More and more companies are subscribing to the idea that giving back isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good business, too. Corporate giving rose 10.6 percent in 2010, according to a recent report by the Giving USA Foundation.

Some organizations are taking philanthropy a step further, creating charitable campaigns that emphasize brand attributes and align with their business objectives.

Pepto-Bismol gave $1 to Feeding America for every Facebook fan who "liked" this photo.

While most Pepto-Bismol users are seeking relief from overeating, the brand’s Thanksgiving-themed Facebook campaign invited consumers to help those who don’t have full bellies. For every fan who “liked” a photo of “Modern Family” actor Eric Stonestreet posing with a turkey, the brand donated $1 to Feeding America.

A New York Times article about the effort noted that Pepto-Bismol’s parent company, Procter and Gamble, is no stranger to charitable initiatives capitalizing on product features, such as the Tide “Loads of Hope” and the Duracell “Power Relief” programs.

Meanwhile, the snack company Planters has funded several city park projects that feature elements like peanut-shaped trellises – promoting the iconic brand image while showcasing a commitment to earth-friendliness.

Done well, strategies like these can elevate consumer perceptions – and, of course, benefit deserving causes. Do you know of any other companies that incorporate brand attributes into their social responsibility efforts?

Mary Tindall is a staff writer at Costa DeVault. Pregnancy-induced heartburn is making her seriously consider sipping some Pepto-Bismol.

Kenneth Gronbach, a noted demographer and author of the book “The Age Curve,” recently spoke at PRSA Orlando about trends in demographics and how changes in our population translate into value for your business.

He shared an interesting example about work he did with a motorcycle maker in 1979 relating to demographics. Business was booming for them and all of sudden … splat! Sales bottomed out – dropping 80 percent over the next five years, to be exact. The product hadn’t changed, advertising and other communication was steady and customers were happy with the product. So, what happened to cause such a dramatic dip in sales?

Here’s a question: Who buys fast, flashy motorcycles? Men ages 16-24. When the now 78.2 million Baby Boomers were in that age range, motorcycle sales were sky high. But once these men approached their mid- to late-twenties (and “sold their bike to buy a ring,” claims Gronbach), the motorcycle market was left with a tremendous void that Generation X just could not fill.

As communicators, we’re always looking for the next trend. Gronbach’s advice is to get in front of the market that’s coming – not the one that’s shrinking away from you. Take a look for yourself and think about the industries you or your clients are in. What does this mean for you?

Commercials aired during the Super Bowl have long been considered “the best of the best.” Reaching millions of viewers (and costing millions of dollars), these ads are companies’ time to shine – or fail miserably. So what did the Costa DeVault team think of this year’s offering? See our highlights reel below.

I loved HomeAway’s Super Bowl commercial featuring Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo from the National Lampoon’s Vacation franchise because it was nostalgic. My favorite line was when Chase thought that the hotel water he was getting was complimentary. And the hotel clerk responded, “No, sir. It’s complementary water – with an “e.” Meaning it complements the room and isn’t free.” -Doreen

I liked the Denny’s Chickens Across America commercial advertising the free Grand Slam breakfast. Any commercial that’s funny – and genuinely makes me laugh out loud – is considered a win in my book, and Denny’s had me at chicken astronaut trying to scream in space. While you won’t find me waiting in line for my free Grand Slam, I will remember the ad. However, this also begs the question, last year people waited for hours to receive a free Grand Slam breakfast without the Super Bowl ad, or really any advertising at all. Were three runs at upwards of $3 million a pop (estimated cost) really necessary? Or were the ads just meant to increase brand awareness?  -Brooke

Although the screaming chickens for Denny’s commercials made me chuckle, my favorite Super Bowl commercial goes to the Doritos “House Rules” commercial. There was a literal “LOL” moment. Doritos had the second most commercial spots, behind Budweiser so the odds were good. Doritos never disappoints! -Ashley

My favorite Super Bowl commercials are usually from Budweiser and while this year’s Clydesdale vs. a bull race didn’t disappoint, as a dog lover, my vote goes to Doritos. I’m referring to the commercial featuring a guy taunting a dog (wearing a bark collar) to bark for a chip. Who wouldn’t enjoy watching the dog get revenge by removing the collar and putting it on the guy, then stealing the bag of Doritos and barking every few seconds to shock him? So funny! -Kelly

Although the Doritos commercials made me laugh the most, I found the contrast between job search competitors Monster and CareerBuilder interesting. While CareerBuilder reused their usual theme of employees disliking their jobs and wanting a new one (i.e., 2009, 2008, 2007), Monster went a different route with their fiddling beaver commercial. During a time when many are unemployed, I think Monster made the viewers smile, whereas CareerBuilder may not have connected with as many people. Plus, past Super Bowl favorites have shown us that you can never go wrong with animals. –Jenni

My favorite was probably the E*Trade commercial about the girlfriend – especially when Lindsey comes on the screen at the end and says, “Milk-a-what?” I laughed out loud. I am a total sucker for the E*Trade baby commercials, every year.

The only one I re-watched right after it finished was Audi’s “Green Police” video. I didn’t particularly like the commercial … but they had an anteater on a leash at: 41. Watching it again was obligatory. -Alexis