It’s October, which means Breast Cancer Awareness month is in full swing. If you’re a member of my non-profit that donates free house cleanings to women battling cancer (Cleaning for a Reason) be sure you take advantage of all the good work that you’re doing by letting your community know!
Media outlets are hungry for feel good stories, so now is a great time to reach out and let them know that you’re doing work that benefits the community. If they want to interview you, don’t be nervous! I have a ton of great tips on how to handle your first (and second, and third…) interview. It gets easier over time as you nail your talking points and especially if you keep practicing.
If you don’t want to join Cleaning for a Reason, find something in your local community that sparks your passion and that you feel good about doing. Maybe it’s volunteering to do quarterly cleanings at your local pet rescue shelter, or cleaning your church’s community center. Whatever cause that you choose, be sure it’s something that you feel rewarded by, even without receiving any monetary gain. Your personal connection to the cause will help you come across in the media as an authentic, caring business owner.
Once you select your pet project, don’t just quietly volunteer—tell the world about how you’re helping! Where can you shout from the rooftops?
- Social media is free. Your local Facebook group, Nextdoor, Twitter, and LinkedIn are all great places to mention the good work you are doing.
- Send emails to your clients. Take a picture of your staff in front of your sign or branded cars and announce that you are giving back to the community.
- Ask your clients to help spread the word to their friends and colleagues. You can even ask them what their special cause is, to get ideas about other good work you can do and engage them in the conversation.
- Tell your local newspaper, television, or radio station. Are you already buying advertising in these outlets? If so, they are much more likely to take your call!
Now that you’ve told people, you must continually remind them that you’re giving back to the community. Don’t just tell people one time and assume the message is out there. Set yourself up with a schedule to post once a week or every couple of weeks on your social media channels. When you post, provide a story or a detail about someone you helped.
This organic exposure drives awareness for your cleaning company. You’ll create the buzz and exposure you are looking for if you consistently remind people about the work you do for the community.
This is just a sample of the kind of help I can offer in my Cleaning Business Fundamentals course.
