Picture this: You’re scrolling through your inbox and see a message from an organization you support. But something’s not quite right.

The subject line reads “URGENT! WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!”

You open the email, only to be bombarded with more fake urgency around hitting an important fundraising deadline and how you, and only you, can make that happen. You just have to donate RIGHT NOW OR ELSE the organization will fail miserably and the entire world will come crashing down.

This may seem dramatic, but these exact tactics and fake urgency messaging are becoming more and more common for social causes. What was once contained to political campaigns is rapidly spreading into social impact marketing and appeals.

And there’s a good reason why.

In today’s episode, we cover:

• Why this shift into transactional marketing is becoming more common.
• Different transactional marketing traps and the problems they create.
• How you can embody a brand-building approach to create deeper, lasting support with your community.

*** If you liked this episode, it really helps a new podcast if you can help spread the word. Share with your friends or co-workers, post it to social media, “follow” or “subscribe” in your podcast app, or write a review on iTunes. We could not do this without you!

We love hearing feedback from our community, so please email us with your questions or comments — including topics you’d like us to cover in future episodes — at podcast@designbycosmic.com.

Thank you for all that you do for your cause and for being part of the movement to move humanity and the planet forward.

Resources:

• Guest Podcast: How to Authentically Market Your Social Impact Work
• Guest Podcast: Nonprofit Marketing Best Practices for 2024
• Article: Rethinking Your Unhealthy Relationship with Social Impact Marketing
• Patagonia