# Latest fundraising video tech - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2015/04/19/latest-fundraising-video-tech/ - Published: 2015-04-19T08:20:04+01:00 - Author: Howard Lake **With Facebook and Twitter launching new apps it’s clear that video is no longer an optional extra for fundraising but a vital part of the action. But how do you make sure that your campaign stands out in the crowd?** Here‘s my guide to the latest fundraising video technologies that will give you Hollywood blockbuster impact on an indie-film budget. ## 1. Personalisation If you’re looking for ways to make videos more sharable, then personalisation in video is the latest trend. What better way to get your ask out to people than by allowing them to personalise their films in a way that will make them desperate to share on their own Facebook, Twitter or [Just Giving page](https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/03/16/justgiving-hmrc-agreement-restoring-lost-gift-aid-family-donations/)? ## Advertisement [⌊Posthub advert. You create the campaign. We'll handle the postal journey. Get started at post-hub.co.uk.⌉](https://fundraising.co.uk/ads/posthub-20261007-300x250/) ### My Fundraising Film – Virgin Money Giving ![Clapperboard on Virgin Money Giving personalised video for Jeremy Jeffs](https:// www.fundraising.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/virgin-money-giving-video-jeremy- jeffs.jpg) Virgin Money Giving personalised video Leaders of the pack with this wonderful app that’s designed to encourage people to take part in the London Marathon. You can expect lots of these personalised videos featuring Stephen Fry to be popping up on your newsfeeds very soon.   ### McCain Potato Parade The [McCain Potato Parade](http://www.potatoparade.co.uk) is really good fun, with animation by Aardman the team behind Wallace and Gromit. ![McCains' Potato Parade - personalised video](https://www.fundraising.co.uk/wp- content/uploads/2015/04/mccains-potato-parade-howard-lake.jpg) Personalised video from McCains’ Potato Parade ### Child’s Eye Much more low-tech and cheaper to make, these thank you films are perfect for sharing. You could also do the same thing with a Vine. Here’s one that was sent to Kirsty Marrins of JustGiving.   ## 2. Collaborative Video Getting people to work together towards a fundraising task is a brilliant way of making sure people hit targets and raise more money. Video is a powerful way of capturing their efforts, encouraging others and even saying thank you. And now there are a couple of apps that make the process of creating collaborative video a breeze. ### SEENIT ![BHF using Seenit](https://www.fundraising.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/seenit. jpg) BHF using Seenit to encourage collaborative videos [Seenit](http://www.seenit.io) is a smartphone app that lets you create video with your supporters or followers. Using the app, you can apply your brand and logo, write a shot list for the ‘crew’ (ie your followers) and also send them feedback and encouragement with notifications. The videos are uploaded directly to your own‘ studio’ where you can watch them and then edit the footage into videos. The British Heart Foundation used this tech for their Wear It. Beat It Campaign. Wonderful. ### Facebook RIFF The new [Facebook RIFF](http://newsroom.fb.com/news/2015/04/riff-make-videos-with-friends/) app allows people to record a short video – just like a Vine – and then share it via Facebook. They can invite others to contribute and suggest what the next shot should be. Other users can add to film with their own short clip, building a longer video. This has got great potential for fundraising that’s based around an event or a challenge. ## 3. Email Media Making video part of your email strategy can produce some impressive returns: Experian estimate that just putting the word ‘video’ in the subject line increases open rates by 13% and embedding a video in an email can increase click through by 200% according to Forrester Research. There’s now some nifty email technology to manage and coordinate the process and it’s now possible to embed a video link into everyone’s email signature at the same time and to segment the recipients or ensure that your fundraising ask is responsive to events. ### Charity:water This US charity [combined email with video to increase their donations by $800,000.](http://www.marketingsherpa.com/article/case-study/charity-water-donations-email-marketing) They ran a planned strategy, that alerted their supporters to a video teaser, then an awareness video and finally a fundraising ask video. They even followed up with thank you videos. ### RocketSeed This email company worked with the Red Cross and [managed to increase click through by 80 times](http://www.rocketseed.com/email-media-case-studies/british-red-cross-email-branding/).   _**Jeremy Jeffs** is a founding partner of [Magneto Films](http://www.magnetofilms.com/), a video production company that specialises in working with charities (making amongst other things, fundraising films), not-for-profits and the public sector. Jeremy’s an award winning film maker with credits for films and series for BBC TV, Channel 4 and NatGeo. At Magneto he’s worked with charities and brands that include Age UK, Children’s Society and Macmillan Cancer Support and with brands including Ford and Expedia. He [blogs on the latest charity videos](http://www.magnetofilms.com/realstories)._ * **[Local community film competition offers £1,000 prize plus charity donations](https://fundraising.co.uk/2015/04/23/local-community-film-competition-offers-1000-prize-plus-charity-donations/)**( 23 April 2015) * **[NFPtweetup focuses on how charities can make the most of video](https://fundraising.co.uk/2015/06/01/nfptweetup-focuses-on-how-charities-can-make-the-most-of-video/)**( 1 June 2015) * **[DoGooder Awards 2016 invite entries](https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/01/29/dogooder-awards-2016-invite-entries/)**( 29 January 2016) ![Loading](https://fundraising.co.uk/wp-content/plugins/page-views-count/ajax-loader- 2x.gif)