YouTube on a Shoestring
If you don't have a video pro on staff...
- Ask the YouTube community for help. There are a lot of people on YouTube who have video production skills and want to do good. Make a call-out video for the YouTube community, asking for help in creating videos for your channel, or search for and contact specific YouTube users in your area who might be willing to help you out. It never hurts to ask.
- Delegate to your interns. Many of them are already familiar with uploading content to YouTube, and are comfortable with the process.
- Look for production companies or advertising agencies with a social conscience. You might be able to get pro bono services or a lower rate.
- Give it a go yourself. Shooting video is easier than you think —and you don't have to have a glitzy piece to tell a compelling story. Check out the YouTube Handbook for best practices on how to shoot, edit and upload your videos.
- Partner with other organizations on YouTube who are working toward the same cause. They may have resources that you don't, and you can work together to get the right video messages out there that benefit both organizations.
If you're strapped for cash...
- Apply to join the YouTube Nonprofit Program to get increased branding, upload capacity, and the opportunity to be featured in promoted areas of YouTube, at no cost to you.
- Use a digital camera or even your cell phone camera. You won't be able to store that much footage, but shorter pieces tend to play well on YouTube anyway, as do pieces with "organic" production values.
- Think about investing in a Flip Video Camera (approximately $100), which comes with basic editing and video publishing software. Also, Flip Video Spotlight is a program that gives nonprofits access to Flip Cameras at a discounted rate. Get more info
- Embed a Google Checkout button on your channel to help drive your fundraising efforts. On your channel, talk about specific things that you're trying to raise money for, like a megaphone for an upcoming rally or video camera to make better YouTube videos. Get more info on Google Checkout for Non-Profits
- Use digital pictures to make a slideshow of images that make your case and post the piece to your YouTube channel.
- Edit videos at the local cable access station—a small membership fee can get you access to some great editing software that's just too costly to install on your home computer.
- Feature videos on your channel that you didn't create but that fit your organization's mission. YouTube is chock-full of video content, so highlight pieces that promote your cause. Favorite these videos so that they show up on your channel and create themed playlists to demonstrate the broader communities that are rallying around similar causes on YouTube.