How to Use Social Media to Give Back to Your Community

Over the shoulder view of a person holding a tablet computer. Text across the top of the screen reads make a donation. In the center of the screen is an illustration of a hand holding a heart with a button below it that reads give. Text below the button reads help us save the world.

Giving back is something we should be doing all year long. However, many of us feel most compelled to take action during the holiday season. It could be because we want to ensure others have a happy holiday, wanting to spread some kindness and cheer.

Or it might even be because we feel inspired by the GivingTuesday movement. If you’re not familiar, GivingTuesday is a global movement that encourages people to donate to their favorite causes. It happens every year on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving in the United States.

No matter how you choose to lend a helping hand, social media can be a powerful tool to help you out. In this article, you’ll learn a few simple ways to use social media to give back to your community, whether local or worldwide. Perfect for the holidays or any time of the year!

How to Use Social Media to Give Back to Your Community

Here are four ways you can give back and inspire your social media community to do the same:

1. Donate to Your Favorite Organizations

Many nonprofits make an extra push to raise money around the holidays and as the year winds down. That makes it the perfect time to send in a monetary contribution if you’re able to do so. Consider how much you’re comfortable with donating based on your budget. Then, choose which organization means the most to you. You can make one large donation or a bunch of small donations, depending on what you feel is right.

Afterward, share your donation on social media. You don’t have to publicize how much money you’ve given. However, sharing your donation receipt can be a simple reminder to others that now is a great time to do the same. It might be that much-needed push they’ve been looking for to finally take action. As you do this, you can also share why you’ve chosen to donate to a particular organization so others can see why it’s a worthy cause.

2. Run a Donation Match Campaign

If you’re going to use social media to give back, you might as well have some fun with it! And a fantastic way to do this is by getting your online community involved with your donations.

For instance, you could run a campaign where you’ll pledge to donate $1 for every like or share received on a specific post. This will raise money for a worthy organization, while also bringing attention to their cause. At the same time, it’ll also generate awareness and engagement for you. It’s a win-win on both ends, so you really can’t go wrong!

3. Pledge a Dollar Amount From Every Sale

Another way to get people involved is by pledging to donate a dollar amount from every sale you make. This is a great campaign to run over the course of a single day or a weekend. Those who have been waiting to make a purchase from your brand may now feel compelled to do so. Their shopping will ultimately give back, so they’ll feel good about spending their money with you. It’ll help you generate more sales and attract new customers.

Should you choose to run a campaign of this nature, be sure to share it across social media. Let people know all the details so they can get excited to buy. Once the campaign ends, you can share how much you and your customers were able to raise together.

4. Volunteer Your Time and Document It

Not everyone has the ability to give monetary donations to their favorite organizations, especially during the holidays. That doesn’t mean you can’t do something nice for them though. Consider donating your time to a local organization that could really use your help. It’s sure to be appreciated and will make a huge difference.

Then, you can document your day of volunteering by sharing updates on your social media accounts. Just be sure to be mindful of the privacy of others when doing so. No taking or sharing pictures and videos without a person’s permission! This is a wonderful way to use social media to give back because it will motivate others to do the same. They’ll see you getting involved and they’ll possibly feel inspired to seek out similar opportunities where they live.

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