Unlock Customer Loyalty Through Giving: Insights from Stephen Ready & Inspired
The Feel-Good Secret to Deeper Customer Connections Inside
"Imagine a world where every purchase carries a ripple of positive change. That's not a dream; that's Inspired's blueprint." - Stephen Ready, CEO & Co-Founder, INSPIRED
Sunday Series, May 18th, Stephen Ready
Inspired, co-founded by Stephen Ready, is a platform that makes it super easy for brands to connect with consumers to support charities beyond just asking for donations. Think of it as a way for your everyday purchases to automatically help a cause you care about, without costing you or the brand extra.
Inspired lets brands weave giving directly into how they do business. So, instead of charities constantly chasing one-time donations, they get ongoing support and visibility through regular customer activity.
Purpose and impact can be woven directly into how your brand does business:
Case Study: Apps like Pledge and, as mentioned in the video, Inspired, integrate directly with Shopify stores, allowing merchants to easily add donation options at checkout.
Resonance: For a business owner, the ease of adding such a feature without complex coding or setup is a huge incentive.
Impact: These integrations have enabled countless small and medium-sized businesses to incorporate giving into their customer experience, collectively raising significant funds for various causes.
8 Takeaways on how to help pair impactful causes with your consumers which helps create a ‘feel-good, give back’ flywheel with your brand as the facilitator! Authenticity is 🔑.
Cause of Choice [09:25] Allowing customers to choose the charity they support increases engagement.
Implication: Personalizing the giving experience enhances customer connection.
Application: Offer options for customers to select which cause their purchase will support.
Curated Charity List [09:06] Inspired partners with vetted charities to ensure credibility and impact.
Implication: Trust and transparency are essential in charitable partnerships.
Application: Businesses should carefully select and vet the charities they support to ensure their contributions are effective.
Combining Brand and Charity Value [14:11] Effective storytelling combines the brand's value with the charity's mission.
Implication: Aligning brand values with charitable causes can resonate deeply with consumers.
Application: Craft narratives that highlight how the brand and charity together create a positive impact.
Non-Solicitation Communication [15:20] Inspired focuses on inspiring rather than soliciting donations.
Implication: A soft-sell approach can be more effective in building long-term relationships.
Application: Focus on educating and inspiring customers rather than directly asking for donations.
Marketplace for Charities [19:08] Inspired creates a platform where charities can connect with engaged consumers.
Implication: Facilitating connections can broaden the reach of charitable causes.
Application: Develop platforms that help charities gain visibility and engage with potential supporters.
Understanding Consumer Motivations [19:42] Consumers are motivated by different factors, such as supporting a cause or discovering new brands.
Implication: Tailoring approaches to different motivations can increase engagement.
Application: Offer options for customers to learn more about causes or discover brands that support their values.
Omni-Channel Impact [37:05] Extending the giving experience across online and offline transactions.
Implication: Consistency in the giving experience reinforces brand values.
Application: Ensure that customers have the same opportunities to give, whether they're shopping online or in-store.
Leveraging Brand Power for Good [06:19] Brands can use their marketing and customer engagement to support nonprofits.
Implication: Businesses have a powerful platform to promote charitable causes.
Application: Brands can integrate storytelling about nonprofits into their marketing campaigns to raise awareness and support.
Which takeaway resonated with you? How are you integrating charitable giving within your business?