5 Tips for Implementing Corporate Social Responsibility In Your Business — GVSU PRSSA – Grand Valley State University Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a public relations strategy that current consumers expect companies to possess. It is a strategy in which a company practices sustainability or helps out a community. CSR is a great way for companies to build mutually beneficial relationships with consumers and help build a positive reputation for the brand.

Here are 5 tips on incorporating CSR into your company:

Research Your Options
There should be a lot of research that goes into choosing how you want to incorporate CSR into your business. You want to relate it to the type of company you have. Try to find something that acquires the same values as your company. For example, if you are clothing company that has mainly children’s clothes, you could donate some of your money to children with cancer. This also helps to keep a consistent brand image for your audience.
Play an Active Role in the Community
Reaching out to your community is a great way to gain their trust and build better relationships with them. What better way to build relationships with the community than giving back to them? By incorporating a strategic CSR plan that involves the community, you are showing them that you care about them and this means a better reputation for the company.
Involve your Clients/Customers
Focus on how your company can involve its customers or clients. Instead of the company donating a percentage of its profits, your company can come up with a way to get the customers or clients involved. For example, your company can run some type of charity event that brings everyone together. This will allow for the organization to have the opportunity to interact with others to help build stronger mutually beneficial relationships. This will also give clients/customers a chance to really get to know who the company is on a more personal level.
Establish Goals
After establishing the structure of your plan, it is time to develop goals. You cannot determine the success of your company without setting some type of goal. These goals can be as simple as an end goal for an amount of money you want to raise for a specific program or having your team participate in a volunteer program at least once a month. This will help you see what type of impact your company is making.
Be Transparent
Be as transparent as possible about how you are practicing CSR within your company. Many companies partake in greenwashing so consumers will be very skeptical. Greenwashing is when a company presents themselves as environmentally friendly when they are not. You want to gain public trust and let them know as much as possible in the type of CSR you are partaking in. If you fail to be transparent within your practice, then you will lose your audience’s trust, which could negatively affect your reputation.

Not only does CSR benefit your company, it benefits the community as well. CSR is a great strategy that allows your business to use its power for good!

About Amanda

Amanda Rogers is a junior at GVSU majoring in advertising and public relations with a minor in marketing. This is Amanda’s first semester participating in both PRSSA and GrandPR. Amanda hopes that after she graduates she can move out of state and find a job in the PR fashion industry. On her free time, you can find Amanda hanging out with friends and watching Netflix.