A month of video at the betterplace lab
Our recent FLIP Video contest supported eight participants with projects on betterplace.org to collect video feedback from their project work onsite. This feedback, featuring beneficiaries who shared their stories, the buildings and places where the work is taking place, bring the viewer and potential supporter emotionally much closer to the project. This is a terrific way, both to portray clearly the progress and challenges of a project, as well as to win supporters! (You can see the FLIP films here).
We created a list of tools and resources for our FLIP participants on how to use video, which editing software is out there, and how to upload their films to YouTube. This month in the betterplace lab, we are planning to expand our video tools and resources and to really delve into how nonprofits and social initiatives can and should use film for collecting stakeholder feedback and to gain support.
A good place to start is perhaps to see how others are using videos for their projects. The Invisible People project does a terrific job of interviewing people on their tv blog. Another video blog is On The Road Tanzania, from the UN World Food Program. See also our water playlist on the betterplace lab YouTube channel for an idea of how many nonprofit organizations are using videos to highlight particular issues of water availability worldwide.
Next, it is important to get familiar with the basic resources available to nonprofits for using and promoting videos showing your work. YouTube has a list of tips for nonprofits as well as a tip sheet for video campaigns. You can see how the betterplace lab has setup our YouTube channel. We create playlists to group various videos together--both our own videos as well as external ones.
Two other commonly used video hosting platforms, which could be an alternative to YouTube, are Vimeo and Blip.tv. Check out some nonprofits that have videos on Vimeo here.
And finally, Beth Kanter, social media for good guru, has two helpful blog entries on inspirations for video blogging and video story capture tips. Check back in November for more updates from our experience of planning, creating, promoting and using videos for good!