Video speaks volumes. There is a reason social media apps like Instagram and TikTok are so popular with different audiences. Having a short-form video of how to perform a dance or on-the-ground details about breaking news stories cuts through the crowded news feeds of audiences all over.
Your Australian NFP is no different. Being able to convey powerful client stories or “how-to videos” about your mission-oriented technologies helps boost engagement. It cultivates content that can be shared all over the place online and builds your reputation as an industry expert.
Here are some quick and easy ways to improve the content you’re creating in video formats.
1 – Start with a Storyboard
Those creative geniuses in Hollywood, Pixar, Disney, and even behind Bluey start every episode or movie with a storyboard. This is the visual representation of what you wish to convey to your audience in the video. When you storyboard, you are:
- Designing the timeline of the video with key “beats” to create rhythm.
- Making the beginning, middle, and ending noticeably clear to the viewer.
- Building a system so you know what tools and people you’ll need for each scene.
- Aligning video and audio elements for a more effective message.
You don’t need expensive software to make this happen. Using a pencil and a blank piece of paper is all it takes to lay out how your video will happen before you pick up your camera or smartphone.
2 – Leverage Natural Light
Lighting is crucial to a quality video, but not every NFP has a budget for ring lights and professional filters. A quick (and cheap) solution is to use natural light as much as possible.
Operating an NFP in Australia gives you a major advantage in leveraging natural light. Getting outdoors or strategically using reflective surfaces like mirrors, windows, and glass ensures your target features are easy to view, and the “mood” of the video remains consistent with your storyboard goals.
3 – Invest in Sound
While you can get around lighting issues, a good microphone goes a long way to improving your videos. Luckily, the rapid influx of mom-and-pop influencers has improved microphone technology. You can easily find good quality directional and multi-directional microphones online for well under $50. Go look at the trending videos on social media and pay attention to the microphones they use as suggestions.
4 – Use Captions
Around 80% of consumers are more likely to watch an entire video on social media if there are captions included. That is because 85% of viewers watch videos with the sound off. Parents trying to catch up on information while putting kiddos down for the night or office workers checking out videos on the morning commute don’t want to disturb everyone around them with loud audio. Having captions cuts through these concerns and increases your views.
5 – Practice Before You Shoot
Like anything else, you’ll succeed more if you practice first. Use your storyboard and set up your shoot for a practice run before you begin. You can still record this run first in case you nail it, but odds are you’ll come across a strange unknown factor or forget a detail when you actually attempt the video before calling it good.
6 – Relax
Our brains can recognise a faker much easier than most would suspect. There are little “tells” in a video where you feel the difference between authentic videos and those that are flat and don’t convey actual feelings. You and your team need to relax before you shoot. The comfort of being in front of the camera will imbue more trust with your audience because you’ll deliver an authentic performance.
7 – Edit When You’re Done
Editing is a powerful tool. Not only does it help your content remain mobile responsive, but editing also ensures the messaging is consistent with your NFP’s goals and mission. Again, this doesn’t have to be expensive. Using a smartphone to record video content and then free apps like CapCut will help you edit stunning content for all kinds of platforms.
Conclusion
Video content is a surefire way to improve your content. Everything from your NFP’s mission to building a donor list to announcing upcoming events is possible with simple, clear, and engaging video content.
If you’re unsure where to start, look at the content from the people, influencers, and organisations you follow online. You can always emulate their styles until you develop a strong voice for your NFP brand.
At Web 105, we help create stunning, mobile responsive websites perfect for sharing video content. Our team of professional web designers and developers knows how to format your website so everything from social media feeds to recent fundraising videos are easily shared. Give us a call today, and let’s build a new landing page for your NFP.
FAQs
What is video content?
Any content you record using video tools designed to entertain, inform, or educate your target audience.
What video content is most popular?
What is trending one day will differ from the next. Some of the more popular forms include tutorials, reviews, music videos, comedy, live streaming, and educational content.
Why are videos important for nonprofits?
Any content method that delivers key information about your goals, fundraising events, volunteering opportunities, employment openings, and more helps build stronger relationships with your followers and viewers.