The Secret Formula For Successful Non-Profit Videos

Would you like to be able to get a bigger share of your audience to donate?

Then it’s important to stop giving them reasons
Don’t get me wrong. Reasons are important. But not until the sale is made. That’s right. We don’t really care about reasons until after we’ve decided to donate and the objections have already come up.

But hey, today let’s not deal with objections. Let’s just take a laser look at creating that strong impulse to donate.

How do we build desire?
The desire to donate comes from the desire to give selflessly. And how does that happen in a culture where progress, money and achievement are valued so highly? There’s only one place it can come from; a sense of empowerment.

But most associations try to guilt you into donating which is kind of the opposite of empowering. Perhaps it’s the reason many non-profits struggle.

So let’s look at what does work. Because hey, it’s a challenge, empowering people to give to your cause in the space of a few minutes, which is all you normally have to make your pitch. So to make the most of your time, you have to activate one of the prime buying drivers to do it.

Desire is built on human drivers
According to Direct Marketing guru Denny Hatch, there are a variety of human drivers you can use to sell your stuff. Anger, flattery, exclusivity, guilt, something-for-nothing; all of these and more you’ll recognize in scads of promotions you’ve seen over the years.

But there is one that works exceedingly well for non-profits, though many haven’t got a clue as to how to use it. And yet, the strategy is so simple and clean, anyone can. All you need is social media; specifically YouTube, Facebook, G+ and Pinterest.

Why? Because these are the most effective means you can get your message to crack open and empower the whole universe of potential donors.

And just what is this message you’re delivering?

Salvation
Now, you might think that promising salvation is blasphemous. Of course, I’m not talking about buying your way into heaven. I’m talking about helping your donor access their higher self, which is always a bigger and more generous version of the little ego we lug around all day. That’s the more down-to-earth application of salvation.

So how do you do it? Well, rather than to explain it in words, I invite you to watch the video below. It’s a great example of empowering through salvation.

Stories sell without selling
Mind you, it isn’t a donor appeal video. But imagine your non-profit adopted it, ran it on YouTube, updated their Facebook and G+ pages with it, tweeted it out and promoted on Pinterest. And then followed up with more logical appeals. Imagine the impact and good will it would create.

Summary: Don’t try to give me reasons until I’m properly conditioned. Until then, you’re talking to a small, dense, selfish brick wall. After the video I’ll be bigger, broader, softer, more generous and eager to give.

Ah, but don’t take my word. Watch the video and experience it for yourself…

And then go empower someone!

By the way, after you watch this, you might want to ask yourself how the salvation driver could be put to good use in the for-profit world!