business takes place as a natural by-product. ... http://www.squidoo.com/best-cause-relatedmarketing-ever Sat, 18 Feb 2012 00:13:26 -0600 FeedCreator 1.7.2 Fri, 08 Aug 2008 09:54:37 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/best-cause-relatedmarketing-ever Cause-Related Marketing has been recognised as a term since the early 1980s when American Express launched their campaign to restore Statue of Liberty. It's simply business giving back whilst at the same time making more profits and forging stronger ties with their own community of customers. At the same time, business branding as a caring ethical business takes place as a natural by-product. It really is a simple concept which underlines a fundamental tenet of how the human society works and has always worked - based on the principle of reciprocity. You give, you receive. This works on an individual level, as a social entrepreneur, as a small business right the way through to the largest companies in the world. Think about the last paragraph carefully - every business in the world regardless of size can benefit from giving back. Some people may cynically think businesses involved in cause-related marketing are just trying some kind of public relations ploy. Not true. It's not to say there will not be some businesses who are adopting cause-related marketing as a selfish means to an end (there will always be individuals who would rather hijack a worthy cause for their own ends). Instead, the vast majority of businesses who do get involved with good causes do so as they know they will get a lot more back from it - not just financial returns. Through giving, individuals and businesses alike are repaid in kind by: 1. Knowing they are doing the right thing 2. Feeling good as a result 3. Helping to change the world a small step at a time 4. Leading by example and building their moral authority 5. Showing empathy to others and building their Emotional Intelligence Quotient (EQ) 6. Giving hope to others where none was found before Fri, 08 Aug 2008 09:54:37 -0600