Revised on March 1, 2017

 
Use Online Audio and Video to Say Thanks

 
Most computers and smart phones, even computers from 20 years ago, can be used to create short audio and video files. And you can create short podcasts or videos that your organization can use to thank volunteers for their service. A short recording from your organization's executive director or board president, or from a client whose life has been positively affected by the efforts of volunteers or donors, can mean a lot to your supporters.

Phil Shapiro notes: "The human voice carries with it unique communications powers. It's worth exploring how multimedia on the web can connect your project or organization in new ways with people who support it."

You don't even have to use moving video; still pictures with audio produces a nice effect and a smaller file that is quicker to download (which will be particularly appreciated by dial-up users).

Not sure where to begin? You could recruit a volunteer to assess your current computer technology to see if you already have the equipment necessary to make a short audio or video file. Or, recruit a volunteer who has this type of equipment themselves; for instance, an old Apple iBook or iMac and a digital camera is all a volunteer would need to make a short audio and video file that could be sent via email or available for download from your web site. Most new computer sold today come with all of the software and hardware (built in camera and microphone) you need to do this entirely via your desktop.

Mr. Shapiro noted back in 2005 just how easy it is to create audio or video files to thank volunteers (reprinted here with permission):

It's sometimes difficult to think of appropriate ways of thanking these people (volunteers and other supporters). A simple letter of thanks doesn't seem sufficient to the quantity and quality of help they give.

One way of thanking these folks is via multimedia on the web. It's possible to create a simple Quicktime movie that combines a digital photo of a person with an accompanying voice narration. The process of creating such a quicktime can actually be faster than writing a short note, especially if you have a digital photo of the person on hand already.

If most of your volunteers are using devices that can access YouTube, you can upload your videos there, to your own custom "channel", and direct your volunteers to such via email or a link from your web site.

See Using Video to Support Online Volunteers/Remote Volunteers, which goes into greater detail about simple ways to use recorded and live video with volunteers.

And for many more ideas on using the Internet to thank and recognize volunteers, see The Last Virtual Volunteering Guidebook.

Also see: Finding a Computer/Network Consultant

 
  Discuss this web page, or comment on it, here.


  Quick Links 

 my home page
 
 my consulting services  &  my workshops & presentations
 
 my credentials & expertise
 
 My book: The Last Virtual Volunteering Guidebook

 contact me   or   see my schedule
 
 Free Resources: Community Outreach, With & Without Tech

 Free Resources: On Community Engagement, Volunteering & Volunteerism

 Free Resources: Technology Tips for Non-Techies

 Free Resources: Nonprofit, NGO & other mission-based management resources

 Free Resources: Web Development, Maintenance, Marketing for non-Web designers

 Free Resources: Corporate philanthropy / social responsibility programs

 Free Resources: For people & groups that want to volunteer
 
 linking to or from my web site
 
 The Coyote Helps Foundation
 
 me on social media (follow me, like me, put me in a circle, subscribe to my newsletter)

support my workhow to support my work

To know when I have developed a new resource related to the above subjects, found a great resource by someone else, published a new blog or a new Tech4Impact email newsletter, uploaded a new video,
or to when & where I'm training or presenting, use any of the following social media apps to follow me on any of these social media platforms:

like me on Facebook      follow me on Twitter    Mastodon logo    follow me on Reddit    follow me on LinkedIn     view my YouTube videos


Disclaimer: No guarantee of accuracy or suitability is made by the poster/distributor of the materials on this web site.
This material is provided as is, with no expressed or implied warranty or liability.

See my web site's privacy policy.

Permission is granted to copy, present and/or distribute a limited amount of material from my web site without charge if the information is kept intact and without alteration, and is credited to:

Jayne Cravens & Coyote Communications,
          www.coyotebroad.com

Otherwise, please contact me for permission to reprint, present or distribute these materials (for instance, in a class or book or online event for which you intend to charge).

The art work and material on this site was created and is copyrighted 1996-2023
by Jayne Cravens, all rights reserved
(unless noted otherwise, or the art comes from a link to another web site).