Whether you are shooting a video for your website, social media or a broadcast commercial, there are a few things you must decide before you can create one that works for your nonprofit organization.
- Decide what is the goal of the video? To raise awareness or inspire donations?
- Who is the target audience of the video? Are you looking for volunteers, benefactors, or people who need your help?
- When will you shoot and edit the piece and when do you want it completed?
- What is the budget for the video?
- Where will it be shown?
- How can you get the most people to see it and take the action you want?
A professional video production company like Uptown Studios can help you create a video that lasts for years and gets you the results you want, but if you are on a budget there are other ways to get your target audience to take notice.
Use the smart phone in your pocket to shoot video testimonials, behind the scenes, and photos for your social media channels. Facebook, YouTube, Vine and Instagram are all great ways to get your message out there.
You can create a compelling video using the photos you already have by making a video slideshow with a voice over. You can have someone on your team use a good quality microphone or hire a voice-over professional. Depending on the length of the script you use, you can get really amazing talent for as low a $100 at https://www.voices.com. Keep in mind that good audio key to getting your message across.
If you invest in a video camera with audio inputs and wireless microphones ($3,000-$5,000) you can shoot professional videos in-house and edit with a wide variety of applications like iMovie, Final Cut Pro X, Premier and others.
Create still or animated graphics that can be used on each video to make it even more professional.
Once you have the finished product in hand, be sure to maximize your video’s exposure by:
- Posting it on YouTube, Vimeo and other video venues
- Embedding it in your organization’s Facebook page and linking to it from your LinkedIn page
- Share the link on Twitter
- Embed the video in your blog and website
Tracking click-throughs is a great way to measure your video success and use these results to guide you on what works and what doesn’t work for your next video project.
When you need a professional firm to help Uptown Studios is right here, just a phone call or email away – email Kate Moore Multimedia Director at Kate@uptownstudios.net or call 916-446-1082 for a quote.
