To Build Trust, Make Sure Your Photos Make Eye Contact With Your Donors

Greg Warner is CEO and Founder of MarketSmart, a revolutionary marketing software and services firm that helps nonprofits raise more for less. In 2012 Greg coined the phrase “Engagement Fundraising” to encapsulate his breakthrough fundraising formula for achieving extraordinary results. Using their own innovative strategies and technologies, MarketSmart helps fundraisers around the world zero in on the donors most ready to support their organizations and institutions with major and legacy gifts.

Whether you are sitting face-to-face with your supporter or are using a photograph in your marketing campaign, make sure you or the person in the photograph look directly at your donor.
 
Cereal Box Psychology

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Carolyn M. Appleton
8 years ago

You might like to read from Forbes, “The Power of Eye Contact: It’s a Myth” by Susan Adams (October, 2013). Perhaps not true in all cases.

Greg Warner
8 years ago

Thanks so much Carolyn. I just read an article about it here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2013/10/02/the-power-of-eye-contact-its-a-myth/
I’m a big believer in testing everything. And Susan Adams clearly did a lot of testing. But I’m not convinced.
I had the same feeling after reading Daniel Pink’s book “Drive.” He basically said you can’t use a carrot or stick to motivate people. I have found that to only be true in certain circumstances. For many people carrots and sticks still work.
So I guess I’m saying that real world is much different than a lab and a professor testing students.

Carolyn M. Appleton
8 years ago

You might like to read from Forbes, “The Power of Eye Contact: It’s a Myth” by Susan Adams (October, 2013). Perhaps not true in all cases.

Greg Warner
8 years ago

Thanks so much Carolyn. I just read an article about it here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2013/10/02/the-power-of-eye-contact-its-a-myth/
I’m a big believer in testing everything. And Susan Adams clearly did a lot of testing. But I’m not convinced.
I had the same feeling after reading Daniel Pink’s book “Drive.” He basically said you can’t use a carrot or stick to motivate people. I have found that to only be true in certain circumstances. For many people carrots and sticks still work.
So I guess I’m saying that real world is much different than a lab and a professor testing students.

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