Is brand activism good for business? The short answer is: it depends. Companies with a purpose are said to have a greater voice and more connectivity with buyers. But even though consumers expect brands to take up societal causes, your political stance or support for that very cause can attract but also alienate customers. Unlike previous decades, social media has maximized everything and anything that your brand puts out. So the question is – how can brands market well, to the generation equipped with the most sophisticated Bullshit Detector in the history of mankind?
In this webinar we discussed:
- The intersection of marketing and brand activism
- Should your company participate or maintain an apolitical brand?
- A framework for engaging in corporate social activism
Watch on-demand: https://www.falcon.io/webinars/brand-activism/
2. #FalconEd
Your Presenters.
Mary Noel
Director of Business Development
DoSomething Strategic
Kate Levine
Director of Kate Levine Consulting,
former Global Director of Activism and
Communications
The Body Shop
Dino Kuckovic
Director of Community
Falcon.io
@dinokuckovic @marynoel_
@katelevine
3. 1. How did we get here?
2. Part I: The organization POV
3. Part II: The brand POV
4. Q&A
Today’s Agenda.
4. (Housekeeping)
Rules Help Control the Fun!
- Monica Geller
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5. Brand activism is brands taking action
through public relations strategies,
corporate social responsibility,
government relations and marketing
techniques to take a public stand on
socio and political issues.
13. Insights, strategies, and
creative content to help
brands and organizations
reach and engage young
people to build lasting
relationships with a new
base of consumers.
21. SOCIALLY
AWARE @DS_Strategi
“Who do you believe
should be most
responsible to make
changes to address
the problems that
exist in society?”
40%
7%
3%
GVMTS. CITIZENS! BRANDS NGOS
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
0%
50%
23. 48%Say they are more likely to vote
because of COVID-19
73%Believe voting is the most
important action to support
efforts for racial justice
THEY ARE BECOMING MORE
CIVICALLY ENGAGED.
24. 92%
Of young people say a
brand should be
involved in, supporting,
or promoting a social
issue or cause
Source: DoSomething Strategic, Brands Taking Stands Report (unpublished) 2020.
25. Of young people buy from a
brand specifically because
the brand is involved in,
supports, or promotes a
social issue or cause they
care about
Source: DoSomething Strategic, Brands Taking Stands Report (unpublished) 2020.
71%
26. 12%
Of Gen Z had top-of-mind
associations between
brands they said they
knew and specific causes.
Source: DoSomething Strategic ‘Cause is Working; Your Marketing Isn’t’ 2019.
BUT ONLY
27. 83%
Of Gen Z consider a
company’s purpose as a
core consideration in
where to work
Source: Cone Communications Gen Z Purpose Study 2019.
29. 84% 82% 81% 80% 79%
75%
ENVIRONMENT EDUCATION MENTAL HEALTH SEXUAL
HARASSMENT
WOMEN’S
RIGHTS
RACIAL
EQUALITY
GUN VIOLENCE
PREVENTION
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
0%
84%
Source: DoSomething.org. Member Survey 2019.
“If you could make a difference–how likely are you to take
action to have a positive impact on…?”
WHAT YOUNG PEOPLE CARE ABOUT: EVERYTHING
30. 70%
61%
56% 56% 56%
42%
RACIAL EQUITYMENTAL
HEALTH
HEALTH CARE JOBS & THE
ECONOMY
POVERTY ENVIRONMENT
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
0%
65%
Source: DoSomething.org. Member Survey Aug 10, 2020.
“Have any causes/issues become more important to you in light of COVID-19?”
EDUCATION
COVID-19 IS MAKING KEY ISSUES
MORE IMPORTANT TO YOUNG PEOPLE
31. 3 OUT OF 4Gen Zers have either taken an action
on a cause they care about (47%) or
would like to (29%).
@DS_Strategic
Since COVID-19 began,
34. 52%
Of young people say they
often pay attention to a
brand's responsible/ ethical
business practices (the way
they run their business)
Source: DoSomething Strategic, Brands Taking Stands Report (unpublished) 2020.
35. Consumer
Marketing & Engagement
Employee
Engagement
Internal Policies,
Practices, & Comms
SOCIAL IMPACT
PLATFORM Finance & Planning
Human Resources
Design
Creative & Visuals
Sourcing
Digital Flagship
Brand & Marketing
Store Ops
Merchandising
SOCIAL IMPACT PLATFORM
Diversity & Inclusion
36. “What do you believe is the role of
brands in light of COVID-19?”
