Cause survey questions wanted

Our PR firm is co-sponsoring the PRWeek cause survey this year.  It will be published in the October 24th issue.  We just finished meeting with PRWeek's editor, Julia Hood, to outline the direction of the survey.  Although it's still preliminary, we're considering surveying both not-for-profit folks AND corporate marketing folks.  The idea is to ask them similar questions so we can understand each perspective on what constitutes effective cause-related initiatives.

Over lunch, Julia and I had a side-bar discussion about blogging, podcasting and participatory journalism.  I told her I was a blogger, a Cluetrain disciple, a regular reader of Rubel, Holtz, Moore and Hobson and a big believer in the power of corporate blogging.  And then it hit me...why not solicit ideas from our fellow PR bloggers as to what types of cause-related information we should seek in this year's survey.  After all, this survey should benefit everyone in the PR profession, so everyone should have some say in what we, as a profession, want to learn.

So, with Julia's blessing, that's what I'm doing.  What are your thoughts? 

You can propose specific questions, however, we're going to let the experts at MillwardBrown, this year's survey development firm, formulate the final versions.  Or you can propose cause-related issues you'd like to know more about, keeping in mind our audience and purpose.

I'll have to cut-off ideas by the end of next week, so please post your thoughts in the comments.  I hope this demonstrates the power of blogging and improves the survey.

Comments

[Robert Paterson]

Hi Jeff
I am a friend of Johnnnie Moore and got the link here from his site.

I suspect that cause related marketing will be huge. With podcasting, NerdTv etc ther traditional channels of TV, Rado and Print will have no value in less than 5 years.

With many having every thing that they need - people will seek more meaning from what they buy. This is not new - I buy a type of car becuase it makes me look cool is an old idea. What I mean by meaning is not related to bumping my own staus but in connecting me to cuases that I feel are important.

I used to work for CIBC a Canadian Bank - they are linked with Breast Cancer - searc Run for the Cure. This has become massive and involves every communty in Canada.

How does a bank differentiate itself? Maybe today by values and involving their community?

If a business finds a cause that has a wide and deep appeal then it can own this. I think that while CIBC do "own" Breast Cancer that they do not understand the full import of what is possible though.

So botom line ofr me - then end of the value of the old channels - leaving community and word of mouth as the manin link for marketers - the need to rise up the Maslowian ladder to help customers find meaning for their lives with what you do - does the same for employees - if you work only for the bottom line this is les satifying that working for the organization that is committed to say Breast Cancer