Three ways to make fundraising stories magic

Stories are so powerful they seem like magic.

But they aren’t magic. When you put a story to work, you have to get it right, or it won’t accomplish what you need it to accomplish.

Here are three things that will give your stories some magic:

1. Your story has to be relevant to your audience. In their world, not only in yours. Create stories about the change they can make by giving. Then you’ll get some magic.
   
2. Your story has to hook them. They won’t read it if there isn’t something to grab their attention in the first place. Write headlines that would make the supermarket tabloids proud. Then you’ll get some magic.
   
3. Your story must have a completely obvious point. If it’s just a cool story that doesn’t drive people to a specific action, it’s just noise. Know up front what you want readers to do — and make your story about that. Then you’ll get some magic.