Looking to build trust and foster meaningful connections with customers and employees? Measuring your company’s social impact and telling that story authentically is not only a good business practice, but it can help build consumer and team loyalty. Consumers consider social impact when making purchase decisions, and job candidates are increasingly seeking workplaces that have a meaningful purpose. It’s clear that showing how companies contribute to the community matters.
So how do you tell the story of your social impact in a way that is authentic, professional and relatable to your audience? As with any other storytelling, the key to success is in sharing the emotion and the human experience created by your impact initiatives. With real stories about real people, you can make a real difference in engaging your audience and building awareness around your impact.
It’s important to start with the numbers. Measurable results bring credibility. Use the data to demonstrate your progress, such as the number of people reached, the environmental impact, or funds raised. While it’s important to measure the data, your social impact story has to be more than just numbers; it’s about the lives touched, the progress made, and the commitment behind your work. The good news is that there are many ways to tell your impact story and share your success. Here are just a few ideas to get you started!
Ten Ways to Tell Your Social Impact Story
1. Create a social impact page on your website.
Having a page that focuses on social responsibility initiatives, complete with photos, statistics, and stories, provides a central place where people can learn about your efforts in detail.
2. Engage your employees as ambassadors.
Encourage employees to share their experiences and stories about your social impact initiatives. Authentic testimonials from the team add depth and show that your mission resonates internally as well.
3. Produce an impact video.
Videos are powerful for creating emotional connections. Use short documentaries or testimonial videos to convey the depth and personal impact of your projects.
4. Partner with local influencers or community leaders.
Engaging local voices who are involved or have witnessed the impact of your work can amplify the authenticity of your message. These community perspectives build credibility and local connection.
5. Incorporate stories into your annual reports.
Instead of a purely financial report, include a section that highlights your social impact. This way, investors and stakeholders see that social good is an integral part of your operations.
6. Consider a B Corp certification.
If you’re serious about impact, consider a certification that will help you measure your impact and remain accountable for high standards. Learn about Red Orange’s B Corp Journey here.
7. Share your social impact stories on social media.
Publish content on LinkedIn or other social media channels that provide examples of your social impact initiatives.
8. Host community panel discussions or events.
Bring your social impact efforts to life by hosting public events or panel discussions that align with your mission. This can foster real-time engagement and dialogue, showcasing your company as a leader in addressing important issues.
9. Publish an impact report.
Why stop with an annual report when you can publish a print or digital report that focuses on your company’s social impact?
10. Engage your customers!
Include a social impact message in regular touchpoints and make it part of your customer journey.
How Red Orange Helps Clients Tell Their Social Impact Stories
Our team has had the privilege of working with inspirational clients like Hilldrup, Sentara, and Virginia Community Capital, supporting their missions with creative marketing, branding and web design. It’s an honor to partner with for-profit and nonprofit organizations to help them share their stories, engage their audiences, and celebrate their achievements. Here are just a few examples of the work we’ve done to help tell the story of social impact:
Virginia Community Capital
Virginia Community Capital has been an essential force in serving the diverse communities of the Commonwealth for half a century. To commemorate this milestone, Red Orange Studio embarked on a collaborative journey with this impact investment organization to create a vibrant and engaging campaign. Our team conducted insightful interviews with key community members and bank stakeholders, capturing their inspiring stories through compelling videos and written stories. We also designed a thoughtful microsite that acted as a central hub for showcasing these stories, allowing visitors to explore and connect with the impact Virginia Community Capital has made over the years. Through our partnership, we helped Virginia Community Capital celebrate their legacy and engage with their audience in a meaningful way.
Sentara Cares
Red Orange Studio had the honor of collaborating with the Sentara Health team to launch their Sentara Cares community impact report in both digital and print formats. Our team crafted a distinctive word mark and style that captured the essence of the Sentara Cares mission, reflecting their dedication to compassionate healthcare and community support. Additionally, we designed a microsite that showcased the comprehensive report, providing an immersive and interactive experience for readers. To bring their stories to life, we produced videos and incorporated custom photography, capturing the genuine moments of care and compassion that Sentara Cares exemplifies. Through our collective efforts, we helped Sentara amplify their message, engaging their audience and inspiring others to join their cause.
Hilldrup
Hilldrup, a established moving, storage and logistics company, is a mission-driven organization with strong values and a commitment to family and community. Their company’s success is measured by more than their bottom line. Having a team that believes they can and should have impact beyond their walls — and trucks — means a greater chance of making a difference. Over the years they built up their Corporate Social Responsibility program, but they looked to Red Orange for help in bringing the story together in a way that inspired clients, excited team members, and truly set them apart from others in the industry space. Our team worked with Hilldrup to develop a theme for their first impact report, pulling together all the proof points and stories to bring the report to life. We then designed a beautiful print piece with an accompanying landing page that is equal parts informing and engaging. Through our partnership, Hilldrup can more clearly see opportunities to make new moves for positive impact in the future.
Hilldrup.com/why-hilldrup/corporate-social-responsibility
Our partnerships with Hilldrup, Sentara Cares, and Virginia Community Capital have allowed us to leverage our expertise to showcase their achievements, engage their audiences, and inspire positive change. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with community-driven partners.
If you’re interested in learning more about our work or how we can assist your organization in telling the story of your impact, please contact us. Together, let’s make a difference and transform communities for the better.