How to Warm Up Your Audience with 5 Must-Tell Stories


Hi Reader,

You know how everyone is saying that you need to tell more stories... well, I am here to say the same thing.

Stories have the power to inspire, motivate, and engage. But there’s a strategy to it—before asking for support, warm up your audience with stories that create an emotional bond.

I know how overwhelming it can be to find the stories to share to warm up your audience when you have many other things on your to do list.

Which is why I thought I'd share some ideas and inspiration to get the ball rolling.

Here are 5 types of stories you can share before making the ask:

🤲 The Founding Story: How did your organization begin? Let your audience in on the passion behind your mission.

💫 Impact Story: Highlight a life or community that has been changed through your work.

📹 Behind-the-Scenes Story: Show the people who make your mission possible—your team, volunteers, and board members.

🌇 Community Story: Showcase the collective efforts of your audience in small ways that are already making a difference.

🚀 Future Vision Story: Paint a vivid picture of your direction. Inspire your audience with the future they can help build.

By sharing these stories, you’ll deepen your connection with your supporters, making them more likely to engage when you make your appeal.

I hope this sparked some inspiration and makes your job a bit easier :)

Best,

Marcela

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Marcela Zafra
Fractional Marketing Consultant

www.marcelazafra.com

marcela@marcelazafra.com

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Marcela Zafra

I help nonprofits give their mission the visibility they deserve through various marketing strategies. I am a seasoned marketing expert with a track record in digital advertising, content and email marketing strategies; I bring more than ten years of experience in the nonprofit sector. Clients value my ability to see the big picture and create practical, executable marketing strategies. My transformative digital initiatives in a previous role with Brown Bagging For Calgary’s Kids boosted new website visitors by 141 percent and website engagement by 130 percent. I also grew their online community by almost 20 percent across all social media platforms and generated hundreds of leads through targeted Google and Facebook ads. As a creative thinker with a growth mindset, I love bringing ideas to life through painting, drawing, and dreaming. I offer Fractional Marketing support for nonprofits looking to: Increase awareness Boost fundraising efforts Build a thriving community of supporters. Reduce stress and workload. Execute strategic and consistent marketing efforts. Fractional marketing gives small and medium-sized nonprofits access to the expertise of a seasoned marketer on a part-time (fractional) basis. It's for organizations looking to enhance their marketing efforts with a small budget, and that means hiring inexperienced staff who require more effort and time to manage. marcela@marcelazafra.com www.marcelazafra.com

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