Posts Tagged ‘YouTube’

What nonprofits can learn from the Old Spice guy.

August 10th, 2010 by Sarah Durham

Have you seen those great new commercials for Old Spice? If you haven’t, check out the ‘I’m on an internet’ channel on YouTube before you read this- and get ready for a good laugh.

I love these commercials because they’re funny, smart, memorable, and undeniably Old Spice. There are lots of ads that make you laugh but are so loosely tied to what they’re selling that you’ll remember the ad but not the product behind it a day or so later. Entertaining, perhaps. Good for sales? Probably not.

Old Spice did a several really smart things with this campaign that any business–including a nonprofit–can learn from.

  1. They didn’t ignore their reputation. Old Spice embraced their reputation as an old-school manly cologne/product, and all of the possible clichés that come with it. Then they turned them on their head–making it current, funny and hip. Your organization’s reputation is key to your brand’s success, and it’s hard to control or shape. Why not admit what’s working and what’s not and use it- rather than fight it? (more…)
Leave a Comment

Bookmark and Share

Beyond Viral Video – Crafting a Nonprofit Video Strategy

July 22nd, 2010 by Farra Trompeter

Last night I enjoyed a fascinating 501 Tech NYC meeting where Michael Hoffman of See3 Communications and Sara Fusco of Refugees International shared some great ideas about how nonprofits should be thinking about video as part of their communications strategy.

I’m embedding their slides below–so do take a gander.  Here are some of my takeaways:

  • The first question you should ask is not how long your video should be or how you’ll come up with something so hot it puts the Old Spice guy to shame, but how does video relate to your mission?
  • It’s not the number of views that count, but the eyeballs behind those views. Let the goals of your video and who you are trying to reach drive your creation–and how you measure its success.

(more…)

Leave a Comment

Bookmark and Share

Privacy? What privacy? | Weekly Roundup

May 28th, 2010 by Elizabeth Ricca

A weekly roundup of interesting reads from the online world of nonprofit communications. Follow me on Twitter @elizabethricca or check out my Delicious bookmarks for more noteworthy links.

Leave a Comment

Bookmark and Share

Your turn — Vote for the Best Nonprofit Videos of the Year

March 31st, 2010 by Farra Trompeter

It’s time to cast your vote in the 4th Annual DoGooder Nonprofit Video Awards. Voting opens today and will close on April 7, 2010.

I had the honor of serving as one of 23 judges who helped narrow the submissions down to 16 finalists. And now it’s your turn to pick which videos are the best of the best.  The winners will be announced at the Nonprofit Technology Conference in  Atlanta on April 10th.

As you watch the videos, consider the criteria we had in mind in making our selections:

  • Message: Is the message clear? Does the message take an original angle on the topic? Do you know what the video seeks to communicate and what it wants you to do?
  • Use of Video: Did the organization take advantage of the video medium? Could the message have been more effectively communicated using any other medium?
  • Quality of Video: Was the video made well? Did they use good video technique including framing, sound, visual interest, etc?
  • Creativity: Did the style of the video catch your attention? Did you see something original and exciting?
  • Emotional Appeal: Did you feel connected to the characters and content? Did you identify with the organization and its cause? Would you be compelled to act on behalf of the organization?

There’s a lot to learn from these finalists. If you are new to video storytelling, you should watch these videos and start thinking about how to do more in this powerful communications channel. And if your organization already produces videos, how do you think yours would measure up?

Good luck to all of the finalists and may the best videos win!

Leave a Comment

Bookmark and Share

R U ready 2 dive in? | Weekly Round-Up

July 24th, 2009 by Elizabeth Ricca

It might rain all weekend, but the sun will be shining for nonprofits online.

A weekly round-up of interesting reads from the online world of nonprofit communications.

Leave a Comment

Bookmark and Share