Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a devastating disease to many people around the world and seriously impacts not only those who have the disease but also their families and friends, including the Westvyne Marketing family.
World MS Day was started in May 2009 and its founders describe it as an opportunity to raise awareness about MS and to strengthen the network of people living with MS across the world. This year, World MS Day was observed on May 25, 2011, and in just 3 years, its message has spread around the globe through the use of social media.
Special Observance Days such as World MS Day give businesses, organizations and individuals the ability to highlight their passions and causes while also increasing their own visibility. This is nothing new, of course. Businesses have been promoting charities and causes for a very long time. What is fairly new, however, is the myriad of opportunities that small businesses and organizations have to promote causes. This year, Facebook users were able to add a World MS Day badge to their profile photos. Videos about MS and World MS Day were made and spread through YouTube and other video sharing sites. MS organizations such as the Multiple Sclerosis Society promoted the day on Twitter and Facebook.
One of the ways that your small business or organization can engage with current and potential customers in social media is to promote the causes that you truly care about. It’s a good practice to determine which causes you want to promote and find out when they have special days or events such as golf outings and charity events. Set up a calendar and then post about these events on all of your social media accounts. You’ll find people who care about the same things and they’ll notice that your business cares, too. You may even find that some of your favorite causes will in turn promote you back! Of course, remember to be authentic instead of opportunistic and promote the causes that truly matter to you or your staff.