Yesterday was Remembrance Sunday in the UK. For a lot of people its more significant than the 2 minute silence on 11 November because they are out doing things related to their cause – remembering the ones who have gone before us, visiting relatives that are veterans or just being the Carer to someone who was injured during service.

This made me think about how social media marketing can play a part in cause related marketing and what I would do to support my cause. I believe in peaceful resistance, I studied trade unions and labour law at university and have also been a paying member who had to go out on strike.

Organise your cause – Collectives still have a chance

The recent example of [ id="1817" type="post"]Twitter hashtag #ukuncut[/] has been used to good effect to bring like minded people together. What is the hashtag your cause or group would use?

Who can you tell about your cause?

Her Majesty, The Queen is now on Facebook – why not follow her?   She can’t have an opinion on Her Government – but I bet Remembrance Sunday would have been better if she could stand there knowing no UK armed forces were out in combat. Will Her Majesty see Peace again in Her Life?

Integrate your Marketing!

Its obvious to put your website address on any flyers … but do you put your website address on your email signature? Does your website show recent tweets from your Twitter account? Many charities and causes don’t have time to connect all the dots. Take 5 mins and evaluate what has to be tidied up.

Damien Saunders

For non-profit organisations, charities and cause related marketing the mobile can provide the best integrated marketing solution for campaigns. There are a number of tools and techniques which can be used to promote your cause or help to raise donations.

1. SMS Premium Text Donations

Making donations using your mobile is as simple as sending a text to a special number. For the not so concerned and the lazy its a quick way to send a few dollars, euros or pounds to a worthy cause. The SMS premium text solutions that you choose must work across all major operators and the solution should mean that the service provider and operator minimise their cost for the charity.

2. Mobile Apps & Games – Branded Content

For cause related marketing and integrated marketing mobile apps and branded games are a viral marketing tool. Today’s mobile phones allow for fun based games which also can teach the user about your cause (ie teaching people how to take care of their land or water supply). Development of an app does take budget – but the rewards are something fun that can be easily promoted via the iTunes Store, Android Market or your own web or mobile site.

Of course any app should link to your mobile site and allow the user to sign-up for email alerts or status updates.

3. Mobile Internet and Websites

Mobile websites are no longer the little brother. As more people get smartphones with richer functions a fully ‘grown up’ website can be created for customers to experience. The same points apply – allow people to sign up for alerts to stay in contact or to download any mobile app straight to their phone.

4. Campaign Tools & SMS Status Alerts

Once you have people opted-in to receive status alerts, you will be able to quickly let people know about important events and invite them back to your mobile website to make a donation or find out how they can help. It makes sense to have a solution that integrates with a mobile and email CRM allowing for campaign promotions.

5. Branded Content – Videos, Music, Tones, Images & Wallpapers

Branded content is one of the best ways to get recognition of your brand. Wallpapers can be downloaded to desktops or saved on phones (even shared with friends!). Content like videos can also feature your brand as part of the digital overlay or a pre-roll or post-roll sequence

It is also easy to build your own digital download content shop into any existing web or mobile site using solutions that mmCHANNEL provides (who I currently work for).

Now have you say … are you working with Charities?

Damien Saunders