Below you’ll see two videos that I’ve produced. Both were shot with the same equipment. The difference is the length and the amount of time spent editing the clips.
Both clips have strengths and weaknesses. Before you approach a video project, think about what you want. If your vision is too broad, you’ll likely waste time and money.
Your nonprofit has spent a lot of time putting together a video about your agency. In most cases these run about five to six minutes in length. You’ve put it up on YouTube, which is a great social media tool. Maybe you’ve even embedded it your website. But then you stop. In this case you’re not getting as much as you can out of your video.
I’m guessing that your video is composed of several sections. Why not make each of these chapters into their own clips. So out of a 5 minute video, you might get four or five clips.
People consume information differently online. Some may not have the patience to watch a five minute video. But they will watch clips that are about a minute or two in length. Think of it like a restaurant that offers a lunch and a dinner portion of an entree. It’s the same food but it’s just presented in a different way.
In some cases, you’ll need to edit a slide to come before the video that can help set it up. Maybe in the big video, one segment is about mentoring. Pull that out and create an open that says something like, “mentoring minute.” Just a little bit of editing allows you to dramatically increase your video footprint.
Small and large videos should both be used and featured in your website. Maybe the big one goes on your home page and the smaller clips should be posted near the related programs.
Pat yourself on the back for using video as a social media tool. It’s a great way to increase the relationship between your organization and your supporters. You can post your clips on YouTube and then distribute them through your blog and Facebook page. But sometimes video can create some challenges. n segments where someone from your team talks directly to the camera, do you notice that they may seem a a bit stiff?
Here’s a suggestion to make them seem a bit more normal and appealing to your viewers: After you’ve got a good take on your camera, do another. In most cases I bet it will be better than your last one. The reason is that you get to do a take knowing that you’ve already got a useable one “in the can.” This knowledge takes away some of the pressure to perform. You’ll relax and be less worried about being perfect.
It’s a trick movie directors and actors have done for years. First you cover your bases with a usable take. Then you try something new. Maybe it works and maybe it doesn’t. But it give you options, so you’re not stuck with something that doesn’t represent your organization very well.
Video is a great social media tool in that it doesn’t cost you any more to try something different. Let me know if this strategy works for you. I’d love to showcase some before and after examples.
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Social Media for nonprofits who want to use twitter, youtube and facebook, youtube | Tagged: ken okel, making a YouTube Video, youtube production tips, YouTube video tips | 
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Posted by Ken Okel 
