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The Biggest Mistake Nonprofits Make With Video

AnnieEscobarHeadshot-WordpressGuest blogger, Annie Escobar is co-founder of ListenIn Pictures which produces compelling video stories for nonprofits.

Creating engaging, sharable videos doesn’t seem to come naturally for most nonprofits and I think I know why.  Instead of highlighting naturally dynamic stories about people, nonprofits tend to create videos about programs.

I call this The Program Trap.

Your organization’s job is to run your programs well. That’s why you care about the details of how they are run. But your audience is hungry for meaning, belonging and purpose.  They want to be a part of something that matters.

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Guest Blogger on March 29, 2013 in Video | 4 comments
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The RIGHT Way to Tell Your Story via Video

Annie Escobar is co-founder of ListenIn Pictures which produces compelling video stories for nonprofits.

I’m on a mission to end bad nonprofit video. You know, the boring, long, put-you-to-sleep video about what the nonprofit does and not why, how or results. Nonprofits have too much on the line—and too many inspiring stories—for this.
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Guest Blogger on June 28, 2012 in Video | 6 comments
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Final Day to Vote & Learn: 16 Compelling Nonprofit Videos

Lights. Camera. Action. But only through midnight today, Wednesday, March 28.

16 incredible videos have been selected as finalists for the 2012 DoGooder Nonprofit Video Awards. I was lucky enough to serve as a judge and tasked with selecting finalists, a great learning opportunity.
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Nancy Schwartz on March 26, 2012 in Video | 0 comments

Submit Your Video Today: DoGooder Nonprofit Video Awards—Deadline Feb. 29



Is your organization telling a great story via video? If so, enter your video today in the 6th Annual DoGooder Nonprofit Video Awards, presented by See3 Communications and You Tube.

Enter today: You have just 6 more days.

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Nancy Schwartz on February 23, 2012 in Video | 0 comments
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Get Inspired & Guided – DoGooder Nonprofit Video Award Winners

Stop RIGHT NOW and watch these four videos – this year’s winners of the 5th Annual DoGooder Nonprofit Video Awards.

These awards went to four incredible organizations in recognition of their creating the best nonprofit videos of the past year. The videos are creative, clever, informative, interesting, and above all – they are high impact. They videos exemplify how nonprofits can (and must) connect with the world and tell their stories with video. And you can do it too, no matter your budget!

Take the time right now to dig in by watching this year’s winning videos then draft an outline for your first (or next) video. It’s a powerful – and fun – medium!

Here is clear, how-to guidance on creating your video!

Please share your recommendations on video creation dos and don’ts here. Jumping in can be so daunting for the newbie!

Nancy Schwartz on April 5, 2011 in Video | 2 comments
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Sometimes It’s Best Not to Say Anything at All


…via video, and every other medium.

I’m a big fan of The Wooster Group – an inventive, provocative theater company based in Manhattan. But this video, emailed out today to herald a forthcoming benefit, is just plain empty of  meaning.

Better not to say (or video) anything at all, than to release a video without meaning. That generates annoyance, the absolute enemy of engagement.

My bet is that no one outside the Group saw this video before it was released. Always test…even if the tester is your partner or neighbor. It’s not about you, it’s about your network (AGAIN)!

Have you seen or watched nonprofit marketing content that annoys you, or is empty? If so, please share the what and why with us.

Nancy Schwartz on January 7, 2011 in Video | 7 comments
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And Action – 11 Steps to Effective Video for Your Organization

effective nonprofit videoOnline video is one of the best ways to tell your nonprofit’s story. When done right, it can forge powerful connections between your organization and your supporters, but only when it stands out from the competition in three minutes or less.

Read my article in the latest Fundraising Success to learn the 11 steps to take to launch a successful video for your nonprofit!

Teaser: Modest production values can generate huge impact. Take a look at this simple but powerful video from the St. Joseph  Ballet, developed to build understanding of its work and impact around its name change.

P.S. Get more in-depth articles, case studies and guides to nonprofit marketing (and video) success — all featured in the twice-monthly Getting Attention e-update. Subscribe today.

