NGOs and Non-Profits

Would you like some new thinking about how to break through the brutal market for fund raising and public attention?    I recommend trying what I call ‘Serial Stories.’    Some of what you read below also appears on my page for PR and Marketing companies.   I believe it applies as well to NGOs and non profit organizations of all kinds.   You need to convince people that your service is important enough to support.   You need to be liked and trusted.  You need for donors to feel an emotional connection with you which transcends the problem of ‘compassion fatigue.’

For instance, let’s say that you need donor support for an ongoing project in Africa.   Rather than rely only upon news coverage or paid ads, you can publish your own web based Serial Stories right from the scene of the crisis.   You could focus on one family, or several people, but put them into the context of the overall project or problem.   You show their real life dramas as they struggle to survive.   But instead of condensing it all into one video, we allow the drama to play out weekly, or even daily.    A mother has mouths to feed, no husband, her own health problem, and a daily struggle to find food and work.  Each day is a real drama, and you tell her story each day, much like a breaking news story.    Your serial videos become a potent ‘reality show’ as the audience becomes invested in what will happen the next day or the next week.   Audiences love soap operas.  This is like a soap, except that it is not contrived or frivolous.   It offers a genuine emotional connection because it dos not flash by in a one off 1 minute 45 second tv spot.   It is compelling because it is true.   It is also true that one person sitting in Ohio can made a difference to the lives of people like your featured person or group.   All this can be combined with an appeal for donors.

Ironically, the sad state of network broadcast and digital news can work to your advantage with Serial Stories.   News platforms are hungry for good stories but can not afford to travel the world unless it involved a shooting war, nuclear meltdown, or other major event that can not be ignored.   Your serial stories become a turn key news drama which you can offer to stations and networks direct from remote locations free of charge.  Your NGOs or charity information will appear on screen.   You can post the videos on your own sites as well.

All of this can be achieved from any corner of the earth.   I know, because I pioneered the one person global coverage concept for ABC News.

Serial Stores can also go a long way toward overcoming the perception that Americans and other westerners never care about what happens outside their city limits.   What I do is bring universally human drama into their heads and hearts.   I might even urge you to let me include some ordinary Americans in the series.   For example, we could video a typical American family on the same days we are covering a family in your African problem zone.   We can even hook them up via portable satellite to speak with one another.   The impact upon the American family would probably be dramatic.

It is essential that these serial stories not be staged or faked.  They must be real people, living and reacting without prompting.   Audiences can sense staging.   Your success will depend upon authenticity.

You can read more about Mike’s Serial Stories concept by clicking here on the PR and Marketing link.

Mike Lee is uniquely qualified to produce Serial Stories for you (bio).

 

 

Please contact me to talk.  It’s free.    tel +44 (0) 7879 257 761  or email me