I think more so than anything else it will take time.

I have a stray like this in my neighborhood who I began feeding. He is
the type of cat, having been feral for so long, that I think he will
always maintain a wary quality about him, likely the defense mechanism
that has allowed him to survive so long. When I first started feeding
him, I would have to place the food across the street, but over the
period of perhaps a month he began to let me sit closer and closer to
observe him eating. He would still get nervous, back away from the
food for a second, but when he realized I meant him no harm he would
slowly reapproach. He eventually got to the point where he expected
the food and would yowl out in the driveway until I came out, and was
very responsive to the "kitty, kitty" call, would allow me to stand
beside him, and *almost* pet him.

So the game goes... Test the boundaries a little at a time. A hungry
cat will always return to the source of food. It may take a while to
build the kind of trust necessary to make this cat a "pet" but if you
have the determination and consistency, it will surely happen.

Wish I could offer more, an overnight strategy... but I don't imagine
anything working that quickly ;)

Wren

I agree , if this cat depending on where exactly
you live is indeed feral it will take time.
But if this cat is in an area that is remote  ,in that I mean little
people contact and has been feral since birth remember one thing ,
It will always retain those traits that kept it alive all this time so
don't expect it to turn into a house pet even given enough time with you.
Here we have a large feral cat population and its a iffy proposition to
glean one from the wild with picking up some baggage along the way.
This cat must be quarantined in some limited way once you gain its trust
and checked by a vet.
Just a few suggestions , sapper

Dave,

I recently tried to gain the trust of a stray cat in my neighborhood.  After
three months I had managed to actually get it to come into my fenced in back
yard.  But, after my limited success, my next door neighbor's daughter saw
the cat jump my fence (we share the same fenceline) and she came out and
threw a rock at the poor cat after it had jumped into my yard.  She didn't
know I was present.  After this, I didn't see the stray for another month.
I pray that you have nicer neighbors.  My neighbors are moving at the end of
this month and I hope I can resume gaining trust of this stray.  I can sense
that this stray has had early life human social contact and is looking for a
home.  He doesn't act to be feral .. sounds much like your stray.  I have
seen many feral cats and you can pretty much tell that they are feral.  Over
time you will figure the cat's schedule, but my guess here is due to having
had some human routine fundamentals that it has started to learn your
routine already.  So, my suggestion is to be consistent in your daily
comings and goings as well as when you step out to call it with food.   Cats
don't need a watch to tell time.  They learn animal and human behaviors
quickly in their art of survival.  Try different treat foods.  I have even
taken a bag of the treats out front and done the Hansel & Gretel breadcrumb
trick for this cat to follow up to my door.  Oh, and don't forget to keep a
water dish with fresh water available ALL the time to encourage the kitty
further.  I wish you good fortune in your endeavor to open your heart and
hearth to this sweetie.