As a salesperson, having a strong presence in your community should be regarded as part of your business. Marketing and outreach are great ways to get your name out there, but nothing works better than actually getting out there in person. When people see you around, they are far more likely to pick up on your advertising instead of just glancing past it.

But community is about a lot more than ROI.

When you go out of your way to lend a helping hand and participate in bettering your town, the rewards go far beyond money. It helps to give you a sense of belonging and adds a much bigger “why” to your career. When you give your time to a charity, you’re fulfilling your duty as a local influencer.

Here are the three factors that should be taken into account when picking what charity to get involved with.

Time: Plenty of great causes operate on all kinds of schedules. You can volunteer during the day at something like Habitat for Humanity or a food bank. If you can’t swing conventional hours, you could answer calls for a hotline through the night and have an immense impact.

Cause: Engage in some introspection and think about what cause matters to you. When the charity actually relates to your personal experience, it allows you to put your heart into the work.

People: Try to find a charity where you can rub elbows with other movers and shakers in the community. It is a great opportunity to meet like-minded professionals and expand your sphere of influence.

After you given it some thought, get moving. Volunteering and getting involved in your community takes 10% thought and 90% action.