You probably know that the magic word in fundraising is you.
But there's another magic word, and it'll surprise you: it's because.
Check it out at Clairification: Foolproof Fundraising Trick Mom Knows and You Need.
Mom's version is the is bulletproof: Because I said so. But studies show this magic work to make any statement more persuasive:
"Because" is one of the persuasion principles that help explain the psychology of why people say "yes" without thinking. The human brain is wired to react when it hears because. It is a magical word — an automatic trigger for compliance. Sure, you can get a yes without using this little tip. You can get people to think and consider your appeal and still make a contribution. But if you can boost your chance by 30%, wouldn't that be a very smart thing to do?
Some examples from Claire:
- Instead of "Today I'm sharing Amelia's story with you."
- Say "Today I'm sharing Amelia's story with you because she needs your help."
- Instead of "Yes, I want to give."
- Say "Yes, I want to give because children need me."
- Instead of "Please consider a gift of $500."
- Say "Please consider a gift of $500 because children need your help."
You can do this to almost any sentence. And you should to some.