How To: Make Videos About Your Cause

Type of guide:

how to

Presenting information through video will engage viewers while also entertaining and informing them. Follow these steps to create effective videos that will encourage people to care about your project or organization:

Identify Your Audience. Keep that ideal viewer in mind so that your video is effective. Are they male or female? Young or old? Now brainstorm what things will keep this ideal person engaged and will help him or her learn. Consider hosting a focus group with sample of people from your target audience.
Identify the Goals for Your Video. What should the viewer walk away knowing or wanting to do? Write this down and refer back to it, improve and update it.

Who is the target audience of your video?
What will be the tone of your video? Funny? Sincere?
What do you want viewers to do after watching your video? Vote, email, share, text?

Plan Your Video Before you hit the "record" button and start filming, think about the content that goes into your video.

Create an outline. Begin outlining the specific points you want to discuss.

Your Story/Inspiration
The Problem you are trying to solve
Your Solution
Your Impact (Potential and/or existing)

If you are planning on making more of a documetary style video think about the following when creating an outline:

Beginnning: Set it Up! (1/4)
Middle: The Confrontation or Conflict (1/2)
End: Resolution (1/4)

Brainstorm ideas. Take out a piece of paper and a pencil and start a mind-map. Don't hold yourself back, anything that comes to your mind at this point is fair game. Write it all down.

Storyboard your idea. A video is VISUAL. Start sketching out how you want your video to look. (Index cards are a great way to storyboard, because you play around with the order)

Make a list of your media needs. Are you going to use existing video footage and photos or do you need to shoot new footage?

Create a shot list. Create a list of shots and images you want to include in your video.

Visuals. Will you use a graphic? Typography, photos, people speaking, or a mix?

Shoot Your Video If you’ve developed a good pre-production plan, shooting your video should go smoothly. By knowing exactly what footage you need, you’ll save a lot of time.

Try websites if you're shooting alone.

Edit Your Video.

Video editing tutorials for iMovie and Windows Movie Maker
Online editing programs: Jaycut OR Kaltura

Share Your Video. There are many ways to gain an audience for your video, including:

Your website
Uploading to your facebook page
Emailing to friends and colleagues
Posting your video on a variety of video sharing web sites:
- Desktop Video

Bonus Tips

Keep your video short. Usually, your video shouldn’t be more then 2 mins. Make sure your message is clear and simple.
Keep your video interesting. A variety of shots, angles, and perspectives will make your video more interesting to watch.
Watch other videos. Learn and examine, but don’t replicate! Make your videos authentic, but pick up on some good practices! There’s tons of awesome videos out there.