You are just doing charity work as a marketing ploy

I've had a few comments and messages from folks accusing me that my #roadtrip4charity project is nothing more than a marketing ploy to get exposure for my photography.

Fair play. I can understand why they may believe this.

It's not uncommon these days for people to, just by coincidence, film their mate helping a homeless person by giving them some food or money. Or helping an elderly person cross the road or carry their bags.

Many of these videos make me cringe also. You tend to question their motives and why they chose to video this 'act of kindness'.

I have been performing 'random acts of kindness' for many years now.

A random act of kindness doesn't have to be a massive gesture of donating a million pounds to a charity/cause. It can be as simple as listening to a friend when they need to talk or unload. Greeting and smiling at a stranger. Sitting down with a homeless person and actually talking to them. Paying for someone's coffee. Checking in on an elderly neighbour. Volunteering etc.

In all these years, I've never recorded myself doing any of these acts of kindness.

Why? Because it's not about ME!

Well, perhaps that's a little untrue. It's about me in the fact that it feels good to be able to help someone. It's rewarding not in a financial sense but in knowing you've affected someone's day by doing something small.

So why are you advertising your project online if you're not looking for attention?

Fair question.

I have turned to social media for 2 reasons.

1. I don't have many connections in the #smallcharity sector.
2. Until I sell my house or my personal financial circumstances change, my primary focus has to be on lead generation for paid work to keep the creditors happy.

Whilst I am absolutely committed to reaching my goal of helping 20 charities in 2020 (ideally I'd love to smash this number) I have to focus my time and energy from a day to day basis on generating inbound leads for paid work. I'm unable therefore to sit and research local charities and get in touch with them on an individual basis to make them aware of the project.

I've thus far worked with 2 charities and have 6 confirmed photoshoots lined up over the next 3 months. And whilst this puts me on target to reach my target of 20 charities in 2020, I really would like to at least double this number.

Once I sell my house and begin the road trip of the UK, I am self-funding this and the work I do with charities around the UK for a year.

If I am successful in earning paid photography gigs, or get income through sales of my stock or limited edition photographs, then I will look to extend this for as long as finances allow.

Sponsorship

I never had any intention, or indeed even thought about the idea of sponsorship for this project.

I did get a few enquiries from both individuals and companies about how they could sponsor the project so I would be open to discussing opportunities but it is not something I have been pushing.

Any sponsorships again wouldn't be for my personal benefit. They would be sponsorships that either promoted the project or give me the tools to undertake the project which ultimately benefits the charities I wish to work with. Items like T-shirts/coats with the #roadtrip4charity hashtag and website address on them which promotes the project.

Anyone who sponsors anything towards the project will obviously get exposure through my social media posts, the blog etc. The reason why I never considered and am not pushing sponsorship is simply that I cannot guarantee how much exposure you may get and this project was never meant to be a business venture.

It is something I WANT to do, not something I need to do or want to run as a business.

If you are interested in assisting in any way, please get in touch or have a read of the projects blog posts (I'll pop a link in the comments)

You do you

So ultimately, believe what you will.

If you feel that this is all some odd attempt at marketing then so be it. I would suggest you perhaps just do a bit of introspection as to why you may wish to believe that.

The opinions that I care about, are those of the charities I've already worked with, and those that I am currently in talks with for upcoming photoshoots.

I hope that they have seen and heard my integrity and my genuine desire and drive to help where I can.

Haters are going to hate.

Experience thus far

Interestingly, I have noticed that when I put out a post on LinkedIn about the project, they get little to no engagement whatsoever.

I'm still trying to get my head around why this is.

Is it that people truly believe that it's just some marketing ploy on my part?

Let me ask you this, how many marketing ploys are you aware of where the sole purpose of the post is to help others by donating a day a week (or two) absolutely free and with no financial reward?

Is it down to people being sceptical of the word 'free' these days and simply have to believe there is a catch?

When I ask people to share, or engage on a post, it's not so that I can get a trending post, I'm quite secure in myself, I'm not interested in vanity metrics or whether a post trends or not. I'm asking for your HELP. Your help in taking a second of your time to like a post on the off chance that someone you are connected to may see it and could benefit from the project.

There is ABSOLUTELY no benefit to me personally with my requests for engagement, simply exposure for the project so that I can smash my goal of 20 charities.

Your engagement simply means that I'm able to give MY time to help others.

Thank you

To those who have supported the project at this early stage, I wish to extend my gratitude and appreciation. Special mention to Rachel Briant (can't seem to tag people in article posts?) who is just simply an awesome individual doing some amazing work in the charity sector around the East Anglian region. A true motivation. And also Mark Freeman whose charity was the first official photoshoot undertaken as part of the project.

Nameste ??