If you have Windows on your computer, do you know that you already have a video editing program? It’s called Windows Movie Maker. With a little practice, it can make putting together movie clips for YouTube very easy. To see tutorials on this program follow this link.
Video should play a key role in your social media strategy. The ability to show your supporters the work that you do is very powerful. In my decade of working in television, I saw many examples of how images leave a strong impression in people’s minds. Think what an impression it can have on your fundraising.
You’ll want to do a little editing of your video on Movie Maker before you upload it to YouTube. Besides cutting out things like people saying, “Okay the camera is on, start talking,” you can add titles, transitions like dissolves,and other graphics. These are the same tools the professionals use and you can make great looking videos that won’t cost you the big bucks they charge. In this economy, that’s a great thing.
For a beginner you can even take a bunch of photographs and edit then together. Here’s an example of this technique:
I added some royalty free music but you could also add a voice track. Before using any music, make sure you have the right to use it for your purposes. Royalty free music is available online and there are also some music licenses that you can purchase from the various musician unions.
Recently I was at a seminar, where in a short amount of time, a roomful of people, some with few computer skills, were able create their own videos. With social marketing it’s easy to post your YouTube videos in your blog and on Facebook.
Do you have students who volunteer with your organization? Video creation could be a great project for them as they tend to be pretty tech savvy. Still not sure how to get started? I also offer video consulting. Click here for an example of my work.
Posted by Ken Okel 
