Small business owners are affiliating their brand with charities as an alternate marketing channel.  Truth be told, people like to associate themselves with businesses that support causes so it's a win-win for the company and for their target audience.  In an article found on www.frugalmarketing.com, the author details ideas and strategies on how to help businesses expand their marketing opportunities while engaging in charitable giving.  Below are a few key points from the article:

1. Don't hesitate to use charitable marketing because you think it will take advantage of a cause.  In actuality, many charities want to partner with a business and they understand that it is mutually beneficial.
2. When choosing a charity to participate in, look for charities that will not only provide meaningful exposure but also one in which your target audience would be most likely to participate in.
3. Maximize exposure by associating your name with your charity.
4. Partner with a charity to focus on a niche market in order to bring new customers to you and new members to your charity.

Charitable marketing is a great way to optimize your marketing dollars whether that be through targeted email marketing, website development or interactive media.  To read the full article, go to: http://www.frugalmarketing.com/dtb/charity.shtml