Giving = Four-Fold Returns

Holidays and giving are synonymous. But, of course, giving isn’t necessarily only physical gifts. When you as a confident self-promoter also look beyond physical gifts, you can create a state of even greater giving … and receiving.

As you may know, I’m the proud mom of 13 felines. No, I’m not a hoarder but a member of an animal rescue group in Corrales, NM, called C.A.R.M.A. (Companion Animal Rescue and Medical Assistance). I’ve adopted hard-to-place, disabled cats, and sick cats (however, density-wise, 13 is the absolute limit).

Several of the ways I help CARMA, besides Pictures with Santa, the adoption clinics, and an occasional check, include writing timely articles and media releases about them and offering free coaching or free seminars for those who make a minimum contribution to CARMA.

When I do these activities, CARMA gets visibility and increased donations. I, on the other hand, get a feeling of having contributed significantly AND secure visibility for what I do as well as who I am as a charitable person. This is a big win-win!

If I had a business having to do with benefiting animals, it would be an even bigger win for me as a self -promoter. That, however, should not the overriding factor in your giving - promoting efforts. Positive visibility is positive visibility, irrespective of what your business is.

While there are all kinds of ways you can give, it is important for you to match what you’re giving to you so that people can make the association. That is not to say that you’re creating a slick commercial for yourself making it all about you. Besides being tacky, that takes away from the focus of your charitable effort and erases the impression of your doing this for charitable reasons.

You can subtly make yourself known via a relevant author bio with an article, mention of what services you're exchanging for donations in the press release, or letting people know you’re offering a complimentary helpful report on something associated with the charity and with you. With a little brainstorming you can create lots of possibilities.

Holidays (any holidays!) can be a particularly effective, indirect exposure of who you are and what you promote. They add another positive identification aspect to the rapport and relationship you’re creating with your audience. And ... you're sharing and helping those in need.