38. 67%want brands to keep them informed
on how they’re supporting
employees and the broader team.
@DS_Strategic
39. 75%named a brand they
love more because
of their response
to the crisis
40. “The company I work for
(Starbucks) continually updating
and evolving to give most
support as possible to workers
and communities at this time.”
— 22-year-old, Florida
“Starbucks extended it’s mental
health benefits. This is a great
positive role during this
pandemic because they are one
of the most well known
companies in the US and the fact
that they are taking part to help
the community really shows
something.”
— 14-year-old, California
41. I stopped buying from Whole Foods recently...when Bezos cut
health care coverage for part time workers. It’s absolutely
unacceptable that hundreds maybe thousands of workers will
have their health benefits eliminated when they are the ones in
most need of the financial help.
-18-year-old, New Jersey
“ 41
45. 48%Are concerned their personal mental
health will be negatively impacted
because of COVID-19
@DS_Strategic
48. ONLY 3%do not expect brands to play a role
to address racism in America.
@DS_Strategic
49. 81% Use their platform to advocate
for racial justice
THEY WANT MEANINGFUL
ACTION FROM BRANDS.
67%
Ensure products/services are
designed to serve all consumers
across races equally
65% Ensure equal representation in
leadership
64% Promote diversity in advertising
51. “The brands that are going to win
are going to be the ones that have
deep connections’ with consumers.”
—Chip Bergh, Levi Strauss CEO, April 7, 2020
55. 62%Believe brands have the
power to create communities
based on common interests
and passions
Source: Spotify Survey 2019.@DS_Strategi
56. 49%want brands to provide or
connect consumers to ways
that consumers can make a
difference.
Source: DoSomething Member Survey, April 8, 2020. N=1,204
“How should brands engage consumers in light of COVID-19?”
57. 49%
Of Gen Z say it’s important
for a brand to have social
change initiatives that
consumers can be a part of
Source: DoSomething.org. Gen Pop Survey 2018.
64. Activism is about action, not just
words. It seeks to make real, long-
lasting change. What is it that you can
make better in the world – are you
looking to make legislative change as
well as behavioural change?
65. WHAT & WHY: HOW TO DO IT
1. Before you choose to speak out,
clearly establish what you stand for.
2. Then look at what real change
you want to make.
3. Make sure the two are
connected! How does this cause
align to your purpose…and also to
your company’s practices?
4. Also consider: what can your
company bring to the table to
support this cause?
67. Achieving real change
will be difficult – maybe
impossible – on your
own. You’ll need a deep
understanding of the
cause for which you are
campaigning. So it’s
likely you’ll need outside
expertise.
Lots of activist brands work
with NGOs & campaigning
organisations, big and
small. You can work with
individual activists and/or
influencers or bring a group
together. Some brands
even collaborate with other
brands.
PARTNERSHIPS
69. PARTNERSHIPS: HOW TO DO IT
1. Read up on the issue – who’s involved?
2. Will you work with one partner or more? How?
3. Do your research. Are you inspired by the work of the
organisations you have shortlisted? Any
controversies?
4. Be clear on mutual expectations
5. Not everything will be a financial transaction. Be
creative with how you involve each other.
6. Try to think beyond basic philanthropy to how you
can make change and involve your audiences too
71. If you are serious about making change,
understand that it will not always be
comfortable.
Change is uncomfortable.
Prepare for the other point of view. It
might come in the form of a backlash,
some might even shout ‘boycott’… but if
you want to be an activist and make
change, then there will be those who
oppose you.
72. PREPARE: HOW TO DO IT
1. Start from the inside out. Scrutinise your own
policies.
2. Communicate internally first and engage your
colleagues.
3. Run (at least one) crisis-planning session with all
relevant teams.
4. Look after those on the front line.
73. KEY TAKEAWAYS
Be positive and inspiring in your activism
communications – you’ll get greater
engagement and mobilization.
Start from the inside: scrutinise your policies,
commit to change if you need to, engage your
colleagues.
You don’t need to be perfect to start; but you do
need to be transparent about where you are in
your journey. Know your flaws and communicate
what you’re doing about them.
Activism is not just a social media post; it’s
sustained action… Really commit to making
change.
74. My passionate belief is that business can be fun, it can be
conducted with love and a powerful force for good.
- Dame Anita Roddick
“