Nancy Schwartz on June 21, 2010 in Video | 1 comment
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How to Succeed with Nonprofit Video

David-Neff-nonprofit-videoWelcome back to guest blogger David Neff, of Lights.Action.Help., who’s going to guide you to nonprofit video success with possible cash prizes…

What’s the communications tool that’s going to make your nonprofit marketing campaign shine,  online and off? Quick, what springs to mind?

Well I’m here to tell you that it should be video. If you are going to do one new thing in 2010 to move your org forward, it should be producing a video. And yes, as the creator and co-founder of my Lights. Camera. Help., I’m a little biased!

Lights. Camera. Help. is the first nonprofit focused on helping other nonprofits engage their bases and motivate them to act through film. We do this through our education programs, volunteer match programs, screenings and and our annual film festival. But I’m here today to share three tips to help you get your video up and running.

  1. Check out the Flip Spotlight program for nonprofit organizations–This great program let’s you buy two cameras for the price of one, and all you have to do is summarize why your organization deserves to be in the program.
  2. When you start to film. check out Creative Commons to find amazing work to build upon.  Not everything you shoot needs to be video. Find some amazing photos and even music to mix in at no cost via Creative Commons.
  3. When you’re ready to launch the video, check out the amazing YouTube Non Profit program. Think about it: featuring your video on the #2 search engine in the world would is a great place to start. Just be sure to review the program’s rules and restrictions on the types of videos they accept.

In the meantime check out the Lights. Camera. Help. Film Festival for a little inspiration. Our 2010 submission process is now open. There is no cost to submit a film (long or short format) and there are cash prizes for the top feature film, short film and PSA.

So if you know of  powerful nonprofit video and film, urge those folks (or yourself) to submit them today.

Thanks, David!

Here’s more guidance on creating high-impact video for your org:

P.S. Get more in-depth articles, case studies and guides to nonprofit marketing (and video) success — all featured in the twice-monthly Getting Attention e-update. Subscribe today.

Guest Blogger on May 6, 2010 in Video | 2 comments
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Impossible to Resist – MoveOn’s Latest “You’re In the News” Video

glenn-beck-attacks-nancy-schwartz

I immediately clicked on the email invite to to the latest in MoveOn.org‘s “you’re in the  news” video video series. This one–on Glenn Beck’s attack strategies–is one of the best ever. For Facebook users, it’s integrated Facebook Connect to pull info and photos from your profile. Here’s the video.

Here’s why it works so well: As my mom told me when I was in 5th grade (part of her “teach the kids some etiquette” program), everyone loves to hear their own name. So if you want to make someone feel good, or engage their interest, use their name in conversation.

You can imagine how many more points photos plus friends’ names gets, as incorporated in the video (privacy issues are another matter, for another day). It’s irresistible to share it via email as I was invited to do at the end of the video.

In addition, MoveOn makes it easy to share the video via social media platforms, serving up a one-click method to embed the video in your Facebook page and a few-click way to embed your video in a blog post.

Notes that those not on Facebook will get a different, somewhat less personalized experience. MoveOn.org is counting on most of its supporters being there and I feel fairly confident they’re right.

P.S. Read this recent Getting Attention e-update article to learn 9 Steps to Nonprofit Video Success, Plus Our Mistakes to Avoid.

P.P.S. Get more in-depth articles, case studies and guides to nonprofit marketing success — all featured in the twice-monthly Getting Attention e-update. Subscribe today.

Nancy Schwartz on March 10, 2010 in Video | 0 comments
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Nonprofit Video Lessons: 9 Steps to Success

Online video, which has become a wildly popular communications channel in the past few years, is one of the best ways there is to tell your nonprofit’s story.

Video, when done right, can forge powerful connections between your organization’s work and your base that drive viewer action (to donate, join or volunteer). But, that’s possible only when your video stands out from the competition, in two minutes or less.

We were thrilled to finally have the chance to produce our first Getting Attention video, and learned that while it’s not as easy as it looks, it’s worth overcoming the natural challenges such a project presents.

Read the full article to learn from our mistakes so you can produce a video that drives the action that your organization needs!

P.S. Get more in-depth articles, case studies and guides to
nonprofit marketing success — all featured in the twice-monthly
Getting Attention e-update. Subscribe today.

Nancy Schwartz on March 4, 2010 in Video | 2 comments
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