9 Digital Ways to Become a Social Good Hero in 2012

Scott Henderson is managing director of CauseShift and writes about social impact for the Chronicle of Philanthropy, RallytheCause.com and occasionally for the ableBanking blog.

January is already half-over, so how's that New Year's resolution to do more good coming along? If you haven't made much progress, don't fret — changing the world might be easier than you think.

The web and social media continue to create new opportunities to do good in simple ways. Whether by putting aside some savings or checking-in with an app, you might be surprised how much good you can do with just a few clicks.

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Do What You Already Do

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• 1. Buy with Confidence: Find out whether the products you already use are healthy, green and socially responsible by consulting the Good Guide. Not happy with what you learn? Search thousands of products to find better ones.
• 2. Swipe Your Card: When you register with Swipe Good, your debit or credit cards will round up all your purchases to the nearest dollar. You choose which charity gets to keep the change.
• 3. Stuff Your Piggy Bank: Open up an online savings account with ableBanking, one of the companies I blog for. Right away, you'll get $25 to give to your charity of choice. Each year, they'll give you more money to donate, based on your account balance.

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Baby Steps

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For those feeling adventurous but strapped for time, give these new, simple actions a go.

• 4. Adopt a New Habit: People who track their new habits are more likely to keep them. Thanks to DailyFeats, track them easily while earning points, which you can then redeem for rewards from national brands or donate to a charity.
• 5. Give a Little Each Day: Who doesn't love a special offer, especially when it helps a worthy cause? Philanthroper is a daily deals site that shares the story of a new 501(c)(3) charity, to which you can donate anywhere from $1 to $10.
• 6. Sell and Buy Stuff: Whether you want to find the perfect vintage outfit or thin out your closet, visit KarmaGoat, a local marketplace where you buy and sell items. The proceeds benefit the charity of your choice.
• 7. Give $10, Get Deals: Thanks to The Mutual, you can sign up to pay $10 each month, which is then donated to one of five featured monthly charities or spread evenly among them. In return, you'll rack up points to use for special deals and offers from local businesses.

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Take a Flying Leap

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Feeling ready for something big? Take on one of these challenges.

• 8. Go Pro Bono: Catchafire matches up professionals with charities that need specific expertise for specific projects. You can build your resume, hone your abilities and help a worthy cause, all at the same time.
• 9. Rally Your Cause: Why wait for a charity to ask you to raise money? Sign up with Crowdrise, set up a fundraising goal, and start asking your friends, co-workers, neighbors and family. You can learn from other cause-promoters, earn reward points and cheer on other do-gooders.

Now that you know about these sites and services, what are you waiting for? Choose a strategy and mark off another New Year's resolution! What are your favorite new everyday ways of doing good? Did we miss one you think others would like?

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, mangostock